What If Preserving History Means Preserving Play

When was the last time you actually went to a museum… not on a school trip, not because you had to—but because you wanted to?

With May being Museum Month across Ontario, we’re taking you inside one of Lincoln’s most meaningful (and surprisingly fun) spaces—the Lincoln Museum and Cultural Centre. And trust us… it’s not what you think.

In this episode of The Lincoln Local, we sit down with:
• Olivia Rozema, Senior Curator of Museum Operations
• Courtney Corbeil, Curator of Education, Visitor Engagement & Partnerships

We’re talking about:

•  The wild, community-built history of the museum (including a house that was literally floated across water 😳) 
•  Why the 1859 schoolhouse is one of the most loved—and most at-risk—spaces 
•  How this site blends history, play, nature, and community into a full-day experience 
•  And why preserving these spaces isn’t just about the past… it’s about future generations 

Plus, we spill the Talk of the Town Tea ☕ with upcoming events you won’t want to miss 👇

📅 What’s Happening at the Museum

• May 1–12, 2026
  Red Dress Installation for National Awareness Day for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls & Two-Spirit Peoples 
• Now – September 2026
  Wine in Niagara Exhibit (in partnership with Brock University) 
• May 15, 2026 | 6:30 PM
  Deep Roots Social – curated tasting experience across the museum grounds 
• Monthly (First Saturdays)
  STEAM Saturdays – hands-on fun for kids 
• June 4, 2026
  Unmasking Brain Injury (with Ontario Brain Injury Association) 
• Last Thursdays (June–August 2026)
  Music at the Museum – free (by donation) summer evenings 
• September 2026
  60th Annual Harvest Pioneer Day – family-friendly, historic demos, vendors, and yes… a cannon 👀 

❤️ Want to Support the Schoolhouse?

If preserving spaces like the schoolhouse matters to you, you can learn more or donate here:
 👉 https://lincolnmuseum.ca/donate

Have a topic you want us to cover?
Know a local business or organization we should feature?

Visit SpeakUp Lincoln at
SpeakUpLincoln.ca/Podcast

Thanks & Credits

With support from:

• Niagara Region Economic Development
• The Watering Can
• Second Chance Decor
• Verhoef Electric

Transcript

Welcome To Lincoln Local

Stephanie Hicks 0:02

Welcome to the Lincoln Local, a brand new podcast from the town of Lincoln. I'm Stephanie Hicks, the town's economic development officer and co-host. I focus on growth, opportunity, and community, helping people stay connected to what's happening and what's next.

Sara Wilde 0:17

And I'm Sara Wilde, the town's creative design and digital media advisor. Behind the camera, behind the design, and now behind the mic as your podcast co-host. Okay, quick question. When was the last time you actually went to a museum? Not on a school trip, not because you had to, but just because you wanted to.

Stephanie Hicks 0:34

And if you're like most people, it's probably been a while, or you might be thinking, what would I even do there?

Sara Wilde 0:39

But May is Museum Month across Ontario, and it's kind of the perfect excuse to change that. So today we're talking about what a museum actually looks like in a community like Lincoln and why it might be a lot more than you think.

Stephanie Hicks 0:51

We're also diving into one of the most unique parts of the site, the 1859 schoolhouse, and why there's a real push right now to preserve it.

Sara Wilde 0:58

So whether you're into history or just looking for something to do with your kids this summer, this one's for you. Today we're joined by two people who know the museum inside and out. Olivia Rozema, Senior Curator of Museum Operations, and Courtney Corbeil, Curator of Education, Visitor engagement, and Partnerships.

How The Museum Began

Stephanie Hicks 1:14

So really the people helping bring the whole museum experience to life. Welcome. Let's start at the beginning here, because I don't think a lot of people realize how the museum actually came to be. Olivia, can you give us a bit of the story behind the Lincoln Museum and Cultural Center?

