Egmondville’s historic Van Egmond House offers two attractions in one: a look back at life a century and a half ago and an intimate look at one of the most fascinating figures in the history of Huron County and Ontario.

The house was built by Constant Van Egmond and his wife Ann Johnston, a Georgian Manor House that is one of the oldest houses in Huron County. As such, it’s already interesting for those curious about home life in the mid-1800s.

But it’s the connection to Constant’s father Anthony that takes the museum to another level.  Col. Anthony Van Egmond brought his family to Huron County from Holland. The  house and lands surrounding were a reward from John Galt who was in charge of opening the Huron Tract for the Canada Company which was granted to right to sell a vast tract of land between Guelph and Lake Huron. Galt hired patriarch Anthony Van Egmond to help construct the Huron Road from Guelph to Goderich through Stratford, what is now Highway 8. Under Van Egmond, the road reached Goderich in amazing time.

Galt awarded 14,000 acres in what is now known as Seaforth and Egmondville for Van Egmond’s work, which he then divvied out to other settlers, along with finances and services.

But the then colony of Upper Canada was dominated by a clique known as the Family Compact and across the province there was discontent. Leader of the anti-Compact movement was Toronto newspaper publisher William Lyon MacKenzie.

Among those who were frustrated was Van Egmond, who perceived the Family Compact to be holding back development of the Huron Tract through their corrupt and unjust governance. When McKenzie began organizing an armed insurrection in 1837, Van Egmond joined.

An experienced tactician who had fought under Napoleon, Van Egmond was chosen to lead the rebel army. But the impetuous Mackenzie started the skirmish before Van Egmond arrived.

When Van Egmond did reach the area north of Toronto the battle was already lost. He was captured and taken to Toronto’s Don Jail where the old man died before he could be tried to treason.

Many of his holdings and land were confiscated by the Crown, however his sons were able to keep some land, and his son Constant built what is now known as the Van Egmond House.

Pat Saundercock, chair of the Van Egmond Foundation, says a recent partnership with Huron County Tourism has significantly bolstered the museum’s visitors.

In those last few years there has been a large increase in the number of return visitors, not a big surprise because the museum is a work in progress. Because of the ongoing history of the Van Egmond family, the site will continue to be added to and reshaped for decades to come.

A recent visitor trend is the number of visitors the site has received from Seaforth, Egmondville and the surrounding area. Saundercock says she has heard “I didn’t even know it was here” more than a few times and she’s more than happy to educate the locals on their history as well as those travelling from far away.

Located in Egmondville at 80 Kippen Road, near Seaforth, the house is owned and operated by the foundation and stands as an example of mid-19th century living.

With a focus on educating and recreating the past, as well as providing a meeting place for local groups and tourists alike, the house offers ample opportunities for learning and living pioneer life through both scheduled events and tours.

The site consists of three different buildings and the main Van Egmond House has three floors of history. Starting in the cellar (a former jail) to the main floor containing a parlour and dining room up to the bedrooms of the top floor, the house is full of history from bottom to top.

There are many highlights, including a wall of pioneer tools prepared by the Huron County Museum, and a still-working piano on the main floor

The house offers intriguing stories, unique architecture, and community events for tourists, and is all maintained through donations.

One of the site’s largest events is Ciderfest, which historically takes place on the last Sunday in September every year. This year it will take place on September 30.

For more information about the house, the events, or to book tours, call 519-522-0413.

The house is open from May to September by appointment or by chance. Admission is by donation to the Van Egmond Foundation.

Egmondville’s historic Van Egmond House offers two attractions in one: a look back at life a century and a half ago and an intimate look at one of the most fascinating figures in the history of Huron County and Ontario.

While there are plenty of historic buildings and plaques on display along Ontario’s West Coast, most date from the time of white settlement in the mid-1800s. At Lambton Heritage Museum you can learn about the region before the European settlers made their way into the area.

The museum’s Lambton Gallery tells the early origins of the area that is now Lambton County (which also generally applies to many parts of Huron County). It explains, for instance, the endless battle between plant and wind that shape and reshape the sand dunes along Lake Huron.

Moving to human habitation, displays explain the early occupation of this area by the Attawandan Indians who lived in the region between Lakes Huron and Erie more than 400 years ago. Because they refused to get drawn into ongoing wars between the Huron aboriginal tribes around Georgian Bay and the Iroquois south of Lake Erie, they were known as the Neutral Indians. They were able to enforce their neutrality because they were in possession of the flint beds that were used for weapons and tools.

But after the English settlers in the U.S. armed the Iroquois with muskets, and the French in Quebec armed the Hurons, the value of flint was diminished and the Attawandan’s neutrality couldn’t last. The Iroquois wiped out the Hurons, then turned on the peaceful Attawandans, destroying them. And so when the European settlers entered southwestern Ontario, the area was generally occupied only fitfully by the nomadic Chippewa  peoples who, because a particular piece of land didn’t mean much, were agreeable to sell their land to the British government. The area now occupied by Brooke, Enniskillen and Warwick Townships was sold for the promise of 2 pounds, 10 shillings a year for every man, woman and child in perpetuity, so long as the population never got higher than the 240 people who lived in the area at the time.

The exhibit goes on to explain the early years of settlement, the farming and household tools, the mills and other early industries such as creameries and cheese factories, the history of transportation including the railroads and the St. Clair tunnel from Sarnia to Port Huron under the St. Clair River, which on its completion in 1891 was the longest submarine tunnel in the world. Of course the story of the county’s role in the early oil industry is also featured.

Elsewhere, the Walden Gallery offers the large collection of pressed glass donated to the museum by Fred Walden and how the glass was made. The Lambton furniture collection shows early Ontario furniture and explains the different styles.

But Lambton Heritage Museum is more than just the indoor displays.

Out back there’s a village of buildings moved to the site and exhibit/storage halls where larger equipment like farm machinery, sleighs and wagons are displayed.

In this village you’ll find a blacksmith shop, a beef-ring slaughterhouse, a meeting house, a church, a school and a home, all fully furnished for the times. The church was built in 1867, the school in 1899 and the home in 1857.

The 1867 Cameron Presbyterian Church is furnished with items from early local churches and has become a popular spot for local weddings.

In pleasant weather, this area offers various locations for  picnics. The outdoor buildings are open mid-April to mid-December.

Located eight kilometres south of Grand Bend, the museum draws approximately 17,000 visitors annually. From March 1 to October 31 it is open Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and weekends and holidays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

From November 1 to February 28 the museum is open Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and closed weekends and holidays.

Admission is $5 for adults, $4 for seniors and students over 13 years of age, $3 for children 4-12 and free for younger children.

Further information on the museum itself and special programs is available on the museum’s website, www.lclmg.org or you can give them a call at 519-243-2564

While there are plenty of historic buildings and plaques on display along Ontario’s West Coast, most date from the time of white settlement in the mid-1800s. At Lambton Heritage Museum you can learn about the region before the European settlers made their way into the area.