Brockville Museum
5 Henry Street K6V 6M4 Brockville, ON, Canada

In case you missed it... our third Stories from the Stones came out this morning! This week we explore the history of slavery in Brockville.

Join us for the third episode in our series: Stories from the Stones, as we explore stories of slavery in Brockville, not always well represented by the stones you might see in the cemetery.

Calling all former employees of Brockville's Automatic Electric (including Microtel, Nortel, Brock Tel, and SCI Systems)! Share your stories with us. Our next Talk & Tea is taking place on December 10, and we're looking at the history of this once prominent local factory. We'd love to hear about the day to day and what it is was like working there. Please share in the comments or email the museum. (Talk & Tea is currently offered virtual and at no charge, but registration is ...required: www.brockvillemuseum.com/publicprograms) For over sixty years telephones or their modern components were made in Brockville. Starting in 1936, Automatic Electric used the Eugene F. Philips Electrical Works (of which it was part owner) to produce Strowger/Automatic Electric telephones. By 1954, Automatic Electric had opened its own facility on Strowger Boulevard. In 1979, Automatic Electric was acquired by Microtel. In 1990, Brockville’s Microtel operations were sold to Nortel, and became known locally as Brock Tel. In 1999 Nortel sold Brock Tel to SCI Systems Inc. Then, in 2001, Sanmina Corp acquired SCI Systems Inc. and closed the Brockville plant in 2002.

Do you recognize this Brockville scene? This week's #TBT is an aerial photograph of the former Officer's Training Camp. Learn more about the OTC at today's virtual Talk & Tea, taking place at 2pm. Register at www.brockvillemuseum.com/publicprograms (there is no charge for this program). The main street in the centre of this photograph is Ormond St. with the recently developed Glengarry Road and Hastings Drive houses to the right. Amy Street is visible to the left.

How are you marking Thanksgiving? Have you come up with creative ways to connect with Friends and Family? What was grocery shopping like? Are you doing take-out? What's different and what's the same? Share your experiences with us and future Brockvillians through our "collect the pandemic" campaign: www.brockvillemuseum.com/donate ... Happy Thanksgiving and Stay Safe. (Thanksgiving Post Card from 1917)

It's #TBT, we also have our monthly Talk & Tea this afternoon, so we're asking do you remember this building, once a fixture on Court House Ave? It was once home to the Comstock's Dr. Morse’s Indian Root Pill patent medicine factory. It was torn down in 1967. Join us online at 2pm today for Talk & Tea to learn more about Brockville's rich patent medicine history. About the Comstock Building (from our 2018 temporary exhibit, Pieces of Brockville):... In 1864 William H. Comstock left the family business in New York City to start his own patent medicine company here in Brockville. In 1886 he contracted local architect O.E. Liston to design his company’s Canadian headquarters, and in 1887 the Comstock Building on Court House Avenue opened. He opened a second location across the river in Morristown, New York. Both factories produced W.H. Comstock Co. Ltd signature product, Dr. Morse’s Indian Root Pills. His son from his second marriage, also named W.H. Comstock, took over the family business following the death of the senior Comstock in 1919. In 1929, he had the distinction of making Brockville’s first trans-Atlantic telephone call, calling the W.H. Comstock Co. Ltd office in London, England. In addition to the patent medicine business, the Comstock Building would at one time house law offices, insurance firms, a funeral home, and even a book store. At one time, the building had the distinction of having one of the only elevators in Brockville. In 1956 W.H. Comstock Co. Ltd sent a shipment of 50,000 acetylsalicylic acid tablets (a form of aspirin) from the Brockville factory to the Canadian Red Cross to help Hungarian refugees. W.H. Comstock died in 1959. After decades of decreasing sales, this proved to be the end of the company. In 1960 the company’s assets and patents were sold to Milburn Medicine Co. of Scarborough. In 1967 the Comstock family had the building on Court House Avenue demolished. Today there is a parking lot in this space. Visit our virtual exhibit, Pieces of Brockville, for more about Brockville's old and lost buildings: https://brockvillemuseum.wixsite.com/d/pieces-of-brockville

