Museum History

The building housing the current museum was built by McQuillien and Co., Toronto in 1895 as the Town’s Pumping House. This included a pump house, filtering basin, brick and timber tanks, 4 miles of mains and 33 hydrants costing $20,930.

Eventually the Public Utilities Department was relocated to the Pump House and the building was colloquially referred to as the "Power House." Then during the 1940's the chimney was removed and both the Public Utilities and Public Works departments vacated the building leaving it empty.

After a local citizen, Cyrus Sing, donated his collection of memorabilia to the Town, the building was converted to a Museum and opened to the public on July 1, 1961.

Due to a continually expanding collection, more renovations were required, and during the early 1990's many changes were made to the building. Rooms were renovated providing better lighting, more display space and an office. Due to strict museum climate regulations, all of the building windows had to be covered, and Gunter Neumann provided beautiful painted murals to replace them.

In 1995, an addition was added to the front of the building to act as a foyer and gift shop. Finally, in 1997 a large "Fire Truck Wing"was added to the south end of the building in order to house the Meaford Fire Department's loan of their 1938 Bickle Maple Leaf Fire truck.

In 1999 the "Farm shed" was built through the generosity of the late Joe Walker. Located at the North end of the museum grounds it houses many of the collections larger artifacts and is opened each day, weather permitting.

Starting in 2004, The Meaford Museum, in partnership with Meaford Hall, received funding from Superbuild and the Municipality of Meaford to rejuvenate these wonderful historic buildings. The inside of the building was renovated. This inculuded insulating the walls, leveling the floors, finishing the attics, adding heating and cooling systems and creating an access to the basement.

The Museum was re-opened to the public on May 12 , 2007 after a three year closure to the cheers of over 200 welcoming citizens. The day, although cold, was a wonderful way for the Museum to start a new journey into the future.

In 2009, thanks to support from the Rick Hansen Foundation, the Apple Harvest Craft Show and the Ontario Trillium Foundation, a vestibule was added to the south end of the building to create a more prominent entrance and complete making the building entirely accessible.

The Museum will be celebrating it's 50th Anniversary in 2011. Many changes have occured in the last 50 years, most in the last 20 years. All of these changes have been done with the intention of providing a safe and welcoming place for Meaford to record it's history. Meaford is special and deserves a special place to record it's history. Join us as we celebrate the Museum, it's collection and the community that created it all!

Photo Gallery

Coming Soon!

Policies and Procedures

Policies and Procedures: Click Here

Board Meeting Minutes

Agendas
June Agenda (coming early June)

Board Members
John Kerr, Chair
Brian Gilroy, Deputy Chair
James McIntosh, Council Representative
Jim Anglin, Board Member
Stan Arnelien, Board Member
Suzanne Brown, Board Member

Board Meeting Minutes
The minutes from our Museum Board Meetings.

Affiliations

Canadian Museums Association
Ontario Museums Association
Grey County Historical Society

Grey-Bruce-Dufferin Museums Network
PastPerfect Users Network (SouthWest Ontario)