A Taste of History: Part 2 SODA POP!

August 8th and 9th 2011 – 10:00am to 12:00pm

Fizzy Creations: A History of Soda Pop!

Age: 5-12

Date: August 8th and 9th 2011

Time: 10-12 PM

Admission: $10 Per child

Before Pepsi and Coca Cola, people enjoyed bubbly natural spring water as they were fascinated by the fizzling fluid. For many years drinking carbonated water was seen as a healthy practice to which pharmacists would add birch bark, dandelion, sarsaparilla and fruit extracts for natural flavors. Suddenly the race was on to patent the best, most refreshing Soda pop. Join us on Monday and/or Tuesday, August 8th and 9th 2011 as we voyage through this incredible history and put ourselves to the task of creating our own formula of Soda pop. The most delicious creation will win a prize! Sign up with the pre registration form below and get your tickets today!

Call 506-455-6041 or email yorksunbury@nb.aibn.com
for more information.

It’s almost time to HOP INTO HISTORY with the Coleman Frog!!

Join us July 7th 2011 at 10 am to celebrate the Coleman frog!

On Thursday, July 7th 2011, the Fredericton Region Museum will be hopping into history with our most famous resident, The Coleman Frog! Children will get to meet and greet our 42 pound frog and engage in arts and crafts designed to honor our amphibian friend. Come on in from 10am to 12pm with your kids and enjoy the festivities, get your face painted (froggy style), take home your very own frog, and take part in many other exciting events of the day. All are welcome but the arts and crafts of this program will be targeted to children ages 5-11. Every child will be involved in putting together the story of the Coleman frog, making a simple but fun frog on their own and finally creating a frog that jumps on its own. These jumping frogs will go head to head in a contest with a highly desirable prize that the kids will love! Visit our website at http://yorksunburymuseum.com/content/218155 or Call 506-544-6041 for more information.

Please note that the museum no longer uses yorksunburymuseum.com.  If you are looking for additional information about the Fredericton Region Museum, please refer to our museum blog.

Name Change for York Sunbury Museum

Image by jimmywayne via Flickr

For Immediate Release

Fredericton, New Brunswick (11 February 2011) – At a recent board meeting, the York Sunbury Historical Society Directors voted to change the name of the York Sunbury Museum.  The new name that will be implemented over the course of the next year is the “Fredericton Region Museum”.  This name was chosen because it reflects the overall theme of the exhibits found inside the Museum. 

The York Sunbury Museum first opened its doors in 1934 and after moving to various venues in the downtown area, found a permanent home at the Officers’ Quarters in 1959.  Operated by the York Sunbury Historical Society, the Museum and Society took its name from the two counties, York and Sunbury.  When the History Society opened the Museum, their mandate to research, publish and exhibit the history of the two counties represented its membership and its exhibits.  Today, most of the Society members live in the greater Fredericton region and the exhibits in the Museum pertain to the history of central New Brunswick. 

After several months of discussion and research, the Board consulted several of its members as well as patrons from the greater Fredericton community and decided that the name of the Museum should reflect the overall theme of the exhibits.  The administrative task of changing the name on tourist literature, signage, directories and on the internet will take several months so the change will take place gradually over the course of the next year. 

The name of the York Sunbury Historical Society will remain unchanged and their publication, program and research mandate will continue to include both York and Sunbury Counties. 

The Fredericton Region Museum is the home of the famous Coleman Frog and is a gateway into the history and heritage of central New Brunswick.  The FRM, through its dozen exhibits and collection of over 30,000, is a great resource for the community.

New Admission Rates for 2011

Effective January 1, 2011, the York Sunbury Museum will be raising admission rates.  The York Sunbury Historical Society and Museum is a small non-profit organization and relies on museum admissions to support its operational budget, education programs, exhibits and collections budget.

Our New Admission Rates:

Adults $5
Students $2
Family $10 (two adults and two or three children under 18 years of age)
Children under 6 Free
Tour of 10 people or more $1 a person (must be booked 2 weeks in advance)

Taxes are included in our rates.

Thank you, your admission helps to keep the York Sunbury Museum open.

To celebrate Heritage Week, the York Sunbury Museum will have a week of admission by donation.  Heritage Week will be February 14 to 21, 2011.  Come in and visit the famous Coleman Frog or check out our new Medical exhibit!  We will be opening our doors Monday to Friday from 10am to 5pm.

