Elman W. Campbell Museum

Contacts

Municipal Office

395 Mulock Drive P.O. Box 328 Station Main, Newmarket, Ontario
L3Y 4X7
905-895-5193

Email Us

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Hours of Operation

Hours of Operation: Tuesday to Saturday 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 to 4 p.m.

  • Museum will be closed Wednesday, May 24, 12:30 to 4 p.m.
  • Galleries will be closed on Wednesday mornings for pre-school programming

Elman W. Campbell Museum Information
The Elman W. Campbell Museum, owned by the Corporation of the Town of Newmarket and operated by the Elman W. Campbell Museum Board of Management, is a non-profit, educational institution created for the purpose of collecting, preserving, researching, studying, exhibiting and interpreting artifacts related to the social, political and economic history of the Town of Newmarket and its environs from the time of the first settlers to thirty years before present, for the benefit of residents of the Town of Newmarket and visitors from outside the Town. 

Discover why visitors are calling the Elman W. Campbell Museum "Newmarket's hidden gem"! Drop by for a free visit to learn and explore:

  • Elsie Czernick General Store (Gift shop operated by the Friends of the Museum)
  • Various period room displays
  • Model train diorama
  • Table top activities for children including: wooden train set, wooden doll house, build a log cabin, colouring, slates with chalk,
    mini doctor office & more
  • Special displays changed throughout the year


Contact Information

  • Address
    134 Main Street South, Newmarket, Ontario L3Y 3Y7
  • Telephone
    Phone: 905-953-5314 | Fax: 905-898-2083
  • Email
    museum@newmarket.ca
The Elman W. Campbell Museum is wheelchair accessible. 

To view a 360​°​ panorama tour of the Elman W. Campbell Museum, click the image below.

Link to 360 degree tour of Elman W. Campbell Museum

Friends of the Museum

The Friends of the Museum (F.O.M.) was established in 1984 to provide volunteer and financial support to the Elman W. Campbell Museum.

The F.O.M. is a dedicated, independent group of volunteers who are engaged in a variety of fundraising and promotional activities.

Funds raised are used to purchase equipment and supplies for the Museum. 

The F.O.M. assists the Elman W. Campbell Museum through:

 

Promotion: helping to raise public awareness of the Museum and its activities.

Fundraising: staging and participating in special events to raise money for Museum purposes.

Gift Shop Operation: operating the Museum's Gift Shop.

Other opportunities: participating & leading tours, and behind-the-scenes work.


The Friends
 warmly welcome new members to join in and help with activities and fundraising events. Friends of the Museum meetings are held at 1:00 p.m., the second Thursday of the month, during January, February, April, May, September, October and November annually.     

Nominal annual membership fee required

For more information contact museum@newmarket.ca or call 905-953-5314.

FAQ's

1. What is the purpose of the Museum?

Statement of Purpose: The Elman W. Campbell Museum, owned by the Corporation of the Town of Newmarket and operated by the Elman W. Campbell Museum Board of Management, is a non-profit, educational institution created for the purpose of collecting, preserving, researching, studying, exhibiting and interpreting artifacts related to the social, political and economic history of the Town of Newmarket and its environs from the time of the first settlers to thirty years before present, for the benefit of residents of the Town of Newmarket and visitors from outside the Town.

 

2. Is this a dinosaur museum? 

No.  The exhibits trace the development of the Town from the time of the first settlers to thirty years ago.  The front area of the Museum introduces the earliest settlers, the middle room is for changing displays, and the permanent exhibits are at the far end. 

 

3. When was the Registry Office built? 

In 1884.

Background information:  It is the last 19th Century registry office in York Region.  Designed by John T. Stokes and built by Page and Harris, it has a cut stone foundation and slate roof.  It has a three-bay façade with centre door.

 

4. How long have we been in this building? 

Since 1996.

 

5. Who named the Museum?  

The Museum was named by the Council of the Town of Newmarket. 
  

6. How does the name of the Museum relate to the earliest people or settlers?  

It doesn't relate to the earliest people or settlers. Elman Campbell was a Main Street merchant from the 1930's through the 1970's.  Council named the Museum after him because of his generous support for the Museum.

