The Cultural Centre
75 William Street North N7M 4L4 Chatham, ON, Canada

Today the Chatham-Kent Museum remembers Dr. Anderson Ruffin Abbott... Born in Toronto to an affluent Black Family, Dr. Anderson Ruffin Abbott was the son of Wilson Ruffin Abbott and Ellen Toyer Abbott. He received excellent education on account of his families prosperity. Abbott attended both public and private schools, including the Buxton Mission School. He went to Oberlin College in Ohio and graduated in 1857 from the University of Toronto with a degree in medicine. In 18...61, Abbott received a license to practice from the Medical Board of Upper Canada. This made Abbott the first Canadian born Black doctor. In February of 1863, Abbott applied for a commission as an assistant surgeon in the Union Army, but was denied. Undeterred, he re-applied as a medical cadet in the newly formed U.S. Coloured Troops, all Black regiment and was hired as a civilian surgeon. From June of 1863, to August of 1865, Abbott served at the Contraband Hospital (later known as the Freedmen’s Hospital). He was then transferred to hospital in the Arlington Virginia. He received numerous commendations during his time in service. Abbott was one of only thirteen Black surgeons to serve in the Civil War. During his time in Washington, Abbott developed a friendly relationship with President Abraham Lincoln. When Lincoln was shot, Abbott was one of several doctors in attendance while the President was fighting for his life. Following Lincoln’s death, in appreciation for his attempt to save the President’s life, Mary Todd Lincoln, the President’s widow, presented Abbot with a plaid shawl that Lincoln wore during his 1861 inauguration. Abbott resigned from the hospital in Arlington in 1866, returned to Toronto. He married Mary Ann Casey in 1871. The couple moved to Chatham, where they raised their three daughters and two sons. In Chatham, Abbott not only continued to practice medicine but also was appointed the coroner for Kent County in 1874. By 1878, he was elected president of the Chatham Medical Society and Literary and Debating Society. In 1890, Abbott and his family relocated to Toronto. In 1892, Abbott was elected a member of the local post of the Grand Army of the Republic and was one 273 Civil War Veterans in the in Toronto to wear the badge of the fraternity. In 1913, at the age of 76, Abbott passed away in Toronto and was buried in the Toronto Necropolis. Lest We Forget.

Today the Chatham-Kent Museum remembers Nursing Sister Gertrude French Born in Dresden on January 1, 1884, Nursing Sister Gertrude French enlisted on September 26, 1914 at age 36 in Quebec City, Quebec. She set sail with the 1st Contingent of the Canadian Army Medical Corps on October 3, 1914. She was first assigned to the No. 2 General Hospital, CAMC. Nursing Sister French served in France for nearly two years at the No. 3 General Hospital at Le Treport, France. In 1916, s...he returned to Canada for a three month furlough to convalesce. In September, she was again overseas, as she deemed Fit for General Service. For her service, Nursing Sister French was decorated by King George V with the Royal Red Cross. She also received the Mons Star. Lest We Forget.

Today the Chatham-Kent Museum remembers Lieutenant Lt. Chester Halstead A Bell Telephone manager from Ridgetown, Lt. Halstead was one of the original 186th officers. He was awarded the Military Cross for capturing two enemy machine guns and 77 prisoners at Passchendaele. On November 6, 1917 Lt. Halstead was gassed and admitted to St. Johns Ambulance Brigade Hospital in France. He was treated at the hospital until April of 1918. Following his release from the hospital he returned Witley Camp in England where he was given light duty until July of 1918. Returning to the 1st Battalion in France, he was killed in action in October of 1918. Lest We Forget.

Today, the Chatham-Kent Museum remembers Corporal John Arthur Art Shreve Alexander The son of Arthur Alexander and Ethel Shreve, Corporal John Arthur Art Alexander was born on April 3rd, 1918 on Six Nations Reserve. Before the war, Alexander worked as a railway porter. On December 30, 1942, eight months before he began his military service overseas, Corporal Alexander married his wife Jean in Chatham, Ontario. On July 20, 1942, Corporal Alexander enlisted in Brampton, On...tario. Once in England, Alexander was posted to the 1st Batallion, Queen’s Own Rifles in 1943. On June 6, 1944 D-Day, Alexander was on the first Canadian ship to land on Juno Beach. Upon landing on the beach at Courseulles-sur-mar, Alexander’s first job was to blow up some of the barbed wire entanglements. Of the 33 men who were in his company that landed on the beach that day, only 11 survived. During an attack on Boulogne, France, Alexander was wounded in the wrist after being struck by a piece of shrapnel. After recovering, Alexander returned to his regiment prior to the Rhineland campaign. Following his return, he was promoted to rank of Corporal. Alexander was wounded for the second time during the fighting at Mooshof and again while engaged in battle at Steeg, Germany. The extent of his injuries did not become evident until after the war. According to Alexander’s wife Jean, his daughter Pam, whacked her Daddy on the bum. Following the whack, Alexander was in immediate pain as it drove a piece of shrapnel that had been lodged in there since he was wounded into his hip joint. During the war, Alexander hadn’t been x-rayed, so no one knew that the shrapnel had been lodged in there. In 1952, following an x-ray, they also found a piece of lead in his right lung. Because of the placement of each fragment, the doctors made the decision to not remove them. Alexander returned home a decorated war veteran. Corporal Alexander was featured in Maclean’s magazine in 1984 and in 1994. Corporal Alexander passed away on October 21, 2002. Lest We Forget.

