Sunday 9 November 2008

My Town Monday - Black Creek Pioneer Village (Toronto)

[1- Old Mill]




A visit to Black Creek Pioneer Village is a step back in time to 19th-century Ontario.

[2-Inside of Robins Mill]


Forty authentically restored homes, workshops, public buildings and farms recreate the atmosphere of life in a rural Victorian community of the 1860s.


[3]


Craftspeople and workers wearing period costumes demonstrate skills such as open-hearth cooking, bread-making, looming, milling, blacksmithing, sewing, printing and more.

[4-General store]





[5-Pot belly heater]




[6-Woodshed]



Walk through the village and into the homes and buildings, visit the inn, and stroll through farms and forests.


[7-Village carpenter]


The Hands on History Centre lets kids try their hand at traditional trades and pioneer survival skills like building a log cabin or weaving cloth. During the holiday season in November and December, the village offers many special events to celebrate Christmas as it was 130 years ago.

[8-Geese can take on the role of excellent watchdogs as they are territorial]



Black Creek Pioneer Village is a historic site in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, just west of York University and southeast of the Jane and Steeles intersection. It overlooks Black Creek, a tributary of the Humber River.

[9-Syrup Wagon]



The village is a recreation of life in 19th-century Ontario and gives an idea how rural Ontario might have looked in the early-to-mid 1800s.

[10 -Water barrel wagon and outhouse/privy]



The "pioneer" village consists of over forty historic 19th century buildings, decorated in the style of the 1860s with period furnishings.

[11- Orchard with goats]


Besides the Historical Interpreters and Craftspeople housed in the restored buildings, the site also features historical reenactments and visiting artisans.

[12-Masonic hall]


Buildings include period houses, the original Stong Family farm buildings, a water-powered grist mill, a general store, a blacksmith's shop along with over 10 other trades buildings, a hotel, a church, and a one-room schoolhouse.

[13- Swallow's nest: excellent to have near a barn or stable as they eat thousands of mosquitos, flies and other nasty insects]




[14-Main barn]



A core of buildings built by the Stong family are on their original sites, while others have been moved in from across Southern Ontario.




[15-Firewagon]



The majority of the buildings were moved from their original sites (notably the large Halfway House and Mennonite Meeting House), and some re-built on their current locations.



[16-Asters and Sumac]



The village is a regular destination for field trips by schoolchildren from the Greater Toronto Area.











[17- Spinning Wheel]










It is operated by the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority.

My Town Monday is the brainchild of Travis Erwin, whose link can be found on the sidebar under MTM. By going to his site you will locate the links to the other members of the MTM group to learn about their part of the world.

Research: wikipedia, blackcreek.ca.

Photocredits: [1][3][5][6][7][11][12][16]-Gary J Wood CC=nc-sa-flickr, [2]-Muhammed CC=nc-sa-flickr, [4]-Cory Ann CC=nc-nd-flickr, [8][9][13][15][17]-Garbould CC=nc-nd-flickr, [10]-jonathan_in_guelph CC=nc-nd-flickr, [14]-Property#1 CC=nc-nd-flickr.

26 comments:

Webradio said...

Hello Barbara !

Very beautiful photos...

The Swallow's nest is very pretty...

Have a nive day...

Sienna said...

I love the historical villages/towns, it is an incredible feeling to walk through these places and know they are diligently recreated and this is how it was...

Kinda hits home how fortunate we are with our 21st century techno too.

We have a couple of pioneer towns a few hours nearby here, such a must for people/children to visit.

There are particiation things such as gold panning, draught horses, coach rides, blacksmith...just incredible living history.

(Must say your carpenter is gorgeous!).

Black Creek looks so beautiful, especially with the autumn colors all around.

Pam

Mihai A. said...

Very nice post, thank you.
I like visiting old places and often I wonder where I would go first if I could travel in time :)

Travis Erwin said...

I can't imagine living in that time. Not sure I'd be tough enough.

BernardL said...

