Erland Lee Museum
Encyclopedia
The Erland Lee Museum is a National Historic Site of Canada located on the ridge of the Niagara Escarpment
in Stoney Creek, Ontario
. Originally a farmhouse belonging to Erland
and Janet Lee
, the museum is recognized as the birthplace of the first Women's Institutes, an international organization formed in 1897 to promote the education of isolated rural women.
The oldest part of the home, a log cabin, dates to 1808. An addition was built onto the log cabin in 1873 in the Carpenter Gothic
style, part of the Gothic Revival Architectural
tradition. This is best exemplified by the steeply-pitched gables, gingerbread trim, and the board-and-batten planks.
The Lee Family lived in the house from 1808 until 1970, when it was sold to the Women's Institutes. Its first historical designation was granted in 1961, by the South Wentworth Women’s Institute. In 1972, the home was opened to the public as a museum, and has since been owned and operated by the Federated Women's Institutes of Ontario
. In 1995, the museum was designated as a historic home under the Ontario Heritage Act
, and in 2003, the museum was granted status as a National Historic Site of Canada.
The museum itself contains three floors of original Victorian
furniture and furnishings, with an emphasis on the history of the Lee family, and the events surrounding the 1897 founding of the Women's Institutes. For example, the dining room table on which Janet Lee
wrote the first Women’s Institute constitution still stands in its original location. The farmhouse is complemented by an 1873 carriage house, which contains two floors of local history exhibits.
Niagara Escarpment
The Niagara Escarpment is a long escarpment, or cuesta, in the United States and Canada that runs westward from New York State, through Ontario, Michigan, Wisconsin and Illinois...
in Stoney Creek, Ontario
Stoney Creek, Ontario
Stoney Creek is a community in Ontario, Canada.Note: This article will only deal with matters up to its amalgamation with Hamilton.-Geography and population:...
. Originally a farmhouse belonging to Erland
Erland Lee
Erland Lee 1864 – 1926 was a notable Canadian farmer, teacher, and government employee from Stoney Creek, Ontario who is most well known for his role in the founding of the Women’s Institutes, an international organization originally formed to promote the education of isolated rural...
and Janet Lee
Janet (Chisholm) Lee
Janet Robertson Lee was an important figure in the Niagara Region of Canada, best known for her role in the formation of the Women's Institutes in 1897, and for pioneering the Kindergarten program in Hamilton, Ontario....
, the museum is recognized as the birthplace of the first Women's Institutes, an international organization formed in 1897 to promote the education of isolated rural women.
The oldest part of the home, a log cabin, dates to 1808. An addition was built onto the log cabin in 1873 in the Carpenter Gothic
Carpenter Gothic
Carpenter Gothic, also sometimes called Carpenter's Gothic, and Rural Gothic, is a North American architectural style-designation for an application of Gothic Revival architectural detailing and picturesque massing applied to wooden structures built by house-carpenters...
style, part of the Gothic Revival Architectural
Gothic Revival architecture
The Gothic Revival is an architectural movement that began in the 1740s in England...
tradition. This is best exemplified by the steeply-pitched gables, gingerbread trim, and the board-and-batten planks.
The Lee Family lived in the house from 1808 until 1970, when it was sold to the Women's Institutes. Its first historical designation was granted in 1961, by the South Wentworth Women’s Institute. In 1972, the home was opened to the public as a museum, and has since been owned and operated by the Federated Women's Institutes of Ontario
Federated Women's Institutes of Canada
The Federated Women's Institutes of Canada is an umbrella organization for Women's Institutes in Canada."The idea to form a national group was first considered in 1912. In 1914, however, when the war began the idea was abandoned. At the war's end, it was Miss Mary MacIssac, Superintendent of...
. In 1995, the museum was designated as a historic home under the Ontario Heritage Act
Ontario Heritage Act
The Ontario Heritage Act, first enacted on March 5, 1975, allows municipalities and the provincial government to designate individual properties and districts in the Province of Ontario, Canada, as being of cultural heritage value or interest....
, and in 2003, the museum was granted status as a National Historic Site of Canada.
The museum itself contains three floors of original Victorian
Victorian decorative arts
Victorian decorative arts refers to the style of decorative arts during the Victorian era. The Victorian era is known for its eclectic revival and interpretation of historic styles and the introduction of cross-cultural influences from the middle east and Asia in furniture, fittings, and Interior...
furniture and furnishings, with an emphasis on the history of the Lee family, and the events surrounding the 1897 founding of the Women's Institutes. For example, the dining room table on which Janet Lee
Janet (Chisholm) Lee
Janet Robertson Lee was an important figure in the Niagara Region of Canada, best known for her role in the formation of the Women's Institutes in 1897, and for pioneering the Kindergarten program in Hamilton, Ontario....
wrote the first Women’s Institute constitution still stands in its original location. The farmhouse is complemented by an 1873 carriage house, which contains two floors of local history exhibits.
External links
- Erland Lee Museum Website business site
- Federated Women's Institutes of Ontario Website website of organization
- Associated Country Women of the World Website website of organization