ICYMI our temporary exhibit, Painting Picnic with Prudence Heward has been extended to October 30. This is your last chance to see these works before they are returned to the galleries and private collections from whence they came. Book your visit online: www.brockvillemuseum.com/reservations Visitors to the exhibit can also participate in our DIY Painting Picnic, a take-home package that features a road map to some of the locations depicted in the exhibited artwork, as well ...as coupons to local businesses to set you up with everthing you need to enjoy your very own Painting Picnic. The museum remains open BY APPOINTMENT Tuesday-Saturday. All visits are private for parties up to five people. Book online at www.brockvillemuseum.com/reservations or call 613-342-4397 (and follow the prompts to be connected with the Arts Centre). We are not able to accomodate walk-ups.

Join us this Thursday at 2pm for our virtual Talk & Tea when we'll be exploring Brockville's rich history of patent medicine! We'll be covering Pink Pills and so much more. Link available on our website: www.brockvillemuseum.com/publicprograms and on the Facebook Event Page. In the meantime, here's some history on the Fulford block in downtown Brockville, from our 2018 temporary exhibit, "Pieces of Brockville" (also one of our featured virtual exhibits: https://brockvillemuse...um.wixsite.com/digitalmuseum). Fulford Block Historically one of Brockville’s most imposing structures, the Fulford Block at the corner of King Street and Court House Avenue was constructed in 1889. It was erected by George T. Fulford. The architect was George A. Allen, and the contractors were George A. Crain and John S. Mix. In June 1916 a fire broke out in the elevator shaft of the Fulford Block. It quickly climbed to the top floor of the building, which was occupied by Fulford’s Dr. Williams’ Medicine Company, and then spread north through the hallways into the Brockville Business College. It was said that not a single piece of paper was saved from the Business College and that 5 million Pink Pills were consumed by the fire. The inventory in Frederick R. Curry’s Drug Store, which occupied the first floor, was also destroyed. Despite the roof crashing in within half an hour of the blaze’s outset, the building itself was not entirely destroyed, and the damaged sections were rebuilt, although with a much more conservative style. Just over a hundred years after the fire, the landmark building is currently being renovated by developer Rob Thompson to better serve the downtown; Thompson has even uncovered some old medicine wrappers belonging to Fulford’s pharmaceutical company during the work.

Hard to believe it is already October! We're excited to announce that our temporary exhibit, Painting Picnic with Prudence Heward has been extended to October 30th! We're also thrilled to be once again offering public programs, albeit in new ways: Talk & Tea has resumed (virtually) and our small group size walking tours are nearly all sold out already!... Remember you can check out our virtual exhibits and other online offerings anytime at: https://brockvillemuseum.wixsite.com/digitalmuseum Stay tuned for more virtual offerings coming soon. Is there a particular topic you'd like to see us cover in a virtual program? Let us know! To book your visit: www.brockvillemuseum.com/reservations For more on programs: www.brockvillemuseum.com/publicprograms #MuseumsConnectON

Yesterday (September 28th) was the 10th Annual British Home Child Day in Ontario. The day aims to recognize and honour the contributions of the British home children who established roots in Ontario. The story of the Home Children in Brockville is on display in our award-winning exhibit, Travel Trunk: Unpacking Brockville's Cultural Stories. Between 1888 and 1934, Brockville's Fairknowe Home served as a receiving home for thousands of impoverished Scottish children, usually ...between the ages of 4 and 18, who were sent to live and work in rural Canada through the Quarrier organization. These children were part of a massive wave of about 100,000 child immigrants who became known as "British Home Children". Most of the children who arrived here had been surrendered by their parents because the lack of social services in Britain made it impossible for poverty-stricken families to stay together. On their arrival in Brockville, children were settled at Fairknowe until they could be placed with a Canadian family. They were not adopted, but rather were trained to work as either agricultural labourers or servants, working under formal contracts, or indentures. Life for most of these children was not easy. Siblings were often separated form one another, and children could be grossly overworked. Some were moved around, others ran away, and a great many died from health-related problems or injuries resulting from neglect and abuse. There is a monument in Oakland Cemetery honouring some of the children who died while in care at Fairknowe. The Fairknowe House still exists today as an apartment building located on Fairknowe Drive. There is a historical plaque out front recognizing this piece of history. The legacy of the British Home Child movement in Canada is profound, with many Canadians tracing their ancestry to one of these child immigrants. It is also important to understand that Canada was just one of several countries that received British Home Children, and Quarrier's was just one of several well-meaning welfare organizations to organize this forced migration of children. Reminder: the Museum is currently open ONLY BY APPOINTMENT. Bookings can be made online at www.brockvillemusuem.com/reservations

