​July 21st marks the summer solstice, the date when the Earth’s northern hemisphere is tilted closest toward the sun and we enjoy the most hours of light in a day. The marking of the summer solstice has been celebrated by Indigenous Peoples for thousands of years by giving thanks to Mother Earth for her gifts. In Canada, June 21st is now acknowledged as National Indigenous Peoples Day and is an opportunity for all Canadians to celebrate Indigenous languages, cultures and ceremonies. It is a day to recognize and learn more about the contributions made to Turtle Island by Indigenous Peoples. The Middleville and District Museum is committed to continuing its work to develop the educational experience of visitors. The area’s Indigenous presence is marked by several items made by Indigenous People who lived here. The land the Museum sits on is the traditional territory of the Omamiwinini (Algonquin). A collection of items highlights the artistry of the baskets made by Indigenous People with some being made by members of the Whiteduck family. Baskets made in the area were usually made from willow, rushes and black ash. It is recorded that the Whiteduck family used osiers, a long pliable strand of willow they found in the marshland near present day Clyde Forks in basketmaking. They travelled down the Clyde River from the Clyde Forks area to Lanark to sell and trade their baskets. Other baskets were made by splintering the wood of the  ash tree into strips. The strips were sanded smooth and woven into baskets of various designs. In the early 1900’s, it is reported that when the supply of ash in the area became diminished,  Indigenous People travelled the waterways from the area known as Cornwall to near present day Hopetown to find the ash they wanted to make their baskets. (C. Smith) There are memories of Indigenous People in the Sharbot Lake area trading baskets for meals and other goods. (W. McDonell) Croft Store in Middleville kept records of Indigenous People trading baskets among other items for goods they needed. The Museum invites the public to view these exquisitely crafted baskets and see the artistry of their design. It’s a good way to learn more about the amazing talents and contributions of Indigenous Peoples from this area. 

Baskets on display at the Middleville and District Museum

Rosetta is a name that comes with a long history in the world. It was the appearance of a simple structure resembling the Pyramids of Egypt built by Robert Dick to shelter his livestock that inspired the naming of the Lanark Township community, Rosetta. This name was formalized when the Post Office was later established. Over the years, Rosetta, nestled in the heart of Lanark County has seen two stores, two blacksmith shops, a hotel, a post office, four successive schools and four successive Churches. Probably the most distinctive feature of this community is a natural outcropping of a giant rock. ​

​A group of early settlers worshipped in the open air with a preacher, possibly one of the four Dick brothers who later became ministers, speaking from atop a giant rock. This rock stood on the north part of the east half of Lot 12, Concession 9 of Lanark Township. This sacred site has long been known to generations as The Preaching Rock. In winter, sleighs pulled by oxen carried area worshippers to the stone church on the 8th line of Ramsay Township, Auld Kirk. Once a log church was built on Lot 13, Concession 9 on an acre purchased from John Dick for 5 shillings, the congregation was able to worship year round in their own community. Generations later, in 1982, a group led by Alex Bowes organized a service at The Preaching Rock that was attended by about 100 people from the surrounding churches. An annual outdoor service was held at the rock. Once again, this rock welcomed worshippers to gather at its base for the next five years. 

The deed for the piece of land the Rosetta Church and Cemetery stand on gives the following information: May 30, 1853 Deed from John Dick to Robert Robertson, William Ramsbottom, William Aitken and Alexander Young, Trustees appointed by the Congregational Church of Lanark in the County of Lanark and Province of Canada. 

​This first log structure was erected slightly further west on the lot than the present church building. In the summer of 1852, a new frame building was built on the present church site and had a congregation of about thirty. It was about this time in the summer of 1853 that something known as the great revival happened in this church community. A Reverend Climie held meetings every evening in the Rosetta Church and his preaching was said to be so powerful that over the course of the summer and fall a number of about 400 people that came to hear him were converted to believing after hearing his message. At the 50th anniversary jubilee of the congregation in 1902, Reverend R.K. Black reminisced about his time in the early days of the church when he walked 30 miles from Oliver’s Ferry now known as Rideau Ferry to Middleville to take up his ministry of 50 to 60 families. This frame church served the community until it was torn down to make way for a smaller, more practical building in 1898. 