Olivia 1:27

Yeah, absolutely. Thanks for having us. The museum's story spans over 70 years. We opened in 1953 as a grassroots effort led by volunteers who believed that the everyday objects and stories of this place were worth preserving. These were really future-thinking people. Most museums and community museums in Canada started in 1967. That's the centennial year. We actually started ours quite a lot earlier. These people, they restored the schoolhouse, they moved the fry house board by board, and this work was an act of community responsibility of saying our stories matter. Over time the museum grew, and eventually the town stepped in to take ownership in the 90s to make sure that it could be sustained long term. A really big milestone for us was the opening of the new building in 2021. And that gave us proper gallery space, room for programs, and storage for our collection. And since then, we've had a huge increase in engagement. More programs, more events, more school groups, and more people just visiting the site in general. It's been really exciting to see. So since 2019, exhibition attendance has increased more than 13 fold, and participation in our programs has grown by 360%. And in 2025, this is really exciting for me. We had nearly 16,000 visitors to the museum, and that's the highest attendance on record. And for our little community of 28,000-ish people, 16,000 is a wild number. So it's really grown from a small volunteer museum into something much bigger for the community.

A Full Site Museum Experience

Sara Wilde 2:54

I love that. It really started as something built by the community, which is very rare, but I think a lot of people still picture museums a certain way. So if someone hasn't been or hasn't been in a while, Courtney, what would actually surprise them when they visit?

Courtney 3:07

I think what surprises people the most is that it's really not just one thing. The museum is really a full site experience. We have that main museum building with exhibits and programs, but then we also have our historic buildings, the schoolhouse and the Fry house, which are open seasonally, interpreted with fully costumed interpreters. And then outside, there's quite a bit happening too. The site connects directly to Sho’aríshon Park by a trail, so you can actually move through the landscape and experience different layers of thousands of years of history. We've got public art, green space, picnic areas. People sometimes come just to spend time on the space, and it's really nice to have families and young people, people of all ages just come spend time on our grounds. We have things like cornhole set up out back and even a new kids' play feature out front. So really the entire space is something to explore and discover. For families, one of my favourite things is our museum explorer backpacks. Kids can borrow them and go around the site with activities and prompts and return them when they're finished, but it's just a really fun way to explore and discover what we have to offer. So it's really not just a quick visit, it's something you can actually really spend time or a whole day, whether you're coming for an hour or an afternoon. There's something for you to discover.

Stephanie Hicks 4:22

Okay, wait. So that already sounds like more than what I even expected to hear about what you can do at the museum. Hearing all of that does sound like a lot to manage. So is that the reality?

Why The 1859 Schoolhouse Endures

Olivia 4:33

Yeah, it really is. We have such a fantastic team at the museum, and everybody brings a different area of expertise. And while it is a challenge, it's also a really exciting one because each part of the site has such distinct needs that every day is different. It's a great place to work. So you've got our modern building, which operates exactly how you'd expect. We have exhibitions in the public areas, and then down below we have the climate-controlled collections vault with something like 18,000 artifacts that all require different handling techniques. And then you go outside and the site really opens up. This is where kids play and families picnic. We have our green space and our cemetery. And if you're lucky, you might spot some really cool wildlife. We often see eagles and turtles. A lot of this part of the site is actually maintained through partnerships. Our green space and the green space at Sho’aríshon Park are cared for by the town's public works team, and they do such a fantastic job. And then the trail is maintained by Ontario Heritage Trust and the Niagara Bruce Trail Club. And then we have our historic buildings. And again, they are a different story. The schoolhouse was built in 1859, and the Fry House was built in 1815. So they're 167 and 211 years old, respectively. And they need constant, ongoing care to make sure they're safe and usable. And at the same time, we're not just preserving them. We want to actively use these spaces and bring kids through and bring families through. So they're parts of our programs and tours. So it's really hard to strike a balance between protecting them and making sure that people can still experience them. And the schoolhouse, in particular, is where that balance is really, really critical right now. It's one of our most used and loved spaces, but it's also one that needs a lot of conservation and attention in the next coming years.

Sara Wilde 6:21

You mentioned the schoolhouse specifically. I feel like that's the part a lot of people remember most as it really sticks with you. My daughter went on a field trip there and still talks about getting dressed up in the pioneer outfits. So clearly it made an impression. And for me, it's full circle too. I filmed some of my early video work there for an interview for the town of Lincoln, which ended up helping me land this job. So it's one of those spaces that connects to people in really different ways. So, what is it about that space beyond my own story that makes it so special?