Today the Chatham-Kent Museum remembers Sergeant Major Abram W. Shadd... Born in 1844 to Abraham D. Shadd and Harriet Parnell Shadd, Abram (Abraham) W. Shadd moved with his family to Buxton, Ontario in his youth. It was in Buxton that Shadd received his early education. Prior to the Civil War, Shadd taught school. Once Black men were able to fight in the Union Army, Shadd enlisted and served in the 55th Massachusetts Regiment. He began the war as a private, however, by the e...nd of the war he had been promoted to the rank of sergeant major. Following the war, Shadd returned to Buxton where continued to teach at School Section # 4. Shadd eventually moved to Detroit, opened his own photography business, and studied law. He moved to Washington D.C. and attended Howard University. In 1871, Shadd graduated with a degree in law. Following his graduation, Shadd would eventually practice law in Washington County, Mississippi. It was in Mississippi where Shadd was elected clerk of the circuit court. In 1878, Shadd died in Mississippi Lest We Forget.

Today, the CK Museum remembers Private Victor George Pyne.. Private Pyne , also known as, "The Adopted Son of Ridgetown" moved from England in 1907 at the age of 14 with his brother who was 15 following the death of their father. They immigrated to Canada in order to live and work at the Smith's Farm in Ridgetown. There he thrived in his new life. At the time of his enlistment in August 1914, Pyne was living in Chatham and working at the Bell Telephone Company. In June of 191...5, during the Battle of Givenchy, Pyne was seriously wounded in the thigh, shoulder, scalp and abdomen. After 52 days in the hospital, he was deemed Fit for Duty and was released from the hospital on March 2, 1916. On July 9, 1916, Pyne, along with twenty-nine other Canadians were killed at Mount Sorrell. He was only 22 years old. Lest We Forget.

Today the Chatham-Kent Museum remember Corporal James Pelletier... In January of 1952, Chatham native James Pelletier joined the Royal Canadian Regiment. By April of 1953, Corporal Pelletier was on the front line with the 3rd Battalion RCR near Ochon, Korea. On the evening of May 2, Pelletier and his comrades were in a trench when the communist troops made a raid on the line. In his memoir, Pelletier described the events of that night: All was quiet until 2220 hours when I h...eard the sound of small arms fire coming from the Northeast of our position. Then, an intense enemy bombardment hit our position. A bomb landed in my bay and with a great wumpf I was thrown from the bay and tumbled nearly to the wire. I quickly belly crawled back to my bay and the shelling stopped. There followed an ominous silence and suddenly the east gap lit up as though a giant chandelier had been turned on. A figure appeared on top of my position. He was not helmeted and obviously enemy. I aimed between his shoulders and fired. He sagged like he was suddenly deflated. I quickly moved two paces to my right and a second figure appeared. Same shot, same reaction. I then moved to my left about six feet. I immediately drew fire and a bullet went through my right thigh. There was no pain. It just felt like a finger poking me and then warm blood running down my leg. I did not move and a figure appeared near my bunker facing the light. I shot him. Another figure was outlined on the top north corner of my section. When I shot him he twisted slightly and dropped. (Then) there was a slight pop and a grenade went bam under my left shin. I was splattered with bits and pieces of shrapnel and had one thumb-sized hole in my lower leg. No great pain, just stingingsensations. I thought then that I heard a voice above me. I turned my head and stared into the bore of a burp gun held by an enemy soldier. He spoke Lay down you arm and follow me quigly It was over. " Corporal Pelletier was taken along with ten other Canadians to the Chinese trenches where they were hit by friendly artillery fire. Pelletier was wounded again. He was taken by ox cart and truck to a POW hospital overlooking Manchuria. He remained there until the armistice and became the first Canadian POW released following the conclusion of the Korean War. Lest We Forget.

Today the Chatham-Kent Museum Remembers Lt. Stewart McKeough Born in Chatham on September 2, 1893, Lt. Stewart McKeough received his education at CCI before attending medical school at the University of Toronto. Well known in Chatham during his youth, McKeough was an outstanding athlete as well as an officer in the local militia. During the war, McKeough was commissioned as a lieutenant in the 18th Battalion and fought at St. Eloi and Mount Sorrell. In the early morning hou...rs of the September 15, 1916, the battalion was making preparations for an attack at Courcelette. Lt. McKeough and another officer were directed to clear the enemy out of the front trenches with hand grenades. Though wounded in his leg, McKeough was still able to lead his men over the top. Sadly, he only made it a few yards before he was fatally struck by a bullet in the heart. Lest We Forget,

Today the Chatham-Kent Museum remembers Fred Stonefish Born on April 28, 1880, Private Fred Stonefish sailed overseas on June 13, 1917. Proceeding to France with the Canadian Forestry Corps. During his service he was promoted to Corporal. He returned to Canada in April of 1919 and was discharged from the military. Lest We Forget.

