The famous of Dufferin County

November 5, 2014 · 0 Comments

On October 18th, Wayne Townsend of the Dufferin County Museum and Archives (DCMA) gave one of his last public lectures as Museum Curator at the “Spirit Touches Art” event at Trinity United Church in Shelburne. It included a fascinating short version of the Museum’s archives of famous residents of Dufferin County.
The former Curator’s list contained no end of intriguing and surprising characters, politicians, artists and entrepreneurs – all hailing from within the borders of Dufferin. The list of the famous included Margaret Atwood, Moe Koffman, Lester B. Pearson, Robertson Davies and the infamous Jesse James. From A-Z the list is far too long to share in completion, but can be accessed on the new electronic research site “DuffStuff.”
According to Nanci Malek, marketing and promotions co-ordinator for the Museum, “DuffStuff” is an online research site where searches can be made on people, burial records, veterans, newspaper articles, family trees and more. It is available as a benefit to members of the DCMA and is available free of charge to users of the public libraries within the County.
In honour of Wayne Townsend, and all that he has accomplished in his nearly 27 years as Curator of the Dufferin County Museum & Archives, the Free Press adds him to the list of the “Famous of Dufferin County” for this article. The following is courtesy of the Museum:
“Wayne Townsend was born in East Luther, Dufferin County; he went to high school in Orangeville after moving there in 1972. A lifelong collector, Wayne purchased his first antique, a Benningtonware bowl, at the age of 12. He worked in the graphic department of Drummond Business Forms in Orangeville for 10 years as the supervisor. In 1988, Wayne was hired as the Curator of the Dufferin County Museum & Archives, opening their new facility at the corner of Highway 89 and Airport Road in 1994.
He has been involved in several restorations of historic buildings in Dufferin County, including the Orangeville Opera House and Market and the Dufferin County Courthouse. Wayne has served on various local heritage committees and projects and is an active participant in numerous arts and heritage groups and activities. Since 1977, Wayne has been a resident in the historic district of Orangeville in a home built in 1894 by Alexander and Eliza Hill – Mr. Hill having been a local merchant tailor. Wayne operated the Historic American Hotel and restaurant in downtown Orangeville, where he gathered many local stories, just up the street from the original site of founding father Orange Lawrence’s hotel.
Mr. Townsend has written two books on Dufferin County history. His first, Corn Flower: Creatively Canadian, was published in 2001 by Natural Heritage Books. His second, Orangeville, The Heart of Dufferin County was published by Dundurn Publishing.”
Congratulations and best wishes to Wayne, whose last official day as Curator was October 22nd … the word is he is already back volunteering at the Museum. Information on the famous of Dufferin County and much more can be accessed through “DuffStuff” on the Museum website www.dufferinmuseum.com

By Marni Walsh