Nothing ‘says’ Christmas like a card filled with well wishes and holiday dough! It wasn’t until 1843 that the first Christmas Card made its way to the “Penny Post” in Victorian England. Henry Cole was the founder of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London and being a renowned socialite, he had a few too…

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‘Once Upon a Christmas’ this Magnetic Fish Pond was a best seller in Germany and England under the Spear & Sons game company. The company became Spear Spiel during WWII and rose to infamy with the production of a game entitle “Bombing England.” Later Spear Spiel recovered its reputation when its original Jewish founder returned…

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Christmas ‘carding’ was and continues to be a common pastime amongst textile enthusiasts. Intended to separate, remove impurities, and align wool into parallel fibres, hand carders untangle fibrous materials including silk, cotton, wool, and fur. This set of carders was made by Andrew Sjorlund circa 1900, who used hardwood and numerous nails secured by leather,…

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Tis’ the season when bags are laden with gifts in such a manner that one either needs a sturdy and willing escort or a ‘handy’ pair of parcel holders! Well look no further than these nifty bag carriers consisting of a wooden or cork cylinder with a wire drilled through the center that has two…

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This year’s NHL season commenced early this month and hockey fanatics across Canada are delighted. It’s hard to contest that the frosty sport isn’t one of the nation’s favorites, and many take to the ice to lace up themselves come the colder months. But ice skates have changed drastically since its original design! These detachable…

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Here at the Heritage Museum, we’re a big fan of flare! This gun, known as a flare gun, is used to illuminate dark areas for improved vision or send out distress signals. It has a round open barrel, thick body, and large trigger. While this flare gun originated from the Second World War, originally belonging…

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While most of our artifacts are safely stored in our non-public collection rooms, many are on permanent display in our third-floor galleries. They have become fixtures in our day-to-day lives and there are times even I forget how special they are. For example, this pulpit and pew. Their story goes back almost as far as…

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What does culture mean to you? Culture is found all over the place, from customs, to cuisine, to art and music, and more. Culture is what makes our community rich and diverse. The artifacts pictured here were made in the likeness of a cultural property known as peace pipes. Peace pipes are used by a…

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The month of October heralds Halloween and all sorts of spooky surprises! From howling werewolves to ghostly appearances, you never know what sorts of hair-raising sensations await. Luckily, this artifact doesn’t need the help of a witch and her bubbling cauldron to be magical! Known as a magic lantern, this early type of image projector…

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