1
Following a very successful display of their personal collections, the Sheguiandah Women's Institute decided they wanted a museum to house the treasures and memories of the community. A public meeting was held November 4, 1964 sponsored by the Sheguiandah Women's Institute, it was agreed to form an Eastern Manitoulin Historical Society. The purpose of this society would be to establish the Little Current Howland Centennial Museum.A financial committee was struck with Elmer Vincent and Ella Omnet representing Little Current. Ralph Batman and Roy Atkinson represented the interests of Howland Township. The other members of the financial committee comprised of Chairman, Albert Rolston, Dr. Grant Strachan, and George Bishop, Ex-Officio. Their task was to raise fifteen thousand of the twenty thousand dollars it was expected to cost to finish the project.
George Bishop was named Managing Director of the project.
Two women from the small Hamlet of Sheguiandah, Geraldine Batman and Ella Lewis, both donated land on the south side of Lewis Creek on which to build the museum.
In recognition for this donation they would each receive a space in the new museum of not less that 10' x 20'. Miss Lewis' collection would be dedicated to her sister Isabella (Belle). Miss Batman's area was to be set aside for the display of her historical items and records.
Little Current and Howland councils both agreed to support the efforts of the Eastern Manitoulin Historical Society in its desire to build a museum.
The first fundraising event held by the Eastern Historical Society was a fish fry on July 31, 1965 in the Community Centre in Little Current.
On August 24, 1965, Eleven members of the committee met at the museum grounds to chose the actual site for the building on what Geraldine Batman described in her notes as a 'a cold wet miserable day. At that time, the building was to be 60' x 30', 'L' shaped cement block with asphalt shingles.
The province and the Federal Government both promised to invest twenty-three hundred dollars into the project. This was later increased to three thousand, and the local commitment increased to seventeen thousand dollars.
Five hundred dollars was spent to ready the site for the construction of the new building.
Both the Rock fill and the silica used to top dress the grounds were donated by the Trotter and Rolston Quarry.
All of the fossilized rock used around the flower beds, and to hold up the museum's two signs, was donated by Jerry Batman from his property below Ten Mile Point.
2
Work started on the main exhibit area in November of 1965. The picture of Don Eadie and his loader were taken during the early stages of construction.The building, a cement block building built on a reinforced concrete pad had a completion date of December 15, 1965. Local builders P. Harper and Sons were hired to build the new museum for the tendered price of $7,446.00. The 30' x 60' foot building would have laminated trusses designed to allow an open space in the interior. The roof was to be finished in self-sealing cedar-tone asphalt shingles, and the outside covered with log cabin siding, as money permitted.
At a project up-date held February 2, 1966 it was reported by Mr. Bishop that donations had come in from $2.00 to $200.00. He also confirmed that the properties from Ella Lewis and Geraldine Batman had been deeded and registered in the name of both Municipalities.
In April of 1966, Sheguiandah, Ontario, welcomed Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson to the unofficial opening of the Little Current-Howland Centennial Museum.
The unofficial or preliminary opening, of the Little Current-Howland Centennial Museum was held on June 16, 1966. The mayor of Little Current at the time was John Farquhar. John Dunlop was the reeve of Howland.
Unfortunately, the sitting member for Algoma, who just happened to also be the Prime Minister of Canada, Lester B. Pearson, was unable to attend. He had stopped briefly on April 2, 1966, and could not return for the celebration.
On May 20, 1969, the committee decided to build an agricultural building, and a balance of $1200.00 was transferred to the new building fund.
3
George Bishop's original hand drawn design for the museum property1965
Sheguiandah, Ontario, Canada
4
George Bishop's first plan for the Little Current-Howland Centennial Museum5
Don Eadie Construction prepared the museum property for expansionNovember 1965
Sheguiandah, Ontario, Canada
6
The first job was to clear the land for the new museum in 1965. Here, Don Eadie, local contractor listens to George's instructions as levelling the property begins.7
Harper Construction pour the cement padNovember 1965
Sheguiandah, Ontario, Canada
8
Percy Harper and Sons Construction Company had the contract for building the cement block building. Local men from Sheguiandah were hired to level the area and lay the blocks.9
Percy Harper Construction lay out the forms for the Museum projectNovember 1965
Sheguiandah, Ontario, Canada
10
The first building on the site of the Little Current Howland Centennial MuseumNovember 1965
Sheguiandah, Ontario, Canada
11
The new buildingJanuary 1966
Sheguiandah, Ontario, Canada
12
The cement block building finished in February 1966.13
A letter to Lester B. Pearson20 December 1965
10862 Highway 6, Sheguiandah, Ontario, Canada
14
George Bishop invited the Prime Minister of Canada to a preview of the museum. Lester B. Pearson was the member for Manitoulin Algoma at the time. |
 |
 |
 |