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Tuesday 10am - 4pm Wednesday 10am - 4pm Thursday 10am - 4pm Friday 10am - 4pm Saturday 10am - 4pm

Elgin County Heritage Centre

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Elgin County Heritage Centre

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Promotes Elgin County’s heritage by acquiring, preserving & exhibiting artifacts St.

Thomas Augmented Reality Adventure Download the Engage ARt App here - http://onelink.to/dps9en

Elgin County Museum presents a series of changing exhibitions some on loan and some drawn from its extensive permanent collection.

10/28/2026

For those unable to attend Paul's Baldwin's presentation on Neil Darrach: Built to Last, the video of the event is now available! Thank you Pete Sheridan for putting this together! Elgin Historical Society

Local Historian, Paul Baldwin addresses the Elgin Historical Societ...

10/26/2026

Commemorative Plate, Disciples of Christ, St. Thomas Christian Church, c.1980.

The original church started in 1864, located just west of Centennial Avenue.
In 1879, congregation made the decision to move into St. Thomas. In the 1890's the congregation grew exponentially and members determined a larger church was needed.
Architect Neil Darrach was employed to design the new church and on April 28, 1907, the new brick building was opened.

After decades of growing separately, the Park Avenue and Princess Avenue Christian churches chose to merge. Uniting as the St. Thomas Christian Church, they built their permanent home on 451 Wellington Street.

Photograph: Princess Avenue Christian Church, St. Thomas - Disciples of Christ, 1967, Elgin County Archives

In 1986, the Princess Avenue building was sold and repurposed as Princess Avenue Playhouse. Located at 40 Princess Ave., St. Thomas.

10/23/2026

A New Addition to the Collection!
Thank you to Suzette Sutton for this exciting donation to the Elgin County Museum!

This month, we received a painting by local artist Carolyn Curtis, depicting a house on Elizabeth Street in St. Thomas.
The painting was originally gifted to the donor’s parents, who received paintings of their home from Carolyn - likely in the 1930s.

We believe the house shown may be 43 Elizabeth Street.
Do you recognize this house?

10/19/2026

The weather is getting colder and that means the Elgin County Museum is moving to our winter hours! Starting this week the Elgin County Heritage Centre will be open Monday-Friday 10-4, and will be closed Saturday and Sunday!

10/18/2026

Commemorative plate, St. Peter's Anglican Church, Tyrconnell, Ontario, 1977.
Commemorates the 150th anniversary of the church, 1827-1977.

In 1827, the church was organized and built out of local white and blue oak timber by early pioneers of the Talbot Settlement. The building underwent significant upgrades in 1834 when Stephen Backus added exterior wood siding and John Pearce finished the interior plastering and permanent seating.
In 1845 the building was expanded with the addition of its iconic square entrance tower and belfry.
In 1903–1908, the congregation saw a new pulpit and communion table, and later raised the church structure to construct a basement.

This is the oldest active church in the county and remains open for services.

The building is located at 29596 Lakeview Line, Tyrconnell, with its historic churchyard cemetery across the road serving as the final resting place of Colonel Thomas Talbot.

Photo: St. Peter's Anglican Church, in Tyrconnell, October 13, 1977. Elgin County Archives.

10/15/2026

10/14/2026

✨ Special Presentation
The public is invited to join guest curator Paul Baldwin for a presentation on Neil Darrach and the new exhibition:
Neil Darrach: Built to Last
📅 Wednesday, October 14
⏰ 7:00 pm
📍 Elgin County Heritage Centre (460 Sunset Drive)
🚗 Please park behind the County Building next door
(entrance off Karen St.)
💵 Donations Appreciated
The presentation is co-sponsored by the Elgin Historical Society.
The exhibition will formally open to the public on October 26, 2026.

REMINDER: This week, Wednesday, Oct 14 we welcome Paul Baldwin, a past president of the Society. Paul has made an extensive study of the architects and architecture of St. Thomas. He will be presenting about his new Elgin County Heritage Centre exhibit on one of St. Thomas' most important and prolific architects, "Built to Last…The Architecture of Neil R. Darrach". He is credited with the design of more than 24 prominent St. Thomas buildings including the Elgin County Courthouse, the Mickleborough building, the Southern Loan Co., St. Thomas City Hall, as well as several churches, schools and outstanding homes.
WHEN: Wednesday, October 14, 7pm
WHERE: Elgin County Heritage Centre
460 Sunset Drive - Plenty of parking in the lot behind the
Elgin County Admin. building; access from Karen St.
Everyone welcome; free admission, and donations are welcome. 2027 memberships, (still only $10!) new and renewals will be available.
Architectural drawing of Neil Darrach's designed Memorial Hospital courtesy of Elgin County Archives

10/13/2026

10/12/2026

Wishing you a Hearty Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving Postcard, c. 1910
Gift of Grace Lumbers

Address

460 Sunset Drive
Saint Thomas, ON
N5R5V1

Opening Hours

Tuesday	10am - 4pm
Wednesday	10am - 4pm
Thursday	10am - 4pm
Friday	10am - 4pm
Saturday	10am - 4pm

Telephone

+15196311460

Website

http://www.elgincounty.ca/museum

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