For today's Chatham-Kent Haunting, we are sharing a quick terrifyingly puzzling story regarding Wesley Hall, the hall that was attached to the former Park Street United Church. According to two janitors that worked in the church that the author of Ghosts of Chatham-Kent spoke to, a strange occurrence took place, when they witnessed a tall man dressed only in black run through the hall at night. Moreover, a teenager who was playing hide and seek in the building additionally experienced the bizarre event, when he was startled by the same tall man in black running through the building at night. What is also strange is the fact that the motion detector which were set up in the hall on occasion were prompted to go off from time to time by the ghostly figure. Until next haunting... #MuseumAtHome #halloween

Today’s haunting tale from Chatham-Kent’s past involves two former nursing homes in Chatham. According to staff who worked at the first home, during the nightly rounds, staff wouldn’t want to turn on the lights in the hallways or the rooms of residents in order not to disrupt their sleep. So, instead of turning on the lights, they started to use flashlights to light their way. As a result, all of the hallways were dark and generally empty at night. At least, that is what the...y hoped. As the story goes, coworkers cautioned an employee who had recently started at the home that during the night, a man in a top hat would occasionally be spotted in the hallway. The man dressed in a top hat and a fine suit would be seen roaming the halls when a resident was near death. Believing that the story related to her was simply an attempt to get one over on the new girl, she brushed it off as a sort of initiation practice. Then one evening, while she was doing her nightly rounds, there he was. A shadowy figure dressed to nines and wearing a top hat. As she hurried to catch up to figure, he vanished as he made his way around the corner. When she recounted what she had seen, she was shocked to learn that indeed a resident had passed away that evening. According to this particular staff member, this was not the only time she encountered the man in the top hat. Another local long term care home is said to have had some ghostly sightings as well. On the property where this particular home was built used to be an orchard where a little boy fell from an apple tree and sadly died from injuries. It is his ghost that people believe haunted this long term care home. This young boy is said to be a prankster and on several occasions has made his presence known to the residents. Apparently, he has been known to turn the lights on and off incessantly, as well as, blow on the face of an unsuspecting resident. Until next haunting. #MuseumAtHome #GhostStories #Hauntings #Halloween

Have you ever wondered where the custom of carving pumpkins for Halloween came from? Well, today for #NationalPumpkinDay let's explore the long history jack-o’-lanterns have being associated with Halloween. Though, it might come as a surprise that the first of its kind was actually carved out turnips, potatoes or beets. The origin of the practice comes from the Irish myth of Stingy Jack A trickster, it is said that upon his death, instead of entering the after life, Jack wa...s sentenced to roam the earth for an eternity. With only a burning coal to light his way, Jack decided to place it inside a carved out turnip. And from that moment on, he was referred to as Jack of the Lantern. Over time, this moniker was shortened to be simply Jack O’Lantern. To keep the soul of Jack away as well as other wandering souls that roamed the earth, the Irish began to carve demonic faces out turnips and place them in their windows or outside of their doors. Overtime this custom would start to accompany the other methods that were used to scare off spirits during the festival of Samhain (Halloween’s predecessor). It wasn’t until the tradition of Halloween came to North America that jack-o’-lantern started to be carved out pumpkins. #MuseumAtHome #Halloween

Last Sunday we explored the tradition of the ghost light in theatres. Keeping with that theme, today we are taking a look at the Macbeth Curse. One of Shakespeare’s most enduring and recognized play, Macbeth has a bizarre and dark history that has plagued the play from its initial performance. In 1606, on opening night, the actor cast to portray Lady Macbeth fell ill and died. One would assume that that was enough for the legend of the Macbeth Curse to stem from, but from... this first tragedy the causalities and horrid incidents just continued to pile up. In 1672, an actor portraying the role of Macbeth stabbed another actor with a real dagger, committing murder on stage. In 1721, after an audience member interrupted the play, the band was so upset that following the play it burned the theatre to the ground. In 1775, the actress who was cast at Lady Macbeth portrayed the character so well that the audience members truly believed she was a murderer and chased her out the theatre in order to exact justice. Then in 1849, a riot that started during the play’s performance ended with the death of over 20 people. This misfortune that was associated with the play continued into the 20th as injuries to and the deaths of cast members continued to occur. In 1937, when Sir Laurence Olivier played the lead role a weight that hung above the stage somehow became untied and fell within inches from where the star stood. Five years late, in 1942 three cast members died during the play’s run. In 1947, an actor was stabbed on stage during the swordfight that occurs at the conclusion of the play. Lastly, Charlton Heston took on the lead role in 1953 and had his legs severely burned after his tights were mysteriously doused in kerosene. The misfortune that swirled around Macbeth seemed to have been mimicking the tragedies that took place during the play. So much so, that its reputation for mishaps, deaths and murder led to the superstition that forbids the use of the name Macbeth unless during a performance. Instead, it is referred to as The Scottish Play. If however, the name is spoken, steps must be taken immediately to ward off the curse. This usually includes leaving the room/ theatre turning around 3 times to the right, spitting on the ground, then knocking and asking to be let back in. #TheatreAtHome #MuseumAtHome

Today’s History of Halloween is exploring the history of Trick or Treating. The precursor to this custom is thought to be the Middle Ages’ practice of mumming. Where people in Britain would dress up like demons, spirits and other wicked creatures in exchange for food and beverages. By the 1000 CE, the Christian Church had designated Nov. 2 as All Souls’ Day, a time for individuals to honour those loved ones that had passed. The celebrations in England were quite similar t...o the festival of Samhain, as it included bonfires and masquerades. During the evening on All Souls Day, people would visit the homes of the more affluent residents to receive pastries called soul cakes. In exchange for the cakes, the people would promise to pray for the souls of the homeowners deceased loved ones. Souling as this practice was called, would later be taken up by children who would visit the homes in their community and ask for food, ale or money. In Scotland and Ireland, children took part in guising. During the evening, they would dress up and sing a song, recite a poem or perform a trick in exchanged for a treat. The treat they received was generally nuts, fruit, or coins. In North America, the practice of trick or treating started when Irish and Scottish communities revived their older traditions of guising and souling. Where or when the term trick or treating originated from is unclear. However, by 1951, it was depicted in a Peanuts comic strip and one year later, a cartoon titled Trick or Treat was produced by Disney. #museumathome #halloween