​The new church was erected using whatever materials and furnishings that could be salvaged and repurposed for the new church. This third church was in use until it burned in 1919 and the present day church was erected. Around this time, 5100 square feet of land was purchased for $1 to allow the building of horse sheds nearby.

Sometime around 1901, records indicate the first formal organization of a Rosetta choir. This is significant because it is a great example of the resiliency of this community’s commitment to tradition. The early days of the choir were documented and in one case the choir director would use the phone lines to hold a choir practice. That’s innovative practicality. Many will recall the Rosetta Men’s Choir renowned for its steadfast service to the Church and community. This choir often had requests to sing at many events and locations. The members of this choir worshipped at other area churches after the closure of Rosetta Church, but continued to sing under the name of Rosetta and of course, were on hand for the annual cemetery service. 

​When the rebuilding of the Church was proposed in 1919, community members were tasked with contributing money, labour and materials such as lumber. 

​The church building that stands on the curve of the Rosetta Road at the edge of a picturesque cemetery serving as the final resting place for the early settlers and community members through the generations opened its doors for the first time on December 28, 1919. It ceased holding weekly services on June 30, 1965. The resiliency of this community is evidenced by the annual memorial cemetery service that sees the church doors flung open and the pews filled with worshippers gathered there to remember the people laid to rest in the cemetery. The decoration of graves in Rosetta Cemetery in late June each year is part of a long standing tradition in several local communities. Year after year, descendants of families who lived in the area communities return to decorate the graves of their ancestors, some long departed and only known through old photos and historical records and others more recently laid to rest. The long tradition of decorating graves is still practiced in many local communities in Lanark County. The communities of Middleville, Hopetown and Clayton continue to hold local outdoor cemetery services each summer. People often travel from a distance to attend these annual commemorations of loved ones. It is also a chance to reconnect with friends and extended family that attend. The early days of these services were organized to raise funds for the maintenance of the cemeteries. The ongoing caretaking of these sacred grounds requires great commitment and funding. Rosetta is a great example of this commitment. The grounds are carefully tended and maintained for those who wish to visit. Check local newspapers to find out which community Memorial Cemetery Services will resume in 2022 after a brief pause the last few years.

​From the remarkable well known story of the young Dick family who persevered on after they lost their father in a drowning accident in the St. Lawrence River near Quebec City and their mother shortly after settling in Lanark Township, to the majestic Preaching Rock that rises in the landscape of a field to the ongoing caretaking of the beloved Church and Cemetery, Rosetta is a true testament to the resiliency of a community through generations. The impressive, black, horse drawn hearse that is on display in the Middleville and District Museum is part of the Young family of Rosetta’s legacy. The Middleville and District Museum has information and pictures of the history of Rosetta and the families who settled in that area. Drop by the Museum to learn more about this and other local communities. 

​The process of manufacturing cheese began with the milk delivered by farmers being heated in a large vat. Starter was added to cause the milk to coagulate and the whey was separated out. The remaining curd was packed into containers and pressure was applied to remove moisture. After two weeks, the cheese would be put in boxes and shipped. ​

​In 1881, a quarter of an acre of land in Lot 1, Concession 8 of Drummond Township was purchased from Nathaniel Balderson for the purpose of building a factory that would produce cheese.  The location meant the factory would be centrally located in the vicinity of an area known as Balderson’s Corners. Plans were made to acquire factory furniture, milk wagons and drill a well. In 1884, milk drawers with names like James King, Robert Somers, Joe Moulton, T. Haley, Louis Clyne, Arthur Cook, Wm Cunningham and H. Echlin were paid an average of around $100. By 1896, about 2,737,922 pounds of milk were processed and 262,678 pounds of cheese were manufactured. It took about 10 pounds of milk to make a pound of cheese. About $6.90 would be paid for 10 pounds of milk and $8.48 for a pound of cheese. The original Balderson Cheese factory burned in 1929 and a new one was erected the next year. In 1981, a hundred years of cheesemaking was celebrated and Balderson Cheese is well known far and wide.  