Courtney 6:52

Well, exactly that. It's such a special space. It's really one of the most memorable parts of the site for visitors, especially for kids, as you mentioned. We see about 7,000 people go through the historic buildings every year, including around 2,200 students. So what's really incredible is that the schoolhouse has been used as an education space continuously since it was built. So you've got this direct line between the past and the present. And honestly, the stories are one of the best parts. When you look back at the records, the students weren't exactly perfectly behaved. There are notes about kids skating at lunch when they weren't supposed to be, maybe breaking windows or cutting across neighbours' fields instead of using the proper path. So you see how, you know, kids today that come through have that same kind of excitement, just of course in a different way. They're shocked by things like the outhouses. They love getting their 1908 new name, and we hear it over again that this is the best field trip I've ever been on, which is really special. It's just really one of those spaces where you can feel generations of people have passed through, and it continues today, and it just carries that energy. It's really fantastic.

Olivia 7:59

You know what? I am from Niagara, and the schoolhouse program started in the late 90s, and I was a grade three student in the late 90s, and I actually attended our schoolhouse program. Oh, I love that. And I have such strong memories of that field trip, and it's just really funny watching the kids come in full circle, and my elementary school still comes, and I look at them and I think, oh, that was me.

Sara Wilde 8:23

Was Beth there?

Olivia 8:24

No, so Beth is our museum interpreter, and she is just fantastic. She is like the face of the museum. So she's been doing it for almost 20 years now, but I wouldn't have been one of her students. She came after I attended the program. I don't want to age myself there. I already have. But Beth was not one of my teachers. But wouldn't that have been hilarious?

Courtney 8:45

And now we have Beth and Kat as our two interpreters who just really bring that space to life as our Miss Wellstead, the teacher for the space.

Olivia 8:54

If you take a minute to look at our Google reviews, it's Beth and Kat and Beth and Kat and Beth and Kat over and over again, interspersed with Adam, who's our exhibition's curator, well loved by the community.

Stephanie Hicks 9:05

I'm totally gonna go off script when she was doing the Beth and Cat. Beth and cat and Boots and Cats and Boots and Cats and the What is that?

Courtney 9:15

Beatboxing boxing. But that's also drumming.

Sara Wilde 9:18

Is it?

Stephanie Hicks 9:20

Can keep my beatboxing.

Sara Wilde 9:22

I'm gonna keep that in. I wish I was videoing this.

The Fry House Moving Saga

Stephanie Hicks 9:26

I don't. I do want to talk a minute, though, about the Fry house because something that you said earlier that it was moved piece by piece, and I maybe I feel like somewhere I've seen a picture of this Fry house being moved through water. Can you explain that to our listeners? That was a very impactful picture, so I'm hoping you have it somewhere on site at the museum.

Olivia 9:51

But we do. We have many pictures, and in fact, we actually have a video of it.

Stephanie Hicks 9:56

Really?

Olivia 9:56

So the Fry family house was originally on the corner of Fly Road in Victoria and Vineland. And in the 1950s, mid-1950s, it was identified as a really important house. It's one of the only surviving examples of German medieval style architecture left in Canada. So a group of volunteers wanted to save it from destruction. So they picked it up off its foundations and drove it, tried to drive it to the museum, but realized they couldn't clear the bridge. So they onloaded it, floated it across the river, got stuck, picked it back up again, brought it down. What's the road called it? Is that 21st or Glen? One of those roads, brought it down that road to the museum site, but it couldn't fit in our laneway. So they had to drive it between two of the houses. And they didn't have clearance on the site to turn it around. So when you approach the Fry house on the museum site, it's actually on there backwards because I couldn't quite flip it around.

Sara Wilde 10:55

Oh, that's wild.

Olivia 10:56

So the front of the house is in behind, but it was a crazy story. It was a community effort and completely funded by the community. They fundraised for it. I think they needed to raise $7,000 in 1959, which would have been quite a lot of money. And they did it all themselves.

Stephanie Hicks 11:11

That's crazy. Yeah. And then also, I don't know much about the Frys. I'm assuming they are the people that owned the house. So can you answer who were the Frys?

Olivia 11:21

The house was built by Jacob Fry and Elizabeth Wismer, and they were early Mennonite settlers coming up from Pennsylvania, and they would live in the family and have 12 children there. One of their middle sons, Samuel, would take over the house and also raise his family there. So it was a multi-generational house, and they lived in it to about the mid-1890s, and then they built a new house next door, and that house is still standing there, so you can go see the later Fry family house. And Samuel became a really notable weaver. He was one of the first weavers in the community and well renowned for his skill. And most of his pattern books and a lot of his coverlets are actually at the Royal Ontario Museum. So we have his house, but they have his coverlets.

