HomeMy WebLinkAboutDecember 9, 1971
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PICKERING TOWNSHIP MUSEUM BOARD
11/71
A meeting of the Pickering Town-
ship Museum Board was held on
THURSDAY q DECEMBER the NINTH,
1971 at EIGHT pom. at the
Municipal Building
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PRESEh1T ~ Mr. H. Cookq Chairman
Mr. R. Freeman
Mr. R.. Miller
Mr. W. Earle
Mrs. D. Earle
Mr. D. McLean
N. Co Marshallq Secretary
1.
MINUTES -
On motion of Mr. W. Earle, seconded by Mr. D. McLean and
carried unanimously the minutes of the meeting of
November the 11th were adopted.
2.
ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT -
a) School Tours -
The school tours were virtually complete with only
three more yet to be held. Mr. Miller mentioned the
problem of buildings being left unlocked and lights
left on after the tours were complete.. In the past
the teachers had assumed the responsibility for these
items as the Museum Board did not normally provide
staff supervision for these tours. The Board
wondered whether the teachers should be given the
degree of freedom that existed in touring the property.
On motion of Mr. Miller; seconded by Mrs. Earle it
was agreed that in future any tour of the property
by school children be under the supervision of either
the Museum custodian or a Board member.
b) General-
-The plastering of the Harness Shop has been completed.
-The logs from the County were taken to Mr. Walter Hope
who sawed them into planks which in turn were stored
on the Museum property.. In all approximately 5 tons
of lumber came out of the logs..
-The legend map of the property has been taken to
Mr. Wilby at Locust Hill who is re-doing the map.
He will also make up the numbers for the building
-The Gillman's have turned over the keys to the Museum
as well as the dresses that they had.
-Mrs. Marr was able to utiliZe the surplus material that
the Gillman's had and made up two adults and one
childs dresso She had also completed the curtains
for the dining room of the Cole House. Mrs. Marr is
utilizing an old sewing machine from the Museum for
this purpose vlhich dates back to approximately 1860.
-Mr. Wilson is in the process of changing the hours on
the sign located adjacent to Highway #7 to read one
to six.
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11/71
-Mr. Davies of Cherrywood had offered to fix the
clock in the cabin which dated back to approximately
1826. He makes a hobby of fixing clocks and is very
interested in assisting the Museum in this area.
-Some visitors had wondered whether it would be possible
to identify the location at which the tours of the
property had progressed to in future.. With a crowd
on the property it was sometimes difficult to determine
exactly the location of the tours and the majority
of these people were interested in taking part in
them.
-One of the tea~hers who had toured the propertYq
Mr. John Paxtonq had suggested through Mr. Lye of
the Frenchman's Bay Public School that the school
children be permitted to tour the property immediately
prior to History In Action. In this manner they
would have a preview of many of the displays prior
to the celebration itself.
-A great nU~jer of pictures depicting the Township
in its formative years were available. It has been
suggested that some form of picture gallery be
established on the propertYq possibly in one of the
rooms of the Hotel or the balcony of the Masonic Hall.
-Some of the men who worked at the Gas Barn and Steam
Barn wondered whether it would be possible to construct
a folding door at one end of the Gas Barn and put in
some form of heat to permit them to work on the engines
during the winter. Jack Mairs had offered a large
space heater to the Board for $65.00 which represented
his cost only. The heater needs cleaning but other
than that is in good condition. It was agreed that
Mro Miller be authorized to proceed with the purchase
of this unit.
-A Sawyer Savl Mill dating back over 100 years has been
purchased from Mr. Robert Batty for the sum of $IOO.
It will be re-assembled and established in the Steam
Barn adjacent to the large boiler.
-j).1rs. McKel1.z ie is to be asked to prepare a map of
the herb garden identifying the various plants.
Mr. Earle has yet to complete the sign for this
garden.
The Chairman commended Mr. Miller on the thoroughness
of his report.
