2006
HOMECOMING REPORTS

The museum has suffered another loss, with the sudden passing of Duane Newby, our past chair and web master. Duane's computer knowledge, his wit and wisdom was a valued asset and will be truly missed.

Busy! That is probably the best way to describe all the activity that occurred at the museum during the past year. We are still continuing to see an increase in our drop in Canadian visitors.

Our 8th annual U.S./Canadian History and Genealogy conference was once again very successful. Presentations were made by Marie Carter, Glennette Tilley Turner, Betty DeRamus, Tony Burroughs and Karolyn Smardz Frost. These historians, authors, genealogist, and academics shared their knowledge and passion for history with 85 conference participants. Thanks Bryan for organizing this event and to all the volunteers who assisted in making this conference another success.

The Travis, Robert 1, Robert 11, Brooks, Shadd, Robbins, Boswell, Smith, Handsor & Prince families challenged each other for the coveted trophy. At the end of the day, the Smith & Prince teams were victorious. Thanks to the ball committee - Ed & Arnold RObbins, Brad Steele,Jason Dudley and Chris Prince.

This year will be our final re-enactment and to celebrate our 13th season, we will be featuring the "best of the best". So we hope you enjoy your wagon and hay ride as you meet some of our most colourful characters.

The museum was designated as a Freedom Station and Affiliate of the National Underground Railroad Freedom Centre in Cincinnati, Ohio. Angela Corley from the Freedom Centre presented the board and staff with a certificate during the opening ceremonies after the parade.

Even though we had inclement weather for our "Road To Freedom' concert for Black History Month, all that attended thoroughly enjoyed th music of Denise Pelley and the Karen Schueseller Singers.

Staff and board members were also busy traveling and making presentations in Windsor, London, Toronto, Chatham, Ann Arbour, Blenheim, Thamesville, Kitchener, Barrie, Hartford CT, and Detroit. The museum was also featured on CTV during February.

The museum received a certificate of recognition from Mike Colle, Minister of Citienship & Immigration for our commitment to preserving Ontario's diverse heritage and helping build a stronger community. Later during Black History Month we were the first recipients of the Ontario's Community Builders grant from his office. This money will assist in reproducing and erecting a replica of the Liberty Bell.

Our participants with the Human Resources Services Canada grant have been extremely productive with the various projects they have undertaken. With the financial assistance from the Ontario Trillium Foundation and Services Canada, the log cabin restoration project has been completed.

Darrell Shadd was responsible for the restoration and the workers were supervised by Darrell and Audrey Prince. Thanks to Jamian Brown and April Mills for updating our family trees, our museum card files, and entering this data onto the computer along with the census records. They also conducted interviews of some of our elders and developed another display, "Businesses in Buxton". Joanne Hartley completed extensive research on the Henderson/ Colbert residence and is continuing research on some of the early families that settled here. Lori Gardner and Joyce Middleton have developed several more Ontario curriculum based programs for primary and junior level. We also received financial assistance from the Retired Teachers Organization to produce some of the resource materials. New museum brochures and a driving tour guide book were also developed. Many thanks to staff, who worked tirelessly to create, develop and implement these programs.

As you wander through the museum, you might notice some changes. We have installed track lighting; new carpet in the Cultural room and new floors in the bathrooms; access to the bathrooms from inside and a new display case. We also made beautification improvements to the museum grounds. We received a Community Partnership grant and two contributions from Union Gas Duke Energy which allowed us to do landscaping. Thanks once again to Randa Speller and Vicky Fry from Union Gas for initiating this project. And thanks to all the Union Gas volunteers and their families, the board and staff who came out to lend a hand!

The museum has a display at the Legislative Assembly until the end of August. We are also working with the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto to develop a Canadian Heritage interactive project. Several of our artifacts will be utilied in this project.

The museum also hosted an Ontario Museums Association workshop. We also participated in the first Doors Open in Chatham-Kent. THere were fifty new faces that visited the museum.

Staff participated in a family reunion trade show at Cobo Hall in Detroit. We have several family reunions booked resulting from the show.

There are ongoing discussions regarding the Heritage District Designation. Designation of a heritage district provides important tools for the conservation of this unique local historical character. It allows chand and development to be guided so that it enhances, rather than harms that character. Our summer students, Blair Newby and Roderick Robert, are very enthusiastic and passionate about their heritage. They developed a "Footsteps to Freedom" day camp for the youth in the community which was thoroughly enjoyed.

I would like to thank all those that have made donations and supporters that provide financial assistance and to the many participants who attend our various events. You have assisted in making so many of our dreams a reality.

Shannon Prince, Curator

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