Conservation/Preservation:
Artefacts
- Rich original artefact collection, letters, photographs the Harris family ofBenares.
- Artefacts are from the WWI era (1916-1918) and are generally domestic items that would be found in a household of this time period, such as kitchen items, tools, pottery and china. There are also items donated by the Harris family dating as far back as the 1830’s.
Public Programming
Exhibitions
Changing and permanent exhibits are offered.
Tours
Guided tours are offered to the general public and group tours can also be arranged. Tour guides and historic interpreters are in costume reflecting 19th century dress.
Other
Some of the programs offered to the public include cooking over a wood stove from the time period.
Conservation / Preservation:
Artefacts
The museum holds a diverse collection of objects reflecting the history of Oakville from its establishment to the present day, including costumes and textiles, fine and decorative arts, ethnological artefacts and Chisholm family-related materials.
Public Programming:
Exhibitions
Permanent and changing exhibitions. Permanent exhibitions include Freedom, Opportunity and Family: Oakville’s Black History and The Underground Railroad: Next Stop Freedom.
Tours
The Oakville Museum offers guided tours of the Chisholm family home.
Other
Throughout the year, museum staff present a series of mini exhibits coupled with conversational-style presentations to seniors’ residences in the community. Various themes are covered including oddities in the museum’s collections, an overview of Oakville’s history, vintage quilts and cocktail party gowns.
Conservation/Preservation:
Archives / Library
- Archival collections include Trafalgar County census records, newspapers, maps, letters, diaries, photographs, and ephemera documenting Oakville’s built history and community life since the mid-nineteenth century.
- The Reference Library contains over 1500 works dealing with arts and crafts, costumes, Oakville history, family histories and genealogies, municipal directories, cookbooks,Trafalgar Township and numerous others. A separate section includes aids to genealogical research.
- The R.W. (Bob) Davis Marine Library contains an extensive collection of works covering Canadian and world history and technical books related to ships and sailing.
Public Programming:
Exhibitions
- This society preserves the original home of the Merrick Thomas family. This home, built in 1829, is furnished and presented as a pioneer home of the 1830 – 1840’s, with many original family items. The Thomas House was moved to its present location in Lakeside Park in 1955
- The Society also preserves The Old Post Office. Oakville’s first post office (1835 to 1856) stands beside the Thomas House and is operated by the Oakville Museum.
Tours
Guided Tours of the Thomas House and First Post Office are offered, particularly during the summer months.
Digital
The Online Memories Project (found as a link on their website);
Conservation/Preservation:
Archives/Library
- The archival collection encompasses a range of materials relating to all aspects of Dufferin’s history. The collection includes more than 3000 archival documents, more than 500 local history books, and approximately 3000 photographs, as well as a wide range of reference books pertaining to Canadian antiques and artifacts, Canadian history, local authors, education, area churches, and community organizations.
- The archives also offers an extensive collection of municipal government information, such as by-laws, council minutes, and financial records, the earliest of which dates from 1851; information on such social organizations as the Loyal Orange Lodge, Masonic Lodge, and Women’s Institutes .
- Local History: A collection of over 500 works, including information on Dufferin and area towns, villages, churches, schools as well as many personal anecdotes of life in this region of Ontario.
- Museum Reference: The collection is accessible to researchers who are interested in finding and verifying information on Canadian, American and British antiques, Canadian glassware, antique furniture, costume jewellery and textiles.
- Canadian History: A selection of over 200 works, including texts of general interest in Canadian social, economic, and political history.
- Home & Health Advice: Includes some 200 works pertaining to Canadian agriculture, genealogy, cooking, maps, bibles, music and school textbooks.
- Family History: Two self-serve filing cabinets offer a number of family histories and research files.
- Cemetery Master Index and Transcriptions: Consult this master list available in the Archives.
- Microfilm: Census Records of Dufferin County records 1852 to 1901 are available
- Civil Registration Index from 1869 onward, various newspapers dating from 1861 including Orangeville Sun, Banner, Grand Valley Star & Vidette, Shelburne Economist, Free Press.
- Dufferin County Land Records to 1966, Municipal Records and many County Directories and Atlases are available.
Artefacts
- The first floor’s Large Artefact Storage Room is accessible to visitors. This area, which stores such items as wagons, sleighs, and furniture, allows visitors to view artefacts which are not currently on display in the DCMA’s exhibit galleries.
- The collections include archival documents and artefacts such as Canadian glass and ceramics (notably, Corn Flower cut glassware), furniture, wagons, machinery, agricultural implements, clothing, quilts, archival documents, and photographs.
