John Muir Letters

John Muir Letters to the Trout Family
995.25.04
Donated by: Marion Dean

John Muir, an internationaly renowned environmentalist and one of the founders of the US Parks System, lived for a short time in Meaford in the 1860's. During this time he became friends with the Trout and Stirling families.

These five letters were written to those families after his return to the United States and provided scholar's with important insights into his life in Meaford.

A transcription of the letters, which are VERY difficult to read, is available through the Museum Gift Shop. (Scroll Down)

Sproule Speakers Chair

Speakers Chair from the House of Commons
963.01.01
Donated by: Lillian Turner

This chair was the last given to a Speakers in the House of Commons. The chair now in the House is bolted down.
This chair was owned by Dr. Thomas Sproule of Markdale who was also an MP for the Meaford area for a very short period of time. If you look closely you can see his intials and the years he was Speaker engraved under the arm rests. It also has the coat-of-arms for each province in Canada . . . well those that had joined at that point!

This one-of-a-kind piece has been catalogued by the federal government and until former Curator Freda MacDonnell contacted them for information, they had thought it was lost!

Bronze Lion Medal

Bronze Lion Medal
2000.35.06
Donated By: Alice Martin

This medal is one of only two known Bronze Lion's in Canada. Awarded posthumously to Lt. Russell Martin during WWII it was donated to the Museum, along with a number of other related artifacts, by his sister-in-law.

These high Royal Dutch awards are presented by the Queen of the Netherlands and are awarded to servicemen who have shown extreme bravery and leadership in battle favouring he Netherlands; in some special cases however, it can be awarded to a foreign citizen.

In this case, it was given to Lt. Martin for his courageous actions during Operation Garden Market in 1944.

Erskine Brown Carvings

Erskine Brown Carving: Democrat Wagon
9zz.369.02
Donated by: Unknown Donor

Erskine Brown was a folk art carver who lived in Thornbury, ON. During his lifetime he carved hundreds of scenes of farm life, often depicting methods of transportation. During the sunset years of his life he donated many of his works to local community services. It is not unusual to find one of his carvings at a local church, in a local library or even at the Meaford Hospital.

The Museum is proud to boast the largest collection of Erskine Brown carvings known to exist outside of the collection housed at the Museum of Civilization in Ottawa.

L. Riel's Bag

Louis Riel's Bag . . . or is it?
9xx.76.47
Donated by: C.R. Sing

Among the items that comprised the first donation to the Museum, this bag is a mystery. The donor Mr. Cyrus Sing was an avid traveller and a rather weathly man. He claimed that this bag belonged to Louis David Riel (1844 – 1885).

Riel was a Canadian politician, a founder of the province of Manitoba, and leader of the Métis people of the Canadian prairies. He led two resistance movements against the Canadian government and its first post-Confederation Prime Minister, Sir John A. Macdonald. Riel sought to preserve Métis rights and culture as their homelands in the Northwest came progressively under the Canadian sphere of influence. Today, he is regarded by many as a Canadian folk hero.

All efforts so far to authenticate this claim have failed but, we continue to believe Mr. Sing's declaration in hopes that one day we will be proven correct.

Man with the Iron Hands

Sample of handwriting by the "Man with the Iron Hands"

2002.08.01
Donated by: Ken Hodgkinson

This small sample of hand writing was done by Mr. Andrew Gawley, a gentleman with no hands.

Mr. Gawley lost both of his hands in a horrific mill accident at the tender age of 16. He was dissatisfied with the hands he was provided by the government. They worked well enough for someone who had lost one hand, but he'd lost two! He worked with others to eventually create hands of his own ingenious design. It was said Gawley could do everything someone with two regular hands could do, except button up his collar button. It was too close to sensitive organs!

One of his hands is on display at the Museum, on loan from Grey Roots Museum and Archives.

Beautiful Joe in Japanese

Japanese Version of Beautiful Joe
L2007.05.03
On loan from the Beautiful Joe Heritage Society

This story, about an abused dog who found a loving home, took place in Meaford and was told by a relative (the sister of the daughter-in-law) of the man who rescued the dog. She heard the story while visiting and was so moved she wrote his story down.

There have been hundreds of printings of this book by Margaret Marshall Saunders since it was first published in 1901. It was the first Canadian novel to sell 1 million copies and has been translated into over 40 different languages.

Recently, a Japanese publishing house requested that one of it's translators translate the book for publication. Amazingly, the young man they asked was from Meaford and knew all about the story! He requested permission to contact the Beautiful Joe Heritage Society. Through them he was able to provide added information in the book. He was also allowed to include a short history of the Society and their work.

The world is a very small place!