The old
St. Marys Museum as it looked in 1902.
The Castle in the Bush
The community museum for the Town of St. Marys is located in a lovely old home sitting on a hilltop in a park at 177 Church Street South. It was constructed from locally quarried limestone in 1854. When George Tracy, an early settler to St. Marys, built it for his family, it was by far the largest home in the small village of log shanties. Almost immediately, it was nicknamed the Castle in the Bush. It has been the location of the St. Marys Museum since 1959.
Visitors interested in 19th-century construction are welcome to visit at any time throughout the year. They will see exhibits and materials on local history and can also explore the interior of the house itself. Although it has not been restored to any fixed historic period, it contains a great number of original features from 1854: pine flooring, four fireplaces, plaster crown moldings, high ceilings and strange sets of small rooms off larger chambers.
The new
Community archives opened in 2006.
Local history research
A popular feature of the St. Marys Museum is the area for research into local history. A new wing for this community archives was opened in June 2006. The addition to the north of the original building is completely accessible and is well used by researchers throughout the year.
As well as municipal records, census indexes, listings for area cemeteries, local marriage, birth and death records, maps, photographs, family and community histories, this archives features St. Marys newspapers dating back to 1857. The newspaper archival materials were officially donated to the Museum in March 2007 by their last private owner. In recognition, the research area has been named: R. Lorne Eedy Archives.
Friends of the Museum
Muriel Sheldon, a longtime Museum volunteer and researcher, will receive an award for her work to record, preserve and share local history. It will be presented at the annual Heritage Fair, February 17, at the Friendship Centre.
Museum support group
seeking new members
The Friends of the St. Marys Museum have launched a membership campaign to encourage support for the Museum’s activities and projects. The annual fee is $10 per person, paid to the Friends of the St. Marys Museum. There are many reasons to buy a membership:
- The Friends membership promotes the Museum in the community. It provides a source of volunteers for the Museum and this involvement is very welcome.
- The Friends group sponsors fundraising activities, such as the Museum gift shop and the Seminar Series. Fundraising supports special Museum projects. For instance, in 2011, the group funded the acquisition of several new, secure display cabinets.
- Members receive quarterly newsletters, either by mail or electronically. The Friends of the Museum sponsors this website, maintained by volunteers.
- Members receive notice of the Annual General Meeting, held at the end of March. Members are entitled to propose motions and to vote at the AGM.
- Members can stand for election as directors of the Friends of the Museum. The directors meet regularly on alternate months and for occasional special meetings. Regular meeting dates are posted in newsletters and all members are welcome to attend.
- The Friends of the St. Marys Museum is an incorporated organization recognized by the Canada Revenue Agency as a charitable foundation (Charitable number: 885907 6325 RR0001). The treasurer can issue tax receipts for donations to the Friends.
Memberships can be renewed or purchased at the Museum or by mail. Memberships will be on sale at the annual Heritage Fair, February 17, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Friendship Centre, St. Marys.
Curator / Archives Assistant Emily Cartlidge with the snowshoe display, part of the Old Man Winter exhibit. Emily left the St. Marys Museum in January to become a records management clerk in her home town of Cobourg.
Current exhibits
- Old Man Winter – An exhibit of all things winter-related, on display into February, 2012.
- The Home Front – Life in St. Marys during both world wars, featuring artifacts and archival materials from the St. Marys Women’s Patriotic League, Perth Regiment, Canadian Forestry Corps., Nursing Sisters and Maxwell’s Ltd., in the Military Gallery.
Look for the St. Marys Museum’s contributions to the Virtual Museum of Canada website.