Tag Archives: settlement

Toronto’s First Post Office

Conservation / Preservation:

Artefacts

  • Primarily early nineteenth century letter-writing materials such as pens, penknives, quill cutters, inkwells, seals, pounce pots, a post master’s desk and a portable post master’s desk.
  • Artefacts pertaining to the history of the Bank of Upper Canada and the De La Salle Institute, buildings to which the 1833 post office was conjoined after 1873.
  • Nineteenth century currency from Upper and Lower Canada, United Kingdom, United States, and Spain.

Architecture

The building itself has been restored to its original condition. The original fireplace has been uncovered and restored.

Archives and Library

  • Correspondence relating to the postal service in Upper Canada.
  • Several rare books relating to the early postal system in Upper Canada.
  • Documents relating to the Bank of Upper Canada and De La Salle Institute.
  • Research files on subsequent owners of the Post Office building, such as Christie Brown and Co..
  • Hundreds of letters by nineteenth-century Torontonians.

Public Programming:

Exhibitions

  • The post office is decorated with furniture and accessories authentic to the period, and visitors can write letters using nineteenth-century paraphernalia.
  • The Post Office reading room houses permanent and changing exhibitions relating to the history of Toronto’s postal service.
  • Scale model of Toronto (York) in 1837, with an online legend that identifies significant landmarks.
  • Occasional traveling exhibits featuring items from the Post Office’s collection.

Public Lectures

  • Annual public lecture on Toronto history to coincide with the annual meeting of the Town of York Historical Society.
  • Occasional public lectures in conjunction with the work of other heritage organizations in Toronto.

Publications

  • Quarterly newsletter that updates members on developments in heritage preservation efforts in Toronto, particularly as regards the city’s built heritage, and events in the heritage community.

Black Creek Pioneer Village

Conservation/Preservation:

Artefacts

Black Creek Pioneer Village’s collection of 50,000 artefacts represents the development of the Toronto region in the 19th century. Of special note are the Percy Band Toy Collection with over 2,000 pieces and the Catherine Thuro Collection of over 150 working kerosene lamps. Other items include domestic artefacts, books, fine art, furniture, machinery, textiles, and tools.

Architecture

Black Creek Pioneer Village features a collection of 40 heritage homes, trade shops, community, and farm buildings from across south central Ontario. Each of the Village’s original buildings has been restored and furnished to recapture its original ambiance and demonstrates how settlers used it. Examples consist of a print shop, grain barn, smoke house and a tinsmith shop.

Digital Archives

Digital archive of onsite museum’s holdings available: http://www.blackcreekartifacts.com/bcpv/srchitem.html.

Public Programming

Exhibitions

At Black Creek Pioneer Village visitors enjoy exhibits focusing on the people and stories of Toronto Region, including the award-winning Breaking the Silence: Stories of the British Home Children, 1869-1948.

Public Programs

Public programs are offered daily and range from tours of the recreated 19th century brewery to short performances by Black Creek’s History Actors, from hands-on Discovery Stations to Farmyard Friends where visitors can get up close with heritage breed animals.

SPecial events

A seasonal roster of special events include Pioneer Harvest Festival, which has been celebrated annually for over 50 years, Light Up the Night, Ghost Walks, and Christmas by Lamplight.

Educational Programming

Interactive curriculum-linked programs are provided for students ranging from pre-school to post-secondary.

Ashbridge Estate

Conservation/Preservation:

Architecture

The oldest house remaining on the site, the Jesse Ashbridge House, was built in 1854 according to a design by Joseph Sheard, architect and Toronto mayor (1871-72).

  • A blend of Neo-Classical brick quoins.
  • Decorative cornice brickwork and Regency style (as seen in the veranda’s bellcast roof and fanciful arcaded treillage).
  • The mansard roof is in the Shingle Style, added c. 1899.

Artefacts

A significant collection of household and personal artefacts:

  • The original land grant and wax seals, samplers, a conch shell, a family bible, an 1888 canoe, and bean pot are other artifacts that express the scope of the collection, dating from the 19th to the early 20th century.

