Breaking News

Wawa Artifacts Need a Home – What is their future?

 

Wawa area residents are passionate about their history.  For over 30 years local volunteers, municipal staff and committees have been engaged in preserving and promoting different aspects of Wawa’s story in a variety of ways.

Heritage displays of various sizes have filled the Curling Rink, Tourist Information Centre and school rooms.  Topics have included sports history, Algoma Central Railway, gold & iron mining, Indigenous Peoples, fur trade, Christmas’s past, hydro history, Algoma Ore and the Eagle’s Nest.

As a result of these activities, Wawa has accumulated a large collection of artifacts.  They include:

  • Artifacts and antiques from early families who lived at Parkhill, Gold Park, Michipicoten River Village
  • Algoma Ore Division documents and artifacts following closure
  • Algoma Central Railway artifacts and framed photographs
  • Eagles Nest furniture and kitchenware
  • Indigenous artifacts
  • Fur trade artifacts
  • World War II artifacts
  • Wawa Goose souvenirs and early business artifacts
  • Glenn Gould artifacts

Storage has been a challenging issue for these items.  The Municipality has provided space, manpower and support where feasible.  Items have been stored in a variety of locations including:

  • Tourist Information Centre
  • Ski Chalet
  • Vintage Warehouse
  • school portables
  • Church basement
  • Empty businesses

The artifacts have been moved a number of times.  Some items have found their way to locations perfectly matching their story and value (ie. 19th century timbers from Michipicoten HBCo post to Canadian Canoe Museum in Peterborough, Sir James Dunn portrait and Eagles Nest furniture to Wawa Public Library).   Other items have been sorted, researched and assessed for their future use and unique story.

THE ARTIFACTS HAVE BEEN GIVEN NOTICE AT THEIR CURRENT LOCATION AND NEED TO BE MOVED!

Wawa’s artifact collection currently takes up an office approximately 10’x20’ in size.  In addition, the collection also includes 2 glass counter displays and 2 upright shelving units/displays similar to those currently being used in the TIC reception area.  The Wawa Heritage Committee/Museum Society also has 3 large mahogany antique china cabinets (formerly located in the foyer of the Michipicoten Memorial Community Centre).

The Town of Wawa Heritage Committee is a committee of Municipal Council comprised of a small group of volunteers tasked with preserving, protecting and promoting the rich history of the Wawa/Michipicoten area. We are in urgent need of volunteers, ideas and resources to assist with the following:

  • Sorting and moving the artifacts
  • Researching artifacts
  • Determining display locations and options
  • Determining storage locations and options

Although we recognize the wants, needs and priorities for the community are continuously evolving, ideally we would like to secure a much more permanent solution to the Wawa artifact issue.

What can you do immediately? Get in touch with the Town of Wawa Heritage Committee members if:

  • You want to volunteer to help move, sort and research the current artifacts
  • You have solutions for storage, display, donation ideas for the artifacts

What can you do in the short and long term?  Get in touch with committee members or the Municipality if you want to become a member of the Town of Wawa Heritage Committee.

The Wawa area has an incredibly rich heritage.  Our indigenous and non-indigenous ancestors were drawn to this land for a reason.  Every community should have a space or visible recognition of acknowledging and honouring the land and the lives, challenges and accomplishments of those residents who called this area home.  We want your voice, your ideas and your physical engagement in honouring and acknowledging Wawa’s unique history and culture.  Findin g a perfect place for Wawa’s artifacts is an important step in that direction.

Town of Wawa Heritage Committee consists of Johanna Rowe (Chair), Mitch Hatfield (Council Rep), Alex Paterson (Staff), Linda Mann (Recording Secretary), Kaireen Morrison, Nancy Donald, Doug Woods and Andy Stevens.  You can contact the committee members or email [email protected], or leave a message at 705-856-1944.

This Media Release
Latest posts by This Media Release (see all)