 

7. How long has there been a Museum? 


 

1979 Elman Campbell had a vision for a Museum to document the history of Newmarket.  He started to gather artifacts in his garage.
July 16, 1981Upper floor of the old Fire Hall became the first home for the Museum.  It opened on June 22, 1982.
October, 1991The new Elman W. Campbell Museum opened in the former Office Specialty c. 1912 building.
1996Museum staff started moving into the former registry office building in November 1996 with a grand opening planned for May 1997.  In 1987 the building was designated an historic site under the Ontario Heritage Site.

 

8. Has the building changed in size or look since it originally opened? 

The Museum had an additional bay constructed in 1938 to resemble the original building.  In 1954 a large addition was put on the back, with a basement underneath.  This latter addition is red brick like the original section, but does not resemble it in style (the old part is Classical Revival).  The new part is boxy and modern.  The sizes of the three sections are:  original 1884 building 1,384 square feet, 1938 448 square feet, 1954 addition 3,264 feet each level.

9. When was Newmarket officially incorporated as a village? 

January 1, 1858. Newmarket separated from Whitchurch Township and became a Village in 1857.  When the first election was held, Donald Sutherland was elected and became the first Reeve. 

 

10. When did Newmarket become a Town? 

In 1880 the population was approximately 2,021.  Newmarket became a Town in 1881 and had a Mayor -William Cane, a Reeve, Deputy Reeve, and 3 Alderman from each of 3 wards (St. Andrew's, St. George's, and St. Patrick's).

 

11. What does the Town Crest represent? 

Newmarket, Heart of the Region of York. "Nine bees in a hive of activity" Each bee represents nine leading industries already established when Newmarket was officially incorporated as a village. 

 

The nine bees represent:

3 Mills

Millard Flour Mill

Sutherland Grist Mill

Gorham Woollen Mill

2 iron foundries

James Allan Iron Foundry

Sykes and Elvidge Iron Foundry

One tanneryThe original tannery was owned by a saddler named William Wallis, located on north side of Timothy Street near Cedar Street.  In 1858 it was sold to John Townley.
One chairmakerCaldwell
Two cabinetmakers

Millard, Cabinetmaker

Roadhouse, Cabinetmaker and Funeral Director

 

The old seal with five bees was used at least as late as 1924! Therefore the oak leaf motif was introduced quite late, as were the other four bees. 

12. What is that cairn behind the court house? 

Jane Porter Plaque.  The court house use to be the former site of the Industrial home.  This was a place where family members were sent if they were sick, elderly, had no money/family members etc.  Jane Porter donated $2,000 towards the erection of a wing, built in 1897.  A plaque in her honour may have been in the wing and was later placed on the cairn when the Industrial home closed.  Jane Porter died July 16, 1896.

13. When was Huron Street renamed Davis Drive? 

 In November 1946, as a token of respect to the Davis Family's various contributions to the Town.

Become a Town of Newmarket Volunteer

We are excited about this new opportunity to assist you the volunteer with registering for a number of opportunities within your community. This system will allow us to send out information to you electronically, more efficiently and in a timely manner.  This system will also assist you in tracking the number of hours, when you are scheduled and lists many other interesting features.

Please take the time to set up a profile of yourself, start by clicking on the area of interest below.  If you are interested in more than one area, please select one - set up your profile and then you can access other areas to register to volunteer.

We look forward to working with you the dedicated and enthusiastic volunteer. 

Start by clicking below and setting up your profile.  Then select the events you wish to volunteer for.

If you have any technical difficulties please email the following people for the following areas: 


How to Support The Elman W. Campbell Museum
Purchase a Donor Leaf as a unique gift or in honour of a loved one. Bronze Leaf $100, Silver Leaf $250, Gold Leaf $500, Gold Branch $1000, Tree Trunk $2,500 and Tree Roots $5,000. Tax receipts will be issued.

Click here for a fillable version of our donation card.

National Indigenous Peoples Month 

Tuesday to Saturday | 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. | 1 to 4 p.m.
Elman W. Campbell Museum (134 Main Street South)
Free admission 

Drop by all month long and see the diversity of Indigenous culture though the Museum's displays and collection of Indigenous artifacts. Monetary donations accepted.


Canada Day open House

July 1, 2023 | 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Elman W. Campbell Museum (134 Main Street South)
Free admission 

Celebrate Canada Day with us. Central York Fire Services will be on site, have photo ops with the fire truck, free children's temporary Canada Day tattoos and interactive tabletop activies! Pop in to the Museum and enjoy our current exhibit and our new featured exhibit for 2023, 'Love Local, Love Mainstreet!' visit the 'Museum Exhibits' tab above for details.