HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000-00686Museum
Church
Church Shed
Ro'el
Blacksmith Shop
Harness Shop
oddfellaws Hall
Barn
Cole House
Collins House
Log House
Log Barn
Beef Ming Barn
Gas Barn
Steam Barn
0
CI
12
15 14 11
I3
0
PICKERING TOWNSHIP MUSEUM
PTCKERIN:= TOWNSHIP MUSEUM
1. a) Museum Building -
b) Historical Sketcl;
The main building displaying some o:= the Local areas oldest
artifacts was the beginning of an idea born to Robert Puller,
of Brougham, and a group of dedicated citizens interested in
the history of their co_mruUnity. The year 1959 was the 100th
birthday of the sturdy brick school house, referred to them
as School Sectiol.-I o. 10. It had outgrown its usefullness
as a school house, and a r_cw site and :wilding were located
across the road. Headed by Per. Miller, the aforesaid group
organized itself into a Historical Committee raised funds
by subscription and by appeals to the County of Ontario and
the Township of Pic;cerinct, and purchased the building and
site. L. the change hasbeenmade in the one hundred year
old structure and it has since become the nucleus of the
Pickering Township Museum Grounds.
Described by one knowledgeable i.17 such matters, the collection
of tools used by pioneers in the area displays the best
assortment in G_lt ario. Exhibits of furniture clothing, toys
and machines, from early farm paraphernalia to relics of the
Victorian Era are contained therein.
2. a) Building - Church Shed -
b) Historical Sketc_i -
Not too many nears a,;o this build i n q eras the east section
of the remaining Church Shed at _Hlt. :pion Church located in
Concession Lot 5� It was orzg2-nally built as part of
the primative C lurch at Balsam. This Church was
also known as chc Tia?.�_, `FYie Church Shed was moved
to Pit. Zion by the u;se of horse_ just before 1890. in 1967
it was donated to the Mus�ur and ender the supervision of
Morley Simms, tine local men tore it down and transported it
to the Museum Grounds. T3ere, it eras re --built in its original
form. It was necessary to replace one olate and two of the
original posts. �'he splice in the plate was done the same
as the original onID
�I:�lton Parkin. This is an unusual
splice and is rarely seen in any timbers.
c) Donated By - Mt. pion Church Congregation
-2-
3. a) Building - Bible Christi, gin: Church -
b) Historical 3ket �i
The Bible Chrivtian Church was built in the year 1853 on the
south west corner of Lot 24, Concession 5: Pickering Township.
i-her_ the congregation merged with the Methodist Church, the
building was solAto Oilliam Henry major. Prior to 1890 it
,.,vas moved to t=-).c R :;binson Farm and used for storage and tools.
It is from this location that it was moved to the Museum
property.
The church has beene�tored to its original status as a
Place of worship. several services have been conducted in
the building while on the ;•Museum grounds, the lAinister
preaching from the curious box_ pulpit. On Thanksgiving.
1970 it was again used in the service of God with an
interdenominational service of Thanksgiving being held.
Also during the year 1970, the building was featured in a
CBC television product-L entitled "i�iagantic Outlaw".
c) Donated By - Mr. 'Nie ;ton Robinson
a) Building - Brougham Central Hotel -
b) Historical Sketch -
This buildin was built by 17elson Woodruff. an early pioneer
of the area prior to the year 18.52 and was located on the
north :side of Highway 17o. 7 in Brougham at its present
intersection with the Brock Road. It was only used as a
Hotel up to the year 1PS7� and -,aas later operated as a store
by Hugh Machin until 1915. In later years it zrras operated
by several store keepers with the rear of t:-e property being
utilized .for living quarters. The hutch family were the last
to utilize the building as a store.
Moved to the Museum Grounds in ?96, this is the last build-
ing on the projoert- awaiting restoration.
The front port-; o.i of the Y.ui1u ing is constructed of four inch
square sca.ntli;,g�: i- the wall groi_,ted with stone lime and
cement. The rear is plank with the Planks mortised into the
top and bottom plate. It is interesting to note the extreme
width and thick._zess of- the plank utilized in the construction.
c) Donated By - The County of Ontario
-3-
5. Building - Blac?csmi4 Shop -
b) Historical 3ketcl-L „_
The Blacksmith Shop is believed to ave been built around
the year 1856 and 5.ras originally located on the north side
o- Concession 6 in the Hamlet of Greenwood. For many years
it vas operated -�t._ the late '%alter :-ikon.