Word of warning!  The York Sunbury Museum is a cool place to visit during the winter months!  Quite literally!  Our building is a national and provincial historic site and is un-insulated and unheated during the winter months!  So dress warmly, it’s worth the visit!

Top 20 Artefacts Survey Results for Week Ending August 21st 2010

These roller skates (1983.7.3) have firm leather boots with steel soles and wheels.

Our Top 20 survey has completed its fourth week and our list of artefacts continues to grow!  Patrons placed votes for over 20 artefacts this week of which only 9 were in our Top 20 from previous weeks.  The list was shaken up a little bit but only for the artefacts that are below #6 on the list.  With only a week and a half left to place votes, it will be very interesting to see what happens! 

Click here for last week’s Top 20 Results!

Stereoscopes were used to view cards taken with a stereo camera. The cards were placed in the slots and pulled towards the viewer. As the image came into focus it would appear three dimensional. This type of viewer was popular during the Victorian era.

The objects in the first 6 spots have not changed a lot.  The Coleman Frog, Harvey Studio camera and the Penny Farthing Bicycle continued to dominate the votes and the Horse Tricycle continued to hold a spot in the top 5.  The World War I Machine Gun was bumped down to #6 the 1914 Cash Register reclaimed the #5 spot that it held a few weeks ago!  

In 1858, George Wolhaupter married Harriett Carman. Their son, Benjamin, was born in 1859. When George died in 1860, his wife and son moved to Ontario. Benjamin possessed great mechanical ability, and ultimately became an engineer who specialized in railroad tracks. He took out 215 patents for inventions, and was a successful manufacturer and businessman. Benjamin built this steam engine.

There doesn’t appear to be any new objects in the Top 20 but I think that it’s interesting that four of the Top 20 artefacts are from World War I.  If you look at the overall votes since we started this survey, another 5 World War I objects received votes including the Trench Armour (#39) that we posted infromation about last week.  The First World War was such a horrifying yet interesting time in history.  People find the artefacts in our Trench exhibit fascinating and often have a difficult time narrowing a vote down to just one object.  

The Ackerman Tavern Beam is an unusual artefact that is steeped in history! Unfortunately, it has only 1 vote so far and will not make it to the Top 20!

Some of the objects receiving votes for the first time this week are the Lady’s Roller Skates, the Wolhaupter Steam Engine, the Ackerman Tavern Beam and the Stereoscope.  

The Ackerman Tavern Beam (1969.2204.1) inspired Fredericton Arts Alliance artist in residence, Katherine Moller, to write a song about it during her residency.  This beam had been in the Ackerman Tavern at the corner of the St. John and Queen Street, until it was demolished in 1961 to make way for the current Playhouse.  The tavern had been the first meeting place of the New Brunswick Legislature.  We posted a blog about the Ackerman Tavern Beam last Summer!

Grenade fire extinguishers (1987-25-2) were thrown at small fires, the chemicals inside smother the fire. These were commonly found in hotels with carpet flooring.

The Wolhaupter Steam Engine was made by Benjamin Wolhaupter (1800-1857) nephew.  Benjamin’s portrait hangs in the same gallery where you’ll find the steam engine.  Benjamin was a silversmith, clockmaker, High Sheriff of York County, President of Central Fire Insurance co., Director of the Bank of New Brunswick, a Commissioner for Government House (1840-2) and other public buildings in Fredericton (1843-8) and Captain and Quartermaster of the York Sunbury Regiment of Militia during the 1839 border dispute.  A devout Anglican, and a close friend of the Lord Bishop of Fredericton, the Rt. Rev. John Medley.  Medley purchased Benjamin’s home at 97 Church Street, Fredericton, upon his death in 1857.  

I’m looking forward to seeing what happens with the list over the last week and a half of votes!  If you have a favourite artefact that is not on the list or not as high on the list that you think it should be, then visit the York Sunbury Museum and place a vote!!  