A calming glance into another era.

Unknown said...

Beautiful series of images. It brought nostalgic feeling of the only trip I made to Canada yet. I spent a couple of days in Kitchener and was WOWed by the amazing country outside Toronto...Thomas

pattinase (abbott) said...

We have Greenfield Village, which is much like this.

David Cranmer said...

You always have the best photographs that make me wanna be there now. And of course (being a history buff) I always enjoy the heritage also.

Anonymous said...

This looks like a fantastic place to visit taking you back in time, people them days had a whole different set of skills very interesting thanks for sharing this!

Jenn Jilks said...

Down Memory Lane...
More fond memories, Barbara! Thanks for sharing these photos. My late parents would take us there back in the old days.

debra said...

Hands on living museums give insight into life in another time. In NE Ohio, we have Hale Farm.

Tess Kincaid said...

How very charming! Just like taking a lovely step back in time. And perfect time of year to visit, too.

Charles Gramlich said...

I really enjoy Pioneer villages. We went to a neat one in Texas a few years back. It was broiling hot and we felt bad for the folks in all those clothes.

Linda McLaughlin said...

I love living history museums and I'm sorry I missed this one when I was in Toronto years ago. It looks fascinating and what a beautiful, peaceful spot to spend a day or two.

Linda

Shelley Munro said...

We have a similar town in our area, although it isn't on such a big scale. I think places like these that keep our history alive are great. It's a fun way for kids to learn about our history. I enjoyed your photos.

We have geese at a reserve near us. I always keep well away. Being chased by a swan was bad enough!

Barbara Martin said...

Webradio, thank you.

Sienna, what I like about this place is that it's open all year round. Each season would bring a different perspective. I'd like to see what the Christmas event is like, which of course, I would post about.

Dark Wolf, I sometimes feel very familiar with certain old places, as if I had been there at some time previously. Every time period has its own charm.

Bernard, agreed.

Barbara Martin said...

Thomas, the countryside in Kitchener is very lush and green in the summer.

Patti, then you'll have to do a post to introduce Greenfield Village to us.

Barbara Martin said...

David, then I'm doing a good job to lure people here.

Philip, those skills are fast disappearing. I am pleased to see there are people who have retained them to show to others.

Anyone out there with Poodles can collect the hair, spin it into wool thread and knit sweaters!

Jenny, childhood memories are meant to be treasured.

Debra, we have it too easy with modern appliances.

I asked my mother how she had bakeded bread and cakes with a cast iron cook stove, and she said 'through trial and error' to find the correct temperature. The old stoves had compartments inside with doors to open just like traditional ovens now.

Willow, I wonder how many would be able to go back to this life if all the modern conveniences suddenly stopped. Visits are much nicer to contemplate.

Barbara Martin said...

Charles, actually I have worn suits in hot humid weather here and found by keeping the jacket on I was protected from the heat. Taking it off made me feel worse. Bedouins have the right idea.

Linda, when you plan another trip you can put this place on your list.

Shelley, geese are nice to look at though, especially when they dip their heads down into the water to graze the water plants below.

L.A. Mitchell said...

I wonder if these employees have to check all modern conveniences in the employee lounge. No cell phones hidden under their dresses. Not even hair gel.

Barbara Martin said...

L.A., interesting comment and it wouldn't be something I would ask.

Clare2e said...

We visited Old Sturbridge Village in Massachusetts this summer, and with your pictures, I felt like I was taken back. I'm so happy such places exist to explore and there are people dedicated to preserving them for us all.

Barbara Martin said...

Clare2e, there are many pioneer villages across Canada to teach the old ways of new settlers who came in the 1700s to the early 1900s.

Lyzzydee said...

I love the historical villages these are great shots!

Barbara Martin said...

Lyzzydee, they bring back memories for all.

Glennis said...

What a wonderful place to visit, so much to learn about how 'they' used to live. Its nice that people do actually live and work in this village showing just how things were made. I would love to go there.