2005
HOMECOMING REPORTS

Another year has quickly passed us by.  Our 81st Homecoming celebration was another successful year!  Since the tragedy of 9/11 and SARS, our American visitors have decreased but the past year has seen a gradual increase in visitation.  But the number of Canadian drop-in visitors has increased by 80%.  These are families that realize the importance of the history that is deeply embedded here and how instrumental it was in shaping Canada.

The tone was set for the weekend with another excellent history/genealogy conference.  Participants were again treated to superb speakers and presentations by Dennis Gannon, Marlene Branson, Dr. Michelle S. Johnson, Tony Burroughs, and Kate Clifford Larson.  We are truly blessed to have high caliber of speakers attend our conference.  Thanks to Bryan for organizing the day and to the volunteers who assisted in making this conference successful.

There were ten families vying for the bragging rights as Family Feud baseball champions.  The Travis, Boswell, Handsor, Robert 1, Robert 11, Brooks, Prince, Shadd, Shreve, & Robbins teams were represented.  The Boswell & Princes proved to be victorious!  The camaraderie, team spirit and just plain good ole' fashion fun was quite evident among the family teams as you traveled from diamond to diamond.  Thanks to the ball committee - Ed & Arnold Robbins & Jason Dudley for organizing this family focused event.

We changed the format of our historical re-enactment and brought our "Ride Back in Time" to you.  The stage was set as the audience was treated to visits from some of Buxton's most prestigious residents - such as Harriet Beecher Stowe; Samuel Lowry; Abraham Shadd and Alexander Pickney; Fanny Frazier.  In between each presentation, Denise Pelley and Stephen Holowitz mesmerized the audience with their melodious, heartwarming, toe-tapping music.  Thanks to the "actors" for their award winning performances; to the ticket sellers and takers; and to the "watchers of the gate" for their assistance in making this a successful

One of the highlights of the year occurred when we saw one of our dreams become a reality with the move of the circa 1852 log cabin on site.  Wow! That was a memorable day as a crowd witnessed history leaving the past to the future.  We recognized Marjorie and the late Robert Pratt and Ethel Henderson during a ceremony after the parade.  Our heartfelt thanks to these families for their generous contribution in preserving our rich heritage.  Our application to the Trillium Foundation for restoration and programming was approved.  Joyce Middleton is program/marketing coordinator & Shadow Construction (Darrell Shadd) will be responsible for the restoration.  This project will span over two years.

Black History month was quite busy not only at the museum but also for staff and board members who were making presentations at other facilities.  Spencer Alexander, assistant curator, developed a "Response to Racism" display.  This was well received by the public and if you haven't had a chance to view it, please stop in - you will be amazed!  Our ""Snapshot In the Family Album" program was successful.  Stories and photographs were shared from the Newby, Harding, Crosby, Riley, Brown, Highgate families and a presentation by Raoul Abdoul.

At the end of the month, we were also treated to a musical rendition from the Georgetown College Chorale from Georgetown Kentucky.  They sang to a packed audience with stories interspersed pertaining to the spirituals being sung.

We also launched a "Sacred Places" booklet in partnership with the National Historic Sites Alliance for Ontario.  There are 26 Sacred Places across Ontario and we are very fortunate to have two within our site - The North Buxton Community Church and St Andrews United Church.  Sacred places encompass a variety of sites including churches, cemeteries and Aboriginal burial sites.

Thanks to everyone for their continued support who attended our events.  Displays were in Toronto; London OPP Regional office; London Children's Museum; Castle Kilbride.

Staff and board members made presentations in Detroit, Windsor, Chatham, Ridgetown, Blenheim, London, Toronto, Ottawa, Durham, St. Thomas & Hartford, Q, Georgetown, Kentucky, Chicago, Midland, Orillia, Otterville.

We have also been very fortunate to have received funding through Human Resources & Skills Development Canada to hire staff to complete and continue projects that were previously initiated by the grant last year, Lori Gardner, Educational Heritage Interpreter and Frank Parker and Jamian Brown, Digital Archivists & Brad Gibson Labourer were hired.  Audrey Prince & Spencer Alexander are sharing the supervisory position.  This team is producing some wonderful school programs, data entry and beautifying our grounds and buildings.

We continue to work closely with Paul Lovejoy at the Harriet Tubman Centre at York University.  Staff is scanning census records; tax & collector rolls; dairies and these will eventually be accessible on our website.  We have also participated in two video conferences with Millersville University, Millersville, PA.

Hudson, 2nd baseman for the Toronto Blue Jays was quite interested in the Underground Railroad and was seeking information.  The network decided to do a documentary, came to the museum, did interviews, and took photographs.  The museum also hosted Tanya Lee Williams. For the soap opera fans, she is known as Olivia on the Young & the Restless; she was very personable and enjoyed the site.

I would like to welcome our summer students - Blair Newby & Chris Prince to the museum.  They bring their pride, knowledge, and enthusiasm with them.

Let me introduce you to our hardworking and dedicated board that provide guidance and support in our various initiatives; Keenan Thomas, chair; Bryan Prince, vice-chair; Lori Gardner, treasurer; Shannon Prince, secretary; Spencer Alexander, a/curator; Joy King, Audrey Prince, Joyce Middleton, and David Middleton.

As you wander through the museum, the village and the cemetery, remember our ancestors, friends, and historians who have paved the road as we walk towards the future.

Shannon Prince, Curator

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