Fanshawe Pioneer Village facts for kids
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| Established | 1959 |
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| Location | 2609 Fanshawe Park Road East London, Ontario, Canada N5X 4A1 |
| Type | historic site |
| Collection size | 33 buildings |
| Owner | London and Middlesex Heritage Museum |
| Public transit access | none |
| Nearest car park | on-site, free |
Fanshawe Pioneer Village is a fun outdoor museum located in the Fanshawe Conservation Area in London, Ontario. It was created in 1959. The village uses historical re-enactments to show what life was like for people living in rural communities in Middlesex County. This includes the time from 1820 to 1920. It also teaches about how the City of London was founded and grew until 1840.
The London and Middlesex Heritage Museum owns and runs Fanshawe Pioneer Village. This group is a not-for-profit charity. They get help from the City of London and other local groups. The main goal of the village is to help everyone learn about and keep history and traditions alive. They do this through exciting "living history" experiences.
Contents
History of the Village
The idea for Fanshawe Pioneer Village started in 1955. It was part of a plan to protect old buildings in the Upper Thames River area. The Village officially opened its doors on June 26, 1959. Dr. Wilfrid Jury, who was a director at the University of Western Ontario, helped a lot.
In 1961, the village grew to 2.2 acres. By 1963, more land was set aside for future growth. Wilfrid Jury had collected many old pioneer items. These items were moved to the Village in 1978. By 1980, the village had 23 buildings spread out over 22 acres. Today, Fanshawe Pioneer Village has 33 original and copied historic buildings. They are located on 46 acres of land.
Museum and Activities
Fanshawe Pioneer Village has many interesting things to see and do.
What You Can See
The village has a large collection of items important to the history of London and Middlesex County. There are over 25,000 items in total. These include old furniture, beautiful art, and historic clothes. You can also see old tools used in homes, on farms, and in factories. All these items were given by people living in London and Middlesex County.
Special Events
Fanshawe Pioneer Village hosts many events each year. These events are based on history. They are a great way to get the community involved in learning about the past.
Historic Buildings
Fanshawe Pioneer Village has 33 historic buildings. These buildings show how communities changed over one hundred years. The village is divided into four sections. Each section shows a different time period in the community's development.
Fanshawe Settlement: 1820-1850
This section shows what life was like for the first settlers. These settlers came from Europe and other parts of North America. They arrived in the London area in the early 1800s.
- Log School – This building is a copy of the first log schools. Settlers built these schools around the 1830s.
- Elgie Log House – This house shows what the first homes of settlers in London Township looked like around 1820.
- Colbert Log Barn – This barn was built in the 1840s. It was made from strong rock elm logs.
Fanshawe Corners: 1850-1880
This part of the village shows how small towns started to grow. These towns often grew at important transportation crossroads.
- Blacksmith Shop- Blacksmiths and other business owners often set up their shops at crossroads.
- Corbett Tavern – This tavern from the 1840s offered food and a place to stay for travelers. It was also a meeting spot for the community.
- Lochaber Church – This church was built in 1884. It was a Free Presbyterian Church.
- Mount Moriah Lodge – Groups like the Masons first met in taverns. Later, they built special halls like this one. The inside looks like an early 1800s Masonic Hall in London.
- Purple Hill Lodge – This building was a meeting hall for Protestant Irish immigrants. These halls were important community centers. People would gather there for dances, dinners, and concerts.
Fanshawe Township: 1880-1910
This section tells the story of farming. Farming became very important for the economy of London and Middlesex County during this time.
- The Caverhill Farmstead – This farm shows what an established farm looked like after many years of settlement.
- Fanshawe School – Schools became more organized for children of the second generation. This one-room schoolhouse from 1871 is a typical example.
- Jury Farmstead – This was the childhood home of Wilfrid Jury. He was the person who started Fanshawe Pioneer Village. This farm shows what a second-generation farm was like around 1900.
The Town of Fanshawe: 1910-1920
This part of the village shows the fast changes that happened in the early 1900s.
- Alder's Weaving Shed- This is Thomas Alder's original weaving shed from the 1850s.
- Denfield General Store – Here, people could buy almost anything they needed. They could also send telegrams or mail letters.
- Peel House- This was the childhood home of London artist Paul Peel. It shows what a city home looked like around 1900.
- Harmer Sawmill- Sawmills cut wood for building. Because of these mills, wooden frame houses became more common than log houses.
- Dr. Jones House and Barn– This home belonged to a rural doctor. It shows how some people had other jobs besides farming.
- The Print Shop- This shop looks like a typical print shop from the early 1900s. It produced newspapers and other printed materials.
- Trinity Anglican Church- This Anglican church was built in 1887. It is a great example of a certain style of church architecture.
See also
- Black Creek Pioneer Village
- Kings Landing Historical Settlement
- Upper Canada Village
- Village Québécois d'Antan
- Village Historique Acadien
