by Amy Zoethout | Sep 28, 2025
Celebrate the magical season by dropping into the Huron Historic Gaol on Saturday, Oct. 25, for our second annual Pop-up Boo-tique featuring local vendors selling mystical merch and services including astrology and tarot card readings. Access is included with regular admission or FREE with a
Museum membership or
Huron County Library card.
We are thrilled to welcome the following vendors:
- Indigo Soul Cat from Wonky Frog Studio
- Through the Veil
- Crystal Eden
- JMR Collections
- Kelly Stevenson
- The Crows Key
- Penelope’s Glow
Please note: The Huron County Museum is not responsible for the results of astrology or tarot card readings provided as part of the Gaol Pop-Up Boo-tique program.
by Amy Zoethout | Sep 8, 2025
Is this place haunted? Decide for yourself! This is a rare chance to visit the Huron Historic Gaol after dark!
Two tours every Friday night through October, 6:45-8:15 p.m. or 8:30-10 p.m.
This guided tour shines a flashlight into the dark corners of local history. Staff share the true stories of the prisoners and staff who died inside the gaol’s walls, as well as the circumstances that landed criminals, vagrants and ‘lunatics’ behind bars. Hear about local true crime and alleged ghost encounters, and what happened to inmates after death. Includes free exploration at the end of your tour and the opportunity to use the gaol’s spirit board. Explore over 180 years of Huron County history through the tragic and sometimes strange tales of the men, women and children who lived and died at this national historic site.
Spots on these guided tours are very limited because of space restrictions! Recommended for ages 12 and up at parents’ discretion. Subject matter may not be appropriate for all ages. Please note that upper levels of the gaol and attached Governor’s House require stairs and there is no elevator on site. Requires standing, as spaces are confined and places to sit at the gaol are limited. Guests are asked to dress for the weather, as the tour includes outside yards.
Tickets*:
- $11 + HST
- Discounted $7 + HST available for students and members
*This is a special event outside of regular hours or daytime admission rates. Admission with a Huron County Library card does not apply. If purchasing a discounted student or Museum Member ticket, please be prepared to show your student card or membership card on entry.
by Amy Zoethout | Sep 8, 2025
Is this place haunted? Decide for yourself! This is a rare chance to visit the Huron Historic Gaol after dark!
Two tours every Friday night through October, 6:45-8:15 p.m. or 8:30-10 p.m.
This guided tour shines a flashlight into the dark corners of local history. Staff share the true stories of the prisoners and staff who died inside the gaol’s walls, as well as the circumstances that landed criminals, vagrants and ‘lunatics’ behind bars. Hear about local true crime and alleged ghost encounters, and what happened to inmates after death. Includes free exploration at the end of your tour and the opportunity to use the gaol’s spirit board. Explore over 180 years of Huron County history through the tragic and sometimes strange tales of the men, women and children who lived and died at this national historic site.
Spots on these guided tours are very limited because of space restrictions! Recommended for ages 12 and up at parents’ discretion. Subject matter may not be appropriate for all ages. Please note that upper levels of the gaol and attached Governor’s House require stairs and there is no elevator on site. Requires standing, as spaces are confined and places to sit at the gaol are limited. Guests are asked to dress for the weather, as the tour includes outside yards.
Tickets*:
- $11 + HST
- Discounted $7 + HST available for students and members
*This is a special event outside of regular hours or daytime admission rates. Admission with a Huron County Library card does not apply. If purchasing a discounted student or Museum Member ticket, please be prepared to show your student card or membership card on entry.
by Huron County Museum | Oct 5, 2022 | Blog
Brooklyn Wright, Huron County Museum assistant, spent time this summer working on the Henderson Photographic Collection and highlighting some of the stories and images from the collection.
Gordon Henderson was a Goderich-based photographer who produced black-and white photos using a variety of mediums, such as negatives, glass-plate negatives, and cellulose nitrate film. The Henderson Collection housed at the Huron County Museum contains more than 10,000 negatives and photographs taken by Mr. Henderson from the 1930s – 1970s. Included in the collection are class pictures, summer camp pictures, wedding pictures, advertising campaigns, pictures of local events, buildings, businesses, and much more.
While Blackstone’s Store is no longer in operation today, it stood on West Street just off the Goderich Square. The photographs shown above were taken by Mr. Henderson of the store’s window display in September, 1939.
References to Blackstone’s in The Signal, available online through the Digitized Newspaper Collection, date back to as early as 1908. At this point, Blackstone’s was a restaurant that served oysters, ice cream, and confectionaries. By 1930 it had expanded to sell furniture as well, and was known as Blackstone’s Furniture Exchange, as shown in the ad at right published in the Goderich Star in 1928. It was around this time that the owner, Harold Blackstone, christened West Street as ‘The Broadway of Goderich’, as shown in the newspaper clipping published in The Signal in 1930.
By the time Henderson took the above photographs in 1939, Blackstone’s was selling appliances and furniture, while they also continued to sell ice cream and other sweet treats. Take note of the War Bonds advertisement in the window! This photograph was taken just two weeks after the start of the Second World War. If you’re looking for a better view, you can see similar War Bonds advertisements in person at the Huron County Museum.
Blackstone’s continued to operate until at least 1980, known then as Blackstone’s Furniture, as can be seen from an advertisement published in the Village Squire.
SOURCES
- The Signal, 1908-12-3, Page 1
- The Signal, 1913-12-11, Page 2
- The Goderich Star, 1928-08-09, Page 8
- The Signal, 1930-9-4, Page 5.pdf
- The Goderich Signal-Star, 1939-1-26, Page 3
- Village Squire, 1980-11, Page 26
