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Changes coming to Thorold Museum

New president shares details on changes with Thorold News
randy barnes
Randy Barnes, Curator of the Thorold Museum displays some of the earlier construction of Canadian Pacific Railroad, that changed the face of Ontario's future. This is just one of many exhibits and a treasure trove of history at the Lock 7, Thorold Museum. Photo: Gloria Katch/Thorold News.

“Thorold has a strong sense of community identity and the history is very unique. That’s why we have these committees and it’s worth preserving,” said Randy Barnes, president of the newly developed entity, simply known as The Thorold Museum.

Previously the museum was connected to The Thorold and Beaverdams Historical Society, but Barnes said a group of members approached this board, and everyone decided to officially divide and incorporate the museum into a separate entity on Oct. 30. 

Barnes is currently president of the new museum’s board of directors and said as “kind of the architect of this idea,” he plans to re-shape and build the museum in the next four years, which will mark 25 years he’s been involved in Thorold’s culture and heritage.

The historical society’s board also voted to allow the museum to “receive its collection”.

When asked if it’s confusing to have several historical-type societies in a fairly small town, Barnes said “a bit,” but noted there was a “certain amount of overlap,” and like him, there are many members on the museum board, who are also involved in the historical society, the local chapter of the Ontario Genealogical Society, and the Local Architectural Conservancy Advisory Committee, LACAC.

He believes, especially during austere times, it is beneficial for everyone to share ideas and resources toward the betterment of all historical entities.

 Many of the goals are surprisingly similar, he noted.

While most of the time Barnes is contemplating the past, as of late, he is pondering a great deal more about the future. 

This move will give the museum “a more-broad appeal,” said Barnes, who is also working towards obtaining its "charitable"-status to allow for tax receipts to be issued to donors.

The museum will be eligible for more grants from different government sectors, including tourism to expand its horizons. “The closer you are to the city, the less say you have in its direction,” said Barnes.

Although, he commends the current council for its support, this accommodating sentiment could change, depending on future elections, to: “Who wants to spend money on culture?”

Museums are not lucrative enterprises, admits Barnes adding, they require a great deal of work and professional expertise. 

As an incorporated, non-profit, the museum can fundraise and put into action some of its members’ creative ideas to improve its operations and appeal. 

This includes putting together several historical collections and artifacts for display.

The museum needs additional space for its presentations and to store its many records and belongings. 

Barnes would like to see the city restore Chestnut Hall, the former municipal building, since it is designated as a heritage site. 

Currently, the historical society and related groups uses Chestnut Hall for storage for many important documents and materials, as well as other areas around town.

“Heritage is the main strand in tourism planning and in designing tourism objectives,” exclaimed Barnes. 

Since Thorold’s community grew as a result of the Welland Canal development, the tourism Thorold attracts is mainly due to its history, he noted.

“One thing flows into another and it all ties together into a nice package and makes a great narrative,” he said.

In the past, there has also been a great deal of discussion regarding development of the Canal Lands, adjacent to the locks, which is owned by the federal government.

Barnes said there has always been security issues regarding this area.

When, and if, the government decides to sell some of these lands, the city could increase its “canal assets”.

Furthermore, if the opportunity arises to designate this canal corridor into a heritage site, it would be monumental, exclaimed Barnes.

However, at this point in time, expropriation of canal lands is a painstaking task riddled with red tape that would require “an army of lawyers to figure all that out,” he said.

While Thorold may never develop a tourist attraction celebrating the canal equal to Port Colborne’s, Canal Days Marine and Heritage Festival, Barnes said there is a great deal of potential to develop Thorold’s history into an event that would be “equally fun”. 

According to Barnes, previous conversations with members of Thorold’s tourism and business sectors have expressed interest in transforming the city into more of a tourist destination.

However, Barnes’ thinking is not all pie-in-the-sky and he said: “You can only slice and cut the pie in so many ways.” Often times, there are limited dollars available and fundraising requires many hours of planning involving additional members and volunteers.

The first step is to attract more students and young adults to staff the main site at Lock 7, which is closed during the winter and off-tourist season. 

The musem is scheduled to re-open again in May.

One of the ways to generate more interest in history and the museum is through the schools.

Barnes notes, one of the museum’s goals is to develop “travelling exhibits,” that can be taken to the schools to illustrate Thorold’s history within a larger Canadian or provincial context.

With the exception of a few keen teachers interested in history, there is “very little mandate” for schools in Thorold to discuss local history, he said.

“It is critical for any museum and any society to cultivate an interest in youth.” 

“These are our future historians,” he added.

As a former educator, Barnes finds it extremely rewarding to see youth interested in history.

He views his contribution to the museum as “an extension” of his previous vocation and is committed to expanding his enthusiasm to youth, which is not only practical, but necessary since many of the board and core members of the local museum and historical societies are seniors.

“I don’t want the museum to die with my generation. In 20 to 30 years from now, we will all be gone.”

For those who are interested in sharing their fondness for history by volunteering or assisting the new museum in some capacity, please don’t hesitate to call Barnes at (905) 984-4435.