Our History

One of the events held to celebrate the Town's 50th anniversary in 1960 was the exhibition of a temporary museum display. The late Russell Pollard and members of the Oddfellows Lodge, borrowed artifacts from locals and displayed them at the local fairgrounds.

The display was so popular that the Dryden Observer newspaper published an editorial suggesting that Dryden should have a permanent museum. Mayor J. L. Skillen asked Pollard to form a committee to explore this idea. In 1963, Pollard brought the idea to the Town Council in a proposal by the Dryden District Chamber of Commerce.

As Chair of the Chamber's Ad-Hoc Committee, Pollard suggested that a tourist bureau and museum be built. Pollard also let Council know that government grants were available to support museums. Mayor Alan Durance appointed Councilors Ted Sherwood and Harold Usher to explore the idea further.

In April 1963, a by-law was passed to purchase land for use as a tourist bureau and museum. In the spring of 1964, an article in the Dryden Observer called for artifacts to be loaned or donated to the new museum. Using artifacts from locals, Les Barrett, Tourist Bureau Manager and his assistant, Arthur L. Wilson set up the first displays that summer. A retired CPR telegrapher with interests in prospecting and geology, Wilson became the first curator of the museum on a volunteer basis. Volunteers Oscar Agnew and Gerrie Noble assisted Wilson.

The Chamber unveiled a bronze plaque in the museum in 1965, in honor of the late Russell Pollard for his work as the "Father of the Museum Project".

During the early 1970s, after a number of changes and challenges, there was no museum curator and a static museum display remained at the tourist bureau. Louise Meloney was appointed curator in February 1977 and she began to make changes, such as holding activities at the museum. Meloney enlisted some of her peers to help at the museum and introduced a "Friends of the Museum" support group. Arts and crafts displays became part of the exhibitions at the museum.

On December 18, 1979, the Corporation of the Town of Dryden established its first Board of Museum Management. Susan Wells became director and soon became aware of the cramped space allotted for the museum's activities. The Town asked her to head a committee to explore the possibility of getting a larger museum facility.

In 1985, Curator Meloney, with the assistance of students hired on a Summer Youth Program, compiled a book entitled "Glimpses of Yesteryear: Dryden's Pioneer Tree" and had it published. It contains stories of local people submitted by their families. That year, an affordable site for a new museum became available - the former Hambleton house at 15 Van Horne Avenue. Town Council approved the purchase of the property in May 1985.

Mayor T.S. Jones asked Mel Fisher, Town Engineer, to work with the museum committee on the conversion of the house into a workable museum. The renovations included the building of a completely new section at the rear of the house to provide the necessary offices and services required. The museum opened in the new building unofficially to the public in December of 1987. The estimated total cost of the project was $400,000.

On June 30, 1988, the new museum officially opened. More than 150 people were present to see Mayor George Boissoneault and other dignitaries cut the ribbon. Boissonneault announced Meloney's retirement as Curator after 11 years and introduced Edna Boon as the Curator of the new facility.

Boon continued as Curator until August of 1992. Leah Gardner was promoted to Curator, having served as Assistant Curator since 1987. Gardner retired in January 2017 and the main floor exhibit space has been named The Leah Gardner Gallery.

On June 30, 2018, the museum celebrated 30 years in the Hambleton house!