HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Wingham Advance-Times, 1974-09-05, Page 13Cross,oads
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THIS MODEL IS ONE OF. MANY at the Huron County
Pioneer Museum in Goderichwhich were built to show
youngsters how the actual items on display work. They
were built by the late J. H. Neill, a Salvation Army officer,
who singlehandedlly started the museum. Since the museum
was established in 1935, half a dozen new additions have
been made to the building to accommodate the increasing
number of exhibits. (Photo by Jackson)
Sinceits opening : in 1901, the
Huron. County Pioneer Museum
at 110 North Street in Goderich
has served .as a well -trodden
staircase -ascending to the attics
of the county's:yester-years.
Curator Raymond Scotchmer
joined the museum staff five
years ago and, along with Friedel
Nanz of Goderich ' and Russell
Plu irnmer of Benmiller, looks
after repairs and maintenance of
the building and exhibits.
Mainly donated, . the exhibits
represent "pioneer .life in Huron
aunty," says Mr. Scotchmer.
Among the main attractions
stands a yard locomotive which
was received by the museum in
1959after having served years of
duty in Goilerich.
J. H. Neill, founder of Me
Muse*, bought the locomotive
out of his own pocket and sold
shares" on it. 1VIr., Neill .laid the
foundation of his;dream museum
in 1935 when he started collecting
exhibits. '
When his collection grew, it
was purchased by the county and
moved from Gorrie to Goderich
Before he flied In 1969 he saw his
museum expand to the entertain-
ing and educational facilities it is '
today.
The curator sums up the
museum exhibits with, "You
name it and we have it here." If
.1100 MOW Farmer, lir
ctor built by Mr.. Neill out of a
seven horsepower Stickney en-
gine is just one of many tractors
on display.
If you remember the old steam
tractors, take a tour through. the
Pioneer Museum and find its
portable steam tractor, guaran-
teed to make the memories loom
more vividly.
For even more nostalgia, the
museum features butter making
displays, a general store, an old
style chapel and a drugstore right
out of the pages of history books,
all assembled within the walls of
the museum.
"We also have a 1920 period
livingroom, diningroom and bed-
room exhibit," says Mr. Scotch -
mer. If you want to go way back
the museum can accomodate you
with an 1875 furnished log cabin
built outside the main building.
An adult can journey through
this extensive tunnel of time and
take in all of the museum's sights
for one . dollar. Students and
children are admitted for cents
and 25 centsrespectively.
Mr. otchmer .says he cannot
be sure how fair back the oldest
exhibit dates. "The log cabin is
certainly one of the ldest
displays, but we have others that
go even further back. We can't be
exactly sure just what artifact is
the oldest."
The museum itself features no
airplanes but does own a' World
War'll bomber .On display at the
Goderich ,ai
Cars? -Ton,‘We-have Mr
Neill's 1926 Essex wh ch he
travelled in, from coast .to coastiioast,
gathering. m►useuin :+Ebits. i
also display a 'let, ev and:
eneall'a '26 ..fire ;'
The curator saysy the
vehiclesare the `
Y
exhibitbecause "
up too oat r'o'e,..
in therealm etunIque
the .museum's'
'Siamese calves rank
liw`T -are
MORE THAN 20,000 VISITORS, such as the people pictured here, drop in to browse
around and learn something at the Huron County Pioneer Museum each year. The
museum, which was once the Goderich Central School has nearly 12,000 items on display
showing the growth and development of Huron County. (Photo by Jacksdn)
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4
4
THIS GRAND OLD FIGURE oversees the woodcarving
exhibit at the HuronCounty Pioneer Museum in Goderieh.
The exhibit displays some of the work of pioneer craftsmen
who labored lovingly over Inlaid oak and walnut tables and
carved models of scenes from their everyday lives. One
table in the display is made up of 12,000 Individually carved
pieces that fit together like a jig saw puzzle.
(Photo by Jackson)
THESE CONTRAPTIONS were all the rage among
homemakers in the early 1900's and were guaranteed to
diminish a housewife's work lead. In case you're not exactly
sure what they are, or were used for, ask your grandmother
or a great aunt and . they'll tell you those are washing
machines. (Photo by Jackson)