Did you know that the tradition of Halloween originated with the Celtic Festival Samhain (pronounced Sow-in). Festival participants would light bonfires and wear costume to ward off evil spirits. On November 1st, the Celts celebrated their New Year, which marked the end of their summer and the beginning of the dark and cold winter. The night prior to their New Year, October 31st was believed by the Celts to be the day in which the boundary between the worlds of the living and... the dead were blurred. It was believed that during Samhain, the souls of those who were no longer living returned to their homes to visit their loved ones and those who had passed during the year were thought to have made the journey to the afterlife on this night. All throughout the month of October, posts by the Chatham-Kent Museum will feature a variety of different subject matters related to Halloween. From the history of favourite traditions and crafts to a few Chatham-Kent ghost stories, it is going to be fun-filled, spooktacular month! #MuseumAtHome #Halloween

Happy #Thanksgiving from the Art + Culture Team!

Orange Shirt Day was created in 2013, designed to educate people and promote awareness in Canada about the Indian residential school system and the impact it ha...s had on Indigenous communities for over a centuryan impact recognized as a cultural genocide, and an impact that continues today. Today and everyday we honour and remember those who were victims of the Canadian Indian residential school system. For more information on Orange Shirt Day please visit https://www.orangeshirtday.org See more

Most of our followers will be familiar with Glitters’ Fun Eatery and probably many of you have dined at this popular spot in the past. Well, are you aware that there have been some paranormal happenings that have transpired within its walls. For today’s Chatham-Kent Haunting, we shall be exploring two of these occurrences. One such incident occurred after all the patrons had left for the night and a server was inspecting the upstairs bathroom and tidying it up by pushing all... of the chairs under the counters located near the sink. When she turned around and looked back at the counter space, to her disbelief one of the chairs that she had pushed in only moments before was sitting in the middle of the room. Staff were not the only ones who witnessed the strange happenings at the restaurant. One evening, diners at a table were flabbergasted when they saw a receipt that had been left on the table opposite them float into the air and hang there for a moment before it slowly descended back to the table. Shaken by what they had seen, they inquired with their server if it had simply been a figment of their imagination. The server didn’t ease their mind when she attested that she had seen the exact same thing and then went on to say oh it’s just the ghost Until next haunting... #museumathome #hallowen

For this week's Imagination Station Craft-urday Saturday let's make a Bobble Ghost. For this craft you will need the following materials: White Card Stock x2 Paint or Colouring Pens/Pencils/Crayons... Yellow & Black Marker Pen Scrap Strips of Card Scissors Glue Stick Googly Eyes For the directions please visit Arty Crafy Kids! #MuseumAtHome #Halloween

What if your home was being pelted by rocks, but no one was outside to have thrown them. Imagine, your windows smashed, mysterious fires being set and water pouring from the ceiling with no known source, or your entire house feeling as though it was being rocked. Well this is exactly what is said to have transpired in the Scottish Settlement of Baldoon, near modern day Wallaceburg. What would be a Hauntings of Chatham-Kent series without including the infamous Baldoon Myste...ries? In the fall of the 1829, one evening John and Nancy Macdonald were startled awake when they heard footsteps in their home. Over the next while, the footsteps and other unexplained activities continued and only seemed to intensify. They would be awoken to what sounded like an army marching in their kitchen. The couple witnessed their infants cradle violently rocking, while also seeing soap being flung about the room as if on its very own. Not surprisingly, these incidents terrified the young couple and all those who witnessed the paranormal activities. Frightened the young family left their home and moved in with John’s father who resided in another house on the farm. Leaving their home did not help the situation, as following their departure, perhaps in retaliation the family barn was burned to the ground. Moreover, the manifestations just followed them to their father’s home. As the paranormal activities within the home intensified, so to did their neighbours’ curiosity and they visited in hopes of witnessing the spirit that taken up residence. A local preacher was brought in to perform an exorcism in hopes of cleansing the house, but it was to avail. A ghost hunter from Michigan failed in his attempt to remove the spirit as well. Believing that his family had been cursed, John, accompanied by a minister, set out to visit a witch hunter named Dr. John. F. Troyners. It is said that Troyners daughter was clairvoyant and advised John that she saw an old woman who lived in a log house who desired to drive his family away. According Troyner’s daughter, the old woman possessed the power to transform herself into a goose and that the only way to rid them of her was with a silver bullet. After hearing this, Macdonald believed that he knew exactly who the old woman was and he recalled seeing a strange goose around his farm. It is said that upon his return home he made a bullet out of silver, went in search of the strange goose and shot it in the wing. Accompanied by some men from his community, Macdonald the ventured to the log cabin he suspected to be the old woman’s and found her inside nursing an injured arm. From that point on, there were no further paranormal incidents on the Macdonald farm.

