By Ellah Reynolds, Harmony Van Schyndel and Jeremy Brisson
Summer has come to a bittersweet end here at the Museum and Macpherson House. We love fall, but this summer was filled with liveliness at both the House and the Museum. We had over 2500 visitors and 50-ish programs (and counting) between both sites, 4 full-time staff, 2 relief/part-time staff and THREE of the most invaluable, dedicated, intelligent summer students who are just genuinely good people that make the future of our field even brighter. They became part of our quirky little family here at the Museum. But as August comes to a close, we say goodbye (for now) and good luck to these amazing humans, Ellah, Harmony and Jeremy.
That said, we asked the three of them to reflect a little about their summer here at the Museum. Here is what each of them had to say.
Ellah
This summer, working at the Museum of Lennox & Addington and Macpherson House was an incredible learning experience. I developed a variety of new job skills, from learning local historical information to managing day-to-day tasks within a museum setting. One of the most rewarding aspects of the job was interacting with visitors from different backgrounds, which helped me improve my communication skills and build confidence. I also learned a lot about the history of the region, which deepened my appreciation for the community I was serving.
When I started the job, I expected to gain some basic experience in museum operations, but I was pleasantly surprised by how much more the role offered.. Every day brought something new—whether it was an unexpected challenge or a fascinating story from a visitor, which made the experience all the more enriching. The environment and the enthusiasm of others made it a truly fun experience.
Looking ahead, I’m excited about the possibility of continuing to work with Lennox and Addington County in the future. This summer has not only equipped me with valuable skills but also taught me about preserving and sharing local history. I look forward to building on this experience, contributing further to the community, and perhaps even exploring new roles within the county’s cultural and historical institutions. It was an unforgettable experience.
Harmony
Hi again! We made it to the end of the summer in what feels like record time. So, naturally, I feel quite melancholic as I write another end-of-year wrap-up.
This summer in the archives has been a whirl wind of activity (if you can believe it). Overall, I have reviewed over 200 framed items ranging from panoramic photos from World War Two to many uncanny valley inducing charcoal portraits, as well as many wacky things along the way. For example, did you know that we had a portrait of George Washington in our collection? Who knows how he ended up in Lennox and Addington.
Of course you can’t spend time digging through the vault without coming across a couple “friends” (as Heather and I began calling them) along the way. Remnants of fuzzy mold friends are commonplace and the otherworldly dead bugs are cool yet creepy, but the degrading photos is where I found the most interest. For example, I found a photo that has crystalized onto the glass, stumping both of the archivists in the building. We think it occurred due to water damage but still have no clue what chemical reaction had to happen for crystals to form. Super cool!
Photographing the collection was another challenge I wasn’t expecting. I’m sure some of you have seen me standing over photos moving in circles around it as I attempt to not get a reflection in the very reflective glass. I’ve included a photo that Heather took of me while I made a makeshift photo box in the corner of the room. I got minimal reflections on the piece eventually but it took ten different photo box set ups. Meanwhile, I looked like a gremlin in the corner, giggling as I added more folders to my photo fort.
While I’m really sad to be leaving the museum again, I am returning to Queens in September to continue my bachelor’s degree in environmental studies and geography. Learning is one of my passions so I am happy to be going back.
I have really enjoyed my time here these past two summers in both collections and archives. I have learned so much and made many connections with my community that I couldn’t have made anywhere else. Thank you to Heather, JoAnne, Nicole and Alannah, the sassy puppy Willow, our volunteers Jim and Mary, my fellow summer students Jeremy and Ellah, and the Lennox and Addington community for making my summer so amazing once again! I’m really going to miss this.
Jeremy
During my time at the Museum of Lennox and Addington, I’ve learned a lot about the county. While I had a cursory knowledge on how long the region had been settled, I didn’t realize how historically rich the region was. I knew nothing about the MacPherson family, or that John A. MacDonald had any connection to the region. I had never heard of the industrial strength of Napanee, hosting several of the oldest businesses in Canada including a sawmill and a grist mill from as early as the 18th century. My time spent researching the County of Lennox and Addington and the amount of practical experience I’ve received in the process has been extremely fulfilling, both professionally and personally.
I’ve also been captivated with how welcoming the community in Napanee, and at the museum in specific, has been. I’m not from the area and expected a larger learning curve in getting to know the community and writing their stories, but the museum staff have been an excellent asset and have accepted me with open arms. The museum is fantastic as a community space in general, hosting Zumba and Yoga and providing genealogy club meetings in addition to their other wide array of programming. I’ve enjoyed seeing how much of an impact such a small team can have on the community, and have absolutely treasured my time spent here helping to be a part of it (even if it’s mostly behind-the-scenes work.)
