Log House
c. 1830
Building a house and clearing land were conditions of receiving a land title. Originally located at Brimley Road and Sheppard Avenue, this building was donated to the Museum in 1959.
The Log House is home to the new 'Roots to Rebellion' exhibit, where you can explore the Upper Canadian Rebellion of 1837 through augmented reality.
The First Home
When settlers received their land, they had settlement duties to perform within the first two years. Five acres must be cleared and cropped. Half the road allowance in front and along the side must be cleared, a house built (measuring approximately 16 x 20 feet) and then lived in for a year. Failure to meet these requirements resulted in the loss of the land grant. If land duties were met, the government issued a patent for the land. At first, the house would have had an earthen floor, an oiled cloth for a door, and very small window holes if any at all. Planed wood for floors and doors, and glass for windows were costly. This cabin represents the first home of a backwoods settler family of some years’ residence. The plank floors, plank doors, and window frames tell that there would have been a saw mill within reasonable distance, and additions would have been added as time and money permitted.
Here you can explore a household set to just after the Rebellion took place. Through augmented reality, text panels, and activities, you will learn about the causes of the Rebellion, the major players, Pickering’s role, and the aftermath as explained by Millie. While learning, you can try your hand at various household chores, and decide whether they would have been a Rebel or a Loyalist.
Developed in partnership with Sharon Temple National Historic Site and Museum, Mackenzie House (Toronto History Museums), Fort York National Historic Site (Toronto History Museums) Chatham-Kent Black Historical Society (Black Mecca Museum), Archives of Ontario, Canadian Race Relations, and the Government of Ontario.
This online project was developed with the support of the Digital Access to Heritage program. Digital Access to Heritage is managed by the Museum Assistance Program, through the Government of Canada.
Did you know?
You can use the iPads in this exhibit to bring text panels, images, and artifacts to life! This augmented reality was created in collaboration with Oddside Arts.
