Type: Museum
This institution collects, preserves, and displays artefacts, documents, and photos that relate to the heritage of the Uxbridge Township area.
Programming:
Conservation / Preservation:
Architecture
Eight restored nineteenth and early twentieth century buildings, including the Gould-Carmody House (1860), Fifth Line Methodist Church (1870), and Quaker Hill Public School (1924). These structures relate to the area’s business, agricultural, and Quaker history.
Artefacts
The museum houses more than 6,000 artefacts, mainly relating to Uxbridge’s early history. Housed primarily in the museum’s historic buildings, prominent artefacts include carved furniture and musical instruments, a restored printing press and other machinery used by the Uxbridge Printing Company, three prisoners’ boxes carved by men imprisoned in Toronto for their role in the Upper Canada Rebellion of 1837, as well as agricultural tools such as an ox cart, plow, and stump puller.
Archives
The archives contains local business, school, and church records, photographs, newspapers, and municipal records and papers.
Public Programming:
Exhibitions
The museum offers several exhibits, including
- Four displays dedicated to the life and work of individuals with historical connections to the area, novelist Lucy Maud Montgomery, pianist Glenn Gould, artist David Milne, and millionaire and Toronto Mayor, Thomas Foster.
- A display of Uxbridge’s Quaker history with emphasis on the Uxbridge Quaker pioneer settlement.
- The main gallery also houses temporary exhibits. The current exhibit is A History of Play: An Exhibition of Vintage Towns and Collectibles, featuring 100 dolls, games, and cast iron and tin toys.
Educational Programming
The Historical Centre offers tours and workshops to school children of all ages and tailors programming to the Ontario Curriculum. Workshop topics include daily life in nineteenth century Uxbridge, communications and newspaper history, and agricultural history. Museum staff and volunteers also visit schools.
Volunteer/Internship/Placement Opportunities:
This institution accepts volunteers to perform a variety of tasks, including administrative work, research and collections management, educational programming and tours, gardening, maintenance, and help with special events.
Address & Contact Information:
7239 Conc. 6
Box 1301
Uxbridge, ON
Phone: 905-852-5854
Email: museum@town.uxbridge.on.ca
Website: http://www.uxbridgehistoricalcentre.com
Hours of Operation:
Wednesday – Sunday, and holidays, 9:00am – 5:00pm, from Victoria Day weekend to Thanksgiving weekend. Tours are available Wednesday – Sunday, and holidays, 10:00am – 4:00pm. Hours are subject to change, so visitors should contact the center in advance of their visit.
Key Words: settlement, religion