TOWNSHIP COMMUNITY INFORMATION TOWNSHIP COMMUNITY INFORMATION 32 Zorra Now | Fall 2026 Zorra Now | Fall 2026 33 What’s so “great” about being Oxford County warden? It’s not a prison warden (we are not prisoners). The warden is head of county council; overseeing council meetings, speaking on behalf of the County at official events; interacting with other levels of government and, to the extent each warden feels comfortable doing so, participating in higher level administrative discussions. The pertinent point for Zorra Heritage Committee’s (ZHC) is that when a member of county council representing Zorra is elected by the other members of County Council to be warden, they are meeting the criteria to be considered a “Great of Zorra” because they are being recognized for their contribution outside of Zorra. Our current warden is the Mayor of Zorra, but how many wardens before him represented Zorra and deserve to be included as a “Great”? The previous Zorra warden, Claire G. Minler, served in 1972 when the term was only 1 year. Since the County of Oxford was created in 1850, we’ve had 36 Zorra wardens. They came from all corners of Zorra, including each of the pre-amalgamation municipalities: East Nissouri, Embro, North Oxford and West Zorra. ZORRA Wardens 1851 - John Scatcherd 1852-1856 - Donald Matheson 1859 - W.S. Light 1868 - Samuel Towle 1870 - Alexander McCorquodale 1873 - John Youngs 1877 - Thomas Robinson 1883 - Mathew Day 1885 - James Munro 1892 - E.L. Sutherland 1893 - D.R. Calder 1898 - M.T. Buchanan 1901 (2nd ½) - John Youngs 1910 - William Forbes 1911 - William McGhee 1920 - H.B. Atkinson 1926 - William Weir 1927 - William McIntosh 1930 - Henry Hanlon 1932 - Robert Oliver 1937 - Charles F. Beagley 1940 - Hugh Harris 1942 - Alvin McKay 1945 - A.D. McCorquodale 1946 - Winston Nichols 1947 - Milton Betteridge Many names may seem familiar as descendants continue to live in Zorra. The Oxford County Archives, at https:/archives.oxfordcounty.ca/exhibits/wardens-and-council/county-wardens/, presents photos and brief biographies of the wardens, but several include not much more information than you might find on the person’s tombstone. Won’t it be great if people come forward and provide more information or join ZHC in doing further research! Please contact the Beachville District Museum for more information, especially if you are interested in helping out. beachvilledistrictmuseum.com/ or beachvilledistrictmuseum@gmail.com or (519) 423-6497 or drop in at 584371 Beachville Road on the west edge of Beachville 1951 - Grant Sutherland 1954 - James Hossack 1956 - Reginald R. Day 1957 - Cecil M. Riddle 1960 - Donald Hossack 1961 - Ernest F. Garner 1964 - William M. Sutherland 1966 - Hugh Munro 1972 - Clair G. Minler 2023-2026 – Marcus Ryan
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