​In 1884, a cheese factory was built in the village of Hopetown on the west side of the creek. It produced cheese from milk drawn by a cooperative formed by area farmers. The factory ceased producing cheese in 1933. From 1933 to 1948, cheeses boxes were manufactured there. 

​The original cheese factory in Middleville was built in 1888. That building was located on the 6th Concession of Lanark Township, just south of the Middleville School on the opposite side of the road. It burned in a fire in 1929. A second cheese factory was built further south on the concession. 

Like a little mystery with your history? Well, then Middleville, Ontario will be the place to be on July 9th, 2022. The Middleville and District Museum is extremely excited to welcome the Governor General award nominated theatre company, Live History, to its premises. Live History performances have been enjoyed across Canada and on many international stages. Wherever there's a good story to be told, the Live History troupe is sure to bring it to life for a captivated audience. The Museum has invited Live History to perform two shows on Saturday, July 9th, 2022. Tickets will be sold for a 1 pm and 3 pm show. Tickets will go on sale for $20 per person which includes Afternoon Tea and the live show. Information about purchasing tickets will be provided on local community signage and on the Upcoming page of our website soon. Follow the Museum on Facebook or Instagram for details. If you don't already receive our newsletter, go to our home page and sign up to get updates delivered right to your in box. Thirty tickets will be sold for each performance and will be available for purchase soon. Payment may be made by e-transfer at middlevillemuseum@gmail.com, on site at the Museum (Visa, Mastercard, cash or cheque). Guests will be treated to afternoon tea as they settle in to enjoy the show.
What could be better than afternoon tea and live theatre? Be sure to reserve your tickets early at 613-256-4997. The show is recommended for 12 years of age and older. See you there!

                                                                     A Jubilant Jubilee
The Middleville and District Museum is excited to open its doors to the public and celebrate the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth ll. In fact, we’re busy dusting off our best fascinators in preparation. On the menu for the opening weekend is an offering of Tea Sandwiches, Fruit, Sweet Treats, Tea and Coffee. The British tradition of serving Tea Sandwiches (or Finger Sandwiches) with afternoon Tea was practiced with the intent to tide people over until their main meal later in the day. The term Tea Sandwich indicates a small offering to be eaten in a few, tiny bites. The Museum’s Tea and Treats will be served to visitors with an option to enjoy the goodies in the newly expanded lawn area under the shade trees. Picnic tables and chairs will offer safe spaces to partake of the lovely fare, weather permitting. Gluten-free Queen Elizabeth Cake and other treats will be available, as quantities allow.  Hope to see you there!

Queen Elizabeth Cake
¼ cup butter
1 cup white sugar
1 egg
1 ¾ cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp vanilla
½ cup walnuts, chopped
1 cup dates, chopped
Pour 1 cup boiling water over dates and set aside until cool.
Icing: Mix together 3 tbsp butter, 5 tbsp brown sugar, 2 tbsp cream, ¾ cup coconut. Boil for 3 minutes in a saucepan.
Combine first 9 ingredients and bake in 325 degree oven for 45 minutes. Remove from oven and pour icing mixture over top. Return to oven until browned.

A Thompson Family favourite to serve to special company in the early 1900's

​On Thursday, May 12th, 2022, local school children from Caldwell Street Public School in Carleton Place, visited the Middleville and District Museum to learn about life in the 1800’s. Last season, Museum volunteers, in conjunction with Lanark Highlands employees, worked to create a bus lane to accommodate large vehicles visiting the Museum. Buses and vans can now drive around a circular driveway and navigate an enlarged parking lot with ease. The Caldwell Street Public School students were the first busload to try out the newly improved access. The Museum hopes to attract more buses and van loads of visitors in the future. Museum volunteers, dressed in period clothes, had planned a full program of activities for the Grade Three students to give them a taste of local history. In the Schoolroom, they practiced math facts, spelling and learned to do some cursive writing on a slate. A visit to the 1830’s cabin revealed how settlers lived their lives without indoor plumbing or electricity. Other activities included the opportunity to do some weaving and learn about the settlers’ journey from the old country. A guided tour gave the students a chance to see and learn about the Museum’s many, many artifacts. Of course, no visit to an 1860’s Schoolhouse would be complete without some traditional outdoor games on the schoolyard where children have played for over a century. Games like The Graces, sack races and musical stumps showed today’s students how children got exercise and had fun with simple, everyday items at hand.
A beautiful spring day in the countryside provided a perfect chance for a picnic lunch under the shade trees in the ideal setting. Although the heat provided a few challenges, everyone worked together to make it a safe and enjoyable day. The Museum volunteers are eager to welcome more visitors to take a step back in time. 

