A Warm Welcome to Our Summer Students!

June 7, 2023

We were very excited and fortunate to be able to hire summer students to help us keep everything running smoothly. Young Canada Works and Canada Summer Jobs are huge supporters of this endeavour! Many thanks to Aidan Haldenby and Morgan Kerr for joining the team and for helping us to photograph, list, and enter our collection into the database. Morgan will be joining us later in the summer.

Many thanks to Hills Pharmacy!

May 30, 2023

We are thrilled to express our deepest gratitude to  Hills Pharmacy for their contribution of $10,000 to our Relocation Project! We met with pharmacists and owners Julie LeClair and Chris Sawler recently, along with Julie’s daughter, Ellory, to commemorate the donation. Thanks to Rob Perry for this wonderful photo!

With Hills Pharmacy’s generous contribution, we are one step closer to making our relocation and renovation project a reality. The funds will be instrumental in creating enhanced exhibition spaces, improving storage facilities for our growing collection, and developing a vibrant community hub where history enthusiasts can gather, learn, and engage with the rich heritage of Aylmer and Malahide.

Left to right: Pharmacist Julie LeClair, Ellory LeClair, Pharmacist Chris Sawler, Museum Office Manager Kathi Vandermeer, Museum Director Rebecca Horeth, Museum Chair Ron Sawyer, Museum Curator Amanda VandenWyngaert

About Hills Pharmacy

We are so grateful to be able to partner with such a long-standing pillar of our community! The building that houses Hills has been a pharmacy since 1869, when it opened under pharmacist Lewis Gundry in a business partnership with his brother, Charles Gundry. The brothers sold the business to J.E. Richards around 1886, who in turn sold it to Ray Lemon in 1907. Stan Durkee (of Durkee’s Ltd.) purchased the business in 1946, and hired a pharmacist to handle the drug department.

John and Godfrey Hill grew up in Tillsonburg, where they interacted with a pair of pharmacist brothers and were inspired to go into pharmacy, themselves. Both graduated from the Ontario College of Pharmacy in 1943, and shortly enrolled for service in WWII. Upon returning from service, the pair decided to tour Highway 3 to find a place to settle down and establish a business. Godfrey Hill recalled knocking on doors, asking around about pharmacies for sale. Stan Durkee sold his pharmacy to the Hill brothers on August 12, 1946, only a few months after purchasing it, himself.

Godfrey’s son, Tom, joined the business as a pharmacist and co-owner after John Hill’s retirement in 1981. Godfrey’s daughter, Tracey, and John’s son, Rowland, were also integral to the operation of the pharmacy. Tom Hill’s daughter, Julie, purchased the business alongside fellow pharmacist Chris Sawler in 2020.

Learn more about the Hill family and Hills Pharmacy in our recent publication, Just What the Doctor Ordered!

Thank you!

We are beyond lucky to have such incredible businesses and individuals in our community who believe in our mission. We extend our deepest gratitude to Hills Pharmacy for their exceptional generosity and support.

Stay tuned for more updates and exciting developments on our Relocation Project. We couldn’t do it without your support, and we can’t wait to embark on this new chapter together.

Geranium Heritage House Tour

May 8, 2023

Take a stroll through the tree-lined streets of Woodfield in the heart of London and learn about the history and architecture of this delightful neighbourhood. Pick up your map and informative brochure at the starting point, Lord Roberts Public School, any time between 12:00 and 5:00. Enjoy guided interior tours of 8 sites and end your afternoon with lemonade and cookies at our refreshment stop.

First named “Geranium Walk” – later the “Geranium Heritage House Tour” – because homes open to tour-goers are marked with red geraniums. Tickets include a keepsake booklet including descriptions of the streetscapes, a map of the tour route, as well as explanations of the exterior and the interiors of the homes on display. Afternoon refreshments are offered at a public building included in the Tour.

Geranium Heritage House Tours have been held every year, each in a different historic neighbourhood, on the first Sunday in June attracting a sell-out attendance of 500+ visitors.

The Tours have encouraged people to appreciate London’s architectural heritage, provide publicity for the branch, as well as being a flagship fundraiser.

