As Volunteer Week 2012 comes to an end . . . the Dufferin County Museum & Archives wants to thank our many volunteers past and present for all their hard work, contributions and continued support - THANK YOU!

Occasionally, weather conditions can impact road conditions – especially in the winter, but in April?

This photo from the Orangeville Banner, December 13, 1951 seemed appropriate for the weather conditions we had this morning. Snow was not going to keep this youth at home for a snow day.

When we recently were researching our current exhibit Beauty in the Beast, Dufferin County Museum & Archives staff found out that Dufferin animals were a little more diverse than the expected cows and sheep. This certainly proves a little historical digging can lead to some unexpected and interesting surprises.

Shelburne Free Press, December 22, 1927 - Monkeys and Clowns in Mulmur

 “Wesley Gallaugher is at his brother’s home in Mulmur for the Christmas season and has with him the performing animals that have made for him a name as a novel showman clean across the continent” says the Alliston Herald. “The esemble includes 4 ponies, 5 dogs, 3 monkeys, 1 baboon, and 2 clowns. The animals perform some fascinating and wonderful tricks while the monkeys and the clowns keep the house in a continuous fit of laughter. Just at this time of year engagements for this line of entertainment are not readily obtained and Mr. Gallaugher took advantage of the slack season to spend a week on a tour of the Pacific coast...

The Royal Winnipeg Rifles as taken by Ken Bell

What an exciting time! With the writing of this post the Dufferin County Museum & Archives have reached a huge milestone in our DCVWM project. The DCVWM (Dufferin County Virtual War Memorial) is a project that started with just a few hundred names and a handful of volunteers.  When the DCVWM started the staff didn’t think we would find many more soldiers than we had been given by Ken Wallace of Shelburne already had. After all, Dufferin is not the most populous of Counties but were we ever surprised when the names of veterans started to grow. Not just from the First and Second World Wars but the Boer and Napoleonic Wars, The War of 1812, Current Peacekeeping missions, Afghanistan and even more than a dozen soldiers from the American Civil War.

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On my bus tours around Dufferin, when I pass Sylvanwood estates, just east of Shelburne, I always talk about the stone from that site being used at Queen’s Park. Frankly, I am not sure everyone believes me. Finally, while reviewing data for DuffStuff, I found my proof . . .  thank you might be in order.

Shelburne Free Press, September 2, 1926 - SHELBURNE CUT STONE FOR CAN. NAT. EX.

Mr. J W Fleck called at our office on Saturday with a sample of cut stone from Hall's Quarry about a mile east of Shelburne. He has been requested by the Ontario Government to send a sample of the Shelburne Stone for exhibit at the Canadian National Exhibition which opened last Saturday. The stone which measures about 14 x 10 inches x 12 inches deep and shows on three sides the rock face as it came from the quarrie, the top has a bush hammered face while on the front is a complete Gothic window with tracery and covered panels. The work was executed by Mr Fleck and is shown in the Stone Section in the new Ontario Government...

They are exciting times at the Dufferin County Museum & Archives as we celebrate our 18th year in the big green barn at the corner of Highway 89 and Airport Road.  (Is that possible?!)  2012 is well underway and there are many important changes to share with you - our members and visitors. 

One of the most significant, and obvious, is our new website - through which this, my first-ever blog entry, is reaching you.  Our new website is the result of much good will and good luck, which included tireless efforts on the part of our staff and volunteers, our caring and professional consultants, Canam Software of Mississauga, a grant from the Ontario Museums and Technology Fund, and the selfless contributions of a longstanding and most dedicated volunteer, Roger Peterson.  When fully developed, our website won’t be just a pretty face, but a meaningful and information-rich portal into the DCMA’s activities, programs and growing repository of archival records and information.  We have big plans and expectations...

Special exhibit opening on Sunday, April 1st at the Dufferin County Museum & Archives... Highway 89 & Airport Road...www.DufferinMuseum.com...we're on Twitter and Facebook too!