Name: Connections 50+ Presents Cambridge Third Age Learning: Hespeler’s Hidden Secret - Coombe Orphanage
Start: 2026-04-24T10:00:00-04:00
End: 2026-04-24T12:00:00-04:00
Location: Cambridge Public Library, Old Post Office

$Connections 50+ Presents Cambridge Third Age Learning: Hespeler\u2019s Hidden Secret - Coombe Orphanage$

Paul Langan gives a lecture on the history of Coombe Orphanage in Hespeler.
The Coombe was a home in Hespeler, Ontario. From 1905-1913, Smyly Homes in Dublin, Ireland sent children to Canada for a better life. After a short period at the Coombe, they were shipped out to the farms or homes to work and live. From 1913-1947, the Children's Aid Society ran the home. It was also used as a temporary detention centre.
Paul Langan will talk about the history of the Coombe but also the stories of the children who lived there. The experiences of the kids range from being treated like members of the family to situations of abuse. Learn more from Paul Langan's book Hespeler's Hidden Secret - The Coombe Home - 1905-1947.
Use the Ticket link for free registration (library card not required). Registration is required to confirm attendance.
About Cambridge Third Age Learning
Third Age Learning is a movement that encourages learning and discovery experiences for those in the 'third age'. Together, the Cambridge Third Age Learning (CTAL) group and Cambridge Public Library present monthly lectures at the Old Post Office, a part of the library’s Connections 50+ suite. CTAL sources and selects lecturers with engaging topics to inspire new thinking and engage inquisitive minds.