September 25th marks the start of the 2020 Culture Days | Fête de la culture. Things are a little different this year, but with a month of virtual and in-person activities, there are more ways than ever to participate in culture in our communities. Check this short video highlighting the Brockville Museum's offerings. To book your in-person museum visit: www.brockvillemuseum.com/reservations #CultureDays #CultureDays2020 #ClearlyBrockville #Brockville #MuseumsConnectON #ONCultureDays

Happy #TBT! Do you remember Walker Bakeries? We pass the former location of this once prominent downtown factory on our Haunting Histories Guided Walk, next to St. Francis Church on Church Street. It is now the site of an apartment building. But there is a long history of cracker making at that site, dating back to 1882. Brockville’s early soda cracker manufacturers included Abbott & Grant, but in 1924 they sold their independent business on Church Street to Walker’s. Walker...’s produced cookies and soda crackers and for many years had a booming business. In 1951 the company was sold to General Bakeries, but products continued to be produced under the Walker’s brand. The Brockville plant was closed in 1974 and the factory demolished a year later. You can learn more about products made in Brockville, including packaging from Walker's and Abbott & Grant, with our virtual exhibit: https://brockvillemuseum.wixsite.com/dig/made-in-brockville

Happy Fall! The leaves are quickly creating their annual autumn pallet. One of the most sticking fall paintings from our collection is this one by well-known local artist, Robert Lindsay. Lindsay is featured in our "People of Brockville" exhibit and his works have made it into two our exhibits. You can also browse our collection of Lindsay paintings online through our online collection database. Lindsay was born in Prescott in 1868. His family moved to Brockville when he was ...a young boy and he remained a resident until his death in 1938. He got his professional artistic start with the James Smart Company, painting machinery. While employed there he became a student of the noted Canadian artist Percy Woodcock, who was the principal instructor at the Brockville Art School. Lindsay eventually succeeded Woodcock at the school and began in earnest his painting career. Lindsay also became an art teacher at the local high school. In 1895 Lindsay opened an art studio downtown. The business not only sold art, but also offered framing, painting restoration and many other art-related services. (018.30.4)

We’re excited to (finally) be able to bring these tours back this year with a new spin and extra precautions. We’re also able to offer a limited number of private walks for social bubbles. Details and booking info: www.brockvillemuseum.com/publicprograms Thanks your to everyone who has already booked and to CTV for the great coverage. #MuseumsConnectON #ClearlyBrockville

Interested in exploring more Brockville history from home? A reminder that we have 7 virtual exhibits on our "Digital Museum" site: https://brockvillemuseum.wixsite.com/digitalmuseum Discover how Brockville responded to the Cholera epidemic of 1832, our love of pets, all the stuff once made in Brockville, or the history of some of our most landmark buildings (including some we've lost), among other things. The virtual version of our temporary exhibit, "Painting Picnic with ...Prudence Heward" is also available. And don't forget you can also search our collection from home with our online database: http://www.brockvillemuseum.com/collection #MuseumsConnectON #MuseumFromHome #museumathome #ClearlyBrockville #virtualexhibit #museumcollection

Happy #TBT! We always love sharing King St. photos and postcards, they are a great way of exploring how our main street has changed, and in many ways, stayed the same. Don't forget that this Saturday is another Downtown Brockville Space to Shop Saturday! This postcard dominantly features Diana Sweets. Do you have any memories about this former landmark restaurant? How about some memories from other restaurants that were once part of our downtown? Please share in the comments.

Just four spots left for today's walk! Book online before 2pm: www.brockvillemuseum.com/publicprograms (sorry, we cannot accommodate walk-ups).