Wallaceburg and District Museum facts for kids
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| Established | June 29, 1984 |
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| Location | 505 King Street, Wallaceburg, Ontario, Canada |
| Type | Cultural/Historic Museum |
| Collection size | 85,000 |
The Wallaceburg and District Museum is a cool place to learn about history! It's in Wallaceburg, a town in Southern Ontario, Canada. You can find it close to the Sydenham River at 505 King Street. This building used to be the Wallaceburg Hydro Office. The museum first opened its doors on June 29, 1984.
The museum tells the story of the Wallaceburg community. It starts from the very first settlement, called the Baldoon Settlement, which was founded by Lord Selkirk way back in 1804. It then shows how Wallaceburg grew into a busy industrial town in the mid-1900s.
History
How It Started (1974–1984)
In 1974, five friends decided to create the Wallaceburg and District Historical Society (WDHS). These founding members were Doug Thompson, A.G. Fairhead, Tom Chatterton, Frank Mann, and Al Mann.
Their goal was to save and show off the history of Wallaceburg. They decided the best way to do this was to open a public museum. In 1975, the WDHS got some money from a "New Horizon Grant." They used it to buy special equipment to start collecting historical items. The group began talking to older people in the community to record their stories. They also started sorting through items that could be displayed one day.
In 1981, the Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport joined the project. They helped the WDHS look for places to build the museum. One good spot was a large building at 505 King Street, which belonged to Wallaceburg Hydro. In 1983, the Town of Wallaceburg bought this building for just $1 Canadian. Finally, on June 29, 1984, the Wallaceburg and District Museum officially opened!
Big Changes Over Time (1997)
In 1997, the museum got a huge makeover. They added a bigger basement for new exhibits. They also built an auditorium upstairs. This space could be used for guest speakers, concerts, and presentations. People could also rent the auditorium for their own events.
The renovations were finished in the same year. The new auditorium was named the Hydro Electric Auditorium. This name was a nod to the building's original owner, Wallaceburg Hydro. The whole building, including both the museum and the auditorium, was named the Von Ayres Cultural Centre. This was done to honor Sgt. Estell Von Ayres, a Wallaceburg veteran from World War I.
New Exhibits and Tech (2001–2010)
In 2001 and 2002, the museum completely updated its Glass Gallery Exhibit. The WDHS worked with people who used to work at the Sydenham Glass Company. This company had closed in 1999. These retired workers helped collect and confirm new glass pieces for the improved exhibit.
After four years, the staff and volunteers started working on a huge new exhibit. This exhibit would become the Industrial Room. During this project, they decided to build walls that could be moved. This made it much easier to change and redesign exhibits in the future.
From 2008 to 2010, the museum expanded its basement area. They added three brand new exhibits there. During this time, the museum also received a $2600 "Museums and Technology Grant" from the Ontario government. This money was used to buy PastPerfect Museum Software. This special software helps the museum keep a digital record of all its historical items.
In 2010, a Wallaceburg resident named Saundra Vansnick provided money for a mural and a bench. These were placed on the north side of the museum. She did this to remember her husband, George Vansnick, who was one of the original members of the WDHS.
Celebrating Sports (2011)
In 2011, the Wallaceburg Sports Hall of Fame gave money to completely redesign the sports room. A cool touchscreen display was added. It lists all the people who have been inducted into the Wallaceburg Sports Hall of Fame. Also, a digital sign was put up at the front of the building. The museum's website also got a professional new look.
The Museum Building
The land where the museum stands was first given to Captain John McGregor. He received it from The Crown for his excellent service in the War of 1812. In 1876, McGregor gave the land to the Town of Wallaceburg. He said the land had to be used for town purposes. It then became the spot for the First Town Hall and Opera House.
In 1905, the Hedgling Brass and Iron Manufacturing Company started working in the building's basement. This company is now known as the former Waltec. In 1925, the Wallaceburg Hydro building was built on the site. This is the building that was later sold to the town to become the museum.
What You Can See
The Glass Gallery
The Glass Gallery tells the story of Wallaceburg's glass-making industry. This industry was very successful a long time ago. The exhibit also shows the art of glass blowing from all over the world.
The collection has everything from tiny poison bottles to giant champagne bottles. Many of these were made right in Wallaceburg! You can also see photos and small models of glassblowers working in the factories.
The Industrial Room
The Industrial Room shows the history of Wallaceburg's big industrial past. This exhibit displays baseball gear, water taps, pressure cookers, and other tools and products. These items were made and used in the many factories here. They are important reminders of Wallaceburg's industrial history. The exhibit also honors the many companies that have been in Wallaceburg over the years. These include Waltec, Dominion Sugar Company (now Domino Foods), Libbey's (now the Libbey-Owens-Ford Company), Heinz, Greenmelk, and Wallaceburg Dairies.
The Marine Room
The Marine Room teaches you about Wallaceburg's history with shipping and boats. You can see models of ships that were built in Wallaceburg. There's also a part from the Annette Fraser steamer, which is a shaft and propeller. Plus, there's a photo display about John McCallum's rescue attempt on Lake Superior.
James Streetscape
The James Streetscape is one of the oldest exhibits at the museum. It shows what the downtown area of Wallaceburg looked like in the 1920s.
The exhibit has full recreations of local businesses and shops. These were inspired by stories from people who lived back then and old photos of the James Street area. Some of the recreated shops even have real tools and materials from that time. For example, the doctor's office has old medical items from the 20th century.
Sports Room
This is one of the recently updated rooms in the museum. It has records of every person inducted into the Wallaceburg Sports Hall of Fame since 1982. The hall of fame also has a collection of sports equipment and items that belonged to many famous Wallaceburg athletes.
The room also highlights some recent successes in professional sports. These include Pittsburgh Steelers kicker Shaun Suisham and Toronto Maple Leafs center Seth Griffith, both of whom are from Wallaceburg.
The Baldoon Mystery
The museum has an interactive exhibit about a local ghost story called The Baldoon Mystery. This spooky tale is about a Wallaceburg farmer named John T. McDonald and his family. It happened between 1830 and 1840. People in the community believed the family was being cursed by a witch.
The exhibit shows old newspaper clippings about the Baldoon Mystery. It also has items from that time period and a model of the supposed witch. There's even a five-minute video that guests can watch to learn more about the story.
Baldoon Pioneer Room
This room has information about the first settlers in the Wallaceburg area. The exhibits here show what life was like for the first settlers from Scotland. You can see the kinds of clothes, tools, and daily tasks that were common for early pioneers. The room also has a working weaving loom that was built in the 1790s!
Legion Room
The Legion Room is dedicated to the Canadian Armed Forces. The items in this room include uniforms, equipment, models, and written stories. These tell about Canada's efforts overseas during WWI and WWII. The room also has an exhibit about the famous Lee-Enfield rifle. This rifle was invented and perfected in Wallaceburg in 1878.
The exhibit was created with help from members of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 18. It was finished in the spring of 2010.
Photo gallery
