PIONEER DAYS – THE PORT COLBORNE HISTORICAL AND MARINE MUSEUM

By Robert J. Foley

[Regional Shopping News, 18 April 1990]

He had to be the youngest tug boat captain on the Great Lakes. Eight years old, and here he was easing the steam tug “Yvonne Dupre Jr.” alongside the towering line. He had to get a tow line on her before she went hard aground in this raging gale. He yelled orders confidently to his crew who answered with a smart, “aye aye sir,” as they rushed to do his bidding. The stout little tug pulled her clear in the nick of time to the cheers of the big liner’s crew. The shout of “Come, on, Sean, we’re going for a drink,” broke the spell and our captain rushed off to join his family once again.

Was Sean having a dream? Yes and no! He was the captain of the “Yvonne Dupre Jr.” and he was standing in her wheelhouse giving his commands, however, the wheel house is located on the grounds of the Port Colborne Historical and Marine Museum, at the corner of King and Princess Streets in Port Colborne.

The “Yvonne Dupre Jr.” was built at Sorel, Quebec in 1946 by Marine Industries. When her working days were over, the museum was able to salvage her wheelhouse to enthral the imagination of kids of all ages.

The museum founded in 1974, has developed into a small heritage village with six buildings and the tug wheelhouse on the property.

The museum traces the history of Port Colborne from the first schoolhouse built in 1818 through the canal construction of the early 20th century.

The main museum building is a Georgian revival style home built in 1869 by John Williams. The house was bequeathed to the city by Arabella Williams, the daughter of John and Judith Williams in 1950 and was taken over by the museum at its founding. This building contains items of local historical interest including models of lake steams as well as native artifacts, Erie and Foster Glass Works and many exhibits tied to the Welland Canal.

The anchor near the wheelhouse was salvaged from the wreck of the “Raleigh” in 1975. The “Raleigh” was built in 1876 and sank off Port Colborne in a storm in 1911.

The carriage house, a part of the original estate, is of board and batten construction with hand hewn beams. It is used as a learning and activity centre for school programs.

The log school house, the first in Humberstone Township, was built in 1818 by Pennsylvania Dutch settlers. It was torn down and rebuilt on the museum grounds in 1976.

The log house, the first home of John and Sally Sherk, was moved to the museum property from Humberstone and is furnished to show the lifestyle of the Pennsylvania Dutch Mennonites of the 1850’s.

The blacksmith shop was relocated from the Port Colborne Quarries property in Humberstone Township and reconstructed here in 1984. It represents the blacksmith operation of F.W. Woods & Sons which served the canal trade in the 1880’s.

Finally, after touring the many exhibits, one can retire to Arabella’s Tea Room, a 1915 cottage that had been part of the Williams estate. From June through September tea and hot homemade biscuits are served. *Note: I had the opportunity to have tea at Arabella’s and it was delicious. B.

May 1st is the official opening of the museum for another season. This year the museum has added new exhibits, including “Patters of the Past,” a history of the Graf family of weavers and their products. “Canadian Handweaving Samples” is a traveling exhibit from the Royal Ontario Museum which allows you to examine and touch the exhibits.

The Niagara Peninsula has more history per square metre than anywhere in Canada. It has participated in the growth of this country from the days of the fur trade, through the struggle to retain the right to be Canadians, to the building of the great canal which insured its prosperity.

There are museums in almost every community across the Peninsula. Find out where they are and visit them. In this time of controversy and turmoil it is important that we get in touch with the roots of our country and gain an appreciation for the sacrifices that our forbearers made in making Canada what it is today.

The Port Colborne Historical and Marine Museum is located at 280 King Street. 1990-Admsiion is free, and the museum, which is wheelchair accessible, is open form 12 noon to 5 p.m. daily.

Bring the family. The “Yvonne Dupre Jr.” is always looking for a good captain.