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The Wellington County Museum and Archives is a National Historic Site. It is located in a building that stands as the oldest remaining rural House of Industry in Canada. It was built in 1877 as a "Poor House" or place of refuge for the poor, homeless, and destitute people in Wellington County. It operated as a Poor House and Industrial Farm until 1947 when it became a County Home for the Aged. In 1974 it was transformed into the Wellington County Museum and Archives. A new Archives wing opened in 2010.
New Book! If These Walls Could Speak: The Story of the Wellington County House of Industry and Refuge, 1877-1947
Available for purchase at the Museum giftshop and Archives is the book, If These Walls Could Speak: The Story of the Wellington County House of Industry and Refuge, 1877-1947 by author Susan Dunlop, past‐curator of the Wellington County Museum and Archives.
“The story of the rural Houses of Industry and Refuge has been a forgotten part of Ontario's early history. This book explores how the issues of poverty laid the foundations of our modern social welfare policies, told through the experiences of the women, men and children who passed through the doors of the Wellington County Poor House. “– Susan Dunlop
To purchase a copy of the book, please visit our gift shop at 519.846.0916 x5221
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| Virtual Tours |
| 1877 Barn |
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Photo Gallery: WCMA_1877 Barn will appear here on the public site.
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House of Industry Cemetery |
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Photo Gallery: WCMA_House of Industry Cemetery will appear here on the public site.
View our Cemetery Virtual Tour
Between 1877 and 1947, over 1500 destitute men, women and children sought refuge at the Wellington County House of Industry and Refuge, or the 'Poorhouse' as everyone called it. Built as an Industrial Farm, the site included a sixty-bed house, thirty acres of crops and a barn for livestock. Many of the inmates were admitted because of poor health or advanced age and had no one to care for them. At the edge of the property, a one-acre cemetery was established for those who had no family to claim their remains at death. There are 271 men, women and children buried here. It is a cemetery like no other. Between 1877 and 1947, over 1500 destitute men, women and children sought refuge at the Wellington County House of Industry and Refuge, or the 'Poorhouse' as everyone called it. Built as an Industrial Farm, the site included a sixty-bed house, thirty acres of crops and a barn for livestock. Many of the inmates were admitted because of poor health or advanced age and had no one to care for them. At the edge of the property, a one-acre cemetery was established for those who had no family to claim their remains at death. There are 271 men, women and children buried here. It is a cemetery like no other.
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Pump House |
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The water supply system for the Wellington County House of Industry and Refuge
In 1889 troubles with the water supply began. "The hydraulic ram, at present in use, does not furnish enough water...a windmill or some other power to pump water up to the House must be resorted to..." (Council Minutes, pg.20, Committee Report, 1889). In 1890 a windmill was purchased and two iron tanks were placed in the attic, one in the main building and the other one in the wash house. The collected spring water was pumped into the tanks and supplied to the kitchen, laundry and water closets by gravity.
Download Pump House pdf
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| Gardens |
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The Gardens surrounding the Museum are an outstanding feature and attraction in themselves. Bring a picnic lunch, relax and recharge in our gardens and rolling acreage.
Photo Gallery: WCMA Gardens will appear here on the public site.
Butterfly Garden This garden is designed to attract butterflies. A variety of plants are included here to offer food for the adult (nectar), host plants for laying eggs and feed for the hatched larvae (caterpillars). The garden faces south to maximize the exposure to the sun and provide a place for the butterflies to sun themselves. Some of the species grown here are purple coneflower, wild bergamot, bronze fennel, hollyhock, New England aster, yarrow and globe thistle.
Vegetable Garden The Vegetable Garden is a demonstration garden used for education programmes and located west of the frame barn. The selection of plants is based on research of the produce that was grown on this property when it was the County House of industry and Refuge. We grow potatoes, onions, beets, cabbage, carrots, turnips, peas, beans, lettuce, cucumbers and strawberries.
Woodland Garden This garden contains a selection of woodland plants and trees representative of species growing in this area before European settlement. We have milkweed, trillium, wild ginger, white cedar, Grey dogwood and Virginia creeper and many other species on display in this cool, shaded natural display.
Cottage Garden This collection illustrates plants selected primarily for practical use. The plants in this garden were grown as a source of food, medicine, fragrance, textile fiber and dye. Examples of plants include peppermint, lovage, horseradish, lavender, chives, calendula, dill and flax. There is also a small orchard of crab apples to represent the large apple orchard that was on the property when it was a working farm.
This garden reflects the Victorian taste for formal |
| Awards |
| The Museum and Archives was presented the 2013 Business Beautification Award by the Centre Wellington Chamber of Commerce for our work on the House of Industry and Refuge cemetery and 1877 Barn.
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| Wellington County House of Industry and Refuge Resident Database |
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This searchable database is a transcription of the Wellington County House of Industry and Refuge Admission Register between 1877 and 1922. Additional research can be found under the Details tab for each resident. Subsequent years will be added on a yearly basis. Many residents were discharged and re-admitted, usually only once or twice, but in one case eleven times. Each re-admission meant a new admission number was assigned to the resident. The background information on each individual is linked to the first admission number they were assigned. “See” references are used to redirect to the first admission number assigned to each resident admitted more than once. This database contains historic language that includes racist, sexist, ableist, and otherwise discriminatory terminology. These descriptions reflect the language and attitudes of the historical period in which they were created. We welcome any feedback or additional background information on residents listed in our database. Please email wcma@wellington.ca. |
Victorian Garden