This year’s tour, Woodfield Ramble, will take place on Sunday, June 18, 2023, from 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM EDT. The tour starts at Lord Roberts Public School, 440 Princess Avenue London, ON N6B 2B3. Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 on the tour day. Tickets are available at Tuckey Hardware, Jill’s Table, Featherfields, and online via Eventbrite (Eventbrite fees apply).

The Swans Have Moved On

March 30, 2023

After another annual visit to The Aylmer Wildlife Management Area, swan numbers have begun to dwindle as they move on to their breeding grounds in the high Arctic.

Many thanks to all of those who visited the Wildlife Area this year, those who called the Swan Line, and those who visited the museum!

We look forward to hearing from you again next year!

For more information, visit our Tundra Swan Line page.

Featured image courtesy of David Helsdon.

Celebrating 150 Years of Railway History

February 21, 2023

We were pleased to participate in an event to commemorate the 150th anniversary of railway operations in Aylmer and Malahide this afternoon.

We were joined by Ferroequinologist David Harding, Town Crier David Phillips, Aylmer Councillor and Museum Director Arthur Oslach, Museum Board Chair Ron Sawyer, Elgin County Warden Ed Ketchabaw, Malahide Councillor and Museum Director Sarah Leitch, and long-time museum volunteer Betty Segui. The event was held at the rail line adjacent to Elgin Feeds, at the former site of the Aylmer railway station. David Harding is the proud owner of a four-wheeled handcar, a small, passenger-powered vehicle used to transport small groups of people along rail lines. With guests aboard Mr. Harding’s handcar, Mr. Phillips cried a proclamation to commemorate the event. Mr. Harding and those aboard then operated the handcar, travelling a short distance along the tracks.

The Great Western Railway’s “Air Line” brought the railway into Aylmer. The inaugural run was in February 1873, with Malahide Councillor Thomas Nairn and other Great Western directors aboard. The Canada Southern Railway would open in June 1873, with stations in Kingsmill, Little Aylmer, and Springfield. Transportation of products and materials in and out of Aylmer and Malahide facilitated a boom in local industry.

Many thanks to Mr. David Harding for organizing the event. Additional thanks to:

• Elgin Feeds for hosting us!
• Town Crier David Phillips
• Aylmer Councillor Arthur Oslach
• Museum Board Chair Ron Sawyer
• Elgin County Warden Ed Ketchabaw
• Malahide Councillor Sarah Leitch
• Museum Volunteer Betty Segui
• Museum Finance Chair Dan Reid
• Museum Director Larry Jeffery
• John Cairn
• The Aylmer Police Service
• All those who attended!

For more information on the railway history of Aylmer and Malahide, join us for our latest pop-up exhibit, On Track: The Railways of Aylmer and Malahide.

Announcing the Mennonite History Project

November 3, 2022

About This Project

In the early 1950s, Mennonites began migrating from Mexico to this part of Southern Ontario. The families who stayed put down deep roots. Their legacy can be found in every corner of Aylmer and Malahide. This is evident in strong church communities, commerce, industry, and civic engagement.

As time passes and one generation follows another there is always the risk that essential parts of family and community history may be lost, forgotten or discarded. The Aylmer-Malahide Museum and Archives (A.M.M.A.) would like to partner with interested groups and individuals in preserving Mennonite stories, photographs and artifacts for future generations.

This phase of the project is focused on immigration to our area before 1972.

Community Outreach

We hope to receive the following items from the Low German Mennonite communities of Aylmer and Malahide:

• Completed questionnaires
  These questionnaires can be submitted online or in person.
  
• Historical photographs
  We would be happy to scan and return the photographs. We’re also happy to consider photographs for donation to our collection.
• Audio/video recordings
  Please review our scheduled events to record an interview or statement in person.
• Artifacts
  All donations to our collection (e.g. tools, utensils, clothing, heirlooms, etc.) are eligible for a charitable tax receipt.