Stephanie Hicks 12:04

So when the Fry house was moved, there were still generations of Frys alive to see that. Were they a part of that move?

Olivia 12:11

Uh some of them. And in fact, Annie Fry, one of um Jacob and Samuel's descendants, donated a lot of the family's original furniture and clothing and objects. So if you go into the Fry house, some of the objects in the Fry house are Fry family objects. And we do have a lot in our collection as well. So downstairs in our climate-controlled storage, just so it's saved for the future.

Sara Wilde 12:34

Except for coverlets.

Olivia 12:35

Except for those coverlets. We have a couple, but like not as many as a ROM. And ROM, if you're listening.

Courtney 12:41

And we still get descendants of the Fry family today coming to us with objects to donate to us. Adam just got a few objects last year, actually, which is quite phenomenal.

Olivia 12:50

Very cool. We have a lot of history for Elias Fry, which would have been one of Samuel's sons, and including a game board where he carved his name into the back, which is hilarious because if you go into the Fry family house, he carved his name all over the house as well. So...

Courtney 13:07

This was a pastime of his. Yeah. As proven by multiple signs. So yeah.

Olivia 13:12

Somebody should have taken that kid's knife away.

Stephanie Hicks 13:16

I have a feeling. Did he attend the schoolhouse back in the day?

Olivia 13:20

No. So they were up in Vineland, so they would have had another schoolhouse up on the mountain.

Stephanie Hicks 13:25

Well, he was probably one of those...

Sara Wilde 13:26

Naughty.

Stephanie Hicks 13:27

Children that have a note about them. Likes to carve name in desk.

Sara Wilde 13:32

That's true.

Stephanie Hicks 13:33

And I have another question from something else you said about the climate control area in the basement. Is that public? Like people can go down there?

Saving Buildings For Future Use

Olivia 13:41

It's not public, but periodically we do lead tours down there.

Stephanie Hicks 13:45

So all this talk about the Fry house and the schoolhouse, it does make you realize it isn't just history. It's something that's being used and experienced every day. What needs to happen to make sure that we can continue the use of these structures in the future?

Olivia 14:00

Yeah, the reality is that they are aging buildings and that they need care to ensure that they can be used safely for another 170, 200 years. And that's really important to us because the goal isn't to preserve it as something to look at, but to keep it alive and keep it a space that we can use. So the schoolhouse in particular, and the Fry house as well, has already been saved by the community once before. The schoolhouse in the 1950s was at risk of being lost to development. So it was bought by Philip Tourneau from Jordan Wines, who then gave it back to the community to use as a museum. So that's how the museum opened. It was an investment in our stories. And in a lot of ways, we're at a similar moment right now. If we want future generations to sit in those desks and experience the schoolhouse and see that space and connect with that history, we need to reinvest in it.

Courtney 14:50

Yeah, so right now, I would say we're really encouraging folks that if this is something that they value, support that work. The simplest way to do that is by donating through the museum's website. And folks can rest assured that no matter which area they donate to on our website, the money will in fact go to support that. So if your passion is collections and you want to donate to that area, it will go to support that work. And for us, it's really about making sure that the museum and really these historic buildings are here, they're usable for the next generation to keep learning.

Sara Wilde 15:23

We've talked about the history and the impact, but now we want to talk about what's happening right now. It's time for the Talk of the Town tea, where you share what's coming up, what people can experience, and what they shouldn't miss. Any little tidbit, hidden gems, spill a tea on anything that's happening with the museum.

