ArteFACTS

ArteFACTs highlights unusual, unique, and amazing objects and photographs in the Oshawa Museum Collection. For over 60 years, the Oshawa Museum (OM) has celebrated our City’s history with engaging events, inspiring exhibits, and an immense collection of archival materials. Nestled on the shores of Lake Ontario in beautiful Lakeview Park, the OM tells the story of Oshawa from Indigenous inhabitants to present day. Home to Oshawa’s history, the OM is managed by the Oshawa Historical Society.

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Our late 2018 exhibit is opening soon, called Community Health in the 20th Century: An Oshawa Perspective. This artefact will be on display, a medical kit with the name William McGill, MD stamped onto it.

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Happy First Day of School!  Columbus School, c. 1910 (A982.45.5)

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This is a candle snuffer, which is a tool that is used to put out the flames on candles. The end with a loop is where the candle snuffer would be held, and the cone head is what would be used to put out the flame. Candle snuffers were very useful in putting out candles that were difficult to blow out.

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We have a number of royal commemorative artefacts in our collection, and this plate is an interesting example.  It was created in 1936 to mark the forthcoming coronation of King Edward VIII; he ascended to the throne in January 1936 upon the death of his father, but he would abdicate before the year was over.  This plate was created to commemorate a coronation that would not be.

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This is a cup and ball game made from a skinny tree branch as the handle, and a thicker tree branch carved out to create the cup. The “ball” is actually a small piece of tree branch.The cup and ball game was created in the 16th century and is still played today. 

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These are wooden wool carders, used to prepare fibers for spinning. Wool would be placed between these two paddles and would be “carded”. Once the wool has been carded, it can then be spun into thread, woven, or made into felt. A fun fact about carding is that a variety of materials can be used, from sheep’s wool to dog hair. 

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Did you know in Oshawa, the August civic holiday is known as McLaughlin Day? This is one of the several McLaughlin Carriages we have in our collection.  The body type is the Piano Box, named after its resemblance to 19th century square pianos; the Piano Box became one of the most popular vehicles in America, if not the world. 

This particular model is the Runabout.  It is in original condition, with no modifications made.  A runabout is an American light, open, horse-drawn vehicle with four large wheels. Similar to a buggy, the runabout was used for informal, utilitarian travel or "running about" on errands.

See this carriage up close and others on Sunday August 5 when our monthly Sunday FUNday is Driving History: A look inside the Drive Shed! Join us 12-4pm and the best part is it’s a FREE event!

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This sepia image is of young girls and boys sitting at their desks inside of Centre Street School. The school was torn down in 1920, and a new school was built in its place. This building is now used as the Durham Continuing Education facility. 

The official name of the school pictured above was Oshawa Central Public School, but was commonly known as the Centre Street School.

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Today is yellow pig day, and while this artefact is not necessarily yellow or a pig, it is close enough! This is a hot water bottle, and was commonly called the “pig” due to its oblong shape and round knob at the front, resembling a pig’s snout. 

Fun fact about yellow pig day: it was created in 1960 by two Princeton students who had an obsession with the number 17, and created an image of a pig with seventeen of each body part, which led to the creation of yellow pig day.

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July is celebrated as Picnic month, who knew? This photo was taken at the annual General Motors picnic sometime in the 1930s. The picnic took place in Lakeview park in Oshawa.  

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This rim shard was recovered from the Grandview archaeological site in 1992 and dates to the 1400s! This collection has the oldest artefacts in our collection and are from the ancestral Wendat who called the Oshawa area home from 1400-1470CE.

July's Sunday FUNday is July 8, and we're all about archaeology! Learn about tools of the trade, dating techniques and put together clay pots! View artefacts on display from past digs at the Museum. 

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Sunday July 1st is Canada Day. This photo from 1992  shows people visiting Henry House to celebrate Canada's 125th anniversary. 

Fun fact about Canada Day: it was originally called “Dominion Day” but was changed in 1982.

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This golden brooch is not made of precious metal, but human hair. It dates back to the 1930s. Brooches have been around since the medieval ages and were worn by vikings to fasten their cloaks. A brooch made of a deceased persons’ hair symbolizes love, friendship, and remembrance.

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Happy Red Rose Day! This is a painting of red roses on off-white velvet. An interesting fact about roses is that each colour has a different meaning; the red rose represents love. Also, red roses are the most popular colour of roses.

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This marble design plate was made in Oshawa’s very own Smith Potteries. There was a time when Oshawa one of the largest makers of hand-painted pottery in Canada, as well as the only art-ware pottery in the Dominion of Canada. The business operated from approximately 1925 to 1949.

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This photo circa 1933 shows two women sitting in an antique car outside of the General Motors plant on Bond street. General Motors Canada started out as the McLaughlin Carriage Company in 1876, which was later adopted by General Motors, and still stands in Oshawa today.

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May has been photo month. The museum has thousands of photos in its collection, so it is hard to chose just one to represent this occasion. This photo, circa 1912, shows workers standing in Williams Piano Factory, which was located in Oshawa. The factory was established in 1888, and went out of business in 1932.