How These Materials Will Be Used

• Museum display
  The A.M.M.A. has previously hosted exhibits focused on the experience of Mennonite migrants. One part of the proposed plans for our new building includes a dedicated room for a permanent exhibit on the Low German Mennonite experience. There may also be special exhibits in the main gallery area from time to time.
• Research and genealogy
  The A.M.M.A. has archived tens of thousands of documents, photographs & artifacts covering the length and breadth of our shared history. These materials are made available to academics, social groups, members of the media and family historians to carry out research. The new facility will include a dedicated research room to allow for the examination of online and physical materials.
• Publication
  The A.M.M.A., in conjunction with community partners, will often publish books or contribute to other publications which highlight some specific aspect of our history. In 2012, as part of a summer-student project, a book was published based on the settlement history of the Low German Mennonites in Aylmer and Malahide. This book focused on the stories and photographs of eight local families. This is just a small sampling of the rich and diverse history of the Mennonites.

Learn more about this project or submit a photograph here!

Just What the Doctor Ordered is Now Available!

August 15, 2022

We are pleased to announce that our book, Just What the Doctor Ordered: The Medical History of Aylmer and Malahide, is available for purchase. We extend our sincere thanks to the Aylmer Express for printing such beautiful books, our sponsors for making this project possible, and those who contributed to the publication through our survey or by providing us with valuable information and photographs.

Copies sell for $30 to non-members and for $25 to members.

View the book in our online shop here.

Just What the Doctor Ordered biographs the medical practitioners of Aylmer and Malahide from the early nineteenth century to the present day, including physicians, pharmacists, dentists, nurses, eye care specialists, chiropractors, and further specialized practitioners. Current and retired medical professionals of the community graciously contributed to the volume, and readers can learn more about those professionals’ careers within.

The Aylmer-Malahide Museum & Archives is a small nonprofit museum dedicated to the preservation and presentation of the history of Aylmer and Malahide. This volume was published in conjunction with its 2022 exhibit of the same name, Just What the Doctor Ordered: The Medical History of Aylmer and Malahide.

This project was sponsored by the Aylmer Express, the Royal Canadian Legion Colonel Talbot Branch No. 81, the Springfield Swans, Rosemary Kennedy, and Rhonda McNaughton.

Printing in Progress

June 29, 2022

We finally feel that our book is done and ready to print! We gave the Express the go-ahead this past Monday, and we should have 100 copies within six weeks. Many thanks to the Aylmer Express for partnering with us on this project, and we’re positive they’ll provide us with some beautiful books.

Pre-orders are still open!

We expect copies to sell at $30 for the general public and $25 for museum members.

If you would like to preorder a copy, please fill out the form below, or contact us at info@aylmermuseum.ca or (519) 773-9723. We will be in contact once we’ve received the printed publications. We appreciate your support!

(The form requires an email address to function. Feel free to contact us elsewhere, if you can’t provide an email address.)

New Summer Hours

June 13, 2022

With many thanks to our summer students, we’ll be open from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM on Saturdays until the end of August.

Come out and see our featured exhibit, Just What the Doctor Ordered, or learn more about the Relocation Project.

A Warm Welcome to Our Summer Student

June 8, 2022

We were very excited and fortunate to be able to hire a summer student to help us keep everything running smoothly. Many thanks to Aidan Haldenby for joining the team and for helping us to photograph, list, and enter our collection into the database.

Now Accepting Preorders

April 22, 2022

After months of writing and editing, we’re just about ready to print our latest publication, Just What the Doctor Ordered: The Medical History of Aylmer and Malahide. The publication details the histories of medicine, pharmacy, dentistry, nursing, eye care, and chiropractic in Aylmer and Malahide. We’ve written short biographies on every medical professional we were able to research, beginning with Dr. Edward Dancey, who arrived in Malahide Township in 1824. We’ve diligently harassed our current local medical professionals, and our publication will include their answers to the short survey we issued.

This project would not be possible without the support of our sponsors, including the Aylmer Express, the Royal Canadian Legion Colonel Talbot Branch No. 81, the Springfield Swans, Rosemary Kennedy, and Rhonda McNaughton.

