Mission & Vision Statement

The Mission of the Meaford Museum is to collect, educate, display, conserve and feature the history of the former Town of Meaford, and the surrounding area, (St. Vincent and Sydenham Townships) from its earliest settlement to the present by providing heritage programs and services highlighting these areas.

The Museum's activities will be directed toward serving the people of the Municipality of Meaford, visitors to the region, the broader general public and to the museum community at large.

 

History

The building housing the current museum was built by McQuillien and Co, Toronto in 1895 as the Town’s Pumping house. This included a pump house, filtering basin, brick and timber tanks, 4 miles of mains and 33 hydrants costing $20,930, only $930 over the contracted cost. A few years later a brick chimney was added to make it more efficient.

Then in 1924 an electric pump and auxiliary gas pump were added to the building. Eventually the Public Utilities Department was relocated to the Pump House and the building was colloquially referred to as the “Power House.” Then during the 1940's the chimney was removed and both the Public Utilities and Public Works departments vacated the building leaving it empty.

Later, the building was converted to a museum, largely through the efforts of the Kent Women's Institute. The museum’s collection was started by donations made by the Sing and Godfrey families with the express directive that they be used to open a town museum.

Due to a continually expanding collection, more renovations were required, and in 1997 many changes were made to the building. Many rooms were renovated inside, providing better lighting, more display space and a working office. Due to strict museum climate regulations, all of the building windows had to be covered, and Gunter Neumann provided us with beautiful painted murals to replace them with. Then, an addition was put on the front of the building to act as a foyer and gift shop. Finally, a large “Fire Truck Wing”was added to the south end of the building in order to house the Meaford Fire Department's loan of their 1938 Bickle Maple Leaf Fire truck.

Then in 1999 an outbuilding was added, the “Farm shed”. It is located at the North end of the museum grounds and houses many of the larger farm implement. This addition was made possible by a donation from the late Joe Walker.

Starting in 2004, The Meaford Museum, in partnership with Meaford Hall, received funding from Superbuild and the Municipality of Meaford to rejuvenate these wonderful historic buildings. The inside of the building was changed, the floors leveled and access created for the basement. So many changes were made that it is impossible to describe them all.

The museum was re-opened to the public on May 12 , 2007 at a Grand Re-Opening Ceremony that was attended by over 200 welcoming citizens. Special congratulations were extended by Prime Minister Stephen Harper, MP Larry Miller, MPP Bill Murdoch and Ministry of Culture Representative Dr. John Carter. The day, although cold, was a wonderful way for the museum to start a new journey into the future.

In 2009, thanks to support from the Rick Hansen Foundation, the Apple Harvest Craft Show and the Ontario Trillium Foundation, a vestibule was added to the south end of the building to create a more prominent entrance and complete making the building entirely accessible.