The newest exhibition at the Dufferin County Museum and Archives, running all this year, chronicles the daily lives of ordinary and extraordinary citizens from Dufferin’s history. It is an intimate glimpse at lives well lived, told through words, artifacts, photographs and personal possessions. It allows the visitor a unique opportunity to meet some very interesting residents of Dufferin County, past and present, and to admire the diverse contributions they made.

Individual display cases containing artifacts representing A Day in the Life of a particular person or profession, line the walls of the Main Gallery of the Museum. Writers, shopkeepers, educators, and artisans are represented by the tools of their trades, and by the products fashioned by their hands. Moments of triumph and tragedy are symbolized by trophies and in photographs and journals. Hundreds of exquisite items in the exhibit, both from the museum collection and on loan from private collections, help transport the museum visitor through time and to capture aspects of the daily lives of famous and ordinary people of Dufferin.

‘Jockey silks’ Some of the most interesting displays in the exhibit draw attention to the diversity of the collections. For example, in The Day in the Life of a Winner case, a beautiful silver trophy awarded by The Violet Hill Rifle Club in 1904, unusual for its delicacy, and because it was crafted in Toronto rather than being imported from England, sits loftily above two rather garish plaster novelty banks awarded as prizes at a local fair. The carefully mended pants of a baseball uniform, likely belonging to Arthur R. Duffin, and worn for the team sponsored by his business, the A.R. Duffin Real

Estate, of Horning’s Mills in the early 1940s, lie folded in the case next to the beautifully sewn jockey silks, created for Dr. Hugh Woodill Simpson by his wife Gladys, a World War One war bride and seamstress. Dr. Simpson, born at “The Maples”, Lot 6, Con. A, East Garafraxa, served as a Captain with the Canadian Army Veterinary Service in France during WWI. He practised his profession in Harriston with distinction and gained recognition as the breeder, trainer and driver of standard bred horses registered under the well known name of “Minto”. The sleek Olympic relay torch carried by the museum’s own Collections Manager, Allison Hird, during this year’s Olympic Torch Relay, represents a nod to the present; the humble red ribbons, won at the Dufferin Central Fair a nod to the past.

Two arresting display cases, A Day in the Life of a Funeral, and A Day in the Life of a Wedding, depict the passage of time in an ordinary life. Photographs of director James Cameron’s parents’ wedding in Orangeville, and a gauzy white wedding dress worn by the daughter of W. H. Hughes, of Corn Flower Glassware fame, capture the joyous moments of life. A faded marble headstone and a child’s small white casket, sent from the Gamble Funeral Home in Shelburne, in the adjoining display bear mute testament to the more somber ones.

Displays in the exhibition that illustrate the products and processes of the work activities of a variety of retailers and business people are also revealing of the past. The display highlighting A Day in the Life of the Blacksmith, is formal and elegant, the tools and iron artifacts hanging in their geometric array, solid and heavy, indicating the serious side of life. This grouping stands in stark contrast to the display of frothy and frivolous head gear found in the case illustrating the work of Sadie Little, owner of the “Miss. Sadie Little Millinery” shop which was located at 151A Broadway in Orangeville. Both displays honour the history of work in Dufferin County. The craft of earlier inhabitants is housed in a display representing A Day in the Life of our First Nations’ People. Admire the beautiful beadwork, and the keenly carved arrowheads among the artifacts in this display.

Representing the homely work, characteristic of Dufferin County farm wives who practiced the gentler crafts, once the days chores had been completed, are many artifacts, scattered throughout the various display cases. Of particular note is the display A Day in the Life of Carrie Reid. A museum visitor will feel immediately drawn to Carrie, and gain an appreciation for her life, a long and busy life filled with family, work, play and sometimes a little leisure. Examples of her knitting, crochet, leather, copper and aluminum crafts remind us of quieter, more peaceful times, from the not so distant past.

A Day in the Life is truly an exhibition worth visiting for those of you with an appreciation for the history of Dufferin County. It evokes images of family life, of business, sport, agriculture, art and craft. Carefully designed to capture the essence of people in Dufferin County, past and present, it allows a unique opportunity for visitors to be entertained and inspired.

A Day in the Life is on display at the Dufferin County Museum and Archives, in the Main Gallery, for the entire year.

The Dufferin County Museum and Archives is situated at the northeast corner of Highway 89 and Airport Road. For more information, please call 705-435- 1881 or toll free 1-877-941-7787, or visit its website. www.dufferinmuseum.com