We expect copies to sell at $30 for the general public and $25 for museum members.

If you would like to preorder a copy, please fill out the form below, or contact us at info@aylmermuseum.ca or (519) 773-9723. We will be in contact once we’ve received the printed publications. We appreciate your support!

(The form requires an email address to function. Feel free to contact us elsewhere, if you can’t provide an email address.)

A Beautiful New Mural in Aylmer

August 24, 2021

 

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Take Action Today for Investment in Ontario Museums

June 18, 2021

The OMA released the following open letter to Doug Ford and Lisa MacLeod on June 7ᵗʰ, 2021:

The Ontario Museum Association (OMA), as a representative of the more than 700 museums,
galleries, and heritage sites in the province, is calling on the government to invest in Ontario’s
museums so they can survive the pandemic and fully contribute to the province’s recovery and
vitality.
Further to the recent media release about the allocation of annual operating funding to Ontario’s
166 ‘Community Museums’ through the Community Museum Operating Grant (CMOG)
program (“Ontario Investing in Community Museums”, June 1, 2021), we call on the government
to act on the recommendation of the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs to
“bolster the Community Museum Operating Grant Program” (October 2020) ; a longstanding
request of the OMA and Ontario museums.
This recommendation is supported by Ontarians; 88% of Ontarians agree that arts and cultural
activities, like museums, are important to local economic well-being.
Currently, only 25% of Ontario’s museums (166) receive operating funding from the CMOG
program. The amount of funding in the program has been stagnant for over ten years and
prevents museums from fulfilling their potential and their expanded roles in their communities.
The underfunded program is not meeting the needs of our communities and the museums that
serve them. This underfunding exacerbated the pandemic’s impacts on museums, placing them
and Ontario’s heritage at risk. Furthermore, to date, the provincial pandemic relief programs are
not reaching the majority of museums due to a competitive and protracted grants process.
Municipal museums and the smallest volunteer-run museums are specifically excluded.
We call on you to take urgent action to invest in Ontario museums and increase operating funding to
$15million (an increase of $10.1million) to reach more than 300 community museums across the
province at a level of support averaging 15% of museums’ operating budgets.
Ontario invests up to 50% of the operating budgets of our outstanding provincial museums and
agencies to a total of more than $90million, recognising the vital role that operating funding plays in
their contributions to Ontario’s economy and vitality.
Operating funding supports the key museum functions and is essential to the stability and success of the
sector.
With this recommended investment, 150 more community museums—excluded for years from the
closed CMOG program—can better serve Ontarians in every city, town, rural, and Northern
community and better reflect the diversity of the province. These new, innovative, and achieving
community museums, like all museums in Ontario, are significant economic and social contributors.
For every dollar spent on their operations Ontario’s museums have a return-on-investment of $3.70,
contributing an estimated $1.6 billion in economic benefits each year to this province. These benefits
come in the form of education, community and social connections, and tourism. Museum visits have
measurable impacts on student achievement in reading, math, science, and critical thinking, and strong
museums support a strong educational system.
Over the past year, museums have continued to adapt to serve their communities, and engage
volunteers, seniors, and youth where possible. Our province’s museums will continue as important parts
of economic, tourism and social recovery if they are empowered to fill that role.
Now is the time to ensure that Ontario’s museums across the province can once again welcome back
visitors with authentic and unique experiences as we safely and gradually reopen to the world.

Read the Open Letter here: http://bit.ly/OMA-Open-Letter

On The Residential School Complex

May 31, 2021

Canadian Colonialism

Mount Elgin Industrial Institute (1851-1946)

The closest residential school to Aylmer was in Muncey, ON (bordering the Munsee-Delaware and Oneida territories), less than 50km away. The Institute averaged 1950 students each year. The Council of the Chippewa Nation of the Thames reported in 1943 that the children were served spoiled food, had little to no access to medical care or appropriate winter clothing, and faced multiple types of abuse. The buildings were closed due to poor upkeep in 1946; the Indian Affairs’ superintendent of Welfare and Training described them as “the most dilapidated structures [he had] ever inspected”.