by Amy Zoethout | Jan 27, 2021 | Artefacts, Collection highlights
Take a closer look at the Huron County Museum & Historic Gaol and its collections as staff share stories about some well-known and some not-so-well-known features, artifacts, and more. In the first of this new blog series, Collections Intern Thomas Lang looks at one of the Museum’s most recognizable artifacts, the M4A2E8 Sherman Tank, and shares how an armoured vehicle manufactured in the United States found its way to Goderich.
The M4A2E8 Sherman Tank as seen in 2021 on the grounds of the Huron County Museum.
The M4A2E8 Sherman Tank has been a part of the Huron County Museum’s collection since 1978 and is a popular feature on the Museum grounds. Manufactured by General Motors’ Fisher Tank Arsenal in Grand Blanc, Michigan, at the tail end of the Second World War, it was one of 294 tanks purchased by the Canadian Militia for training purposes in 1946. Between its variants, the Sherman was the most widely used tank among the Allies in the Second World War, and reserve units in Canada continued to operate them until the 1970s. The Museum’s tank was attached to the Ontario Regiment in Oshawa until November, 1973, when it was declared surplus and purchased by the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 109 Goderich.
After being displayed near the Goderich Airport for five years, the Legion donated the tank to the Huron County Museum and held a Memorial Dedication Service on Aug. 20, 1978. The Legion dedicated the memorial to all the Allied armies who used Sherman tanks in the Second World War and to those who produced these armoured vehicles on the homefront. Lieutenant-Colonel David Currie, recipient of the Victoria Cross for his actions at the Battle of the Falaise Pocket, unveiled the plaque at the Museum and the Legion painted the tank to resemble Currie’s command tank in the 29th Armoured Reconnaissance Regiment (The South Alberta Regiment) to commemorate his service.
Since the ceremony, the tank has remained on public display outside the Museum. In 1996, a group of student volunteers painted the tank as part of the Junior Curators Painting Project. Today, we have repainted and added identification markers to the tank to reflect what it would have looked like while being used by the Ontario Regiment.
A student paints the tank during the Junior Curators Painting Project in the summer of 1996.
While the Museum is temporarily closed to the public, you can still see the Sherman tank, as it is always on display on the north side of the Museum on Trafalgar Street.
Further information about the Sherman Tank:
by Amy Zoethout | Jan 13, 2021 | Media Releases/Announcements, Uncategorized
The County of Huron invites applications for an open position on the Huron County Museum & Historic Gaol’s Collections Committee. The position is for a volunteer community member from Huron County. Terms are for one year, two years, or three years with the potential of two consecutive terms.
The purpose of the Committee is to advise County Council with respect to matters pertaining to the Huron County Museum and Historic Gaol. Recommendations include review of short and long term planning regarding collections, site policies in relation to collection development, and requirements of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport’s Museum standards.
Meetings are held every third month, generally on Tuesday mornings as scheduled by the Committee.
The Huron County Museum and Historic Gaol engage our community in preserving, sharing, and fostering Huron County culture.
Please submit a written application by March 19, 2021 to:
Acting Senior Curator
Huron County Museum & Historic Gaol
110 North St., Goderich, ON, N7A 2T8
museum@huroncounty.ca
by Amy Zoethout | Jan 6, 2021 | Uncategorized
While the Huron County Museum is temporarily closed to the public due to the province-wide shutdown, there are still so many ways you can enjoy our collections and services right from the comfort of your own home. Here are 10 ways you can stay safely connected with the history and culture of Huron County at this time:
- Reflections: The Life & Work of J.W. (Jack) McLaren: You can still explore the life and work of artist Jack McLaren right from home! Until we can welcome you back to enjoy this exhibit in person, our website features a virtual video tour of the exhibit as well as a recording of our most recent virtual talk featuring author Shawn Henshall, who shared more about the often overlooked story of McLaren’s life. Henshall recently published the book The Forgotten Legend: The Life Story of John Wilson McLaren, which you can order for curbside pickup from the Museum Gift Shop. The Museum Gift Shop also carries the exhibit catalogue that will allow you to enjoy many highlights from the exhibit, including the full collection of the paintings on loan from the local community.
- The Huron County Archives and Reading Room Virtual Services: While the Archives and Reading Room are closed to in-person research, the archival collection at the Huron County Museum can still be accessed by the public for research purposes through our new virtual research services. Virtual research with the Archivist is available by appointment. Each appointment includes two 15-minute virtual or telephone meetings and one hour of research time for $30+HST (other fees may apply). Additional research time can be purchased in 15-minute increments for $7.50+HST. To learn more about the resources and services available at the Archives and Reading Room, or to book a virtual research appointment, visit our website or contact the Huron County Museum Archivist at 519-524-2686, ext. 2201, or email mmolnar@huroncounty.ca.
- Virtual Exhibits: Take a virtual stroll down Main Street Huron County. Learn more about Huron County and the First World War. Discover the stories of agriculture in Huron County. The Huron County Museum’s virtual exhibits grant a close-up glimpse of select artifacts on permanent display in our galleries or from past temporary exhibits.
- 360° Tours: It’s almost as good as being there in person! Created using 360° technology, explore some of the spaces in the Huron County Museum and the Historic Gaol safely from home. These tours are always open!
- Online Collection: With more than 5,000 artifacts and archival materials, the Huron County Museum’s online collection allows you to explore examples of textiles, tools, personal items, furniture, photographs, documents, and many more artifacts and archival records held at the Museum. The online collection is always growing as new artifacts are added regularly.
- Huron Historic Newspapers: Explore more than a century’s worth of Huron County’s historic news online for free! The digitization of historical Huron County newspapers from microfilm and hard copy holdings is an on-going project undertaken by the Huron County Library and Huron County Museum. There are currently more than 350,000 newspaper pages are available spanning from 1848 to 2016 with more being added all the time! In 2020, magazines were added to the collection with the addition of The Rural Voice and The Village Squire.
- Huron County Historic Photographs: Step back in time while browsing the Museum’s historic photograph collection depicting the people and places of Huron County. Our Flickr page features a large number of royalty-free images, with many more found in our online collection linked above.
- Huron County Museum Videos: See how the Museum’s steam locomotive was moved to its current location, go behind the bars at the Historic Gaol, explore the life and work of Jack McLaren, and more from the Museum’s YouTube Channel.
- Museum Social: The Huron County Museum maintains an active presence on Facebook and Instagram regularly sharing highlights from our collection, stories from our past, and news about upcoming events and programming. Be sure to follow along to stay up-to-date on all of the latest Museum news.
- Museum Newsletter: Not on social media but would still like to stay connected to the Huron County Museum? Sign up for our monthly e-newsletter to receive Museum news directly to your inbox. The sign-up form is found on the bottom of our home page.
