Contact Us!

NOTICE:
Respecting the need for “social distancing” and to maximize everyone’s safety (COVID-19), the Museum has resumed public hours. Hand sanitizer is available at the door.
REGULAR HOURS YEAR ROUND (except for Stats):
The Museum offers regular hours for public visitation from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m., Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Saturdays as well as 12 p.m. – 7 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays each week with Guided Visitation available on the hour 9, 10, 11, 12, 1, 2, 3… . Research assistance is available by appointment. To offer an artifact donation, please contact our Curator/Manager Don Smith by e-mail or by phone.
Inquiries: info@cornwallcommunitymuseum.ca or 613-936-0280.
Admission is free.  Cash donations are vital to our operation and are gratefully accepted.
Photocopies are available for 25 cents per page. Scans of photographs are $6 each.
We also have books, including a history of the Wood family and Mary Mack, for sale.
For general information on Genealogical Research, please see our page.
To set up a group tour or to request more information, contact the Cornwall Community Museum at:  (613) 936-0280 or e-mail us at:  info@cornwallcommunitymuseum.ca .
———————————————————————————————————-
The City of Cornwall’s new Tourism Visitor Centre is no longer sharing space with us during the summers. The Visitor Centre typically relocates to the Economic Development Office at the Civic Complex for the winter months and in the Complex parking lot during summer weekends.
Jail Museum Map

We are located at 160 Water St W

The museum is partially barrier-free accessible. A handicap lift is available to access the Archives.

Responses

  1. Hi I got a question on my page and maybe you could help me.
    Who was the mayor 1939?

    By: Historyofcornwallontariocanada on November 19, 2015
    at 8:43 pm

  2. good question. the site is more or less done on a volunteer basis, so if you know anyone who would like to volunteer, let me know!

    By: Cornwall Community Museum on December 15, 2015
    at 2:41 pm

  3. It is a real shame that Cornwall has allowed the destruction of some very old and great buildings, in what they say is to improve the settings around Cornwall. Many of those old buildings would stand the test of time and look much better than what has replaced them.

    By: Lloyd StLouis on December 19, 2015
    at 2:24 pm

    • I know I lived in Cornwall most of my life. Im living in Ingleside now and love these pictures. They remind me of when I was a child.

      By: Elizabeth MacDonald on April 26, 2017
      at 10:39 pm

  4. Cornwall and area has long been the home of the Raymond family. I am looking for genealogical info re this family. Can you help me

    By: Jean (Raymond) Forhmzway on February 3, 2016
    at 12:53 pm

  5. Hello,
    Starting April 1st, I see that the museum will be open Wed. – Sun, but what about the jail? What time an days are there tours of the jail? Thanks!

    By: James Stoops on March 30, 2016
    at 2:39 pm

    • For now groups can phone to make arrangements. Public jail tours will resume for the summer soon.

      By: Cornwall Community Museum on April 13, 2016
      at 2:44 am

  6. I recently purchased a chair at an antique store in Charlottetown P.E.I. I just turned the chair over to attach felt pads to the legs and found a label for “The McGill Limited” I was wondering if it actually is a chair from this company.

    By: Sherry Taylor on September 7, 2016
    at 2:23 pm

  7. I am amazed at the dedication of the volunteers and employees like Ian who give their time to make sure that Cornwalls heritage is not lost …….A giant thankyou.!!! Without you there would be little to remeber.
    I am shocked when I look at how little people know about Thomas Edison who was as prolific as Steve Jobs and is nearly forgotten. Edison turned the USA into the economy it was right up to the 1930’s from the 1860’s and most peolpe if asked would say he invented the light bulb and know little else about his inventions.

    By: Philip de Belle (Montreal) on February 18, 2017
    at 1:30 pm

  8. Thank you for keeping me informed. Trust we are able to once again visit Corrwall for family history research. Cheers/hsw

    By: Lyle Vernon Wood on February 18, 2017
    at 5:59 pm

  9. Whatever happened to Mcdonalds Inn. Did it burn down?

    By: Joesph Wood on March 25, 2017
    at 9:59 am

  10. In one of the 3 photos of the Bell girls, #36 is Blanche Bonneville in the 3rd row from the back. In the second photo she is #45. Blanche lived to be 94 years old and was known to accept/hire every girl who applied for a position-she accepted everyone even if they weren’t Bell material

    By: Lisa Gray on April 1, 2017
    at 10:24 pm

  11. I understand from your website that Carleton House was built for Guy Carleton Wood. Do you have any information on him? Did he and his wife live in the house for any length of time? I’m especially interested in knowing about his wife (whose surname was ‘Davies’, I think), and where he and or his wife might be buried.

    By: Ken McEvoy on April 20, 2017
    at 12:46 pm

    • Thank you for your inquiry; a response has been sent to you by e-mail.

