The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

O Bowrmmvii /O ° ,0 O by Rob Savage As the Bowmanville Museum celebrates its 25th anniversary, it's hard to imagine imagine the struggles the founders faced in getting the historical centre started. But early officials are quick to point out that there was little information for them to work from back then. "We were sort of feeling our way and working with whatever information we could get," said Mrs. Elsie Lunney, the first publicity director for the museum. So Mrs. Lunney and the other board members in the museum's early days used whatever was available to get the museum going. The proposal for the museum first came from the town council. The home of J.H.H. .Jury was bought for $50,000, half of which was donated by Mrs. L.B. Williams, Williams, on the condition that it be turned into a museum. From that money, $25,000 was spent on the Jury house, $20,000 was invested for future consideration, and $5000 was used for incidental incidental fees. Community members were asked to come to the town council meeting where a museum board would be elected. At that time, O. James Presson was elected chairman of the board, Dr. John Hendry was made treasurer, Mrs. Lunney Lunney was put in charge of publicity, and Mrs. Marion Wiseman was named the museum's secretary. Miss Apha Hodgins, Mr. Percy Greenfield, Mr. Bert Syer, Mr. Andrew Thompson, Mr. Ken Nicks and Mr. R.P. Rickaby were also named to the board. And Mrs. Williams was made honorary chairman. The selected members were picked to represent different community. groups. "I was to represent Early newspaper clippings dating right back to the museum's planning and opening have been well preserved by Elsie Lunney. Mrs. Lunney was in charge of publicity when the museum first got started. The general store exhibit, which was first set up in 1963, was well-enjoyed by its creators because it lent itself to such a wide variety of collectible items. In fact, Mrs. Wiseman said you could put nearly anything in it because general stores had everything. the Women's Institute," said secretary Marion Wiseman. Wiseman. Two council members were also to be on the board, and those roles were filled by Mr. Presson and Mr. Nicks that first year. Their first meeting was on Feb. 16,1961. In addition to the board members, Mr. S.J. Gooding was also on hand to offer advice. Mr. Gooding was the museum's advisor from the Department of Travel and Publicity, the provincial government department department that regulated museums in those days. Having little around to model their museum after the early founders looked to the Henry House Museum in Oshawa for advice. They were fortunate because because every year the museum section of the Ontario Ontario Historical Society holds annual museum workshops throughout the province. In 1961, the workshop workshop was being held in Oshawa, so the Bowmanville Bowmanville board had even more people to turn to for advice. "It was nice for us because it was very handy," said Mrs. Lunney. And it wasn't long before they found themselves as part of the program for the workshop that year. Flattering as it may have' been, their addition to the program represented a lot of work. Everything had to be identified and arranged in some sort of logical order. "We had to have something something ready for them to see," Mrs. Lunney said. The Bowmanville board told the society that they would be ready for the program program on Oct. 14. And while Oct. 14 was their initial planned date for opening, they decided it would be a mistake to open on the day that the 60 delegates would be visiting. So they bumped up their schedule and opened on Oct. 6,1961. "That afternoon, we were still putting stuff away," Mrs. Wiseman said. Mrs. Williams cut the ribbon ribbon and the museum's opening was treated to a "pretty good crowd," Mrs. Wiseman said. Several children were among the opening day gathering. "They were quite interested and they would come back again," she recalled. recalled. "They didn't know about oil lamps, spinning wheels, or flat irons," she added. ^ Visitors were also treated to old tools, a bedroom set tip and a Victorian parlor which had square pianos and a parlor organ from the Dominion Piano and Organ Co. which Mrs. Lunney and her husband, Roy, found at Myrtle station. "I think we bought it for $15," Mrs. Lunney said. "It was some small sum." Much of what they exhibited exhibited was donated although several items were also loaned to the museum to get it on its feet that year. "People were very generous generous about loaning things," Mrs. Wiseman said. "We built up quite an interest," interest," Mrs. Lunney added. The admission was free and when the people from the museum workshop visited visited nine days later they were happy with what they saw. "It was nicer by not having too much in the museum," Mrs. Wiseman said she was told, since the museum was adequately spaced to let people roam freely within it. "We had a respectable display to show them," said Mrs. Lunney. The first