Cloyne Pioneer museum opening – 40th anniversary of historical society

Jeff Green | Jun 14, 2012

The organization that has single-handedly preserved the rich history of the past along the Highway 41 corridor, from the Aboriginal past to the logging, mining and settlement history right through to the development of the tourist industry and life on the lakes, is turning 40 this year.

The Pioneer Cub was established in 1972, and has been preserving the stories of community elders in print and through artefacts ever since. Now incorporated as the Cloyne and District Historical Society and based at the Pioneer museum, some of the long line of former directors of the organization will be on hand on June 21 to mark the opening of the museum for the 2012 season, and to kick off the fund raising campaign for a 1,400 square foot addition to the building that will be built to accommodate the ever expanding collection of historical material from local sources.

Festivities will get underway at 11:30 on Saturday June 21. In addition to tours of the collection, musical performers will be on hand to perform in the pavilion in the park on the site in Cloyne near the library and the Barrie Hall (across the road from North Addington Education Centre). Joe Grant, formerly of Tanglefoot, will perform, as will Eleanor Duncan and Gary Ferguson. There will also be a special performance by Dallas Arney.

Opening ceremonies are slated for 1:00, followed by cake. The event will wrap up at 2:30 and the museum, and the fund raising campaign, will then be officially open for 2012.