Elman W. Campbell Museum facts for kids
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| Established | 25 June 1982 |
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| Location | 134 Main Street South Newmarket, Ontario L3Y 3Y7 |
| Type | Local museum |
| Collections | Cultural artifacts |
| Founder | Elman W. Campbell |
| Owner | Town of Newmarket |
| Built | 1884, addition: 1938, addition 1954 |
| Built for | York County, Ontario |
| Original use | Registry Office |
| Current use | Museum |
| Architect | John T. Stokes, built by Page and Harris |
| Designated | 1987 |
| Reference no. | Town of Newmarket, By-law 1987-72 |
The Elman W. Campbell Museum is a cool place to visit in Newmarket, Ontario. It tells the story of Newmarket and the area around it, starting with the first Quaker settlers in the early 1800s. The museum focuses on old items from the area and what they mean.
It has many exhibits that are always there, plus space for new ones that change often. The museum also offers fun programs for elementary school students and groups like Scouts Canada. You can find the museum at 134 Main Street South, and it's easy to get around because it's wheelchair accessible.
Contents
What You Can See: Museum Exhibits
The museum has several exhibits that are always on display for visitors to enjoy.
Permanent Displays
- A detailed model train set that shows what downtown Newmarket looked like in the mid-1920s.
- A recreated log cabin that helps you imagine what life was like for the first pioneers who settled in the Newmarket area.
Changing Exhibitions
The museum also hosts special exhibits that change throughout the year. Here are some examples of past temporary exhibits:
- 75th Anniversary of D-Day: This exhibit featured photos and uniforms from the time of the D-Day invasion.
- The Great War in Pictures and Objects: This display showed pictures, uniforms, and other items from World War I, which happened between 1914 and 1918.
- Gallery of Festive Trees: This fun exhibit presented many different Christmas trees decorated in styles from various time periods.
- History Through Stitches: This collection showcased handmade quilts from different groups of the Federated Women's Institutes of Ontario. It also included sewing machines and tools from the museum's own collection.
- The Annual Scout Display: This exhibit presented the museum's collection of items related to Scouting.
About the Founder: Elman W. Campbell
The museum is named after Elman W. Campbell, a very important person in Newmarket's history.
Early Life and Challenges
Elman W. Campbell was born on April 11, 1905, near Mount Albert, Ontario. He went to Newmarket High School and later studied chemical engineering at the University of Toronto. Sadly, he lost his eyesight in 1928 due to a series of accidents.
His Contributions to Newmarket
Even after losing his sight, Elman Campbell was a successful businessman. He owned the Campbell Stationery and China Shop on Main Street from 1934 to 1974. During this time, he started collecting many of the old items that would later become part of the museum's collection.
He was also key in setting up the museum in 1981, with help from Ray Twinney, who was the mayor of Newmarket at the time. From 1978 to 1982, Elman Campbell was the president of the Newmarket Historical Society, showing his dedication to preserving local history.
Where the Museum Has Been: Buildings Over Time
The Elman W. Campbell Museum has been in a few different locations since it first opened.
First Home: The Old Fire Hall
When the museum first opened its doors in 1982, it was located on the top floor of the Old Fire Hall, at 140 Main Street South.
Moving to Timothy Street
In October 1990, the museum moved to 543 Timothy Street. This new location offered more space and better parking, which was great for visitors.
Current Home: A Historic Building
Since 1996, the museum has been in its current home: the former North York Registry Office. This building was built way back in 1884.
About the Building's History
The building was designed in the Classical Revival style, which means it looks like old Greek and Roman buildings. In 1987, it was officially recognized as a historically and architecturally important building under the Ontario Heritage Act.
The building was used as the regional registry office from when it was built until 1980. That's where important records were kept. After that, the records moved to a new Provincial Court Building. The building was then used for the administrative offices of York Region until 1993. Today, the museum shares the building with the Newmarket Historical Society Archives and Heritage Newmarket.
