By Sylene Argent, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Essex Free Press
Historical organizations are critical in preserving and promoting the area’s rich past. Through their efforts, important details are maintained, archives of important documents are kept, artifacts are housed, and significant stories are retold and remembered.
On Sunday, community members celebrated the 40th anniversary of the Maidstone Bicentennial Museum and the Maidstone & Area Historical Society, recognizing all the work volunteers have put into maintaining the museum on Puce Road.
Deputy Mayor of Lakeshore, Kirk Walstedt, recalled being the Deputy Reeve for Maidstone in 1983. The Council for Maidstone at the time was considering tearing down the building that houses the Museum today.
In explaining the history of the building, Walstedt noted in 1874, a parcel of land was sold where the museum stands today. The original Maidstone municipal building was built a year later. It was, however, destroyed, in a fire in 1914.The second municipal building, which is the museum today, was built on the same lot as the first town hall.
That second facility remained the town hall until 1964. The museum houses the original council table, which survived the blaze.
Luckily, Walstedt said a federal restoration grant was secured through MP Eugene Whelan, which began the transformation of the facility into a museum. As a historian at heart, he was pleased to see the building get a second use.
Victoria Beaulieu, Curator for the Maidstone Bicentennial Museum, was on Council at the time. Walstedt asked her to get involved.
Officially, on October 16, 1984, the Maidstone & Area Historical Society was founded and the museum was created.
Walstedt spoke of the history of Maidstone. Patrick McNiff, who in 1972, surveyed 9000 swamp-like acres in the area, which became Maidstone Township. 24 farms were developed, at 200 acres a piece.
In 1842, Duncan Grant was the area’s first rep on the District Council of the Western District in Sandwich that included eight municipalities, Walstedt said.
Beaulieu spoke of how in 2006, the Museum was fortunate enough to receive a significant donation to put on a new slate roof. That same year, seniors in the group wanted to incorporate a garden on the site. Now, that garden has over 70 species of native plants, shrubs, trees, and bushes, some of which are at risk. That is in part due to ERCA helping expand the garden in those early years, and the dedication of Society members over the years.
In 2013, the Maidstone & Area Historical Society took on what was the third municipal building for Maidstone, located next door. It was used as a resource centre. Eventually, the roof began to leak, and the Town of Lakeshore decided to tear the building down.
In 2020, the Maidstone Bicentennial Museum received a $120,000 Ontario Trillium Foundation Grant for a renovation at the back of the building and the addition of a pavilion. The following year, it received another $30,000 to install a barn.
The Ontario Trillium Foundation has been very generous, Beaulieu noted.
“We are a little place, but we do accomplish a lot,” she said. “We are the best kept little secret in Essex County.”
Essex MP Chris Lewis and MPP Anothony Leardi attended the celebration, each presenting the museum with a certificate of recognition on reaching its 40th anniversary milestone.
Each spoke of the importance of maintaining history and commended the volunteers for the work they do.
To learn more, log onto www.maidstonemuseum.com
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