- The museum’s hillside site features heritage gardens with a rich variety of plants, trees, and flowers, all of which were native to this region around 1900. The property also showcases samples of crop varieties traditionally harvested in DufferinCounty, as well as an apple orchard and an herb garden.
Public Programming:
Exhibitions
- Three heritage buildings are situated inside the DCMA’s main gallery; the Rich Hill Orange Lodge Building 1861, a pioneer log home 1850, and Crombie’s Station, a Toronto, Grey and Bruce train flagging station, 1882.
- Rich Hill Orange Lodge, constructed of tamarack logs in 1861, was originally located in AmaranthTownship.
- The McCutcheon Replica House at the DCMA is a one and one-half storey log home, constructed with logs dating from 1851. The interior of the house is appointed and furnished with artefacts from the DCMA Collection to reflect the period of the County of Dufferin’s incorporation in 1881.
- Also located on this site is the Historic Corbetton Methodist Church Building.
- The Reading Room also showcases changing displays in beautiful antique cases, formerly of Morrow’s Jewellery Store in Orangeville, ca. 1880.
Tours
Group visits must be booked in advance and admission is $20.00/person.
Public Programming:
Exhibitions
- Originally built in 1866 on the foundation of an early Baldwin family house, the estate was enlarged and remodeled by Albert Austin between 1898 and 1913, reflecting the changing times and tastes of the Austin family over three generations.
- The historic house illustrates the evolution of styles from mid-Victorian to 1930s Colonial Revival and includes items from both the Arts and Crafts and Aesthetic Movements, as well as items in the Art Nouveau and Art Deco styles.
- The rooms contain furniture purchased by the family, much of it made in Toronto. The influence of new technologies such as gas lighting, central heating, electricity and the telephone can be seen here.
- The life of the domestic staff is represented in the working kitchen and pantries and third floor accommodations. The most visible reminders of the former Baldwin house are the previous front door, sidelights and fanlight, which now form the back entrance.
Tours
- Meet the Austins: A Toronto Family Between the Wars
Education
Spadina Museum offers a range of elementary, secondary and post-secondary education programs.
Children’s programs include March Break and Summer camps, and birthday parties.
Adult hands-on workshops on a variety of topics are scheduled throughout the year.
Events
The museum offers a range of special events throughout the year including Mother’s Day, Doors Open (last weekend of May), Gatsby Garden Party in June, City Cider in September, and seasonal programming in November/December including the Ongoing Adventures of Flashman, a live radio play.
Other
The 6 acre Spadina Museum site includes lawns, orchards, restored garden beds and many large heritage trees. The grounds are open free of charge to the public when staff are on site.
Conservation/Preservation:
Artefacts
Nineteenth century furniture and household items, as well as printing shop artefacts including a printing press built in 1845.
Architecture
The Mackenzie House is a nineteenth century home which was once part of a terrace of houses. The house was constructed with a Greek Revival style between 1855 and 1858.
Public Programming
Programming includes walking tours of the downtown core, historic cooking and printing workshops, and special programs such as Hogmanay, Robbie Burns, Doors Open and Nuit Blanche. Mackenzie House participates in city-wide programs such as Luminato, Pride Week/Month and Contact Photography Festival. The site often partners with outside community groups to present programming and exhibits such as Archives of Ontario, Ryerson University and the Downtown Yonge BIA.
EXHIBITIONS
A modern gallery space hosts changing exhibitions covering different historical themes, such as William Lyon Mackenzie’s life, Christmas in Toronto, In the Footsteps of Black Victorians, The History of the Black Press, Contact Photography Festival photos, and Read All About It: The First World War as Front Page News.
Tours
Mackenzie House offers guided tours of the historic house and re-created print shop.
Educational Programming
Mackenzie House offers curriculum based education programs for elementary, intermediate and high school and specialized programs for University and College students. Each are designed to complement a particular grade school curriculum, including the Grade 7 Rebellion program, Mackenzie’s Toronto walking tour, Black Press and Green Fields of Canada: the Impact of the Potato Famine on the City of Toronto.
Public Programming:
Exhibitions
Scadding Cabin is constructed of squared, white pine logs with dovetailed corners and is furnished as a typical settler’s first house, with artefacts dating from the 1790s to the 1850s
Re-enactments / Theatre
Costumed volunteers will happily answer your questions about the early history of York (Toronto). York Pioneers often organize displays of settler skills such as spinning and wood carving, and presentations by members of First Nations.
