Doon Heritage Village is a living history

Living history

Living history is an activity that incorporates historical tools, activities and dress into an interactive presentation that seeks to give observers and participants a sense of stepping back in time. Although it does not necessarily seek to reenact a specific event in history, living history is...

 museum located in Kitchener, Ontario

Kitchener, Ontario

The City of Kitchener is a city in Southern Ontario, Canada. It was the Town of Berlin from 1854 until 1912 and the City of Berlin from 1912 until 1916. The city had a population of 204,668 in the Canada 2006 Census...

, Canada which recreates life in rural Waterloo County during the year 1914. It has more than 25 buildings on more than 24 hectares (60 acres), next to Homer Watson Park. The museum is owned and operated by the Region of Waterloo

Regional Municipality of Waterloo

The Regional Municipality of Waterloo is a regional municipality located in Southern Ontario, Canada. It consists of the cities of Kitchener, Cambridge, and Waterloo, and the townships of Wellesley, Woolwich, Wilmot, and North Dumfries. It is often referred to as the Region of Waterloo or just...

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Construction began in late 2008 on the new Waterloo Region Museum. The museum is located at the entrance to Doon Heritage Village and the building opened on May 1, 2010. Exhibits will open in the fall of 2011.

Programs

Doon Heritage Village is set in 1914, in World War I

World War I

World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...

. Living history programs bring to life this exciting era in Canada's history. Hands-on activities take place throughout the year including vintage games, making ice cream and historic crafts. Seasonal programs at Christmas include Lantern Light Tours, Country Christmas, and Starry Night.

1950-1959

• August 1952 - Dr. A.E. Dusty Broome returns from visiting the Nederlands Openluchtmuseum in Arnhem, Holland with the idea that a similar museum should be developed in Waterloo County, Ontario.

• September 1953 - The Waterloo Historical Society passes a motion to strongly support the establishment of a Pioneer Village in Waterloo County.

• November 1953 - Cressman Woods in Kitchener, Ontario, part of the Old Cressman Farm of Isaac Cressman is identified as the preferred location for the village.

• December 1954 - First meeting of the Ontario Pioneer Community Foundation and election of board of directors.

• January 1956 - An initial parcel of land is purchased next to Homer Watson Memorial Park.

• August 1956 - The Province of Ontario grants the Ontario Pioneer Community Foundation its charter.

• June 19, 1957 - Doon Pioneer Village officially opens with a barn raising. The first peg is driven by the Honourable W.M. Nickle, Provincial Minister for Planning.

• June 1957 - An additional 43 acres (174,015 m²) of land are purchased.

1960-1969

• June 1960 - Museum building officially opens.

• July 1961 - General Store opens with the financial assistance of A.R. Goudie

• 1962 - Freeport Church is moved to the site by cutting it in half.

• July 1963 - First live demonstration takes place featuring a blacksmith.

• July 1964 - CPR Locomotive 894 is moved to village.

• October 1967 - Recreated Waterloo Township Hall is opened as a Centennial Project in honour of Canada's 100th birthday.

• 1968 - Expansion of live exhibits with weaving, spinning and threshing demonstrations.

• September 1968 - Agreement with the Grand River Conservation Authority that they will have control over the village's land, and the Ontario Pioneer Community Foundation will have jurisdiction over the day-to-day operations of the village.

1970-1979

• 1970 - Agreement is reached that the Waterloo County Hall of Fame should be located at the village.

• April 1, 1971 - The Grand River Conservation Authority takes over payment of wages and other expenses at the village.

• 1971 - Electricity is installed throughout the village, servicing buildings and grounds.

• June 1972 - Opening of the Waterloo County Hall of Fame.

• January 1, 1973 - Regional Municipality of Waterloo is incorporated.

• 1974 - Waterloo Regional Heritage Foundation contributes $8,500 to purchase and move the Peter Martin House from Waterloo.

• 1976 to 1979 - The Ontario Pioneer Community Foundation holds its All Our Yesteryears fundraising campaign to raise money for development of the Doon Pioneer Village site.

1980-1989

• November 19, 1982 - At a Friends of Doon Luncheon, the key to the village is transferred from the Ontario Pioneer Community Foundation and the Grand River Conservation Authority to the Regional Municipality of Waterloo.

