Renovation of Storage Spaces at Beachville District Museum

in progress

The purpose of this project is to renovate the Beachville District Historical Society Museum and the museum’s agriculture complex facility in South-West Oxford, Ontario. The project will improve the quality of cultural infrastructure at Beachville District Museum by: addressing a need for improved storage spaces; improving the museum’s structural stability; installing climate control upgrades and energy efficiencies; and improving public access. First, the project will involve renovating the museum’s old, stone-and-dirt basement (dated to 1851), giving the converted house additional structural integrity, humidity control and usable storage space. Second, the aging collection storage space will be renovated to ensure safer storage of artifacts linked to local histories. This project component supports the long-term health of artifacts in the museum’s care, and attends to some environmental hazards in the existing space (e.g., poor air quality). Lastly, renovation work will be done in the agricultural complex of the museum that will include reflooring, replacing insulation, and replacing the inefficient climate controls. The barn has not been renovated since its construction in 1992 and currently closes for the winter season. The renovations will make it possible to maintain the barn as a comfortable and clean exhibit and storage space that is visitor friendly and open year-round. The project will improve access to and increase the quality of community and cultural infrastructure in the community of South-West Oxford.