Today's Imagination Station's Crafturday Saturday is the ever adorable yarn pumpkins! To make a yarn pumpkin, you will need 21 pieces of orange yarn, cut to 36 inch lengths 2 ounces of white glue ... 1 balloon (12 inch size), blown up half full 1 brown pipe cleaner and 1 green pipe cleaner https://onelittleproject.com/yarn-pumpkins/

Thank you to Chatham-Kent This Week for featuring the Chatham-Kent Museum! What a wonderful way to conclude our Agricultural themed month. We hope you have enjoyed this journey with us. Stay tuned to tomorrow to learn about our October theme. https://www.chathamthisweek.com//museum-highlights-agricul

For today’s Chatham-Kent Haunting, let explore the tales of ghostly encounters that occurred within the Chatham Collegiate Institute (CCI). According to some teachers and support staff that worked at CCI three different spirits have been spotted within the school over the years. Staff that worked in the school’s cafeteria saw two of the ghosts. Some mornings as the staff began to prep for the day, they would see the ghost of a teenaged girl who was dressed in 1950s era attire.... Intrigued by what they had seen, they decided to scour old yearbooks in order to identity the young girl. It turned out that girl they were seeing had come down with a fever in the 1950s, and sadly due to her illness became comatose. She remained in a coma for a few years before passing away. A boy also visited cafeteria staff from time to time. By his size, they deduced he was likely in grade 9. The workers stated that the boy who was dressed in a plaid shirt, was often spotted standing in line waiting to have his order taken. Unfortunately, this time staff were unable to identify the boy using yearbooks. And lastly, a few years before CCI closed, according to some teachers on the third floor, the sound heels could be heard clacking down the halls as well as the jingling of keys when there was no one in the hallway to make these noises. To these teachers, it was believed that this was the spirit of a former long-time English teacher named Norma Stevens. Stevens who had retired in the 1950s decided to take a trip to Europe to celebrate. Unfortunately, however, Stevens passed away tragically on her trip after being involved in a traffic accident. The sounds that were heard that had no visible source were always made in the area outside of the classroom that she taught from for so many years. That’s it for today’s tale. Until next haunting #MuseumAtHome #Halloween

Former Chatham resident, Mary Ann Shadd Cary is today's Google Doodle. Today marks her 197th birthday! #GoogleDoodle

Just a friendly reminder, The Chatham-Kent Museum reopens tomorrow. You can book your visit by visiting, https://www.chatham-kent.ca/Chatham-KentMuseum

Did you know that during the Victorian period there was a real fear of premature burial? This anxiety, known as taphophobia, was very common. These fears were spurred on by the horrifying tales of presumed dead individuals trying to claw their way out of their coffin. This led many to look for methods to allow an individual to signal to that they were still alive inside their coffin. Including our topic for today, the safety coffin. This particular coffin was designed with e...xpressed purpose to allow an individual that awoke inside their coffin to escape, breath and signal for help. A coffin designed by Franz Vester in 1868 featured an air inlet, a ladder, and a bell. According to its patent, this specific model was developed to allow a person upon waking to save themselves. If however, too weak to climb the ladder themselves, the unfortunate soul could ring the bell to alert the grave watchmen that they required help. Other coffin designs simply included placing a ring on the deceased person’s hand that had a line attached to it that ran out of the coffin to a bell at the top of the grave. One more interesting fact before we conclude this post Dr. Timothy Clark Smith, a physician who practiced in the United States was so frightened by the thought of being buried alive that he designed grave that had a 14x14 glass window that looked down a six foot shaft into his coffin. And when he died on none other than Halloween, 1893, he was buried beneath this glass window. #MuseumAtHome #Halloween

Did you know that the Victorians were fixated with the idea of death and dying? Each Thursday during the month of October, the Chatham-Kent Museum will be sharing some interesting facts to illuminate of how it shaped their everyday lives. Today’s fact is The 19th Century Spiritualism movement, one of the largest religious movements of its time in began with two young girls with a Canadian connection. Raised for the first part of their lives near Belleville, Canada West, Mar...garet and Kate Fox moved with their family in 1847 to Hydesville, New York. One year later in their new home on March 31st, an event occurred that would change their lives and the Spiritualism movement forever. It was on this evening that the two girls began communicating with a spirit of a pedlar known as Mr. Splitfoot through rapping noises. Neighbours became intrigued by the happenings at the Fox home and came to witness it for themselves. Eventually, the sisters were sent to live with their older sister Leah in Rochester. New York, who apparently had developed medium abilities. The spirit, however, followed the girls to their new home as the rapping continued. At the time, Rochester was a hotbed for reform and religious activity and the girls’ story of being able to communicate with a spirit spread like wildfires and the girls were invited to showcase their abilities on numerous occasions. The girls were asked to perform seances for hundreds of people at a time, filling up halls and theatres. Their shows would ultimately become how they made their living. The publicity that Kate and Margaret received helped to further the spread of spiritualism and it was in Canada by 1850. Kate, accompanied by her mother and quite possibly her sister Margaret returned to Canada on two separate occasions to visit her sister Elizabeth Ousterhout who had remained in Canada West. Their visit to Canada further stimulated the interest in spiritualism around the areas of Consecon, near Belleville and Bloomfield. During her trip, Kate had the opportunity to meet with Susannah Moodie, the famed Canadian author. Moodie was apparently quite taken by Kate’s clairvoyant abilities. Within Canada during this period, Spiritualists were particularly active in Montreal, Toronto, London, St. Catherines, Ottawa and Bloomfield. See more

