A Collection of Reminiscences From Argyle Scotland to the Talbot Settlement

Couldn't we all use some light summer reading?  Why not brush up on local history with stories from the first Scottish families of Aldborough Township (now Municipality of West Elgin)?  This book was published in 2019 to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Landing of the Settlers.  $13.00 in our gift shop at Backus-Page House Museum or call to arrange shipping.  519-762-3072

Saturday Sighting

Hi everyone!

I hope this blog post finds you well :)  This week's nugget of nature are the sweet peas that are climbing up the fence and blooming in the kitchen garden at Backus-Page House Museum.

Fun facts about sweet peas:

• Sweet peas are native to Sicily. 
• They have a scent that is a mixture of orange, jasmine and honey. 
• The sweet pea was a staple in Victorian gardens, loved for their different colours and fragrance. 
• Their scent is sweetest in the morning with the dew still on them. 
• They can grow to a height of 1-2 metres!

Have a great week everyone!  Stay safe and take care!


Catie Welch

Foodie Friday - Mincemeat

From a Tyrconnell Heritage Society book called 
12 Days of Christmas

AUNT SADE’S MINCEMEAT

Recipe given to Stella (Smith) Hathaway from her Aunt Sarah (Marshman) Milligan.  Stella Hathaway is the grandmother of Janice (Hathaway) Ellis, great grandmother of Angela (Foreman) Bobier.

1 pig head chops and all

3 lbs raisins

2 times as many apples as ground meat

1 teaspoon black pepper

2 teaspoon all spice

2 teaspoon cinnamon

1 ½ teaspoon nutmeg ground, and salt

Sugar nearly 10 lbs granulated

3 quarts of liquid left from cooked meat

Please note: No instructions came with this written recipe.

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You may not know that all our events, admission and programming income goes into maintaining our heritage buildings, daily operating expenses like utilities, and funding future events.  If you are able to contribute financially by purchasing a Tyrconnell Heritage Society Membership or making a donation in any amount your support would be greatly appreciated.  Memberships - Individual $30; Couple $35; Family $40; Organization $45; Business $75; Individual Lifetime $250  Here is the link to our page at CanadaHelps http://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/tyrconnell-heritage-society/

History Meme Tuesday #2

For our new hours of operation and more information on the Backus-Page House Museum visit our website at www.backuspagehouse.ca

New Summer Hours!!

We have been encouraged by the numbers of visitors pre-booking and dropping by for museum tours since reopening on June 27.  The Board of Directors and Staff have agreed to be open 5 afternoons a week for the rest of July and August. 

You can visit Backus-Page House Museum from Noon-4pm on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday for a tour.  Admission is $5/person.  Contactless payment using Debit or Credit Card is preferred and available for your convenience.  Pre-book your tours HERE or call 519-762-3072

Please stop into our washrooms to wash your hands before coming into the office to check in for your tour.  You will be asked for some information for contact tracing and visitor research purposes and then given instructions for using a tablet as an audio tour guide.  We hope next season we can safely go back to our personalized guided tours. 

Saturday Sighting

Hi everyone!

I hope this blog post finds you well!  This week's nugget of nature are the daylilies that you can see all over right now.  This time of year you can see them blooming in ditches, gardens and parks.  We have them in the garden by the orchard at the Backus-Page House Museum :)

Fun facts about daylilies:

• The daylily's botanical name means "beauty for a day." 
• They flower best in full sun. 
• They are native to primarily eastern Asia.
• It is not truly a lily, despite its name, but has a very similar shape to a lily. 
• In most species, the flowers open during the day, and wither and die overnight to shortly be replaced by a new flower. 

Have a great week everyone!  Stay safe and take care!

Catie Welch

Teddy Bear Picnic

Tickets available HERE!!