      By: Cornwall Community Museum on April 22, 2017
      at 9:06 am

  12. We, also, would like the history of the Wood Family that lived in this house. Our ancestor Enos Wood and his wife Margaret Earmer were married in Cornwall, Ontario, Canada. Would love to know more about the families.
    Thank you/cheers/hsw

    By: Lyel Vernon and Helen Stoltz Wood on April 22, 2017
    at 12:45 pm

  13. I’m trying to get an approximate date a photo by H W Weber was taken. It’s of John McRae of the 13th concession of Indian Land, County of Glengarry. I’m thinking Weber may have taken photos in the 1860s. Any help appreciated.

    By: Carol (McRae) Groening on June 16, 2017
    at 12:05 pm

    • Carol: Nice find. Weber. an American took photograph both in Massena NY and Cornwall from the 1860s to 1896. If you scan it and send it to me by e-mail I can provide you with more information. If it says CW on the back for Canada West it is before 1867.

      Ian

      By: Cornwall Community Museum on June 18, 2017
      at 10:37 am

  14. My name is Joanne Hayhurst, and I live in BC.

    I am wondering if you accept Family Genealogy Books for research. I have had a book printed (not published) with stories and lineage of my UEL ancestor, Barnabas (Hartz) Hart who was given the west half of Lot 11, Con.3 of Cornwall Twp. when he came to Canada as a United Empire Loyalists. His 100 acre farm was on the north side of the Tollgate Road, about 0.4 miles west of Pitt St. according to Patrick McNiff’s Survey of Cornwall Twp.- June, 1784. Half the book is on his lineage (my grandmother’s ancestry) and the other half on my grandfather’s ancestry which involved the Civil War and the Puritans. I will pay postage if necessary as I just would like to share my research. I had composed the book for my children and siblings and ended up with a couple of extra copies. The Hart’s and Bender’s (Barnabas Hart married Mary Bender daughter of George Bender UEL and they had large families) so I am sure the book will be of use.

    In my book are also stories and lineage of Jonas and Sarah Wood who are also my ancestors.

    Regards, Joanne Hayhurst

    By: Joanne Hayhurst on July 28, 2017
    at 9:49 am

    • That would be lovely, Joanne. Thank you for thinking of us. We have e-mailed you.

      By: Cornwall Community Museum on July 30, 2017
      at 6:37 pm

      • Thank you. I will mail it tomorrow.

        By: Joanne Hayhurst on July 30, 2017
        at 9:05 pm

  15. Hi there, I’m a Donihee living in Vancouver, and I was thrilled to see the picture of the Donihee Meat Market, featuring my great-great-grandfather and my great-grandfather. Is there a way I could get a high-resolution copy of that photo? I would love to frame it. Thanks! Shelley

    By: Shelley Hudson on August 24, 2017
    at 3:03 pm

    • Thanks, Shelley. Please watch for an e-mail reply from us.

      By: Cornwall Community Museum on August 29, 2017
      at 8:58 am

      • Thank you for your December 16/17 visit, Shelley. We’re glad that we were able to give you access to a number of relevant items and also able to connect you with a CPL Cornwall Room volunteer who accommodated you on a day that the room is usually closed.

        By: Cornwall Community Museum on December 27, 2017
        at 5:50 pm

  16. Is there any value to you the book
    THE FREEHOLDER
    CORNWALL OLD BOYS SOUVENIR
    1906

    By: Karen McCourt on September 8, 2017
    at 8:37 am

    • Karen: You have a very historically interesting book. There were two editions printed in softcover and one in hardcover. It seems that there may have been as many as 6,000 printed, one for every resident of Cornwall, as they are very numerous and something families held onto.

      By: Cornwall Community Museum on September 9, 2017
      at 10:55 am

  17. Greetings, I am a genealogist researcher and was looking for information about a couple, Henry Empey and his wife Elizabeth Scutt, who lived in the area. There is an article containing a mention, of an indenture of apprenticeship,involving Henry and Elizabeth.
    I copied and placed it here:
    Cornwall Community Museum | In The Wood House at the waterfront …
    https://cornwallcommunitymuseum.wordpress.com/page/17/?app-download=android
    Frequently we are asked about Cornwall’s historic wind mill and whether or not it was …. Indenture of Apprenticeship Elizabeth Scutt, Phillip Empey, 1830.
    I am having difficulty brining this article up on line to read.

    By: Christopher Empey on October 30, 2017
    at 8:02 am

  18. I was able to locate the article I was searching for and quite a few others!
    Thank you so much for your dedication to preserving the history of the community!
    Christopher

    By: Christopher Empey on October 30, 2017
    at 8:18 am

  19. Liam, we’ve e-mailed you twice and have not received replies.

    By: Cornwall Community Museum on December 27, 2017
    at 5:52 pm


Cornwall Industry

A Cornwall Community Museum Blog

The Streets of Cornwall

then & now

Cornwall Canal and Shipping History

A Cornwall Community Museum Publication

Cornwall Community Museum

In The Wood House at the waterfront, Cornwall, Ontario, Canada

Cornwall Irish Memorial

Fundraiser