Post #4 - Exciting Projects Underway at MDHS
One of the many things I enjoy most about working with the Merrickville & District Historical Society is that no two weeks are ever the same. One day I’m buried in the archives room updating the catalogue information for a collection of early 19th century farming implements, the next I’m examining and researching an artifact in an effort to fill in the gaps of its previous life history, and before long I’m helping preserve objects that have sat forgotten in storage for decades. Every project feels like another opportunity to uncover a piece of Merrickville’s story.
Over the past several weeks, one of my projects has been in the development of our Sixty Remarkable Residents book, which is being created in celebration of the Merrickville & District Historical Society’s 60th anniversary this year. It’s already been such a rewarding project because it gives us the chance to recognize people whose stories have largely been left untold. I’ve been working on finalizing the list of sixty individuals who will be featured in the book as well as researching and writing the very first profile of the book. Each person will receive a two-page profile, accompanied by high quality photographs, and a reference to an artifact or archival material preserved within the Society’s collection. It has been fascinating to discover how many objects sitting quietly in our archives have direct links to the lives of these individuals. The book will be organized into four distinct historical eras, beginning with the start of Merrickville’s pioneer era in the late 1700s and continuing into the village’s period of industrial growth and economic diversification during the mid to late 20th century. Looking at these lives chronologically really helps paint a picture of how the community developed over time.
What I find particularly meaningful is that this book isn’t focused on the famous names that most people already recognize. Instead, MDHS is celebrating the everyday people who built this community. Some were successful business owners or community leaders. Others were farmers, labourers, devoted mothers raising families, or individuals whose quiet dedication helped shape Merrickville in ways that history books don’t always acknowledge. These individuals may not have led large, extraordinary lives by traditional standards, but their contributions cannot be forgotten. They helped to build the community we know today, and it’s a privilege to help bring their stories out of obscurity and give them the recognition they deserve.
We're hoping to have the book available by the end of the year through the Merrickville & District Historical Society website, as well as at local businesses throughout Merrickville. I can't wait for people to read these stories and perhaps even recognize ancestors, neighbours, or familiar family names within its pages.
Alongside the book project, I’ve also devoted my time to investigating what has become one of my favourite mysteries in the museum’s collection; an object we’ve lovingly dubbed Merrickville’s Mystery Bell. The bell measures roughly twenty inches in diameter and stands nearly two feet tall. It was discovered underneath the first-floor staircase of the Blockhouse Museum, where it had apparently sat unnoticed for decades. Imagine finding something that substantial hiding in plain sight! At this point, almost everything about the bell remains a mystery. We don't know who made it, where it was manufactured, who owned it, or even exactly where it originally hung. It may have once been part of one of Merrickville's industrial factory buildings, or perhaps it rang from the steeple of one of the community's churches. Right now, both possibilities remain just that—possibilities.
My research has involved examining the bell itself, its material composition and its condition, as well as researching its historical context and its potential provenance. Along with the research aspect of the project, I have also developed a treatment proposal should it eventually become part of a future exhibition at the Blockhouse Museum. The proposed treatment was heavily influenced by its composition as a mixed metal bell. While its various components and accessories are seemingly made of cast iron, the bell’s body is believed to be made from an unidentified mixed-metal alloy, possibly a specialized bronze known as ‘Bell Metal’. Its dark matte patina only adds to its character and its mystery. But the project does not end with my research. The bell will be part of a future community outreach initiative, asking local residents if they recognize the bell or have any information on its history. I’m excited to see what stories the community might help uncover.
Behind the scenes, another major project has continued to move forward; the reorganization and updating of the Society’s archives and collections. We’ve now reached a stage in the project where new shelving units have been assembled and filled with artifacts that previously had no proper home. For years, a growing number of objects had accumulated without being fully researched or catalogued, and it's incredibly satisfying to finally begin bringing order to the collection. At this week's Collections Committee meeting, we reviewed more than sixty objects that had previously fallen through the cracks. Together, we discussed which artifacts needed additional research, which should be formally accessioned into the permanent collection, which no longer fit our collecting mandate and should be deaccessioned, and which items weren't actually artifacts at all. Old display materials and outdated exhibit posters, for example, were responsibly removed, while several significant artifacts were set aside to receive conservation treatment.
As I continue working on these projects, I'm constantly reminded that preserving local history isn't simply about collecting old objects. It's about preserving the lives, memories, and stories that give those objects meaning. Whether I'm writing about forgotten residents, investigating a mysterious bell, or organizing shelves in the archives, every task contributes to a larger goal: ensuring Merrickville's history is preserved, understood, and shared with future generations. I'm looking forward to seeing where these projects lead over the coming months, and I can't wait to share more discoveries as they unfold.