You walk into the house, there are cobwebs in the corners, the lights are mysteriously off, there are sounds of doors creaking open and then all of the sudden a figure pops out from behind a curtain. Welcome to the world of Haunted Houses. Have you ever wondered where the idea for haunted houses originated from? Well the answer is quite simple Parents - trying to keep their older kids from running amok on Halloween created haunted houses. To keep the kids off the streets, ...they organized haunted house or trails to give them something entertaining to do. You might be wondering what these kids were up to that caused their parents to take action. Well, of course there was the popular pranks such as egging someone’s house. However, these kids took it to a whole other level. In 1879, about 200 boys in Kentucky stopped a train by laying a fake body on the train tracks. In 1900, students studying medicine at the University of Michigan stole a corpse form the anatomy lab and stood it up against the front doors of the lab. In 1933, hundreds of teenagers flipped over cars, sawed off telephone poles and carried out other acts of vandalism across the United States. Adults were outraged by the destruction that occurred to the point that some places even considered banning Halloween altogether. In response to these threats, Halloween activities including Haunted Houses were organized to keep the kids busy and amused. #MuseumAthome #Halloween

How fun does this sound?! Do you have what it takes to be a Butter Sculpting Champion? For the first time in the history of the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, the Butter Sculpting Competition is going virtual and is open to all Canadians , from coast to coast.... So spread the word, get your carving tools ready and have fun creating a miniature sculpture from one pound of butter. https://www.royalfair.org/butter/

Today’s Chatham-Kent Haunting explores the historic Rankin Hotel. The Rankin was located on the southeast corner of King and Fourth Street from 1853 until an arsonist burnt it in 1999. So why are we discussing the hotel during our Chatham-Kent Hauntings Series? Well, according to staff who worked at the hotel, a woman who could never be seen was often overheard sobbing in the basement area of the hotel where equipment and supplies were stored. After hearing these distressing ...wails of anguish, some performer refused to return to the hotel. Who was the mysterious woman that some staff and performers heard over the years. Well, some believe it was the cries of Mrs. Margaret Pleasence - the wife of John Adam Irish Jack Pleasence, who purchased the hotel in 1903. For over half a century the Pleasence family owned the hotel. Although, the family had a thriving business with the hotel, they also experienced numerous tragedies with none of the children living beyond fifty years of age. Perhaps, the most heart-breaking loss that Margaret had during her lifetime was the death of her two youngest sons, Mike, 10 and Jim, 12. The two boys, on their way to Erie Beach, were involved in a streetcar accident on Queen Street in 1908. Margaret, distraught with grief, sadly, fell ill and tragically died one year later in 1909, in her mid forties. Until next haunting #Halloween #MuseumAtHome

Have you heard about the connection between Halloween and matchmaking? In fact there are some lesser know rituals and traditions that deal with the future instead of the past and the living as opposed to the death. For example, helping young women identify and find their future husbands, while also reassuring these ladies that in fact, one day, maybe even before Halloween the following year they would be married or possibly engaged. In the 18th century Ireland, a cook with ...matchmaking aspirations might place a ring within her mashed potatoes on the evening of Halloween with the hopes that the individual who found it might soon find their true love. In Scotland, fortune-tellers recommended unwed women name a hazelnut for each of their suitors and then toss the nuts into a fireplace. While some say that the nut that burns to ashes instead of popping or bursting embodied the young girl’s future husband, while others have said that it was believed that the nut that burned away represented a love that would extinguish quickly. In other attempts to find true love, it is said that young women would eat a sugary mix of walnuts, hazelnuts, and nutmeg right before going to sleep on the evening of Halloween. It was believed that after drinking this concoction that which ever man she dreamed about would be her future husband. Moreover, it was a tradition for women to throw an apple peeling over their shoulders with the hopes of having the peel fall in the shape of their prospective husband’s initials. Alternatively, in some instances young women would look into a mirror in a darkened room that was only lit by candlelight in the hopes of catching a glimpse of her true love. #MuseumAtHome #Halloween

For this edition of Behind the Mask, meet Stephanie Saunders, Curator of the Chatham-Kent Museum. We asked Stephanie what led her to pursue a career in museums My earliest memories of museums are family trips my parents were teachers and learning was always valued at home. I was most interested in how people lived at different times and comparing their day-to-day experiences with my own. At the time, it didn’t occur to me to consider a career in museums as an option and ...I studied Psychology and Education at the University of Windsor. A career in teaching was familiar to me and I worked as an occasional teacher for 5 years. Having days between occasional teaching placements, I decided to pursue volunteering. I saw an advertisement that the CK Museum had placed in the newspaper to look for volunteers and was intrigued. While teaching, I was working directly with students and their families and I valued these interpersonal relationships but this volunteer opportunity relied heavily on my other skills research, organization, and attention to detail and I found it deeply rewarding. The opportunity came up work at the museum as a photograph registrar in 2002 and later on contract. I started as the curator in 2006. I appreciate the many professional development opportunities the Municipality of Chatham-Kent has supported over my 18 years here. In 2008, I completed my Certificate in Museum Studies and I have benefitted from the many conferences, courses, and webinars available to me to support my professional skills. I have also had the opportunity to enhance my transferable skills through municipal training and the municipality has fostered my growth in many ways. Museums are an excellent place to learn and grow. For me, volunteering and an employer that values professional development have made this museum a place very important to my personal learning and growth.

