The Boyd Papers - Spring 2025

I apologize many times, these papers are very late. I don’t think I even have a reason – except age. Speaking of, Carolyn and I have been told (kindly I think), that we are aging out! That is my excuse and I am sticking to it.

I wonder if anyone told old Mossom that perhaps he should think about retiring? I am sure his boys never said it but perhaps, talked about his age behind his back! He held on until he fell over.

It was quite a winter, lots of snow and cold. Then we sort of had spring and the horrific May ice storm, the building survived, a couple of branches on the locust tree at the front were broken. Birches, cedars and aspen around town and beyond all suffered badly. This will be a spring to remember. Not as serious as the wild fires across the northern areas of Canada. Those who don’t believe in ‘climate change’ may be rethinking their belief. We are still cold and wet no summer yet!

Since the last letters we have had a couple of teas. Both well attended. I have given a talk about the Boyds to the Probus ladies in Lindsay, a talk to Knox women about the starting of the A. Sheila Boyd Foundation, and a short history talk about the Boyd Barn with pictures of the interior and exterior of the barn at one of our teas. I have not signed any contracts to appear on late night TV! Although the Board is threatening to send me on the road to raise money.

We decided to alter our open hours this spring from May 1 to Oct. 31 from 10a.m. to 4p.m. The book sales are during these open hours as well. May has been quiet with many more visits for the book sales than the museum. It certainly makes for a long day. Carolyn and I have pretty much been holding the fort. Volunteers to be in the museum are few and far between. 

The Voyageur stopped in to say hello on the inaugural trip to Peterborough. They stay in Bobcaygeon for the night in June. We look forward to their visits as the guests are very interested in the museum and also in the book sale. Robyn always brings up deserts from the boat (and they are sooo good!). 

I have been putting some displays in the far room (formerly MTO) space, and calling the space Sheila’s kitchen. We acquired (free) a gorgeous pine table and hutch, certainly period pieces, and I have moved the kitchen display from downstairs to this new space. The catch is, I have been told that space may have to be rented in order to make the rest of the building sustainable. Mossie’s office may have to be included in this potential rental. The plan to rent out the front rooms (former library space) just haven’t paid their way. Taking down the book sale for one rental for one day, then putting the books back up again just seems to be a ‘make work project’.

Donna Goodwin, from the City, has been helping us write a 5 year strategy plan. Carolyn suggested she would like to be alive in 5 years. However, we had an open house last Tuesday inviting interested people from the community to bring their thoughts to our Board. Very interesting! One felt the building and entrance was not inviting. The museum itself was too dark. The Board was not forward thinking, staid etc. So, we may, or should have a younger group to shake up the museum and make plans for money-making events. We would love to have them (whoever they are) come in and help!

On a happier note , we have a couple new volunteers that are full of energy and great thoughts for fund-raising. It would be wonderful to have someone else do the planning and thinking. I have told the Board at our last annual meeting that as soon as the City signs the final papers turning the whole building over to the Foundation, that I would step down as Chair and devote my time to the museum. I have a bit of work to do upstairs in the collections area, that is begging for help. All in good time.

I was in the museum today, cold and quite miserable for June 1. I had at least 5 groups of people coming in (probably to get out of the weather) and all were suitably impressed with the story and the building. Most can’t believe how big the building actually is. I suppose it looks like three or four rooms from the front but it just seems to go on and on. Book sales continue to be a source of some dollars. Better in the summer when visitors to town are here and the snowbirds have returned home. Next winter it will be interesting as a lot of snowbirds are saying they won’t be going back to the States.

Last winter, because of the cold and snow depth, we had water coming in the ceiling and walls in the hall between the front gallery and the lower gallery.

Ice build up behind the Museum

IThe corner where the two walls meet was the area that had the back-up of ice and into the building. You can see the quantity of snow. Sylvia dragged a lot of the snow down to keep it away from the eve trough and therefore into the building. Sylvia and Joyce have applied for funding to add insulation to vulnerable areas and to replace the drywall in the back hall. Every now and then lack of insulation in certain areas makes itself known.

If Sylvia and Joyce are successful in obtaining funds for adding insulation and replacing drywall etc. it will be one more area that we can stroke off the ‘to do’ list. We hope to insulate the porch leading to the front room (where the library was) it is so cold there and that just bleeds into the front room. It is always something in these old buildings, but contractors that work on it say the Boyd Building will last longer than most of the buildings in Bobcaygeon.

Corner Hutch in Sheila's Kitchen

If nothing else we are saving it from being torn down. The far room (formerly the MTO) is at this moment Sheila’s Kitchen. Displays of old kitchen equipment and furniture. 

 This is really a lovely room, bright and inviting. Both political parties (not at the same time!) held ‘meet and greet’ afternoons in this room, during the last elections and those that came commented on the room, and they were not expecting the displays, but found it very comfortable.

A new volunteer (a retired Chef from Toronto) would love to hold a sit down dinner for us. We are looking into this fund-raiser. The meal would have to be cooked in commercial kitchen (not a problem in Bobcaygeon), the churches, legion etc. all qualify for kitchens. We just have to find a suitable date for this. We are thinking perhaps to piggy-back to Settlers when ‘Festival of Trees’ is on and use the lawn bowling club as the kitchen and dining room. We will keep you informed.

Speaking of Settlers we are once again partnering with them for the Boos and Booze event. We designate about 10 old graves in the Cemetery and participants search out the grave stones and answer the question we pose (answer is found on the memorial. The guests then go back to Settlers Village and find scavenger questions throughout the Village and have a taste of local speciality beers. The guests love it and really get into the ‘search and find’ markers. They also learn a bit of local history. Very popular.

Short and sweet this spring but will fill you in this fall about the summer events.

Drop by and see us!

Barb McFadzen