The building itself required li-ctle restoration and to
all intents and ;purposes �S m'ac'h -t le same as it was when
it served the ;.ieed:3 of the reside_n. s in the GreenYrcod area.
The front portion of the buildinc contained the Blacksmith
Shop while the rear section was used as a woodworking shop
where amongst other things., the local resident's wagon wheels
were made and repaired. The second storey of the building
was used as a paint shop and the thickness of the planks
used in the walis suggests that there was little likelihood
Of any unwanted dust getting into the room and spoiling a
paint job. %,-Tago-- s o "ten received as muc'z as eight separate
coats of paint and ob-.;iously tine painter took extreme pride
in the end product. It is interesting to note that the
wagons were pushed' up a ramp into the paint shop through the
large doors on the side of -che building. There were always
willing hands in the vicinity of the Blacksmith S3hop to lend
assistance in such tasks.
c) Donated By - Miss Edna Green
6. a) Building - Harness
b) Historical Sketch -
Originally this building was located on the east side of the
Central Hotel and while not joined directly to the building,
it shared a common porch with tine Hotel. About 1920 the
building was attached to the rear of "Lhe Central Hotel and
was used by j:Tr, &Mrs. Cliff �,Tannop as a residence until
moved to the Museum Grounds. Mr. T'illiam Coakwell was the
last harness maker who operated the shop itself.
c) Donated By - County of Ontario
-4-
7. a) Building - Oddfeliows hall (Whitevale Church) -
b) Historical Sketch --
It was constructed originally as a Christian Church, but was
only utilized for approximately ten years for this purpose.
Around the turn of the century it was acquired by the
Independent Order of Oddfellows; and for the major part of
its exista.nce was occupied ly them as a meeting hall. In
later years it was acquired by Mr. u Mrs. Kenneth Cooper.
Were it not for the financial assistance of ,^fir. John CA. Irwin
of Whitevale and MO. 'carry A. Newman of Greenwood it would
not have been possible to locate this building on the property.
This was undoubtedly the most difficult building to move to
the Museum. Grounds because of ito immense size. Originally
located on the Altona Road immediately north of the 5th
Concession Road, it was brought across country to a point
east of the Village and along the 5t;z Concession to the
Brock Road. Again it was taken across country immediately
south of Brougham to its present location.
The building exterior was in remarkably fine condition.
The interior was almost :holly re -plastered in the year
1970 and the building now presents a large area for display
purposes.
c) Donated By - mr. & Mrs. Kenneth Cooper
S. a) Building - Combination Burg --
b) Historical Sketch -
This barn was originally located immediately north of
Brougham in Lot 13, Concession 6. The original structure
was probably re -built from another old barn as there are
both hewn timbers and sawed timbers used in the building.
The Brougham Beef Ring was operated from this barn for many
years.
c) Donated By - Or. William Newman, H.P.P.
-5-
.. a) Building - Ccle ?to se -
b) Historical :,latch -
This Douse, circa features a most interesting type of
construction. Inside, certain sections of wall have been
left unrestored to allow visitors to see that all walls are
formed by boards laid one on top o 7 t.` other.
It is startliling to try to calculate the amount of wood used
in ^uch a house, but one is also led to visualize a country
side so full o-` trees that settle considered wood a
commodity to be used freely.
In the interests of conservation we could not use this method
o� construction to -day, but it certainly has well withstood
the ravages of time and is a sturdy and well insulated dwelling.
Located on the 16th Avenue in Markham Township, it was
originally owned by Luton Miller, Nvl.o purchased the land on
which it was h-uilt in 1857. Amos Cole bought it from
Mr. Miller in 1321 .;ind it was deeded 'ay Amos to his son
Fred who with his wife Rosella N-,,ere the last occupants of
the home.
c) Donated By - Pairs. Rosella Cole
10. a) Building - Collins "souse -
b) Historical Sketch -
The first patent .cor the land on which the pine plank house
stood was in 1811. The owner of the house, Elmer Collins,
advised that the house had been ]duiit in Reach Township
early in the 19th Century, t+.e exact date un1:nown. The
original owner o the house 1.17as one Bobby Jones, merchant,
mill owner and freight and express de'_ivery owner of
Uxbridge. He sold it to Joshua Collins and his wife
[ATinnifred, parents o: Amer, and the family occupied it
from early in the century until 1940.
The pine plank YJas secured to ha_ncl-hewn beams with hand-
made spikes. Originally there were no windows on the south
side; one window on the east side, was a source of light
for the parlour.
