Be sure to see the permanent and temporary exhibits, and admission is free
By
Mark Schadenberg
The
Woodstock Museum was built to be the town hall and as the years passed its significance
changed, but it most certainly deserves its tag as a ‘national historic site’.
With
this in mind an upcoming exterior maintenance issue must be dealt with
accordingly – care to preserve the overall structure and its construction style.
This
autumn a contractor will replace the approximately 25-year-old cedar roof with
a new roof – building material approved by the Ontario Heritage Trust.
The
current roof is beginning to be covered with moss, and as we know cedar
shingles do have a limited life span.
Above picture from: Information Oxford web page
The
cedar shake installation project will see tenders in the range of $350,000,
which is the amount city council approved in its 2017 budget process a few
months ago. If you drive by the museum now, you will see the scaffolding already
in place.
The
Woodstock Museum is at 466 Dundas Street (Call: 519 537-8411), and the best
news is that admission is always free, but donations are accepted.
Read
The Sentinel-Review story below on the necessity for this new roof, and also
check out the other links about the museum because it’s most certainly a local
treasure and is more than 160 years old. The most significant on-going exhibit
is the reproduction of the original city council chambers and this room
includes countless photos of past mayors and council members.
The
main floor of the museum includes many other displays, including a timeline
history of Woodstock industry, recognition to the Oxford Rifles militia, a peak
at the agricultural past, a tribute to renown local people including Klondike
Joe Boyle, a collection of organ and pianos manufactured in Woodstock, and even
a replication of the Les McKerral barber shop.
The
museum website is also a wonderful resource to research vintage photographs and
area history, plus discover upcoming temporary exhibits.
Everyone
at the local museum and a large committee needs to be congratulated for its
Oxford Remembers series – 100 years since the First World War – and its accompanying
touring exhibit along with guest speakers and related events at the various
Oxford museums. (This display called Where Honour Leads We Follow, which I saw
in Ingersoll a few months ago, is currently at the famed Annandale House museum
in Tillsonburg, but only until Oct. 29)
Joseph Boyle
With
Remembrance Day soon, be sure to visit the Woodstock Museum up to Nov 11 for
another touring exhibit – this one based on the heroic life of Sir Arthur
Currie from Strathroy, who led Canada’s military in areas of Europe during the
First World War.
Curator
Karen Houston and her team are up-to-date with today too as the Woodstock
Museum has twice hosted the ‘escape room’ concept.
Houston’s
crew is working next on a kids’ theme for a haunted house for Oct 27 – 28.
If
you’re reading this and you’re not a Woodstock resident, it’s important to know
that the Woodstock Art Gallery is practically across the street on Dundas, and the
Carnegie library is about 2 blocks away. (Note: Even if you don’t want to
borrow a book from the Woodstock library, its architecture is noteworthy). Another block away is both the stunning
courthouse and the city’s former jail which today is the board of health
office. If you’re curious about why the museum is the former town hall, well
the current city hall is the former post office at 500 Dundas, and the original
police station is now a theatre for plays. Just to intrigue and amaze you more,
the former art gallery is now the United Way office, while across the street the
old downtown high school called Woodstock Collegiate Institute (which I attended
about 35 years ago) is still the old downtown-area high school.
Sept 2016 story:
July
2016 story:
Courthouse is just 3 blocks away from museum
Mark Schadenberg, Sales
Representative
Senior Real Estate Specialist
(SRES designation)
Royal LePage Triland Realty
Independently Owned & Operated, Brokerage
757 Dundas St, Woodstock
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