Conservation/Preservation:
Archives/Library
In a community-wide call for material, families, businesses and organisations donated documents to the community archives. The township also contracted a historian to conduct oral interviews of residents. Personal papers, photos and taped interviews.
Public Programming:
Occasional public lectures, events, and other projects, including creating historical plaques, the preservation of a one room school house, the renovation of a railway station, and upkeep of a cemetery.
Conservation/Preservation:
Artefacts
Collection contains 20,000 artifacts including antique tractors, steam engines, farm equipment, heritage buildings and other items relating to rural life.
Public Programming:
Exhibitions
Home to 30 exhibits including buildings, displays and interactive learning.
Tours
Tours are offered to middle-school aged children and are experiential in nature with historical interpretation and activity by costumed staff to recreate the time period.
Conservation / Preservation:
Architecture
Four original, in situ buildings remain on the grounds. These consist of two historic homes, the former paper mill and the remains of the brewery complex. The Cottage has been restored to the 1940s reflecting life on the home front in East York while Helliwell House has been restored to reflect workers’ lives in the late 1890s. The paper mill has been restored to a fully-accessible theatre and gallery now known as the Papermill Theatre and Gallery.
Artefacts
The Museum’s collection consists primarily of artifacts related to the time periods to which the two historic houses have been restored.
Archives
Archival materials related to Todmorden Mills and East York are housed at the Toronto Reference Library, City of Toronto Archives, and Archives of Ontario.
Environment / Nature
The site contains a 9.2 hectare wildflower preserve that is being re-naturalized to pre-European contact.
Public Programming:
Exhibitions
The artifacts on display in the historic houses reflect the time periods to which the homes have been restored.
Education / Tours
Guided tours of the two historic houses and grounds are available year-round. Educational, curriculum-linked programs are available to school groups. Seasonal guided walks of the wildflower preserve are also provided.
Art Gallery
The Papermill Gallery regularly exhibits the works of local artists, community art groups and emerging artists.
Theatre
The Papermill Theatre offers performance space for theatre, community celebrations and corporate events.