Courtney 15:40

So today is actually May 5th, the day of National Awareness for Missing, Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two Spirit Folks. And at the museum, along with Sho’aríshon Park, we have red dresses out to symbolize the folks who have not made it home and who are still missing. There's actually a dress at Town Hall as well. And these have been up since May 1st and will be up until next Monday. Right now, on exhibit is all about the history of wine in Niagara. So until the end of September, folks can come to the museum and learn all about wine, the history of wine, about the science of wine. We have some great partnerships with Brock throughout. So there's something for everyone, even if wine isn't necessarily your thing. I think there's something interesting that you'll learn. So that's what we currently have on exhibit. Our exhibits do change out twice a year usually, and our next one will be on communication. So keep your eyes and ears out for more information on that. We have coming up on Friday, May 15th at 6:30 p.m. a Deep Roots Social. This is really exciting. This is the first time we're hosting this event on the museum grounds. It is in support of the museum and these historic buildings. And for one evening only, guests can move through these historic spaces for a curated tasting experience. Each stop will feature a local wine paired with a small bite, and musicians, museum interpreters will really bring the history of the site to life, creating this really immersive, multi-sensory experience. It's going to be quite spectacular, and you can find more information about that on our website as well. We always have our Steam Saturdays so kids can get creative, get their hands dirty with science and art once a month, usually the first Saturday in the morning. We have our Unmasking Brain Injury event, a co-curated event with the Ontario Brain Injury Association, focusing on folks with brain injury and their lived experiences happening on Thursday, June 4th in the evening. And we also have our music at the museum event coming up to celebrate summer, the last Thursday of June, July, and August. This is free by donation. We also are looking ahead to September already. I can't believe it, but this is our 60th Harvest Pioneer Day.

Olivia 18:00

That'll be on the third Saturday of September from 10 to 4. It's a family-friendly event with historical demonstrations and activities. Usually we fire off a cannon, so there's lots to see and lots to touch and do.

Sara Wilde 18:12

Amazing. And vendors too, right?

Olivia 18:14

Vendors too.

Stephanie Hicks 18:14

Yeah, I know that's a very popular community event. And I love that the tradition continues on. Like 60. This is your 60th. That's amazing. That's incredible.

Sara Wilde 18:25

That's historic. I got your pun in. We always try to do a pun. Yeah. It's usually this one that gets to throw them in.

Schoolhouse This Or That

Stephanie Hicks 18:40

I like it. We have a very special edition of this or that on today's podcast. We're doing it schoolhouse edition. So no overthinking, just go with your gut. We're gonna start with you, Courtney. Slate chalkboard or notebook?

Courtney 18:56

Ooh. Notebook. Slate's fun, but oh do I ever love me a good notebook?

Sara Wilde 19:04

Especially flipping through the pages if you ever fill up a notebook, because I don't. I collect them, but I don't fill them up. Olivia, walking to school or horse and buggy ride.

Olivia 19:16

Oh, obviously horse and buggy ride. I've never done it, but I think I'd like it.

Sara Wilde 19:20

Yeah, I agree.

Stephanie Hicks 19:21

Well, especially because like historically, when you walk to school, it was uphill both ways.

Olivia 19:27

It was.

Stephanie Hicks 19:27

Back in the day.

Sara Wilde 19:29

Back in my day.

Courtney 19:30

Through three feet of snow.

Stephanie Hicks 19:31

So shout out to...

Sara Wilde 19:33

Shout out to our grandparents.

Stephanie Hicks 19:35

Courtney, strict teacher or fun, but a little chaotic teacher.

Courtney 19:41

So I'm gonna sound like a bit of a brown noser but honestly, a bit of a strict teacher because of the chaos. I can't...

Sara Wilde 19:48

...get overwhelmed. Overwhelmed, yeah.

Courtney 19:50

But not too strict.

Stephanie Hicks 19:51

Are you also like a front of the classroom? Just getting the vibe. Just curious.

Courtney 19:58

Well, I I didn't have glasses yet. So as a child, yes, because I couldn't see. So yes, front, front, but not...

Sara Wilde 20:05

...not purposely front. Well, I guess it was purposely because she couldn't see.

Olivia 20:09

Oh, you're lying. You're at the front of the teacher because you wanted her to see you.

Sara Wilde 20:14

That's cute.

Stephanie Hicks 20:14

You know, I I've evolved like as an adult, so not not that I am situated in classrooms. But no, but when you go to like a conference or a a seminar or symposium or all those things, I'm I tend to be more of a front of the room person now because like usually the people that's in the back they they talk and I can't focus. So and I don't want to be that person that's like shh. Yeah. So I just I kind of go You go to the front. I go front of the class now.

Sara Wilde 20:43

Olivia, writing lines as punishment or staying in at recess.

Olivia 20:47

Oh, staying in at recess. That's not a punishment.