year's season was relatively short, ending two months later in De- The Victorian Pavlov setting was one of the wenv costumes which represented Hint cva. Balloons exhibits set up (luring the museum's 10th miniver- and a large cake were also part of the celebrations sary year, The participating ladies were asked to that year. cember. But the groundwork had been laid and the officials could continue continue to work to make the museum more attractive to the people in Bowmanville. There were no "Friends of the Museum" in those days, but many people were supportive. One of the main contributors contributors was the Jury family, family, whose original house was now being used as the museum. "The Jury-family were very generous and very helpful and very interested interested in the museum," Mrs. Lunney said. Volunteer receptionists and guides also helped at the museum until Mrs. Wiseman took over as curator in 1968. Among those volunteering to help during those years were Mrs. Etelka Clarke, Mrs. Aubrey Aubrey Smith and Miss Isabelle Davis. And at the beginning of the second year, Andrew Thompson was made chairman chairman of the board when Mr. Presson decided to take up teaching and had to move out of town. Mr. Thompson was very popular in that role. "He certainly made a wonderful contribution to the museum during his years," Mrs. Lunney Lunney said. His main responsibility was the financial considerations, considerations, which was a sizable task since the museum didn't start to receive municipal funding until the Town of Newcastle was formed in 1975. The only funding they did get was from the provincial government, government, and that wasn't much. "We didn't ,J; have any money to deal with at all," Mr. Thompson said. Preparations at the museum were done by Mrs. Wiseman and Mrs. Lunney. Once the museum opened, the volunteer receptionists took over. Mrs. Wiseman said that during those years, she also studied at more seminars and tried to learn more about howto run a museum. "I took in a lot of seminars," she said. "Sometimes I think I was crazy. I drove all over the place. But I enjoyed it." Eventually, Mrs. Wiseman Wiseman reached a level three in her museum studies, the highest level that a person can reach. Meanwhile, Mrs. Lunney continued to work on the . promotion. .Brochures and . advertisement^ were used to help publicize the musetim ■ and a crest, was eventually designed for the museum from the crest which is used for the Central Central Ontario Museum Association. Association. The second year the museum opened, the season ran from May to October. At that time, the museum opened at night, a tradition they would follow for years to come. The museum would then be open every day except Mondays from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. and Mrs. Wiseman said she would also work Mondays Mondays if it were a holiday. They began charging admissions admissions that year, with adults having to pay 25 cents and children paying 10 cents. Work was also done to keep the exhibits at the museum innovative and attractive attractive to the public. Mrs. Wiseman said the displays were always changing. Some of the exhibits included included an old doctor's room, a kitchen; and a child's room in the upstairs part of the museum. A crafts room was also used to house spinning wheels, quilts, and an old loom which was donated to the museum for a number of years. And special displays were set up over the years to create continuing interest interest in the museum. One display made the room look like the CKGW radio station in Wilmot Creek. Another display featured a variety of antique cameras. And Mrs. Wiseman said one of her favorite displays over the years was the general general store, because almost any donation from contributors contributors could be used in the store. "We always had a lot of stuff," she said. "They had everything in the general store." Mrs. Lunney agreed that the store, which was first set up in 1963, was certainly accessible accessible to donations, She remembered going to Byam's store in Tyrone and asking Mr, Byam if lie had any old articles from the store. "He did. lie took the stuff right off the shelves and handed them to me," Mrs. Lunney said. "It was a real bonanza that I got there." Material was also borrowed borrowed from Slomon's store in Enniskillen. "He lmd intended intended to set up a display himself," Mrs. Lunney said. Other contributors throughout the years wore Jury and Lovell's Drug Store, which donated a wall-size mirror; the McGregor's Drug Store, which donated some glass doors; and Rickaby's, which donated a small case with four shelves. The museum concentrated concentrated on getting antiques from around the region which were made before 1900. And while it was called the Bowmanville Museum, it had much support support in the early years because because it was the only museum around. • Mrs. Lunney said the museum was "fortunate" to gather the collection of antique dolls from the region region in the early years. "They were all antique dolls