We all have stories that we've heard a hundred times, or so it seems. We heard them while sitting on the laps of our parents, grandparents and maybe even great grandparents. They are the stories of our ancestors that live on through generations. Hopefully, these stories will be told to our children and their children's children. It is important that these oral traditions are preserved and it is incumbent upon us to make sure they are not lost. In some cases, family history is recorded in written form to give life to these tales of survival. In most families, there are dozens of unmarked photographs of people and places that need to be identified before names and dates are gone forever. The Middleville and District Museum works every day to find these stories and photos to give them a place of honour. The reward is the joy of seeing visitors when they discover photos of people they have never seen before or a piece of history that has made its way from the 'old country' and is now nestled into a display at the Museum. In fact, almost every one of the thousands of artifacts has a family connection to the former Lanark Township and surrounding area. These items have their own story to tell in the labels that accompany them tying them to a person or family that came before. It is in an effort to preserve these stories that the Museum has created a new feature on its website. 'Down Memory Lane' is a new page found as part of the Collection page, where family stories can be preserved and enjoyed by all. This page has just been made available in time for Mother's Day. The first stories on the new page are testaments to Mothers who sacrificed so much to build a better life for their families. What better way is there to remember and honour all the Mothers who came before. Check back to the page for more stories throughout the year. 

​Volunteering at the Middleville and District Museum provides opportunities to do pretty much every job possible. In the spring, the task of uncovering exhibits and planning for the creation of new ones gets people excited about a brand new season ahead. The old favourites like the 1830’s cabin, the 1922 Ford car and the 1861 schoolhouse quickly come alive. New ones like the Royal Platinum Jubilee exhibit are just a vision in the heads of volunteers. Materials are gathered and day by day, they start to take shape ready to delight visitors. Of course, planning an opening weekend program gets underway next. Advertisements are crafted and the website is updated to let people know when to mark their calendars. The summer months have a steady stream of volunteers signing up for shifts at the Museum to greet the public who arrive to visit. Volunteers work together in pairs or families to keep the Museum open every weekend from May to October. Board members also welcome weekday appointments arranged for those who can’t visit the museum on weekends. Researchers and writers spend many hours pouring through the extensive resources the Museum holds. This year, The Reading Room’s comfy chairs will welcome those who enjoy a good read. A selection of special events draws volunteers to the Museum all throughout the season. This year, July will have a Live Theatre event not to be missed. There are many jobs needing extra hands to organize, publicize and host this exciting event. The summer also brings outdoor yard maintenance. There’s planning and seeding, watering and weeding to do and green thumbs are always needed. When the leaves begin to suggest the fall season is coming, attention focusses on paint and repair jobs that need to be done before the cold weather arrives in the Highlands. A chill in the wind signals time to ready the Museum for winter snow. Outdoor exhibits are protected from the harsh weather and lawn furniture is tucked away in the shed. The 2022 season brings a new twist for the fall. A large heat pump has been installed on the south side of the Museum. It will provide much anticipated warmth and extend the use of the Museum in colder months. The Board of Directors will be able to continue to meet and plan on site at the Museum building throughout the year. This will improve their ability to respond to enquiries from the public that keep coming year round. So if you like to bake, research, write or create consider connecting with the Middleville and District Museum team. Maybe you like to dig in the dirt and design beautiful outdoor spaces. Why not give us a call? There are always light maintenance tasks to do and some jobs that take a crew to complete. Be sure to check out the volunteer page on our website for ideas about how you might add your talents and time to the care and preservation of The Middleville and District Museum. There are many ways to get involved. Use our social media links to contact us. Give us a call or drop by the Museum during the season to find out how you can get involved. Whether you are looking for a place to spend some time or just want to lend an occasional hand as we gear up to emerge from a challenging time, we need to engage more than ever. We look forward to hearing about your interest in the Museum and its ongoing engagement with its wider community. 

