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I1~ - A14 - The Canadian Champion, Tuesday, July 05, 2005 v i YourIHaIton 1 v 1.0 JUI 10 THE HALTON REGION Celebrating Halton's M -UM Heritage-the Halton Region Museum Joyce Savoline Regional Chairman cmag& onMmwam* ropmforAs we celebrate Canada's 138th birthday, ecI want to remind Halton residents of our piece of heritage to treasure: the Halton Region Museum. The Museum has a long and wonderful history. Located on the grounds of the Kelso Conservation Area, the five-acre museum site was originally settled by a family of Scottish immigrants, the Alexanders. Four generations of the Alexander fam- ily farmed the 200-acre land until 1959 when it became the property of Halton County. In 1974, with the Provincial ini- tiative to form region- al governments, the Museum fell under the Regional Municipality of Halton with a newly defined mission state- ment to be a unique, accessible and sustain- able community-sup- ported heritage facility. One of the Museums' focal points is the Alexander Barn, built by the fam sloon Car ily in 1879. The facility also bouses the original turbine the family used to generate water and power electricity. The Alexanders were the first in the area to install a turbine, which utilized water from a natural spring on the Niagara Escarpment. The establishment of the Halton Museum Foundation in 1998 with a vision to create a learning centre, ensures Halton's history and collections are preserved. Today, the Museum is a significant focal point for research and his- torical records, telling the story of the evolution of our community and serving as the "centre for the exploration of Halton's natural and cul- tural history". Halton Region Museum's Vibrant Present A. Brent Marshall Chief Administrative Officer The Halton Region Museum reflects both our heritage, and is a vital part of our present. Today, the Museum is open to all Halton residents and regularly pres- ents activities of interest, as well as being available for rent. Many of the events held at the Museum are fund-raising activities to support the Museum and its work. The Halton Museum Foundation was established in 1998 with a motto "to build the future for Halton's past". The Foundation is a registered, chari- L to R: The Alexander Barn past, table non-profit orga- present, and future (with proposed nization with the addition of Artifact Centre). purpose to raise funds for the advancement of Museum capital projects and programs, provide an active volunteer base and garner community support. The first curator, Maor To learn more about the Museum's H. J. Newman standing role in Halton's past, present and future, behind the Atexander contact the Museum Visitor Centre at Bam in 1962. 905-875-2200, ext. 21 or Halton Region at 905-825-6000/1-866-4HALTON or visit www.region.halton.on.ca! The Atexander farm house is closed One of the exhibits in the Alexander During the summer, children can to the pubtic although there are plans Barn which is open year-round, participate in the Discovery Hunt. for future renovation. seven days a week. -- g, a