Fredericton Region Museum facts for kids

The Fredericton Region Museum is a cool place where you can learn about the history of Fredericton and the surrounding areas in New Brunswick, Canada. It used to be called the York Sunbury Museum. This museum is a non-profit organization, which means it's not trying to make money. It was started way back in 1934 by a group called the York Sunbury Historical Society.

For many years, the museum moved around to different spots. But since 1959, it has been located in a special building at Officers' Square on Queen Street in Fredericton, New Brunswick.

Discovering History at the Museum

The Fredericton Region Museum is all about keeping the history of the York and Sunbury region alive. It also covers central New Brunswick. The museum has a huge and interesting collection of items.

What You Can See

You can find many unique things at the museum. Imagine seeing a cake that is 100 years old! There's also the famous Coleman Frog. You can see beautiful Victorian gowns. Plus, there's a very old stone tool called a Clovis Point, which is about 10,000 years old.

The museum has more than ten different exhibits. These displays teach you about different groups of people. You can learn about the Acadians and the Loyalists. There are also exhibits about New Brunswick's Aboriginal peoples. You can even explore a First World War Trench display.

How the Museum Works

Since the museum is a non-profit place, it relies a lot on volunteers. These amazing people help keep everything running smoothly. The museum also has a small team of paid staff members.

The first full-time paid manager, called a curator, was Bob Guthrie. He started in 1969. Before that, the museum was managed by volunteers. Sometimes, there were part-time paid staff.

The York Sunbury Historical Society

The idea for the York Sunbury Historical Society began in January 1932. This was during a tough time called the Great Depression. A woman named Martha J. Harvey sent a letter to people in Fredericton. She suggested starting a historical society.

Starting the Society

The response to Martha's idea was very positive. Within just two weeks, the society was officially formed. By the end of 1932, there were 132 members!

The first meetings of the society were held on the second floor of the Post Office. This building is also on Queen Street. Soon after, the society started getting its first donations of historical items. Many more donations followed over the years.

Purpose and Today

The Society officially became a non-profit organization on February 10, 1934. Its rules explain its purpose. The main goal was to find and protect the history and heritage of York and Sunbury counties in New Brunswick (Canada).

The society is run by a Board of Directors. These directors are chosen by the members each year. Different committees help with the society's mission. Today, the society still has about 150 members. Each member is dedicated to the original goal of the York Sunbury Historical Society. This society is the group that operates the Fredericton Region Museum in Officers' Square.

See also

• The Officers' Quarterly