Merrickville and District Historical Society

06/14/2026

Merrickville & District Historical Society
60th Anniversary Gala
Saturday June 13, 2026
Blockhouse Museum
Merrickville, Ontario

We are grateful to the MDHS, the Museum Services Board and all of our dedicated volunteers who are committed to preserving our local history.

MDHS would like to give a great big thank you and shout out to our amazing local business sponsors:

Merrickville DrugMart
LA Team Real Estate (Liz Wardaugh and Anita Devries Bonneau)
Mainstreet Family Restaurant
The Yellow Canoe
The Village Bean
Mrs. McGarrigle's

And a thank you to Jan Ditchfield who helped with the creation of the early promotional social videos reels. The interviews were interesting and engaging.

It was a grand celebration!

06/14/2026

06/13/2026

Tonight's the night!
Sat. June 13, 2026 @ 5:00-8:00pm
Blockhouse Museum, Merrickville, ON

After 60 years of preserving and sharing the stories of our community, the Merrickville and District Historical Society is opening the doors to celebrate this incredible milestone, and we'd love for you to join us.

At the Blockhouse Museum, we'll be celebrating not only the Society's 60th Anniversary, but also the 200th anniversary of the beginning of construction of the Rideau Canal.

Come explore the Museum, discover new exhibits, connect with neighbours, and celebrate the volunteers, historians, and community members who have helped keep our local history alive for generations.

The first 50 guests through the door will receive a special gift, and if you're feeling inspired, you're welcome to come dressed in period costume and join in the fun.

Most of all, this is an opportunity to gather together, share stories, and celebrate the people and places that have shaped Merrickville's past while looking ahead to its future.

Whether you've visited the Blockhouse dozens of times or have never stepped through the door, tonight is the perfect night to come and experience it for yourself.

Be part of Merrickville's history...we'll see you at the Blockhouse.

06/13/2026

What might surprise you most about the Blockhouse Museum?

For some people, it's discovering just how much history exists right here in our own backyard. For others, it's learning about the people, events, and stories that helped shape Merrickville long before it became the village we know today.

The Blockhouse is more than a museum. It's a place where local history comes to life through the stories, artifacts, and memories that connect us to our community.

And thanks to the dedication of the Merrickville and District Historical Society, those stories continue to be preserved and shared with future generations.

As part of the Society's 60th Anniversary celebrations, we're inviting you to come and experience it for yourself.

Join us on June 13, 2026 from 5:00–8:00 p.m. for the 60th Anniversary Gala at the Blockhouse Museum. Along with celebrating six decades of preserving local history, you'll also have the opportunity to explore new exhibits commemorating the 200th anniversary of the beginning of construction of the Rideau Canal.

Whether you've lived here your whole life or you're discovering Merrickville for the first time, you may be surprised by what you learn.

We hope you'll join us as we celebrate the stories that continue to shape our community.

06/12/2026

Why does local history matter?

It's easy to think of history as something that happened a long time ago. Something tucked away in books, archives, and old photographs.

But local history is different.
It's the story of the people who built our community, the volunteers who preserved what came before us, and the places that continue to connect us to where we live today.

For 60 years, the Merrickville and District Historical Society has been helping to preserve those stories. Not just for the people who remember them, but for future generations who deserve to know them too.

As we celebrate this incredible milestone, we hope you'll join us for the 60th Anniversary Gala at the Blockhouse Museum on June 13, 2026 from 5:00–8:00 p.m.

This special evening will celebrate six decades of preserving local history, while also marking the 200th anniversary of the beginning of construction of the Rideau Canal.

With new exhibits, community stories, and a chance to reconnect with the history that shaped our region, it's an event you won't want to miss.

Because preserving history isn't just about looking back. It's about understanding who we are, where we've come from, and what we want to carry forward.

05/20/2026

Speaker Series
"The Historic Rideau Canal-Remastered Photos"
Guest Speaker: Glen Russell

Tues. May 19, 2026
7:00pm
Merrickville Legion

A great big thank you to Glen Russell who made an interesting and educational presentation on remastering Rideau Canal photographs tonight.

It was a full house!

Glen has been a volunteer partner with the Elgin and Area Heritage Society. In this role he has created eight historic pedestals in Rideau Lakes Township, a feature length documentary on Clifford Pennock and his photography, and two major photo exhibits - Clifford Pennock Remastered and the historic Rideau Canal.

Glen presented a detailed look at the historic Rideau Canal, a new photo exhibit being featured at the Merrickville Blockhouse Museum for the 2026 season.

His presentation covered:

- an overview of the exhibit
- a detailed look at 13 key photos from the exhibit
- techniques of digitally remastering photos
- the ethics of digitally remastering historic photos

Thank you to the both the Museum Services Board and Ann Martin for your dedication in securing this exhibit for Blockhouse Museum.

A great big thank you to our coordinator volunteer Tanya Prinsep for doing such an awesome job on this popular series.

Soeaker Series will be taking a summer break. It will resume in September 2026.

05/12/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18jGXbyozP/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Summer is on its way, which means the Blockhouse Museum is set to open for another season!

The 2026 Pre-Season Opening hours have been set, and the staff/volunteers at the Museum can’t wait to welcome you.

📅 Dates: Sat/Sun in June. June 6/7, 13/14, 20/21, 27/28
⏰ Times: 11am – 3pm

Admission is all by donation to the Blockhouse Museum. Come for a visit and experience all the exhibits and information that the Museum has to offer!