Archives

A large collection of archival documents representing the personal characteristics, tastes and influences that affected six generations of the Ashbridge family.

Public Programming:

Tours

Open seasonally to the public during special events such as Doors Open Toronto and Toronto Heritage Week.

Applewood-James Shaver Woodsworth Homestead Foundation

Conservation/Preservation:

Architecture

The building, moved in 1980 to avoid demolition, serves as an example of the architecture of 19th century farmhouses in this region.

Artefacts

The interior of the homestead has been restored and furnished in the Victorian period of 1870-1890 (e.g. furniture and personal effects such as desks, china dolls, roll top desks, kitchen appliances).

Public Programming:

Tours

A tour of the main floor rooms and basement, with a slide presentation of the big move and restoration of the homestead.

Tours can also be tailored to a group’s interest, (i.e. J.S. Woodsworth, historic buildings, pioneer life, the Shaver Family, etc.).

Visitors may drop in and staff are available to answer questions.

Royal Ontario Museum

Conservation / Preservation:

Artefacts:

This museum houses more than 6 million artefacts and other objects documenting natural and human history from prehistoric times to the present.

Public Programming:

Exhibitions

The ROM offers a variety of changing and permanent exhibits. Explore an array of themed galleries throughout the museum, spanning the themes of world cultures, medieval history, Aboriginal history, natural history, Canadian history, science and technology, archaeology, and military history.

Tours

This museum offers many tours catering to a variety of age groups and educational level.

Digital

Online Virtual Exhibits including The Burgess Shale and Tuugaaq – Ivory.

Education

Lectures, courses, Trips/walks, traveling educational kits, online activities, family programming, school visits.

Dufferin County Museum and Archives (DCMA)

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.

Belfountain Heritage Society

Public Programming:

Exhibitions

  • The Melville White Church reflects the religious beliefs of the original Scottish Presbyterian pioneers in the Caledon area. The Church was named after Andrew Melville who was an early follower of John Wesley, the founder of the Presbyterian Church in Scotland in the 17th century.
  • The Melville Church is one of the last remaining Ontario timber frame churches predating the Victorian era. Its history began in 1820 and continued until the dissolution of the congregation in 1964.

Other

Once restored, the society will rent the Melville White Church for weddings, recitals, heritage displays, readings, exhibits and other community functions.

Heritage Mississauga

Conservation/Preservation:

Library

The ‘Heritage Resource Centre’ which is located at the main office, includes materials in relation to local history, historical geography, and historical publications. The resource centre also has access to Ancestry.ca and Toronto Star: Pages of the Past.

Public Programming:

Education

Researchers visiting the Heritage Resource Centre can be provided with assistance to aid them in their community research projects and genealogical research. Consultations with historians can be arranged through Heritage Mississauga to provide additional guidance.

Plaques

Heritage Mississauga has undertaken several interpretative plaque projects throughout the City of Mississauga. The plaques begin as comprehensive special research projects that document the history of specific parts of Mississauga’s heritage.

Education

A multitude of outreach programs and public presentations occur each year with various historical themes pertaining to Canadian and Mississauga’s history. Past presentations include, Remembering the AVRO Arrow, Journey to the Past: The Lost Villages of Mississauga, A Call to Arms: Historical Mississauga and the War. Heritage Mississauga also includes educational programs for schools focused on curriculum-based themes.

Tours

Heritage Mississauga offers seasonal guided bus tours around historic Mississauga. The bus tours include walking visits to specified locations. Special tours are also organized such as Haunted Mississauga.

Lambton House

Conservation / Preservation:

Artefacts

A few historical objects such as historical furniture and household items.

Public Programming:

Education

During special events such as Doors Open Toronto and Heritage Walks, historical talks are given at Lambton House recalling its significance and history.

Other

On the first Friday of every month, members from the public can gather and use Lambton House as a pub.