-6-
The houses similar �o many in Pic:.ering Township, withstood
winter gales and ice stormti, and Mr. Collins recalls tales
told by his :pother of hardship and struggle in the early
days to maintain existance in an isolated area. No house
was locked in those days, and were havens for the storm-
bound traveller who was always fed and cared for until he
could resume his -iourney.
c) Donated By - Mr. Elmer Collins
11. a) Building -- Log House
b) Historical ;ketch
The first building to be moved to the Museum Grounds was
the two storey log house, donated by an enthusiastic
historian and collector, M. J. Corchi, now deceased. It
was moved here from Bri.mlay Road and Sheppard Avenue in
Agincourt. The house is furnished in accordance with the
period in which it was first inhabited, about 1830, and
contains a stone and brick fire place of the period fashioned
by a local stone mason John Devitt.
A collection of iron cookware above
dishes of the period, and hand -made
and hooks on which hams and hubs we
bowls and other rough culinary piece
and living quarters, while the bedro
straw mattress, cradle and pine ches
of drawers. These are but a few of
the help of experts the little house
comfortable atmosphere where dwelled
good --living family.
12. a) Building - LocL _Barn --
b) Historical Sketch --
the fire place, priceless
cupboards, apple dryer
re hung to dry, wooden
s are part of the kitchen
om holds a rope bed with
t, and an enormous chest
the furnishings, but with
reflects the warm and
a happy, hard-working and
Although the log }yarn, circa 1830, somewhat resembles the
log house in structure its original location was 150 miles
away, in a small German settlement in the Land Of Lakes
District near Lake Mazinw:v. The building was purchased from
Paul Marquard and is typical of the early pioneer farm build-
ings found in this area. With greats difficulty and with a
great amount of voluntary labour the barn was moved from its
original site in three adventurous trips, and restored,,log
by log, exactly as it was built by Mr. Marquard's ancestors.
It houses farm implements and vehicles of the period.
-7-
13. a) Building - Beef Riaig Barn -
b) Historical Sketch -
The small building near the barn was what was called in the
early part of the 201th Century a Beef Ring Barn. This
building originally stood on the th Concession of Pickering
Township. Area farmers in turn regularly brought a beast to
be slaughtered and the carcass was divided among the members
of the beef ring. In this way all of the farms had a constant
supply of beef, and ;-l.o money was exchanged. There being no
refrigeration in the times it was necessary to have fresh
meat each week.
c) Donated By - Pdr. Thompson
14. a) Building - Gas Barn -
b) Historical Sketch
Both the eras barn and the steam bare were constructed from
one large barn located in the Bay Ridges subdivision
measuring 100' x 50'. When this barn was torn down it was
possible to construct the two buildings each of which is
25' x 100' long. The original barn had a double swing beam
which made it practical to construct the two smaller barns.
The Gas Barn houses a variety o- early Canadian gasoline
engines, many of which were round in use in the area on
local farms.
c) Donated By - Mr. William Newman, M.P.P.
- 8 -
15. a)
b)
Building - Steam darn
Historical Sketch
This Tarr_ houses one or the finer collections o` early steam
engines available in the Province. Some of these, such as
the large boiler immediately inside the door of the building
are one of a kind.
The steam. engine is one of the earliest forms of mechanized
power available to the farmer_ and industrialist alike.
Some of the stationery engines in this building came from
farms in the area and were used for many years to run saws
and similar farming implement:..
Acknowledgements -
A tremendous amount of credit must go to the many men who
have given so freely of their time in establishing the steam
systems and maintaining the engines on display in these two
buildings. Particular note should be given to Andy and Ken
Ramsay and to Mac Middleton for their assistance over the
years and to those dedicated individuals who worked along
with them.
The Museum is administered by a Beard composed of-
M-.*r. Harry Cock
Mr. Milton Parkin
r4r_, & 14rs, "Nilliam Earle
.�4r. Robert 'Miller
'rr. T i I I ia-M. Clark
iIr. . Ronald Freem an
Miss Luna green
_ir, John P_.lma
!ir_ . 7illia.r. McGee
"Ir. Donald McLean
I B. L. Davidcre
This is your Museum and the- Pluseum Board needs your help to
assist in the comapletion of the property and its contents.
If you can, or if you know of anyone who will assist in any
way, please fill in the coupon below and mail it to
Pickering Township Nuseum Board
1710 Kingston Road,
Pickering, Ontario,
Attn- N.C. Marshall, Secretary
I can assist as follows
Financially
Furnishings
On Co=mittees On Restoration Work
Other
Name
Address
Phone