By William Crooks
Local Journalism Initiative
Uplands Cultural and Heritage Centre in Lennoxville is set to unveil a new exhibition, “From Home to Museum – A Community’s Collective Memory,” thanks to a $21,600 grant from the Government of Canada’s New Horizons for Seniors program. This funding supports seniors-led initiatives that enhance the well-being of communities, and Uplands’ project will do just that by documenting and celebrating the contributions of the volunteers who transformed the historic house into a museum.
Eliza Dussault, the Educational Services Coordinator at Uplands, explained that the project aims to gather stories and testimonials from those who were integral to the museum’s founding. “It’s an oral history project that will allow us to preserve and honour this important chapter in our community’s history,” Dussault said during an interview. Uplands hopes to capture the collective memory of volunteers from the Lennoxville-Ascot Historical and Museum Society, who spearheaded the restoration and transformation of Uplands from a private home into a museum in the 1980s.
The Uplands project will focus on preserving the contributions of seniors in the community. As Dussault explained, the volunteers who worked on the restoration brought not only their skills but also a deep sense of commitment and shared vision. “Everyone brought a hammer and a ladder,” she said. “It was truly a community-driven effort.”
The project will culminate in a permanent exhibition at Uplands, allowing visitors to learn about the history of the museum and the volunteers who made it possible. Dussault mentioned that while the exact form of the exhibit has yet to be determined, it will likely take the form of a commemorative display integrated into the museum’s existing collections. “The project is still in the planning stages,” Dussault noted, “and we will be working closely with local seniors to gather their ideas for how to best commemorate this chapter of their lives.”
