TORONTO - The Main Street Museum, 210 Main St., operated by the Historical Society of Toronto, currently open on weekends for the 2012 season, will have several new exhibits and displays during its summer season, including an exhibit dedicated to three Gem City natives who died defending their country.
In honor of Memorial Day the museum is honoring the memory of three Toronto residents who gave their lives for their country - Chuck Baker, Ron Manning and Nate Rock, according to Linda McFerren, historical society vice president.
"This display tells their stories and pays tribute to their bravery and sacrifice," said McFerren. "This exhibit will remain at the museum until after July 8.
"The Ohio River is something all of us take for granted, but it is actually the reason Toronto, or Newburg, as it was originally called, exists," she continued. "The Mighty Ohio is the name of one of the new exhibits at the museum and it features river traffic - steamboats, paddlewheelers, packets and ferry boats - all ways of transporting goods and people from place to place."
The 2012 schedule includes a new series of special programs titled "What's It Worth," McFerren said. The first event in the series is scheduled from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. June 10 at the museum, she added.
"(Those interested) are invited to bring in just about anything made from paper or cardboard and our expert, Ron Sciance, will estimate its worth," McFerren said. "Things like postcards, posters, sheet music, old invoices or stock certificates and advertising signs are all acceptable. So dig into your files, cupboards and closets and look for that old invoice from Hughes Furniture, or how about that poster you have from the Manos Theater?"
On June 16 a new, self-guided tour will be introduced at the museum, said McFerren.
"It is an in-depth study of the popular 1899 lithograph of Toronto-the black-and-white, birds-eye view of Toronto surrounded by small vignettes of homes and businesses," she said. "The historical society has taken each of these homes, located them, found who lived there and published a pamphlet giving a short history of each one. Visitors can stop at the museum, pick up a pamphlet, learn the history of the lithograph and the featured homes and then drive to the locations and view them from the street. Many are still standing and look much like they did in 1899."
Additional new displays include early Toronto businesses, car dealerships, gas stations and a continuously running digital picture frame showing old photographs and advertisements, said McFerren.
The museum is open from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday afternoons, and admission is by donation.
