Cobourg Museum Foundation
Encyclopedia
The Cobourg Museum Foundation was Incorporated under the laws of the Province of Ontario on November 22, 1999. Its creation grew out of the gradual deterioration of a limestone
building believed to be the oldest building in the Town of Cobourg, Ontario
, Canada
. In 2010 that building, locally known as "the barracks", is still being restored with the intention of opening it to the public in 2012 as a local heritage centre
. Letters Patent of Incorporation were issued on November 22, 1999 with Douglas Sifton, Muriel Edwards and Joan Chalovich as the first directors.
, and to dedicate it to public use". In 2000 the old building was purchased and restoration work has been continuing ever since. The Foundation has announced a projected opening date of the spring of 2012 for the Sifton-Cook Heritage Centre, named after two of the founding members.
. It has received some funding from federal and provincial programs and has membership in the vicinity of 100 individuals and families.
and research centre.
and staging a re-enactment event. Since then exhibits have been created on the subject of "The Role of the Blacksmith in the Early Economy of Upper Canada" and "The History of the Mississauga First Nation at Alderville". On two occasions the "barracks" has been included in the Doors Open Ontario event in Cobourg. The CMF has participated in Cobourg’s popular July 1 Waterfront Festival a number of times with the purpose of informing visitors about the unique history of the area.
It is envisioned that much of what the Sifton-Cook Heritage Centre will display will be of a digital nature using modern technology
. Recent projects of this nature include an Interactive Timeline of Cobourg's History, which resides on the website and the ongoing cataloguing of books which relate to local history
and are owned by members. A picture gallery of local mills is being gathered and posted on Flickr.
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
building believed to be the oldest building in the Town of Cobourg, Ontario
Cobourg, Ontario
Cobourg is a town in the Canadian province of Ontario, located in Southern Ontario 95 km east of Toronto. It is the largest town in Northumberland County. Its nearest neighbour is Port Hope, to the west. It is located along Highway 401 and the former Highway 2...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. In 2010 that building, locally known as "the barracks", is still being restored with the intention of opening it to the public in 2012 as a local heritage centre
Heritage centre
A heritage centre is a museum facility primarily dedicated to the presentation of historical and cultural information about a place and its people, including, to some degree, natural features...
. Letters Patent of Incorporation were issued on November 22, 1999 with Douglas Sifton, Muriel Edwards and Joan Chalovich as the first directors.
Purpose
The first of the objects of incorporation was "to acquire, restore and preserve the ancient limestone building known as 'The Barracks', located in the Town of Cobourg in the County of NorthumberlandNorthumberland County, Ontario
Northumberland County is situated on the north shore of Lake Ontario, in central Ontario, Canada. It is located east of Durham County , west of Hastings, southeast of Kawartha Lakes and south of Peterborough County. The county seat is Cobourg...
, and to dedicate it to public use". In 2000 the old building was purchased and restoration work has been continuing ever since. The Foundation has announced a projected opening date of the spring of 2012 for the Sifton-Cook Heritage Centre, named after two of the founding members.
Charitable Status
On February 4, 2000 Cobourg Museum Foundation Inc. was designated as a Charitable Organization by the Canada Customs and Revenue AgencyCanada Customs and Revenue Agency
Canada Customs and Revenue Agency was a department of the government of Canada and existed from November 1, 1999 until December 12, 2003. It was created from the merging of the Department of National Revenue with Canada Customs....
. It has received some funding from federal and provincial programs and has membership in the vicinity of 100 individuals and families.
Further Development
In 2008, an 1860s workman's cottage, located on a nearby site slated for redevelopment, was donated to the Foundation and moved on site. When restored it is expected to provide room for offices, a gift shopGift shop
A gift shop is a store primarily selling souvenirs relating to a particular topic or theme. The items sold often include coffee mugs, stuffed animals, t-shirts, postcards, handmade collections and other souvenirs....
and research centre.
Ongoing Projects
While the first, and currently the main, project of the CMF is the restoration of its two buildings and their development into a local heritage centre, other small projects have been undertaken. In 2002 the CMF began its Outreach Program by putting on the first of its annual February Ontario Heritage Day displays at a local mall. In 2003 it continued its Outreach Program by putting on an exhibit about the War of 1812 at the local libraryLibrary
In a traditional sense, a library is a large collection of books, and can refer to the place in which the collection is housed. Today, the term can refer to any collection, including digital sources, resources, and services...
and staging a re-enactment event. Since then exhibits have been created on the subject of "The Role of the Blacksmith in the Early Economy of Upper Canada" and "The History of the Mississauga First Nation at Alderville". On two occasions the "barracks" has been included in the Doors Open Ontario event in Cobourg. The CMF has participated in Cobourg’s popular July 1 Waterfront Festival a number of times with the purpose of informing visitors about the unique history of the area.
It is envisioned that much of what the Sifton-Cook Heritage Centre will display will be of a digital nature using modern technology
Technology
Technology is the making, usage, and knowledge of tools, machines, techniques, crafts, systems or methods of organization in order to solve a problem or perform a specific function. It can also refer to the collection of such tools, machinery, and procedures. The word technology comes ;...
. Recent projects of this nature include an Interactive Timeline of Cobourg's History, which resides on the website and the ongoing cataloguing of books which relate to local history
Local history
Local history is the study of history in a geographically local context and it often concentrates on the local community. It incorporates cultural and social aspects of history...
and are owned by members. A picture gallery of local mills is being gathered and posted on Flickr.