2002
HOMECOMING REPORTS

BUSY! That's the only word that can describe the activity that has taken place at the museum since last Labour Day. At our 4th annual –History/ Genealogy conference, with our theme, "Blacks in the Civil War' attracted 116 Civil War enthusiasts from across Canada and the United States. Once again we were fortunate to have knowledgeable, enlightening and entertaining speakers. Thanks to Robert Young, who is First Sergeant 54th Massachusetts Re-enactors, Company B, Washington D.C., Jackie & Larry Reynolds, and Tom Brooks for their participation. Once again, a heartfelt thank you to all that organized the day, the volunteers that assisted with the registration table, the vendors tables, the greeters and those that supervised the breaks.

There were approximately 500 that attended the Sunday evening re-enactment where people witnessed a Civil War wedding, Civil War fashion show, and the highlight was the re-enactment of the Battle of Honey Hill, South Carolina - which numerous Buxton men fought in. The sounds of muskets and cannons pierced the quiet night as the smell of gunpowder lingered in the air. After the "battle”, visitors wandered through the encampment and enjoyed some of the displays. Thanks to everyone for your willing participation that enabled us to have another successful evening.

There has been a hub of activity in and around the museum during the past year. The highlight that we have seen become a reality is the restoration of S.S. #13 Raleigh. With the assistance of Human Resources Development Canada, the Municipality of Chatham-Kent, and the Provincial government, this has been achieved. The school steering committee would also like to thank the North Buxton Community Club, the Buxton Historical Society, Benjamin Moore paints, Pioneer and the many local donors for their generous contributions and continued support. I hope when you enter those doors on Labour Day, the many memories will return and you will be taken 'back in time".

You will also notice some repairs to the building have been made. We have a new coat of paint to the museum, courtesy of Gary Rhodes and a new sidewalk, courtesy of Max Chinnick. We are truly appreciative and grateful for your kind-hearted support. The workers from the school project also installed a new hardwood floor in the Buxton room of the museum and replaced the siding on the Baptist parsonage with some of the 1910 siding from the school.

Workers from the Ontario Works have assisted with some of the landscaping, and painting.

Our exhibit team consisting of Margo Freeman, Joyce Middleton, Audrey Prince, Rodney Schram and Bryan Prince prepared two exhibits that we are quite proud of. One exhibit has six panels, which focus on Rev. King, the Buxton Settlement, education, religion, music and the many roads to Buxton, is presently travelling throughout Pennsylvania and possibly will venture over to England and Africa. The other exhibit has five display cases of artifacts that have been at the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto since February. Since the exhibit has been in Toronto, we have seen an increase in visitors and there were even two hundred people from Ohio who made a special trip to Toronto especially to see our display. We were very honoured to be invited to feature our site to increase the awareness of the rich history that is embedded in our community and I would like to thank everyone that made that long trek to Toronto for the opening of our exhibit. Our community support is overwhelming!

The staff and board have also prepared a new exhibit, "Breaking the Chains - Commemorating the Journey" which is presently featured in our museum. Please drop in to take that incredible journey with us. From March until May, the museum hosted a travelling exhibit entitled, "Free At Last - A History Of The Abolition Of Slavery in North America" that was made for the Smithsonian but came from the Gilder Lehrman Institute in New York.

The museum was host to several groups during the year: to the senior management of the Municipality who held their staff meeting here; to the Capitol Theatre board of directors, who held their retreat here; to the Ontario Museums Association which held a three day workshop here;  to the Municipality who held WHMIS training here;  the Heritage committee from Chatham-Kent held their meeting here.

Council passed our Commemorative Integrity Statement that was compiled during a 2-1/2 day workshop last year that involved community, municipal and government participation and was facilitated by Parks Canada. The statement is a management tool - how we preserve and present what is of historical significance and value to the site. This document will be incorporated into the official plan of the Municipality of Chatham-Kent.

The museum has been involved in several new initiatives. As a result from a luncheon that was hosted by the Canadian Consulate General of Canada, Bryan Prince has been involved in an Ontario/Michigan Underground Railroad Alliance and a brochure featuring sites in the Chatham-Kent a Detroit area has been produced. He was also invited by Premier Ernie Eves to attend the Michigan/Ontario Economic Summit that was hosted by Eves and Governor Engler. The Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership, a province wide thrust has produced new lure brochures featuring sites from Southwest and Central Ontario and guidebooks for the Northern States and Ontario. Also through this initiative, we have compiled "packages" for tourists with Jordan House, Deer Run Golf course & the Comfort Inn as partners. The partnership we have with Millersville University in PA is continuing with new projects, and grants being prepared and several video conferences have also taken place.

Our grant application to the Museums Assistance Program was approved and as a result, we will be receiving new windows and lighting for artifact protection and preservation. Thanks to the grant writing team of Doug Robbins, John Leverton, and Rodney Schram.

The staff and vice-chair have made several presentations throughout the year. They spoke at the opening of the Harriet Tubman research centre at York University in Toronto; an UGRR conference in Lancaster, PA; at the Organization of American Historians in Washington D.C.; at several museums, schools, quilters guilds, churches, the Heritage Film Festival and workshops.

Several interviews have also occurred with CBC Windsor a Toronto, CKCO, CHWI, CKSY, CPAC, TVO, CFMT and local newspapers, and magazines, including African American On Wheels from California. Parks Canada also produced a video featuring Buxton as one of six National Historic Sites for promotional and educational purposes. Students from Lisa Gilberts' class from CCI have assisted with research and also started recording oral history from several Buxton residents. Thanks to Ed a Delores Shadd, Verna Shreve-Rhue, Edna Giles, Earl Prince, Arthur Alexander, Dave and Yvonne Robbins, Dorothy Shreve and Cleata Morris for your participation, for sharing your time and wonderful memories with us. A student from the cartography program from Sir Sandford Fleming College in Lindsay will be reproducing a comparative map of the Settlement from 1850-present as part of a project.

The museum has also acquired an 1850 log cabin that will eventually be relocated to the museum for interpretation. Special thanks to Robert a Marjorie Pratt and Ethel Henderson for their generous contribution to assist us in preserving our history.

Staff and board have prepared written text for some of the exhibits and with the increase of research requests; we have implemented a new research and photograph policy. We still have monthly bingos at Riverview Bingo and we are always looking for volunteers to assist. Thanks to Audrey, Joyce a Margo for organizing this!

Through a grant from Human Resources Development Canada, it enabled us to hire three summer students - Heather Robbins, Chris Prince and Toni Parker. They bring energy, new ideas and pride in their heritage.

Let me introduce the hard working, dedicated and energetic board that is responsible for the implementation of the various projects and activities that occur at the museum: Keenan Thomas - chair, Bryan Prince -vice-chair, Mike Anderson a Audrey Prince treasurers, Shannon Prince - secretary and our board members - Joyce Middleton, John Leverton, Duane Newby, Joy King, Laurie Hawley, Margo Freeman - a/curator, Rev. Birse, and Geneva Brown.

As you return this weekend, let us remember those who sacrificed so for us and to the historians who preceded us - we are adding another to your book in keeping our legacy alive.

Shannon Prince, Curator

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website created July 2008; updated November 2009; by Lori Gardner