Winnipegosis Museums

08/28/2026

I finished making applesauce today to be frozen for winter. As I put the measuring cup into the dishwasher, I couldn’t help reflecting on how much easier canning and preserving is today!

I remember watching my mother bring the kettle to a boil so she could start the process of preparing to can numerous jars of food for winter.

Do you remember the big blue speckled canning tub, slowly bubbly on the wood stove full of jars? Some of you still may make pickles, jams, jellies, applesauce, etc. But think about how much easier it is today.

We don’t have to bring in wood or coal to heat the stove ( and the whole house), pump pails of water and carry it to the kitchen or wash all the dishes by hand.

Recipes may not have changed but the workload has certainly reduced. I love the look of this wood stove in the museum but glad I no longer have to use it!

08/24/2026

Our Mary Maxim theme has created a lot of excitement at the museum. We are hearing many stories of knitted Mary Maxim sweaters and getting hints of nostalgia as recollections of watching grandma or mom knit a particular pattern “just for me” are shared.

The smaller spinning wheel shown in these pictures was made by someone in the Pine River area. The donor also brought a carding machine that they believe may have come from the T. Eaton Company. We are busy doing some research to see if we can verify this.

Don’t you love the curling sweater? It’s made from a Mary Maxim pattern. We can’t say thank you enough to the generous people who are helping us preserve such an important part of life in the 1900’s and a glimpse at another early economic stability of this area. Spinning wheels and carding machines are no longer the norm for most households but many of us still knit.

The Mill and the people who worked in the Spin Well Woollen Mill, helped create not only employment but enhanced a skill, knitting, that is still very much alive today!

Sheep continue to be raised in this area, just not in the numbers of the past.

Do you have Mary Maxim patterns lingering in a dusty box? If you are looking for a home for them we would love to have them!

08/19/2026

This photo of William Denby mending nets evokes many memories of the many long fish sheds around town.
The fish sheds were built to accommodate the repair of nets and storage of fishing equipment.
In our history book there are some humorous stories of “Dad” Denby as he was frequently known. He was the father of Charles and Jack. It amazes me to see how formally he is dressed to be in a shed seaming nets!
The photographer mentioned that William was holding nine wooden in his mouth at once!
Was your job as a youth to fill the needles? Young Johnny McArthur hated this chore so much he invented a needle filler.
We are fortunate to have his prototype in the museum.

07/29/2026

Do you remember how busy the water front was? When I first came to Winnipegosis. I was amazed at the number of boats and lumber rafts that moved along the Mossey River.

There were often bigger fishing boats tied up at the government dock. I heard stories of the fish camps and watched the dredge go out to clean channels.

Much of that has changed. Summer fishing does bring some big fishing boats to the dock. Smaller boats and other water craft such as canoes, or kayaks do travel the river to fish or just enjoy the pleasure of being on the water.

If you come to visit the museum you can see other pictures of the water front, some dating from the early 1900’s when sail and steam powered the boats.

07/17/2026

Do you remember getting a drink from the water cooler? Bringing the water in from the well was considered a privilege in my school because, first of all it signalled that you were one of the “big kids”, and secondly (and probably the most important) it got you out of the classroom for 15-20 minutes!

We drank from small cone shaped paper cups. We were assigned one for the day and after each use would turn it upside down on our desk to dry. When the tip became too soft, you simply folded the tip over to make it last a little longer.

If you come to the museum (it is open Monday -Friday, 10am-4:30pm) you will be able to spend time reminiscing through the collection of school year books. Some of the things the school book committee wrote about their fellow students are hilarious!

06/26/2026

Last week someone posted about having a quilt made at the Sifton Spin Well Woollen Mill. We wanted to show everyone the one we have. Isn’t it a gorgeous yellow! It is really heavy! You would be very warm under this quilt!

Beside it, we have a picture of a share purchased in the Wool Mill in 1937! Selling shares was a way of growing your business.

I am always so impressed with the things people keep through the years and then generously donate to the museum. They help preserve the stories of the past!

06/16/2026

The interest in the Mary Maxim sweaters and the Sifton Wool Mill has generated some great discussions. Memories are being shared about mothers, grandmothers and /or friends making Mary Maxim sweaters.

This lovely blue sweater with the eagle pattern was made with wool purchased from the Sifton Wool Mill.

Below the sweater you may note the pattern for this exact sweater. Our summer student went online to the Mary Maxim store and was able to print the cover of the pattern envelope.

Our collection grows!! Do come and discover how important wool was to this area!

06/03/2026

I love volunteering in the museum! I get to see such a variety of incredible handwork.

The women of this area were so talented and despite hard times worked tirelessly to beautify their homes.

This week I would like to highlight some of the beautiful embroidery we have received in so many different forms.

Mixed in with our wool display we have embroidered pillowcases, handkerchiefs, scarves, tablecloths, and tea towels. Some of these were embroidered on flour sacking!

The pictures here are just a few of the many pieces we have in our collection! Do come look! We are open Monday to Friday, 10am to 4:30 pm. May 18-August 28.

05/25/2026

Our summer staff is having so much fun finding wool articles throughout the museum. Wool was an important commodity, providing warm, enduring clothing.

Having a business like the Spin Well Woollen Mill in Sifton where fleece was washed, carded and spun provided a boast for sheep ranchers.

The business also employed people who built carders, spindles, quilt frames, blankets, spinning wheels, etc.

In Winnipegosis, J. Rogvaldson also built spinning wheels and sold them through the T. Eaton company.

Wool and its many products were in great demand. Learning to knit was a skill that often provided not just clothing but also a means of earning money.

05/22/2026