 The top 20 list after four weeks:

1.  Coleman Frog

2.  Harvey Studio Camera

3.  Penny Farthing Bicycle

4.  Horse Tricycle

5.  Our 1914 Cash Register

6.  World War I Machine Gun

7.  Fire Extinguisher Grenades

8.  St. Dunstan’s Church Steeple Cross

9.  Colt Revolver 

10.  Native Picnic Basket

11.  Maliseet Paddle

12.  Portrait of Sarah Peters

13.  Ashburnham Wedding Shoes

14.  Ralph Sketch Bronze Statue

15.  World War I Messenger Book

16.  Wigwam Replica

17.  Elevator Shoes

18.  African Porcupine Quill Box

19.  Native Fish Trap

20.  Valcartier Camp Panoramic Photograph

Fredericton Arts Alliance: Jasmine Cull and Katherine Moller

Some of Jasmine Cull's Baskets

 Fredericton Arts Alliance

Artists in Residence 2010 Summer Series

Located in at York Sunbury Museum, 571 Queen Street, in downtown Fredericton, the series presents local professional artists and fine craftspeople for one- to two-week residencies in the heart of Fredericton’s Historic Garrison District. Artists will create a studio space providing the public with a wonderful opportunity to talk with the artists, learn about their inspiration and creation and witness professional art in the making. Each week two new artists will be on location to offer their expertise and ideas to the community. 

August 14th – 20th

Katherine Moller (Music) & Jasmine Cull (Fiber Artist)

Jamine Cull and Katherine Moller in their studios at the York Sunbury Museum

Katherine Moller is a local violinist/fiddler who performs actively in many classical and folk ensembles in New Brunswick. She is also an active teacher; both of private lessons and in the school system. During her residency she plans on writing original fiddle tunes and workings on arrangements of fiddle tunes for her next recording project. 

Jasmine Cull is another artist who doesn’t have a website or blog yet! I’m posting lots of pictures of her art because everyone should have an opportunity to see her wonderful baskets!!

Jasmine Cull is a fiber artist with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design.  She is a juried member of both the New Brunswick Craft Council and the Craft Council of Newfoundland and Labrador. For her residency, Jasmine will be working in basketry, continuing experiments in random weave combined with traditional weaves.  Her primary material will be reed, which she will dye and stain using natural dyes.

Katherine Moller teaches violin and fiddle in both the Harvey and Fredericton areas.

The York Sunbury Museum is the home of the famous Coleman Frog, the world’s largest frog and is a gateway into the exciting history and diverse heritage of central New Brunswick and Fredericton.  The York Sunbury Museum has almost a dozen galleries featuring the history of the Acadians, Loyalists, Natives, Boss Gibson and St. Mary’s Ferry!

The York Sunbury Museum is switching to fall hours after Labour Day weekend:

September – November
Sunday and Monday: Closed
Tuesday to Saturday: 1 to 4pm

Baskets & Things by Jasmine Cull

 

 

Fredericton Arts Alliance Artists in Residence Summer Series for August 2010

Fredericton Arts Alliance Artists in Residence Summer Series 2010 Schedule

Top 20 Artefacts Survey Results for Week Ending August 14th 2010

The Queen Hotel took longer to be added to the Top 20 List than I expected ... it really is a stunning artefact!

Our Top 20 survey has completed its third week and our list of artefacts continues to grow!  Patrons have now selected over 60 artefacts for the list and we have tallied the new votes and adjusted the Top 20.  Click here for last week’s Top 20 Results!

Provincial Archives of New Brunswick 11-43 ERB, ISAAC PHOTOGRAPHS: Fredericton, Queen St. east end. Queen Hotel is large building on left- looking west from a point near the intersection of St. John Street.

The artefacts receiving the most votes for week ending August 14^th were similar to the first two weeks.  However, things were shaken up a little bit.  The top three artefacts continue to be the Coleman Frog, the Harvey Studio camera and the Penny Farthing Bicycle.  Not only did they have the most votes for week ending August 14^th but also for the 3 weeks that we have been taking votes.  

The World War I Trench Exhibit is one of our most popular exhibits!

Other object topping the list so far are the 1914 Cash Register, the Horse Tricycle and the World War I Machine Gun that is found in our Trench Exhibit.  I was sad to see the St. Dunstan’s Church Stained Glass Window drop off the Top 20 to the 23^rd spot but it was nice to see the Queen Hotel Cabinet receive a vote.  I’m surprised that it took over two weeks for the cabinet to make the list … it is such a beautiful artefact!!  Definitely one of my favourites!

The Ramey family in Ontario donated the Queen Hotel Cabinet to the York Sunbury Museum in 2009.  The Cabinet resided in the Old Queen Hotel before the hotel was demolished.  The Queen Hotel had been established by 1869, erected on the site formerly occupied by a case-brick building, which had been used for a short time by Mr. Smiler as a paint shop.  That building came down in order to make way for the hotel, which was originally owned by William Wheeler.  Joseph Phillips managed the hotel, followed by Robert Orr.  Perhaps the two best known managers of the Queen Hotel were John Edwards (operated the hotel from 1885-1904) and J.J. McCaffrey, the proprietor of the hotel from 1904-1922.