The Middleville and District Museum sits in an idyllic setting in the heart of Lanark Highlands. It is flanked by stately trees. The yard boasts an old apple tree that still bears delicious fruit in late summer. A sprinkling of bird houses provide a welcome space for feathered friends. Of course, being part of the Highland landscape means lots of hills and rocks. The surrounding fields are home to a herd of cattle and our favourite neighbourhood team of Clydesdales, Bonhomme and P'tit Guy. Several picnic tables provide visitors a shady rest stop. The expansion of the Museum grounds last season inspired plans for future flower beds and other interesting features. The installation of a pair of old doors on the end of the Museum, last year, laid the groundwork for a country motif. Plans for a farming vignette will take shape this season. Be sure to check it out when you visit the grounds. A rock garden will be planted with traditional flowers to provide a pop of colour on the hillside. 

The landscape is indeed inspirational. One of the Museum's volunteers, Mary Beth, loves to garden and she was inspired by the Museum and its surroundings. 
The following is Mary Beth's vision:
When I first discovered the Middleville Museum, I was impressed by the displays and the familiar names that took me back in time. I was so excited to make this wonderful discovery in my own back yard. After exploring the past, I left the building and walked the property along the split rail fence, seeing the neighbouring cows and horses, the lilacs and the meadow. All these brought back memories of my childhood on the farm.
Because I was captivated by the Museum, I volunteered to work there and help maintain the memories of those strong pioneers who had the courage to start over again. The inside displays are imaginative and have stories to tell and I thought wouldn’t it be wonderful to bring some of that to the outdoors. Just imagine, there could be wild roses and sunflowers along the split rail fence. Birdhouses built by children mounted on the posts and the whole fence line alive with colour, fragrance and birdsong. Then perhaps a scarecrow garden at the corner of the property – children could design and dress the scarecrows. Then after they visit the scarecrows, they could run along the paths cut through meadow grass, climbing on rocks and hay bales.
Picture a Memory Garden planted with flowers and shrubs rescued from the homesteads, or perhaps planted by an ancestor in a spot on the grounds. We could label the plant recognizing who owned it and where it was grown. What a wonderful way to honour our pioneer grandmothers, who always found time to plant flowers. We could plant a heritage vegetable and herb garden surrounded by rail fencing. The plants and herbs would all be labeled to describe them and explain how they are used and stored. Then to have a large flower garden beside the Museum. The garden could be perennial and grow wonderful old plants like daisies, black-eyed Susans, phlox, columbine, hollyhocks and asters. There could be a walkway through the flowers with a bench for a visitor to sit and just breathe. Perhaps a willow trellis covered with climbing roses or ivy or morning glories- someplace beautiful to stop and take a picture. The perfect way to complete any visit to the Museum could be to roam around the yard. What a wonderful, magical place to spend an afternoon. I have big dreams for the Middleville Museum yard and with the support of the volunteers and the community we can do it. It all starts with one small seed.
If you share Mary Beth's love of gardening, consider joining us in our planting projects, this season. Contact us through our social media, e-mail, telephone or just drop by when we're open. Hope to see you soon, trowel in hand. 

​The Middleville and District Museum is a place of learning for visitors of all ages. The 2022 season will begin with five new activities waiting for children to explore. Young visitors can guess and check at three stops along the way in their tour. Two other stops encourage children to engage with an activity specially designed for them. 

​The Museum has a series of QR Codes sprinkled throughout its exhibits. Visitors of all ages can use their phones to scan and enjoy additional content. Maybe they will learn more about the traditional harvest of wild rice in the Indigenous Exhibit or enjoy the sound of a tin flute in the Music Exhibit.

On the way out the door at the end of their visit, children are encouraged to pick up a ‘Grab and Go’ bag that includes a few activities to enjoy at home. We are excited to welcome visitors of all ages to the Museum as we strive to provide something for everyone. ​