The South Marysburgh Mirror May 2023 /3 PEC Mariners Museum Set to Reopen for 2023 Summer Season May Long Weekend (Continued from page 2) significant part of the earliest navigation history of the Great akes. Inside the museum is a giant map of the shipwrecks that have been lost in the waters surrounding Prince Edward County. “The map is the most popu- lar display among the hundreds of nautical artifacts from early sail and steam vessels on the Great Lakes,” says Chris Palmer, Supervisor of Museums and Cultural Services for Prince Ed- ward County. But while the map is fasci- nating, there a quite literally dozens of nautical pieces that draw the eye including displays ‘on early water transportation, dive cases filled with treasures retrieved by local divers, and Mariners Park Museum gift shop. Established in 1967, the orig- inal museum came about be- cause of the efforts of Willis Metcalfe, James Plomer and a crew of passionate volunteers dedicated to the preservation of the area's marine heritage. “The museum continues to this day to be an evolving explo- ration of the many ways people have interacted with the beau- tiful waters surrounding the County,” Chris added. The artifacts are housed ina one-and-a-half storey frame country store that originally sat ‘on the east side of County Road 10 in Milford, beside the library. Built in about 1870, it was origi- nally known as (G.L.) Ostrand- er’s General Store. Mr. and Mrs. Jack Clark donated the building to the marine museum in 1982. Another section of the muse- um hosts exhibits on the navy and Prince Edward County's involvement in the First and Second World Wars, as well as the War of 1812. Cannon mor- tars, white tops, ships bells and gun shirts are just a few of the naval relics on display. Other displays focus on the glory days of ship-making and trade across the Great Lakes. Sitting outside is a replica of the Fort Kente blockhouse. It was originally built at Carrying Place on the site of the Kente mission built around 1669 by Jean Talon, a priest from France. It was built to resemble the 1813 fortification built during the war of 1812-14 by the Provincial Dra- goons, as part of the vital mili- tary highway of supplies. The fort was moved to mariners mu- seum in 2000. 4955 County Road 17 Milford, ON KOK 2P0 “Walker's Garage Complete Automotive Service 613 476 2837 e hardscape design + installation e trees + tree care e serving south marysburgh + pec Pasque Design Landscape & Garden e garden design + planting e emphasis on ecologically sustainable design See our work at www.pasquedesign.ca Get in touch with Riel Brown @ 613.920.5856