The Cabinet was used to display ads from the 1920s, through to the 1940’s as well as hold encyclopaedias and novels for hotel guests.  The ads are hand painted on milk glass with as little as two digit phone numbers.  There are 28 inserts from businesses in the Fredericton area.  The cabinet possesses a plaque indicating that Rhodes Curry Co Limited of Amherst, Nova Scotia constructed it in the 1800’s.  The company was known for building luxurious wooden passenger railway cars.  They also created home decor for houses of their era.

There’s more about the Queen Hotel in our Anniversary Edition of the Officers’ Quarters.

Several patrons had a difficult time choosing just one favourite object and frankly, I don’t blame them!  I would have a difficult time choosing one item!  It will be interesting to see what happens over the next few weeks as we continue to collect votes.  Have you placed a vote yet?  If not, we will be taking votes until the end of August so visit the York Sunbury Museum soon!!

Here is what we have so far for the three weeks combined:

1.  Coleman Frog

2.  Harvey Studio Camera

3.  Penny Farthing Bicycle

4.  Horse Tricycle

5.  World War I Machine Gun

6.  Our 1914 Cash Register

7.  Fire Extinguisher Grenades

8.  St. Dunstan’s Church Steeple Cross

9.  Native Picnic Basket

10.  Maliseet Paddle

11.  Portrait of Sarah Peters

12.  Colt Revolver 

13.  Ashburnham Wedding Shoes

14.  Ralph Sketch Bronze Statue

15.  Wigwam Replica

16.  Elevator Shoes

17.  African Porcupine Quill Box

18.  Native Fish Trap

19.  Valcartier Camp Panoramic Photograph

20.  World War I Messenger Book

Fredericton Arts Alliance: Ted Boothroyd & Marsha Clark

Fredericton Arts Alliance

Artists in Residence 2010 Summer Series

Marsha Clark doing a little collage magic!

Located in at York Sunbury Museum, 571 Queen Street, in downtown Fredericton, the series presents local professional artists and fine craftspeople for one- to two-week residencies in the heart of Fredericton’s Historic Garrison District. Artists will create a studio space providing the public with a wonderful opportunity to talk with the artists, learn about their inspiration and creation and witness professional art in the making. Each week two new artists will be on location to offer their expertise and ideas to the community.

August 7^th – 13^th

Ted Boothroyd (Masks) and Marsha Clark (Collage)

some of Ted Boothroyd's fabulous creations!

Ted Boothroyd’s critical and financial success had for years been based on his two-dimensional work, but since March 2008 the artist has concentrated on sculpture- particularly masks. Boothroyd will begin his residency with several masks at different stages of completion, and bring each to at least its next stage by the week’s end.

Marsha Clark’s work has shifted from fine craft to fine art; her making process is strengthened by the technical skill of craft. Her pieces combine paint, found objects, photography, text and stitching. During her residency, Marsha will explore the gay community through mixed media collage. Her residency coincides with Fredericton’s gay pride week.

Some of Marsha Clark's works of art.

The York Sunbury Museum is the home of the famous Coleman Frog, the world’s largest frog and is a gateway into the exciting history and diverse heritage of central New Brunswick and Fredericton.  The York Sunbury Museum has almost a dozen galleries featuring the history of the Acadians, Loyalists, Natives, Boss Gibson and St. Mary’s Ferry! 

 

Fredericton Arts Alliance Artists in Residence Summer Series for August 2010

Fredericton Arts Alliance Artists in Residence Summer Series 2010 Schedule

Top 20 Artefact Survey Update!

The Horse Tricycle (1969-2125-1) was imported from New York during the mid-ninetheenth century.

Our Top 20 survey has completed its second week and we have an even longer list of favourite artefacts!  Patrons have selected just over 50 artefacts over the last two weeks and we have tallied the votes and have added them to the Top 20. Click here for last week’s Top 20 Results!

The St. Dunstan's Steeple Cross (1969.472.1) was removed from the church in Fredericton when it was torn down in 1967. The original Church was built in 1842.

