Wallaceburg and District Museum

About

The Wallaceburg and District Museum is located in Southern Ontario in the town of Wallaceburg. Located a half-block from the banks of the Sydenham River, the museum occupies the former Wallaceburg Hydro Office at 505 King Street. The museum opened on June 29, 1984. The museum documents the beginning of the Wallaceburg community from the founding of the Baldoon Settlement by Lord Selkirk in 1804 to its success as an industrial hub in the mid-1900s.

In 1974, five men combined their efforts to found the Wallaceburg and District Historical Society (WDHS). They were Doug Thompson, A.G. Fairhead, Tom Chatterton, Frank Mann and Al Mann.

The group sought to create a means of preserving and exhibiting the history of the Wallaceburg community, and decided on the creation of a public museum. In 1975, the WDHS used funds from the recently acquired "New Horizon Grant" to purchase microfiche and recording equipment to begin compiling materials for the project. The WDHS began conducting interviews with older citizens of the community, and sorting material property to one day be exhibited. In 1981, the Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport (formerly known as the Ontario Ministry of Culture and Recreation) became involved in the project, and worked with the WDHS to find potential sites for the construction of the museum, one of which being a large building at 505 King Street owned by Wallaceburg Hydro. In 1983, The Town of Wallaceburg purchased the building from Wallaceburg Hydro for $1 Canadian. On June 29, 1984, the Wallaceburg and District Museum was officially opened.

In 1997, the museum was massively renovated to include a larger basement for future exhibits, as well as an upstairs auditorium for guest speakers, concerts, and presentations. The auditorium would also be available to the public to be rented for personal events. Renovations were completed within the year, and the auditorium was named Hydro Electric Auditorium, harking back to the original ownership of the building by Wallaceburg Hydro. The entire complex, containing both the auditorium and the museum, was given the name Von Ayres Cultural Centre in honour of late Wallaceburg WW1 veteran Sgt. Estell Von Ayres.

In 2001 and 2002, work was done to completely renovate the Glass Gallery Exhibit. The WDHS worked with retired workers from the Sydenham Glass Company (which had just recently closed in 1999) to collect and authenticate new pieces for the overhauled exhibit.

After a four-year renovation hiatus, staff and volunteers began work on a massive exhibit that would eventually become the Industrial Room. During this renovation, the decision was made to construct portable walls that would make further renovations and redesigns of the exhibits easier.

From 2008 to 2010, the previously added basement was expanded to include three new exhibits. During this time, the museum also acquired a $2600 "Museums and Technology Grant" from the government of Ontario. This money was used to purchase the PastPerfect Museum Software, which would enable the museum to digitally catalogue all archival materials.

In 2010, funding for a mural and bench on the north side of the museum was provided by Wallaceburg resident Saundra Vansnick in memory of her husband George Vansnick, who was a founding member of the WDHS.

Funding was received in 2011 from the Wallaceburg Sports Hall of Fame to completely redesign and renovate the sports room. A touchscreen exhibit was added cataloguing all Wallaceburg Sports Hall of Fame inductees. Additionally, a digital information sign was installed at the front of the building, and the museum's website was professionally redesigned.

In 1974, five men combined their efforts to found the Wallaceburg and District Historical Society (WDHS). They were Doug Thompson, A.G. Fairhead, Tom Chatterton, Frank Mann and Al Mann.

The group sought to create a means of preserving and exhibiting the history of the Wallaceburg community, and decided on the creation of a public museum. In 1975, the WDHS used funds from the recently acquired "New Horizon Grant" to purchase microfiche and recording equipment to begin compiling materials for the project. The WDHS began conducting interviews with older citizens of the community, and sorting material property to one day be exhibited. In 1981, the Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport (formerly known as the Ontario Ministry of Culture and Recreation) became involved in the project, and worked with the WDHS to find potential sites for the construction of the museum, one of which being a large building at 505 King Street owned by Wallaceburg Hydro. In 1983, The Town of Wallaceburg purchased the building from Wallaceburg Hydro for $1 Canadian. On June 29, 1984, the Wallaceburg and District Museum was officially opened.

In 1997, the museum was massively renovated to include a larger basement for future exhibits, as well as an upstairs auditorium for guest speakers, concerts, and presentations. The auditorium would also be available to the public to be rented for personal events. Renovations were completed within the year, and the auditorium was named Hydro Electric Auditorium, harking back to the original ownership of the building by Wallaceburg Hydro. The entire complex, containing both the auditorium and the museum, was given the name Von Ayres Cultural Centre in honour of late Wallaceburg WW1 veteran Sgt. Estell Von Ayres.

In 2001 and 2002, work was done to completely renovate the Glass Gallery Exhibit. The WDHS worked with retired workers from the Sydenham Glass Company (which had just recently closed in 1999) to collect and authenticate new pieces for the overhauled exhibit.

After a four-year renovation hiatus, staff and volunteers began work on a massive exhibit that would eventually become the Industrial Room. During this renovation, the decision was made to construct portable walls that would make further renovations and redesigns of the exhibits easier.

From 2008 to 2010, the previously added basement was expanded to include three new exhibits. During this time, the museum also acquired a $2600 "Museums and Technology Grant" from the government of Ontario. This money was used to purchase the PastPerfect Museum Software, which would enable the museum to digitally catalogue all archival materials.

In 2010, funding for a mural and bench on the north side of the museum was provided by Wallaceburg resident Saundra Vansnick in memory of her husband George Vansnick, who was a founding member of the WDHS.

Funding was received in 2011 from the Wallaceburg Sports Hall of Fame to completely redesign and renovate the sports room. A touchscreen exhibit was added cataloguing all Wallaceburg Sports Hall of Fame inductees. Additionally, a digital information sign was installed at the front of the building, and the museum's website was professionally redesigned.

The museum is built upon a plot of land originally granted to Captain John McGregor by The Crown for outstanding service in the War of 1812. In 1876, McGregor donated the land to the Town of Wallaceburg. He stipulated the land was to be used for municipal purposes, and it became the site of the First Town Hall and Opera House. In 1905, the Hedgling Brass and Iron Manufacturing Company (now the former Waltec) began its operations in the building's basement. In 1925, the Wallaceburg Hydro building was constructed on the site, where it would eventually be sold to the municipality for use as the museum.

The Glass Gallery is dedicated to the history of Wallaceburg's once highly successful glass manufacturing industry, as well as the art of glass blowing all over the world.

The collection ranges from small poison bottles, to oversized champagne bottles originally blown right in Wallaceburg. Along with these items, the exhibit features photos and dioramas of glassblowers working in the factories.