• January 1, 1983 - The Regional Municipality of Waterloo assumes ownership and operation of Doon Pioneer Village and Heritage Community.

• 1985 - The village's name is changed to Doon Heritage Crossroads and the mission is changed to reflect rural Waterloo Region in the year 1914.

• 1985 - The Ontario Pioneer Community Foundation donates $20,000 toward the restoration of the Dry Goods and Grocery Store.

• May 1988 - The Peter Martin House is opened to the public after a restoration project involving the Old Order Mennonite community in oral history, research and construction. Many of the tradespeople are direct descendants of Peter Martin who built the house in 1820.

1990-1999

• 1990 - Livestock program is introduced with the addition of horses, cattle, sheep and fowl.

• 1990 - Heritage garden and seed saving program is introduced.

• 1993 - The Ontario Pioneer Community Foundation officially changes its name to The Friends of Doon Heritage Crossroads.

• 1994 - Doon embarks on a five year plan to improve access for visitors with disabilities.

• November 1995 - Waterloo Regional Curatorial Centre officially opens.

2000-today

• 2000 - Petersburg Grand Trunk Railway Station restored.

• 2004 - A blacksmith shop, modelled on an 1894 building, is recreated in the village.

• 2006 - A new roadway is constructed in the living history village.

• 2006/2007 - CPR Engine 894 undergoes cosmetic restoration.

• 2007 - Doon Heritage Crossroads celebrates its 50th Anniversary.

• 2008 - Construction begins on the Region of Waterloo History Museum.

• 2009 - Restoration of the village's Butcher Shop and Seibert House.

• 2009 - Doon Heritage Crossroad's name is changed to Doon Heritage Village.

• 2010 - Waterloo Region Museum opens, serving as the gateway to Doon Heritage Village.

Structures and exhibits

Doon Heritage Village comprises more than 25 structures, including restored buildings donated and relocated from across Waterloo Region and south-central Ontario, and some structures which are reconstructions based on original buildings.

The living history village

Buildings in the living history village include: Petersburg Grand Trunk Railway Station, Peter Martin House, Wagon Drive Shed and Barns, Weavery, Dry Goods and Grocery Store, Harness Shop, Printing Office, Tailor Shop, Post Office, Sawmill, Blacksmith Shop, Meat Market, Repair Shop, McArthur House, Seibert House, Sararas House, Bricker Barn, Freeport United Brethren in Christ Church, and Fire Hall.

Collections

The Waterloo Region Museum collection supports the 1914 living history village but also includes the Region of Waterloo’s local history collection, spanning from prehistory to the present day. The collection numbers more than 43,000 artifacts and archival pieces. Research collections are stored in the Waterloo Region Curatorial Centre, located at Doon Heritage Village.

Citations

Tivy, Mary. The Local History Museum In Ontario: An Intellectual History, 1851-1985. PhD Thesis, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, 2006.

Region of Waterloo. History's Home for 40 Years - Doon Heritage Crossroads, 1957-1997. Region of Waterloo, Kitchener, Ontario, 1997.

Region of Waterloo. Doon Heritage Crossroads Visitor Guide. Region of Waterloo, Kitchener, Ontario, 1993 (revised 2005).

Affiliations

The Museum is affiliated with: CMA

Canadian Museums Association

The Canadian Museums Association is a national organization for the promotion of museums in Canada.The Canadian Museums Association is the national organization for the advancement of the Canadian museum sector, representing Canadian museum professionals both within Canada and internationally. The...

, CHIN

Canadian Heritage Information Network

The Canadian Heritage Information Network is a Canadian government-supported organization that provides a networked interface to Canada's heritage, largely through the World Wide Web. It aims to give access to Canada's heritage for both Canadians and a worldwide audience, by supporting the...

, and Virtual Museum of Canada

Virtual Museum of Canada

The Virtual Museum of Canada is Canada's national virtual museum. With a directory of over 3,000 Canadian heritage institutions and a database of over 600 virtual exhibits, the VMC brings together Canada's museums regardless of size or geographical location.The VMC includes virtual exhibits,...

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External links

• official website

See also Region of Waterloo History Museum on Facebook