Sara Wilde 20:52

I love it.

Stephanie Hicks 20:54

Maybe that should be writing lines or like banging like

Sara Wilde 20:57

chalkboard

Stephanie Hicks 20:58

chalkboard erasers.

Olivia 20:59

Okay, in that case, writing lines. Chalkboard erasers are too dusty.

Stephanie Hicks 21:03

Okay. Okay.

Courtney 21:04

They don't have chalkboards anymore, so what do kids do these days?

Sara Wilde 21:07

Yeah.

Stephanie Hicks 21:08

It's very true.

Olivia 21:09

Erase a smartboard.

Sara Wilde 21:10

Yeah. Yeah. Smack iPads together.

Stephanie Hicks 21:15

Courtney, memorization or hands-on learning.

Courtney 21:20

Oh, see, a bit of both. I love memorization, but I really learn well hands-on. But I'll memorize that process.

Sara Wilde 21:28

I suck at memorization. I am a hands-on person. That's how I memorize by doing hands-on things.

Stephanie Hicks 21:36

What about you for that one, Olivia? I just want to know your answer.

Olivia 21:38

Hands-on learning.

Sara Wilde 21:39

Yeah. I think I'm going to ask both this question. Would you use the outhouse or hold it all day?

Olivia 21:49

Hold it all day.

Courtney 21:51

Absolutely. Hold it all day.

Sara Wilde 21:54

Yeah, yeah.

Stephanie Hicks 21:56

I would use an outhouse. I'm no stranger to

Sara Wilde 22:01

danger.

Stephanie Hicks 22:03

Danger. Squatting.

Sara Wilde 22:05

Squatty potty.

Stephanie Hicks 22:07

Even in bad clubs, sat on my shoes.

Sara Wilde 22:09

So I'm leaving that in.

Courtney 22:14

I think I want to know about those days.

Stephanie Hicks 22:18

That is another episode. That is a podcast after dark episode.

Sara Wilde 22:23

Today's conversation really made one thing clear. This isn't just about preserving buildings, it's about preserving experiences. Spaces where kids can learn, explore, and connect with something bigger than themselves.

Stephanie Hicks 22:34

And the schoolhouse is such a perfect example of that. It's not just something to look at, it's something people are still using every single day. So if you haven't been to the Lincoln Museum and Cultural Center in a while, this is your sign. Go check it out, bring your kids, and spend the afternoon there.

Sara Wilde 22:49

And if preserving spaces like the schoolhouse matters to you, you can learn more or support that work through the museum's website. A huge thank you to Olivia and Courtney for joining us today and sharing everything happening at the museum. Thank you, guys.

Stephanie Hicks 23:01

Thanks.

Courtney 23:02

Thank you.

Sponsors And Listener Topic Ideas

Andrea 23:06

The Town of Lincoln is excited to announce the details for Mayor Easton's Annual Charity Golf Tournament. Since we started directly hosting the event some three years ago, we have raised over $167,000 for local charities. Funds raised from this event help support Lincoln's local charities and those that directly support residents of Lincoln. Partnering with the Niagara Community Foundation, we are pleased to bring you this year's event hosted by Twenty Valley Golf and Country Club on Wednesday, June 10th. This is a one-day time-tee event with a number of ways in which you can get involved. Join us for a day out on the course with registration, including 18-hole golf fee, golf cart, registration gift, lunch, and a $50 dinner voucher to one of two local restaurants. There are various opportunities for sponsorship as well as logo recognition on course. A golf ball pull has become a great way for businesses to showcase their product, experience, or service, with everyone who makes a purchase guaranteed to take home something matched with their uniquely numbered golf ball. If you're interested in providing an item to showcase your business, please contact Andrea Chambers at 905-563-2799 extension 269. Registration and sponsorships are being accepted until May 20th. Please go to Lincoln.ca back slash mayors golf for more information.

Stephanie Hicks 24:32

That's all for today's episode of the Lincoln Local. Thank you to our sponsors Niagara Region Economic Development, The Watering Can, Second Chance Decor, and Verhoef Electric.

Sara Wilde 24:42

New episodes drop twice a month and will be shared through the town's social media channels. And if there's a topic or local business you'd like us to feature, visit speakuplincoln.ca backslash podcast. Don't miss the next Talk of the Town.