The Rural Voice, 1988-08, Page 39dwelling all summer. There were to
be no partitions downstairs where the
dividing wall once stood to separate
the original kitchen and parlour.
Upstairs, the house had been divided
into four "very small" bedrooms and a
narrow hall. The Weavers also left
out the partitions upstairs. Recently,
however, two posts were put in to
support the growing collection.
The only addition to the log house
was the verandah on the west side.
The verandah has cedar log furniture.
On each side of the front door, old
lanterns are framed by horse hames.
The washing machine used by
Marian's grandmother at the turn of
the century sits at the north end of the
verandah, while a rain barrel stands at
the south end, gathering water for the
flowers around the house.
There are large framed family
portraits inside the log house from
both Stewart's and Marian's family.
As Don's hobby is photography, he
had several of the old family group
portraits enlarged. Among the
photographs is one of Mrs. James
Welsh, wife of the builder of the log
house (dated about 1860). "Her
grandson came along one day and
gave us her picture," Marian says.
One of Marian's favorite pieces is
a Bell pump organ made in Guelph.
"It may have come from a church,"
Marian says over her shoulder as she
plays the ivory keys. "And it works
perfectly, too."
The Weavers arranged the furni-
ture by rooms, with a parlour -dining
area on one side of the downstairs and
the kitchen on the other. Most of the
dishes are from relatives. For the
Weavers' 30th anniversary, neigh-
bours provided a compote, a covered
cheese dish, and two lovely old-fash-
ioned flower vases for the museum.
Another neighbour gave them a
church pew. It holds a turn of the
century hymnal and a Bible from
Marian's grandparents. Many of the
pieces have been repaired or re -built,
the Weavers doing most of the work
themselves. A long glass display case
holds dishes, Marian's collection of
pink depression glass, and china dolls
almost 90 years old.
In the kitchen area stands an old
pine cupboard, which Marian guesses
is the oldest piece in the house. The
bottoms of the drawers were hand-
hewn with an axe. The large kitchen
table holds such items as a nutmeg
grinder, a pea shelter, a bean shredder,
"sad irons," an apple peeler, tin
scoops, old graters, and other gadgets
of long ago.
There are various crocks of all
shapes and sizes on the shelves, all
lined up with old cookie tins, baskets,
pitchers, and oil lamps. Marian holds
up an article that looks like an over-
grown pipe with a stem and a screen -
covered bowl. "Do you have an idea
what this is?" she asks. "It's a hearing
aid."
Besides larger furniture, the log
house displays cloaks, capes, and hats
on hooks as if they had just been hung
there by their owners. Upstairs there
are two antique bedroom outfits, one
made by the family of Marian's father.
The dressers are set with brushes,
combs, manicure articles, and other
items of personal use, all antiques.
Marian's quilts include one from each
side of the family. A spinning wheel
sits silently in a corner while shelves
filled with mementos line the wall
between the two south windows.
Since 1979, the Weavers have
shared their log house in Derby
Township with many groups and
individuals. The guestbook has
welcomed visitors from Scotland,
England, Holland, Australia, and all
across the U.S. and Canada. There is
no charge for admission, but donations
are welcomed. Marian did serve tea
in the past, but now most groups bring
their lunch and picnic on the lawn.
"This started not as a business,"
Marian says of the collection, "but
as a family-oriented museum with
antiques in it. From my kitchen
window, I can look out and see our log
house, all our work, and it makes me
very happy."
And there is more to the log house
than the collection of antiques itself.
The Weaver Family Museum is a
living memorial to family and friends
that have passed on. Marian shakes
her head sadly. "No, there are hardly
any older neighbours left any more.
The farms have mostly changed
hands." But as long as Marian,
Stewart, and Don Weaver care for
their log house, those farms and farm
families will not be forgouen.0
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AUGUST 1988 37