The artefact receiving the most votes last week was similar to the first week.  The top artefact continues to be the Coleman Frog.  Not only did he have the most votes for week ending August 7^th but he also has the most overall votes.  The Harvey Studio camera gave the Coleman Frog a little bit of competition though … for a while I thought the camera was going to top the list for the week!  However, by the end of the week the Harvey Studio camera placed second replacing the penny farthing bicycle which is placed 5^th for last week and is now third on the overall list.

This World War I Field message book was used by Lieutenant A. C. Kelly when he was in the trenches. A bullet had pierced this message book and probably saved his life.

Our third most popular artefact last week was the horse tricycle!  This tricycle is absolutely amazing!  It placed 7^th last week and is now 6^th on the list when we combine the votes for the last two weeks.  The tricycle was imported from New York in the mid-nineteenth century and is a complex design.  The frame has iron pedals that move the horse and the mane is genuine horse hair.  The seat is made of leather.  It is definitely a favourite amongst the York Sunbury Museum staff!!

Again, I won’t describe every artefact on the list but here is what we have so far for the two weeks combined:

1.  Coleman Frog

2.  Harvey Studio Camera

3.  Penny farthing Bicycle

4.  World War I Machine Gun

5.  Our 1914 Cash Register

6.  Horse Tricycle

7.  Fire Extinguisher Grenades

8.  St. Dunstan’s Church Steeple Cross

9.  Native Picnic Basket

10.  Maliseet Paddle

11.  Portrait of Sarah Peters

12.  Elevator Shoes

13.  Colt Revolver

14.  African Porcupine Quill Box

15.  Native Fish Trap

16.  Valcartier Camp Panoramic Photograph

17.  Ashburnham Wedding Shoes

18.  WWI Messenger Book

19.  St. Dunstan’s Church Stained Glass Window

20.  Ralph Sketch Bronze Statue

Some of the Other Artefacts that Recieved Votes Last Week

World War I Shrapnel Shell (1969.1050.1)

The Odell’s use to own this garden statue (1969.2574.1), dating from the 1860s. The Odell’s were a prominent Loyalist family and the site of their house and estate now serves as Fredericton’s Odell Park.

Fashionable from 1908 to about 1933, the cloche hat (1973.1.11 ) was one the iconic hat of the 1920's. To wear the hat correctly it had to be all but pulled over the eyes, making the wearer have to lift up the head.

Have you placed your vote?  If not, we will be taking votes until the end of August so visit the York Sunbury Museum soon!! 

FAA Artists in Residence Ted Boothroyd and Gerard Beirne

Fredericton Arts Alliance Artists in Residence
2010 Summer Series

Ted Boothroyd (masks and sculptures) doesn’t have a website yet … I’m hoping that he creates one soon because everyone should have an opportunity to explore his wonderful creations!!

Located in at York Sunbury Museum, 571 Queen Street, in downtown Fredericton, the series presents local professional artists and fine craftspeople for one- to two-week residencies in the heart of Fredericton’s Historic Garrison District. Artists will create a studio space providing the public with a wonderful opportunity to talk with the artists, learn about their inspiration and creation and witness professional art in the making. Each week two new artists will be on location to offer their expertise and ideas to the community.  

July 31st – August 6th

Ted Boothroyd (Masks) and Gerard Beirne (Writing)  

A Boothroyd work in progress!

Ted Boothroyd’s critical and financial success had for years been based on his two-dimensional work, but since March 2008 the artist has concentrated on sculpture- particularly masks. Boothroyd will begin his residency with several masks at different stages of completion, and bring each to at least its next stage by the week’s end.

Gerard Beirne is a much-travelled Irish novelist and poet. Now living in Fredericton.  Beirne is a fiction editor for The Fiddlehead, a renowned literary journal published at UNB, and board director of the Writer’s Federation of New Brunswick. His short story “Sightings of Bono” was adapted for film featuring Bono (U2). During his residency, Beirne will be working on new poems, showcasing his written and oral work, and will be available for advice or discussion on the art/craft of writing.

The York Sunbury Museum is the home of the famous Coleman Frog, the world’s largest frog and is a gateway into the exciting history and diverse heritage of central New Brunswick and Fredericton.  The York Sunbury Museum has almost a dozen galleries featuring the history of the Acadians, Loyalists, Natives, Boss Gibson and St. Mary’s Ferry! 

Fredericton Arts Alliance Artists in Residence Summer Series for August 2010

Fredericton Arts Alliance Artists in Residence Summer Series 2010 Schedule