Today’s History of Halloween takes a look at costumes! If you recall from our first post, we discussed how the during the festival of Samhain, Celts would dress up in disguises in an attempt to frighten away spirits roaming the earth on the eve of the coming Winter Months, October 31st. Many historians point to this as the source of the tradition of wearing costumes during Halloween. In the Medieval Period, this practice continued as people would dress in outfits that repres...ented the dead and went from house to house collecting treats or spiced filled pastries known as soul cakes on behalf of the spirits they were imitating (more on soul cakes in another post). Later in the 15th Century, instead of donning disguises that looked like spirits on October 31st, people began to dress in spooky outfits that personified winter spirits or demons. In North America, as Irish and Scottish immigrants began to arrive, 18th Century Halloween customs came with them and the practice quickly spread throughout. At this time, the norm became to wear terrifying homemade costumes that were comprised of whatever you could find in your home, including sheets, masks, and makeup. According to Nancy Diel, the idea behind dressing up was anonymity, the whole point, she said, was to be completely in disguise. By the 1920s and 30s, the construction of Halloween costumes had become a serious endeavour and some would start planning their attire for that evening, months in advance. Overtime instead of the more frightening costumes, children and adults opted to dress as popular characters. For example, for children some costumes included Popeye, Olive Oyl, the Little Orphan Annie or Mickey Mouse. Today costumes range from scary creatures/ characters and historical/ political personalities to comic book characters and pop culture personalities. What is your favourite Halloween Costume that you have worn? See more

For this week’s puzzle, spot the difference between these two agricultural scenes. Take a gander and name the ten items that don’t quite belong in image # 2. Comment below with your answers. #MuseumAtHome

For theatre goers, lights are an important part of the theatergoing experience. Ticket holders sitting in their seats waiting for the houselights to go down and then they wait for them to go back up so they know the journey is over. But for the cast and crew, the most atmospheric of all theatre lights is a bare bulb called a ghost light. Lead House Manager and Stage Manager at the Chatham Capitol Theatre Allison Terfloth has worked all over the world spanning a career of o...ver 20 years. To me the ghost light has the same connection to theatre as the comedy and tragedy masks. The ghost light is basically a lamp that’s left onstage when all the work is finished in the theatre, and everyone has gone home for the evening. The edge of the stage at the Chatham Capitol Theatre is 41.375 inches off the ground, and covers the orchestra pit. This half circle area of the stage is called the apron. Some theatres can have an orchestra pit that can be around ten feet lower than the stage. When all the lights in the building are turned off at the end of the night the GHOST LIGHT is the one bulb that is left on so that no one walks into the theatre and stumbles off the stage and hurts themselves. Of course, that’s just the practical reason. The superstition around it is that theaters tend to be inhabited by ghosts. (Like Charlie) Whether it’s the ghost of old actors or people who used to work in the building, and ghost lights are supposed to keep those ghosts away so that they don’t get mischievous while everyone else is gone. The exact origins of the ghost light is murky, although there are some popular theories. Theatre scholar James Fisher writes in Historical Dictionary of American Theater: Beginnings that the ghost light comes from the days of gas-lit theatres and refers to dimly lit gaslights used to relieve pressure on gas valves. In The A to Z of American Theater: Modernism he relates a popular legend that a burglar once snuck into a Broadway theater, fell from the darkened stage, broke his leg, and then sued the theater. And of course there is the pervasive belief that the light will either ward off ghosts or distract them. For such beloved objects, the lights are humble and often just a bare low-wattage bulb on top of a lamp base. Nothing fancy, purely functional. The idea of the ghost light on the stage in a dark theatre is very, very magical, says Allison You see that little glow, you can see the edge of the stage and think Wow, I’m in a place where anything can happen. Live performance is full of the unknown. The quietness of the theatre when you are the first person arriving and you are full of anticipation for what lies ahead is one of my favorite feelings in the world.

CK Arts + Culture, Chatham Cultural Centre

To continue our Chatham-Kent Hauntings series, here’s a quick story concerning the Chatham Armoury. Located on William Street, next to Tecumseh Park, the Armoury at one time had a live in caretaker. This position ceased in the 1970s. It is the last caretaker that some believe still remains. This particular caretaker had a large dog that would join him on all of his rounds. According to some staff working at night, they not only hear the footsteps of the last caretaker making his rounds, but also the sound of what could only be described as the nails of a dog clacking along the floor alongside the footsteps. It is also said that the dog has been spotted on the roof looking over the parapets and that sometimes the dog barks at those walking by. Until the next haunting... #museumathome

For our final Harvest Themed Imagination Station #Crafturday Saturday, try your hand at making this adorable paper bowl scarecrow! https://iheartcraftythings.com/paper-bowl-scarecrow-craft.h #MuseumAtHome

It's time for another #Crafturday Saturday from the Imagination Station! This week's craft is a paper plate flying bat puppet. To try this fun spook-tacular craft you will need: 2 Paper Plates... Printable Bat Craft Template (available at the bottom of the post) 2 Craft Sticks Paint Glue Stapler Paint Pens Enjoy making this craft and have a boo-tiful day! #MuseumAtHome #halloween https://kidscraftroom.com/paper-plate-bat-puppet-craft/