3. Building Security -
The Committee considered the problem of who should have
locks to the various buildings and in particular the
inconvenience experienced by those not having keys when
they wished to work at the property.
On motion of Mr. 111cLean, seconded by Mr. Freeman it was
agreed that keys to the variouG buildings be made available
to the Museum Board members and workmen subject to the
control of the Administrator who will ensure that the
key to the main building in particular is available as
required.
CARRIED.
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<1. REFRESillilENT BOOTH '-
The Chairman reported that the KD1anis were prepared to
donate $5000 to cover the labour of framing a suitable
building and in addition would assume the responsibility
and cost for completing the interior of the building
to a possible expGnditure of $5;0000 The interior was
to be finished in keeping with the Museum themeq probably
in the form of an old time taverno Suitable counter area
would be supplied to accommodate refreshments at special
events such as History In Actiono
The offer was conditional upon the Kiwanis having the
catering rights to the History In Action festivities on
the same basis as they presently have them and subject
to the withdrawal of these privileges should the Kiwanis
not exercise them in keeping with the criteria of the
Museum Boardo In addition the Kiwanis would construct
a kitchen at one end of the building which would house
their cooking equipment and over \~1ich they wish to
maintain exclusive controlo The building proper would
}Jelong to the Museum Board and they would have complete
control over its use other than as mentioned.
On motion of Mrs. Earle; seconded by Mr. Freeman it was
agreed that the proposal of the Dunbarton Kiwanis for
the construction of a refreshment building be accepted
on the understanding that the Museum Board will have
complete control over the use of the building except that
portion devoted to the storage of cooking equipment
owned by the Kiwanis.
CARRIED.
It was suggested that r·1r. Cook contact Mr. John Rempel
to determine what form the bu:'lding should take and to
obtain if possible plans. It was agreed that the build-
ing would be 20 feet x 25 feet long.
5.
ADMINISTRATOR - HONOURARIUM -
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The Chairman referred to the tiring and unselfish efforts
of Mr. Miller in directing and assisting in the activities
of the Museum over the years and in particular his efforts
during the past year in the capacity of Administrator.
It was his feeling that the least the Board could do would
be to offer a token honourarium in recognition of his
efforts.
On motion of Mr. NcLean, seconded by Mr. Earle, it was
agreed that the Administrator of the Museumq Mr. Robert
Miller be paid an honourarium for the year 1971 in the
amount of $250.00.
CARRIED 0
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6. NEVI BUSINESS -
a) Curator-
On motion of Mrs. Earle, seconded by Mr. Miller
it was agreed that the balance of the 1971 honourarium
be paid to the former Curator8 Mrs. Ruth Hay.
CARRIED.
b) Portable Heater -
The Administrator was empowered to purchase a portable
heater at a cost not to exceed $75.00 from D.L. Mairs
& Sons Limited.
7. FIVE YEAR PLAN -
The Board considered some of the projects that should be
carried out during the next five years in keeping with
the development of the museum property. Consideration
was given to the location of proper toilets in the new
refreshment building or in the alternative locating
chemical toilets in a separate building elsewhere on
the property. Each year there was a greater demand for
this type of facility and it was felt that the construction
of the refreshment building might be an ideal opportunity
to install public washrooms.
Other items conside~ed briefly by the Board included a
proper landscaping plan for the property as well as
painting a nU~Jer of the buildings including the Steam
and Gas Barnso The construction of a maintenance and
storage building was also considered.
In conclusion the Board recognized that it has now reached
the stage where it must define in clear terms exactly
where it intends to go in the future and in what direction
its efforts are to he centeredo The members were asked
to consider the five year plan in pa~ticular and also
to give serious conGideration to the future of the property.
It was hoped that some type of plan could be sketched out
at the next meeting to be held in January.
On motion the meeting adjourned at 10~45 p.m.
DATED
Chairman
Secretary