Westfield Heritage Village facts for kids
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| Established | 1961 |
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| Location | Rockton, Ontario, Canada. |
| Type | open-air museum |
The Westfield Heritage Village is a special place near Rockton, Ontario, Canada. It's like stepping back in time! This village has more than 30 old buildings. They are spread out over a large area, about 840 acres. The Hamilton Conservation Authority takes care of this amazing village.
Contents
A Look Back: How Westfield Started
The Early Days (1960s)
In 1961, two high school teachers from Brantford had a great idea. D. Glenn Kilmer and Golden Macdonnell wanted to save old buildings. They bought land near Rockton with their own money. Glenn's wife, Doreen Kilmer, also helped a lot. She was a teacher too.
Their goal was to save historic buildings from being torn down. They also wanted to create a place where people could learn about pioneer life. Glenn's father was a builder. Golden was a science teacher who loved history. They worked together to rebuild the donated buildings. Golden even built forges from stones found on the land. Doreen managed the General Store.
The village was first called the Westfield Pioneer Village. It opened unofficially in June 1963. The official opening was in 1964. The village was open on weekends in spring and fall. During summer holidays, it was open seven days a week. Many students and local women worked there. They helped with school tours. At first, 12 buildings were open to visitors.
Changes Over Time (1968-1990s)
In May 1968, the local government, Wentworth County, bought the village. They paid CAD $32,700 for it. The ownership officially changed on November 1, 1968.
The village's name changed in 1981. It became the Wentworth Heritage Village. This was because many of the buildings were not just from the pioneer era.
The village closed for a short time on September 3, 1984. There were some money problems. People discussed different ideas for its future. Some thought about moving it. Others even thought about making it a theme park.
Starting in 1985, the village became a movie set! Several scenes from the "Anne of Green Gables" movie series were filmed there. Buildings like the saw mill, church, train station, and general store were used.
A big plan to improve the village began in 1990. The goal was to make it a "special events theme centre." The village was then renamed the Westfield Heritage Centre.
New Projects (2010s)
In 2010, the village received a large grant from TD Bank. This money helped them plant many fruit trees. They also built two beehives. By May 2010, one beehive was working. They were waiting for more bees to make the colony bigger. A second beehive was also planned.
This bee program helps teach visitors about European honey bees. These bees were very important to early settlers. The program also helps people learn about Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD). This is a problem where many bees disappear.
Partnerships
The Westfield Heritage Village works with other groups. These include the CMA. It also partners with the CHIN. And it is part of the Virtual Museum of Canada.
See also
