Shannon Prince, Buxton National Historic Site & Museum

Shannon Prince, Buxton National Historic Site & Museum

May 17, 2023 – Let’s Talk Black History

We were pleased to welcome Shannon Prince, the longtime champion and curator of the Buxton National Historic Site & Museum.  An online audience connected with Shannon via Google Meet.  Here is a video by TVO that provides a great overview.  

Shannon Prince is the Curator of the Buxton National Historic Site & Museum. She is also a Storyteller and participant in historical re-enactments which brings the history of Buxton and the Underground Railroad to life for many groups both here and further a-field. She is a descendant of the early fugitive families that came to Canada for freedom and opportunity. 

Shannon is part of the  joint Underground Railroad projects with York University, Toronto, the Underground Railroad Freedom Centre in Cincinnati and with Millersville University and several historical organizations in Pennsylvania. She actively farms in Buxton with husband Bryan and their four children. 

In 1999, she began her current role as Curator and has graduated with a certificate in Museum Studies through the Ontario Museums Association. She is currently a member of the Ontario Museums Association, the steering committee and co-chair for the National Historic Sites Alliance for Ontario, the Ontario Trillium Fund Grant Review Team and the Board of Directors for the Capitol Theatre.

Tartan Days 2019

Tartan Days 2019

Glencoe. Tartan Days in Glencoe celebrates Scottish heritage. On July 20th, our volunteers were at Glencoe’s Historic Train Station dressed in period attire, conducting free tours of this wonderful facility. We shared the history of the area and displayed interesting books, displays and artifacts. Volunteers from Backus-Page House near Wallacetown, in Elgin County, were with us with a superb visual display featuring Scottish settlement.

Our Archives were busy that day with a G & DHS yard sale fund-raising event. As it was a brutally hot day, folks visiting our sale were invited inside to cool off and look around. Thanks again to volunteers who helped that day.

Meanwhile, across the street from the Train Station, members of Upper Thames Military Re-enactment Society (UTMRS) were encamped. The re-enactors  gave visitors, particularly the children, an idea of what British military life in Upper Canada was like during the War of 1812. Many thanks to these volunteers who escorted our wonderful piper, along with a number of children up Main Street. (Did I mention that it was brutally hot…those guys wear wool clothing!)

The Classic Car Show, free Pancakes, BBQ’s, Thistle Contest, Children’s Fun Zone, merchant events, town wide yard sales and many other events pleased many visitors during this year’s Tartan Days.

Ken Beecroft, President, Glencoe & District Historical Society