Preserving the history of the Little Claybelt Region 1890s to 1950s

Welcome to the
Little Claybelt Homesteaders Museum

Grand Opening June 21st, 2025. Open 7 days a week from 10:00 am to 3:30 pm until third week of August.

The Little Claybelt Homesteaders Museum is dedicated to preserving the cultural heritage of South Temiskaming through the collection of artifacts and documentation that focuses on the settlement history of the Little Claybelt region.

Current Exhibits

One-Room Schoolhouse Interior

Step back in time with a recreated example of what a traditional one-room school may have looked like, complete with period furnishings and materials.

In the early 1900s, very sparse one-room schools were common in rural areas. These schools often had only one teacher instructing children of all ages and grade levels. The buildings were simple, usually heated by a wood stove and furnished with basic desks and chalkboards. Resources were limited, so students often shared textbooks and relied on memorization and recitation. Our display gives an idea of how the one room school looked in the early years.

Vintage Hat Collection

Explore a diverse selection of men’s and women’s hats from bygone eras, showcasing fashion trends and craftsmanship. Hats have served both functional and fashionable purposes throughout history. In ancient civilizations like Egypt and Greece, head coverings indicated social status or were used for protection. During the Middle Ages elaborate hats became symbols of wealth and rank for both men and women. The 18th and 19th centuries saw top hats for men to bonnets and wide-brimmed hats for women. By the 20th century, hats became mainstream fashion accessories, peaking in popularity in the early 1900s before gradually declining in daily wear. Our display features a variety of men and women’s hats from the 1950s and 1960s.

Sitting Room

Experience a domestic scene from the past in our authentically styled sitting room display.

A sitting room in a home in the early 1900s was typically modest and functional, often centered around a fireplace or wood stove for warmth. Furnishings were minimal; however, items such as a sewing machine were a necessity in the home. Decorative touches like a rocking chair, oil lamps, family photographs, and a shelf for books added a sense of comfort to the hard-working family.

Temiskaming and Northern Ontario/Ontario Northland Railway Collection

Discover artifacts from the region’s railway history, including items from the Temiskaming and Northern Ontario/Ontario Northland Railway and photographs of train stations located north of North Bay.

The Temiskaming and Northern Ontario Railway was constructed in the early 1900s to open up northern Ontario for settlement and resource development, stretching from North Bay to Cochrane. Building the railway through dense forests, swamps, and rugged terrain posed significant challenges. Workers endured harsh weather, isolation, and primitive living conditions, often battling mosquitoes and blackflies in summer and extreme cold in winter. Despite the hardships, the railway played a vital role in connecting remote communities and boosting northern Ontario’s economy.

Charting Our Past

Early maps of Northern Ontario were created using oral traditions and symbolic representations to navigate vast territories. European explorers and fur traders in the 17th and 18th centuries began producing detailed cartographic records, often relying on Indigenous knowledge. With the expansion of railways and resource industries in the 19th and 20th centuries, government and commercial mapping intensified to support settlement and economic development.

Featured prominently in our ‘Charting Our Past’ display is a photograph of the local Crown Lands Agent, John Armstrong, a key figure in land distribution and record-keeping during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Also on display is a copy of his record keeping book of land sales in our area. As government representatives, Crown Lands Agents facilitated homesteading, managed public lands, and played a vital role in shaping the growth of communities.

New Outdoor Display Building

Take a Step Back in Time: Self-Guided Tour Invitation

Give yourself a tour of our new outdoor building and discover a rich display of antique farm equipment and tools that once shaped daily life on the land. As you explore, you’ll find well-preserved plows, a wooden seed drill, two antique sleighs, tools, and other implements used by early farmers to work the soil and sustain their families. Each piece tells a story of ingenuity, labor, and the evolution of rural life. Whether you're a history buff or just curious, this hands-on look at the past offers something for everyone.

The Little Claybelt Homesteaders Museum needs your support. Memberships are only one way you can show your support. To become a member, go here to get the membership form ($15 individuals/ $25 family).

You can also support our museum by visiting, volunteering, or sponsoring. Email here to volunteer, or discuss a project you might like to pursue. Support our fund raisers (such as Catch The Ace 4 History). Purchases from our Gift Shop go a long way to help. We have many local history books for sale in our gift shop; a list of our available titles is here and a PDF copy of this book list is available here. Sponsoring special exhibits is welcome. Volunteers are needed in a number of areas.

Most of all, we'd like you to visit us at the Museum. See for yourself what is happening. Admission is free, and the history is yours. If at all possible, make this the year you come to see it all for yourself.