For our last agricultural artifact feature, we are taking a look at the corn planter! Staring in the 1850s a new agricultural technology, the corn planter, entered the farming scene. Farmers could now sow their fields with corn by jabbing the metal tip of a planter into the ground. By triggering the lever, a seed would drop in to the hole that metal tip had made. The corn planter no doubt would have sped up planting fields by hand. Especially for low acreage farms. However, horse drawn mechanical seed drills would have been more often used on larger farms. That said, corn planters may have been utilized in areas on large farms where the seed drills missed. #museumathome #ckagriculture

We’re reopening! It hasn’t been the same without you The ChathamKent Museum is excited to announce that we will be reopening on Wednesday, September 30 with new public hours and timed visits. Following several weeks of strategizing, our museum team is ready to implement our reopening plan, which offers each visitor a fun, enjoyable, and, most importantly, a safe experience To learn more about our updated protocols and to book your visit, please visit https://www.chatham-ken...t.ca/Chatham-KentMuseum New Public Hours: Wednesday to Saturday 11:00AM to 12:00PM for seniors (60+) 12:00PM to 4:00PM for the general public We hope to see you soon!

It's our last Harvest September #ThrowbackThursday! Image 1: Loading spinach into crates, Erieau Marsh (1947) Image 2 Loading onion crates, Erieau Marsh (1950) Image 3: Harvesting onions, Erieau Marsh, 1949)... #MuseumAtHome #ckagriculture

Wonderful work is being done by volunteers in Chatham-Kent with the Chatham-Kent Cemetery Restoration Project to repair gravestones. Thank you for your dedication!

It’s time for another crop feature. This week we are taking a look at wheat. Of all the Chatham-Kent crops, based on acreage, wheat is amongst the top three major crops grown in our community. The other two are soybeans, and last week’s feature, corn. The wheat that is grown in our area is winter wheat. This type of wheat is planted in either September or October. At this time, it grows a tad, but then ceases to grow throughout the winter. Once it has thawed, it starts to grow again throughout the spring. Once the wheat has ripened, it will be harvested in July or August. A field planted with winter wheat will generally have around one million plants and will yield on average 78 bushels per acre. That's it for wheat, stay tuned for our next week's and our final crop feature. You dough-not want to miss it! #MuseumAtHome #ckagriculture

Ready for round two of #TriviaTuesday! This self portrait was done by which local artist? Comment below with your answers!... #museumathome

It's time for another edition of "Behind the Mask"! Meet Lydia Burggraaf, Assistant Curator, Chatham-Kent Museum/ Curator, Ridge House Museum. We asked Lydia what led her to pursue a career in Museums and here is her response My background is actually in visual arts I took a co-operative placement and summer jobs here at the Thames Arts Gallery in high school, I studied Fine Arts in university, and worked in and volunteered with arts organizations while in school. It wa...s during my graduate studies that I became interested in museum related topics particularly artifact cataloguing and archiving practices as well as the role museums play in a community. I decided to take a summer student position with the Ridge House Museum to gain practical experience in these areas. When the opportunity came up to continue working at the museum as the Assistant Curator, Chatham-Kent Museum/Curator, Ridge House Museum, I was excited for the opportunity to use my creativity and researching and writing skills to achieving the museum’s mission and vision and I’m proud of the museum’s evolving role in the community. Thanks Lydia for sharing! #MuseumAtHome

Sit back, relax and enjoy another word search courtesy of the Chatham-Kent Museum. #MuseumAtHome

It's #NationalPunchDay! To celebrate, we are taking a look at Switchel, also known as Haymakers Punch, Long before there was Gatorade or Powerade, Switchel was the drink of choice to stay hydrated. A once popular beverage, Switchel was consumed by early settlers to quench their thirst while working long days in the fields. Interested in trying switchel yoursell? Find the traditional recipe below. 1 gallon of water 1 cups of molasses... 1/3 cup of apple cider vinegar 1 tablespoon of ginger #MuseumAtHome #BeApartStayTogether

We're excited to share another Craft-urday Saturday! This week's craft is Fingerprint Corn on the Cob. Follow the link to find the instructions. https://artsycraftsymom.com/fingerprint-corn-on-the-cob-ar/ #MuseumAtHome #ckagriculture

This week’s artifact feature is the fanning mill, or winnowing machine. This agricultural implement was produced to a large extent in Chatham-Kent. So what is a fanning mill, it is a machine that cleans grain of chaff, dirt, and other impurities. A fan in the back creates wind to blow away debris while the grain passes through various vibrating screens. Prior to the use of the fanning mill, this work would have been completed by hand using a fail on a barn floor to separate t...he chaff. Following the flailing, the contents were tossed in the air with the breeze flowing through the open barn doors blowing the chaff away. Today, this process is done with a combine. Chatham was the home to several fanning mill manufacturers including John Adams who was established in the 1860s and R.K. & S.B. Floeter in the 1880s. Another Chatham manufacturer was William Campbell but it was William’s son, Manson, who developed this company into Canada’s foremost fanning mill producer. Pictured is a fanning mill that was hand made by Albert Sullivan. #MuseumAtHome #ckagriculture

Here's another #ThrowbackThursday look at Harvest Time within Chatham-Kent. Image 1: Loading lettuce crates, Erieau Marsh (1946) Image 2: Grading potatoes, Blenheim (1949) Image 3: Pumpkin Patch, Thamesville (1966)... #MuseumAtHome #ckagriculture