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Site
Map
Click a
number on the map for details and photos, or take a virtual tour
of the Museum from the Pickering
Public Library website.
Map is not to scale
Historical
Notes
Pickering Museum
was expanded for Canada's Centennial in 1967. Volunteers from
all areas of the former Pickering Township spent countless hours
planning, collecting artifacts and moving and restoring buildings.
The yard around S.S. #10 school, west of the intersection
of Brock Road and Highway #7 in Brougham, was the first site for
the Museum. Expropriation of the site for "Airport Land"
required re-location of the Museum. In 1979, following several years
of intense effort by staff and volunteers, the move to the present
site was completed. The desire of the original volunteers
to preserve and depict the heritage of Pickering Township continues
to be the goal of our staff and many volunteers.
1.
Robert A. Miller building
This building houses Administration Offices, the Museum Gift Shop
and public restroom facilities. |
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2.
Path to the Village
 This winding, scenic path leads you through wooded landscape and
across Duffin's Creek. A section of corduroy road shows how
logs were used to keep wagon wheels from becoming mired in the mud.
Duffin's Creek, flowing through the Village, was important to the
early development of the area as a route north from Lake Ontario
and as a source of power for the numerous mills along its length.
The field area to the south of the footbridge was once the millpond
for the Lower Mill in Greenwood.
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3.
Log Barn
This 1830s barn, originally from Denbigh, north of Kaladar is built
of rough logs, dovetailed and pegged with trenails. It was
positioned by a "barnmaster" in order to catch the prevailing
winds through the doors at either end and across the wooden threshing
floor. After the stalks of grain had been flailed, the wind
would help to "winnow" or remove the chaff from the grain.
Grain-related tools are on display, as well as a barn loom
used for weaving rag rugs. The east end of the barn was originally
a stable area.
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4.
Log House
Originally located near the intersection of Brimley Road and Sheppard
Avenue, the Log House has been re-constructed to illustrate the
home of one of the earlier settlers in this area. Such a building
would have been the first real "house" constructed by
a family in a clearing in the woods. Construction of this
type of house and clearing of adequate land were often conditions
of receiving title to the land. Built of squared, dovetailed
timbers, it provided a single large room which was kitchen, livingroom
and bedroom combined. The open hearth provided for heat, light
and cooking. |
5.
Collins House
This house comes from Reach Township, just north of Chalk Lake.
Built about 1845, by an Uxbridge area merchant and mill owner, it
is set in the mid 1850s. Its vertical siding forms the structure
of the house. Note the width of many of the planks. The interior
is typical of a tradesman's home of the period, the painted plaster
walls, the space divided into rooms and a cast-iron stove for heat
and cooking. The stencilled "Pineapple" motif in
the parlour was a commonly-used symbol of welcome. The housewife
in this home supplements the family income with butter and candle
making. |
6.
Brougham
Central Hotel
This 1850s building was originally operated by Nelson Woodruff.
For a period of several years during the 1850s, it became a Temperance
Hotel, providing lodging and meals for travelers wishing quieter
accommodations than those usually found in the taverns and hotels
of the time. Competition from the other two hotels in Brougham
however, eventually forced the owners to return to its original
status as a hotel and tavern. After about 1870, it was operated
as a General Store by a number of subsequent owners. Its original
site on the north side of Highway #7 is now occupied by the intersection
of Highway #7 and Brock Road. We hope in the future, to be
able to restore it for public access. |
7.Duffin's
Creek General Store / Dressmaker's Shop
Built about 1855 to the east of the Central Hotel, the two buildings
once shared a common porch. At times it served as a store,
post office, harness shop and County Office. The General
Store not only provided consumer items for the surrounding countryside,
but also acted as an informal community centre where customers could
exchange news with their neighbours and the storekeeper. Set
to about 1910, it shows the many items which were available by the
early part of the century, as well as electricity, which was just
being introduced to Pickering Township. The Dressmaker's Shop
on the second floor was one of the first businesses in the community
which would be run solely by women. |
8.
Blacksmith Shop / Woodworking Shop
This is the only Museum building originally from Greenwood.
It was donated by Miss Edna Green, whose family once owned and operated
the Greenwood Mills. The shop was built in 1856, just east
of the Greenwood Store and served the local community for many years
as a blacksmith and woodworking shop. Many of the tools, including
the anvil, benches and tire roller are original to this building. |
9.
Claremont Bandstand
This structure is a replica of the old Bandstand, which stood at
the four corners of Claremont around the turn of the century.
It continues the traditions of providing a centre for live entertainment
throughout the summer. |
10.
Oddfellows' Hall
Built in 1869 as a Christian Church, it was sold to the Independent
Order of Oddfellows around the turn of the century. It was
located in Whitevale, just north of the 5th Concession Road, on
the Altona Road. (This section of Altona Road is known as North
Road). It is presently used as our Town Hall. |
11.
Miller-Cole House
This house was originally built in 1858 by Luton Miller and sold
in 1881 to Amos Cole. It sat near the intersection of 16th
Avenue and the 9th Concession Road in Markham. It depicts
an established, but certainly not wealthy, farm family about 1867,
the time of Confederation. The stacked plank construction (see kitchen wall), is an interesting feature of this house and indicates
the abundance of timber available at the time. The kitchen
gardens contain vegetables and herbs, and the small parlour garden,
flowers common to the period. |
12.
Combination Barn
This 1875 barn was constructed of materials from at least two other
structures, and uses a combination of both hand-hewn and sawn timbers.
It was originally situated on the 6th Concession of Pickering Township.
It is presently used as a storage area. |
13.
Beef Ring Barn
Built about 1870, on the south side of the 9th Concession Road,
this small building was used by a cooperative of local farmers
known as a "Beef Ring". Each of the member families
supplied a beef and all shared the various cuts to ensure a fresh
supply of meat. One member was usually responsible for butchering
the meat. The cooperatives died out with the advent of ice
boxes and freezers. |
14.
Bible Christian Church
Simple in structure and furnishings, this 1853 Church was built
by a splinter group of Methodists known as Bible Christians.
It originally sat on Lot 24, Concession 5, but was moved to the
Wm. Major farm around 1890 after the Church closed. The box
pulpit, wainscotting, windows and front doors are original.
It is still used for weddings by special arrangements. |
15.
Church
Drive Shed
In 1860, it was originally part of the early Methodist Church at
Balsam, but was later moved to the Mount Zion Church.
It provided shelter for the horses and vehicles of churchgoers.
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16.
Gas
and Steam Barn Area
This building houses a fine collection of early steam, kerosene
and gasoline engines spanning the period from the late 19th to mid
20th century. Farm tractors, threshing and milling equipment,
saws and shingle equipment are included. Pictured is the Donkey
Engine which was used during the building of the Trent Canal System.
This area is in operation for our Steam-up and History in Action
events. |
17.
Puterbaugh Schoolhouse
The Puterbaugh house has become our 1830's schoolhouse. Visitors
will be able to experience a learning environment familiar to the
pioneer children of Pickering of that era. |
This page
was made available with the assistance of Mary Cook Photography
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