SHEGUIANDAH—Their portraits stand sentinel, perched stolidly on the walls of the Centennial Museum of Sheguiandah gallery, their stern Victorian/Edwardian style gazes surveying Island descendants who come to visit the 2018 Manitoulin Genealogy Heritage Exhibit.
The portraits may be forgiven their sombre demeanor, as these are the hardy folks who hacked farmland from a tangled wilderness, first hewing rough log (and even sometimes earthen) shelters to protect their families from the elements in what was then generally considered a wild and savage land located on the very fringes of “New Ontario.”
The Heritage exhibit runs from May 8 to May 19 and was complemented with a Heritage Tea held from 2 pm to 7 pm on Thursday, May 10.
“We encouraged people to bring in their family photographs, antiques and family treasures,” said Manitoulin Genealogy spokesperson Marjorie Collie. “Or to just come in and view the portraits we have on display.”
The Heritage Exhibit is intended as an interactive experience. “Kids can do their family tree, and so can adults, view the genealogy materials and get in touch with their family roots.”
Ms. Collie noted that Manitoulin Genealogy members have conducted a lot of research into local families and their antecedents and their records provide a veritable treasure trove of information for any student working on a school project or adult seeking more information on their own roots.
The portraits themselves are well worth the visit, many of them appear to be paintings as opposed to photographs. Being able to look into the eyes of those from whom many of our friends and neighbours are descended is quite an experience.
The museum is open Tuesdays to Saturdays, 9 am-4:30 pm, and closed Sundays and Mondays.
