Post #6 - Archival Discoveries, Ghost Stories, and Harvest Treasures
As July comes to a close, progress continues to be made on MDHS’s Remarkable Residents book, and each week seems to uncover another fascinating piece of Merrickville's history. What began as a project to document the lives of historic local residents has become a journey filled with unexpected discoveries, remarkable achievements, and even a few ghost stories. Among the people I’ve been researching is Dr. M.K. Church (1828-1904), the well-respected Merrickville physician whose early years were anything but ordinary. Before establishing his medical practice here, Church spent part of his young adult life panning for gold in Australia—a surprising chapter in the life of someone remembered primarily for his dedication to the well-being of the local community.
Then there is Miles McGuigan (1787-1862), whose story is perhaps one of Merrickville's most unusual. According to longstanding local accounts, McGuigan was a devoted member of Merrickville Masonic Lodge No. 55 and requested that, following his death, his body be anatomized and his skeleton preserved for use in the Master Mason Third Degree ceremony.
It is said that his wishes were honoured and that his remains stayed in the lodge until the building was destroyed by fire in 1959. Folklore goes on to claim that his spirit can still be seen limping through the cemetery that bears his name, searching for the final resting place he never received. Whether fact or folklore, it remains one of Merrickville's most enduring local legends.
Another remarkable individual is Dr. Leonard H. Newman (1881-1978), described by contemporary newspapers as the "unsung hero" and the "power behind the throne of western wheat kings." His pioneering work developing improved varieties of wheat, oats, and flax made an enormous contribution to Canadian agriculture. His expertise was recognized internationally, including at the 1927 World Wheat Conference in Rome, hosted under Benito Mussolini's government, where Newman served as Secretary of the Scientific Section. Stories like these remind us that people with connections to our small village often made contributions that reached far beyond Merrickville.
While the research continues, preparations are also underway for this year's Merrickville Fair. The Merrickville & District Historical Society will once again be setting up an agricultural display featuring many artifacts, photographs, and reference materials from the MDHS collections—several of which have never before been exhibited. Visitors will also have the opportunity to test their detective skills by trying to identify a mystery artifact once used by local farming families. Hosted by the Merrickville Agricultural Society, the Merrickville Fair remains a wonderful celebration of our rural heritage and everything that makes country living special.
Behind the scenes, our collections work continues as well, with several new artifacts accessioned and existing records updated. One particularly beautiful piece deserving of special mention is a Farmer's Seed Wreath, also known as a harvest wreath, displayed within a shadow box featuring a gilded wooden frame. Created in the 1890s by Mrs. James Cotnam, a former Merrickville resident, the wreath is an extraordinary example of Victorian folk art. Made entirely from seeds and nuts grown on the Cotnam family farm—including corn, watermelon, sunflower, grape seeds, beans, walnuts, peanuts, and almonds—every individual piece was carefully cleaned, hollowed, dried, and painstakingly glued into intricate floral designs using homemade adhesives. These elaborate harvest wreaths celebrated family, farm life, and the bounty of a successful harvest, and were a popular form of decorative folk art during the mid-to-late nineteenth century. More than a century later, Mrs. Cotnam's remarkable craftsmanship continues to inspire admiration and offers a tangible connection to the creativity and perseverance of Merrickville's farming families.
As always, history continues to surprise us. Whether it's uncovering the adventures of a doctor who searched for gold, the international influence of a pioneering agricultural scientist, a centuries-old ghost story, or preserving beautiful examples of local folk art, every discovery helps tell the rich and often unexpected story of Merrickville's past. We look forward to sharing even more of these remarkable stories in the months ahead.