and all from this area," she said. "And they did look cute." Old dresses were also treasured treasured by the museum in those days. Dr. Doris Tre- meer was among those who contributed dresses to the museum. "They had a big house and the attic was full of stuff." In 1966, a plaque dedicated dedicated to Mrs. Williams was erected. Mrs. Williams had died in 1965 at the age of 94, and was actively involved in the museum throughout her final years. "She was pleased to see the museum established while she was still living," Mrs. Lunney said. In the dedication speech to Mrs. Williams in 1966, Mr. Thompson reminded the people of the benefits they had received from Mrs. Williams' support. "This is your museum, and it has yet to cost the town's taxpayers one cent. It's not expected that it will ever do so," he was quoted as saying in the Statesman. As the museum grew, extra space was created by using more of the room upstairs. upstairs. When the museum began, the caretaker had been renting some of the space upstairs for his personal personal use. Eventually, however, however, the caretaker moved out of the museum and two more rooms became available available for exhibits. The museum also made a regular habit of keeping the public informed. Advertisements Advertisements and regular coverage appeared in the Statesman and forms were given to school children one year to take home to their parents. Special events like the museum's 10th anniversary received the full treatment, with balloons and a large cake. The picture of the celebration appeared in the Canadian Statesman,. "That picture was kind of cute," Mrs. Wiseman said. And for the 10th anniversary, anniversary, a Victorian Parlour exhibit was created where participating ladies were asked to wear costumes from that era. Other special events included included the centennial celebration in 1967, where the museum's opening night featured square dancers on the lawn. Mrs. Wiseman, who took over as curator in 1968, stayed on until 1976. Not long after, Marion Veinot became the museum's curator. During her time as curator, the "Friends of the Museum" were created and more money became available available as the friends were asked to make donations to the museum. One of the main improvements improvements recommended by the Friends of the Museum was to expand on the collection of dolls. Soon, the museum was being advertised in American magazines as a centre for historical dolls, Mr. Thompson said. "That collection has proved very interesting to many people," he said. Plans for the expansion of the museum also originated during Mrs. Veinot's time. In July 1980, a feasibility study was completed and submitted to council. That study said the museum property should be restored, including the Carriage Carriage House. It added that the museum would be a centre for kids' groups. But the study was only approved approved by council one year ago and the recommendations recommendations have been tabled while money is used for other projects like the new arena and the new town hall. So the museum continues to grow without the money they've been hoping for. Dan Hoffman, the most recent recent curator at the museum, said lie's been working towards towards fulfilling the museum's original mandate--a mandate--a task lie hopes to complete by April, 1987. That mandate was to display display a house with rooms representing the period from 1847 to 1930. When the museum closes in December, he said he will convert two displays back to a parlor and will convert the parlor he has right now to a dining room. Meanwhile, he has also introduced "Outreach Services Services Programmes" for the schools. Those arc made up of different school kits which give historical backgrounds backgrounds on a variety of subjects, subjects, SECTION TWO WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 1986 His efforts, like those of many others, seem to have come from a tradition first set by Mrs. Wiseman and Mrs. Lunney when they worked as hard as they, could to get the museum started. Mrs. Lunney said she remembers remembers one old stove that she and Mrs. Wiseman carried carried from room to room as their plans changed. "A lot of work. But a lot of fun, too," she said. Hip The first brochure for the Bowmanville Museum is examined closely by Mrs. Marion Wiseman, the museum's first curator. Mrs. Wiseman was with the museum from its starting year in 1961 to 1976 when she retired. Mrs. Wiseman said she keeps hoping she'll find time to organize all her museum memorabilia. This photo from 1970 shows the Women's Institute presentation of the G.P. Walter chair to the museum. The chair was one of the remaining artifacts from the G.P. Walter Furniture Co., which burned down in 1867. The gentleman on the far left holding the chair is Andrew Thompson, the chairman of the museum board for many years. It was fairly common lor the museum to have people come and demonstrate how life once was for the people in this region. Here, Pat Gill is seen at an old-fashioned butter churn in the early lilliOs.