News & Events
Games Night
Date: third Thursday of the month, September 16, October 21, November 18, and December 16, 2021.
Time: 6.00 to 8.30pm
Cost: $12 adults/$8 children
Come and enjoy a relaxed evening at the museum. Browse our 19th century and classic games library, sample historic treats, and enjoy the ambiance of the historic house.
Drop-ins are welcome, but come early as space is limited. Reservations are encouraged. Call the museum at 705-743-9710 or email info@hutchisonhouse.ca to reserve your spot.
Peterborough, Kawartha, Northumberland Online Scavenger Hunt
Deadline: July 31st, 2021, 5pm EST
As the province is opening and everyone is out exploring again we encourage you to see all the exciting attractions this region has to offer. Explore the attractions' websites to find the answers. Forms can be found down below and answers submitted to info@hutchisonhouse.ca.
Deadline to submit is July 31, 2021 at 5pm. Correct answers will be put into a draw for a chance to win a gift certificate for 2 for Scottish Tea and a tour of Hutchison House Museum.
Peach Tea
Date: Thursday August 19, 2021
Sittings: 12pm, 1pm, 2pm, 3pm
Cost: $12 adults/$8 children
Back by popular demand, Hutchison House will host the 29th annual Peach Tea on Thursday, August 19th from noon to 4pm. Enjoy the feeling of an old time summer social, as you indulge in an afternoon of home-baked scones served with fresh peaches and whipped cream or ice cream, topped with blueberries. Tea, iced tea, or lemonade will add a refreshing compliment to this delightful summer repast.
Tickets for the Peach Tea must be booked in advance at a cost of $12.00 for adults/ $8.00 for children. There will be NO drop in seats. Sittings are 12pm, 1pm, 2pm and 3pm. Because of limited space on the terrace maximum visitors per table are 4. You must indicate at the time of booking if you would like a tour of the museum due to capacity limits indoors. Space is limited. For information or to make a reservation please call the museum office at (705) 743-9710 or email us at info@hutchisonhouse.ca
The Untold Stories of Hutchison House: Sandford Fleming and Jeanie Hall-A Love Story
Watch the video here.
Scottish Tea
Dates: Starting July 3rd to September 4, 2021 every Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday.
Sittings: 1pm, 2pm, 3pm.
Cost: $10 adults; $ 5 children; chilren under 5 are free.
Scottish Tea, served on the terrace in the historic garden, includes fresh baked scones, preserves, whipped cream, oatcakes, and tea, lemonade, or iced tea. There is a maximum of 6 people per table and registration is required.
Vistors will be required to complete a COVID-19 screening upon arrival at the museum. Face masks are required when not seated at a table. Museum staff have increased daily cleaning procedures and wear appropriate personal protecive equipment (PPE) when preparing food for the Scottish Teas and throughout their general interactions with the public.
At this time the bookshop will remain closed for browsing. However books, jam, Scottish Tea in a bag, and day camp kits can be purchased by phone and picked up at the museum. Complimentary tours are now offered for all. For more details or to register please contact the museum office.
I Spy Contest Ends
Thank you to everyone who played I spy with us over our social media chanels. Winner of the Heritage Luncheon certificate was Catharine Dibben. Winner of the Scottish Tea Certificate is Rhonda Murphy. Winners will be contacted about their prizes.
Here are the contact answers:
Facebook:
Dr. Office: Stethoscope
Parlour: Kleenex box
Bedroom: Toilet Paper
Fleming's Room: iPod
West Bedroom: Cordless Phone
Sewing Room: 1923 Kodak Brownie Camera
Kids Room: Colouring Books and Crayons
Keeping Room: Electric Mixer
Pantry: Coffee Maker
Outside: Yard Waste Bag
Instagram:
Dr. Office: Modern Money
Parlour: Muse Magazine
Bedroom: Toothpaste and Electric Tooth Brush
Fleming's Room: Nail polish and remover
West Bedroom: Tim Hortons Cup
Sewing Room: Rotary Cutter
Kids Room: Stuffed Eeyore and Piglet
Keeping Room: Iron
Pantry: Deepfryer
Outside: Water bottle
Twitter:
Dr. Office: 1950s Otoscope (for looking at ears)
Parlour: ipad
Bedroom: Baby Yoda
Fleming's Room: Sharpie Markers
West Bedroom: Christmas Slippers
Sewing Room: Baseball Cap
Kids Room: Star Wars Action Figure
Keeping Room: Electric Kettle
Pantry: Laundry detergent and softner sheets
Outside: Faceshield
Escape from Doctor Hutchison's Office
Its 1840 and there has been an accident outside of Doctor Hutchison's House. You rush into his office to fetch him supplies when one of his children locks you in the room! Solve the clues to escape from the room and get the doctor his supplies! Developed by students from the Museum Management and Curatorship program at Fleming College challenge your self with the harder version or try your had at an easier one. Click on the links below to start and good luck!
April Break Day Camp Kits
Pick Up: Curbside Pick up available by appointment Wed April 14-Friday April 6.
While Hutchison House is not able to accommodate Day Camps at the museum at this time, we would like to bring the museum to you! Hutchison House staff has prepared instructional videos and material kits for three of our most popular day camp programs: Kaleidoscopes, Marionettes and Crazy Quilt Squares. Instructional videos can be found by going to the Hutchison House YouTube channel or by following the links below. Material Kits can be purchased from the museum at a cost of $15 each or 2 for $25. Also available are previous Camp Kits Teddy Bears, Bookbinding and Fairies and Toadstools. For inquiries about our Day Camp kits or to purchase one please contact the museum office at 705-743-9710.
St. Patrick's Day Meal to go
Deadline to Order: Friday March 12, 2021
Date to Pick up: Wednesday March 17, 2021 from 11am to 4pm
Experience a taste of Ireland from the comfort of your own home with a delicious take home meal for St. Patrick's Day. Enjoy a meal of Corned Beef and Colcannon with roasted carrots and Irish Soda Bread and a scrumptious Irish Apple Cake with custard for dessert. You must pre order your meals by March 12, 2021. Meals will be available for curbside pick up between 11am and 4pm on March 17, 2021. Meals are $20. For more information or to order your meal please contact the museum office by phone or email.
I Spy
I Spy with my little eye... some modern things that don’t belong at Hutchison House Museum! For the next 10 weeks, every Tuesday, starting next Tuesday February 9 until Tuesday April 13, Hutchison House will post pictures across our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages with something modern hidden in them. Each week will feature a different room in the museum and each social media platform will have a different object hidden in the room. Find all ten objects from one platform to be entered into a draw for gift certificates for Scottish Tea for Two at the Museum. Find all 30 objects across all three platforms to entered into a draw to win a gift certificate for Heritage Luncheon for Two in the Historic Keeping Room. For more information about how to enter or to email your answers (only once the contest ends) contact the museum at info@hutchisonhouse.ca. Contest ends April 29, 2021 at 5pm. Prizes will be drawn and winners contacted April 30, 2021.
Virtual Hogmanay
For the first time in over 30 years Hogmanay is being held virtually this year because of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Unfortuneatly because of the current lockdown we were not able to film our first footer and some of our dancers as originally intended. In its place we have some interesting history and remberances of past Hogmanays here for you to enjoy.
Hogmanay Remembered by Gale Fewings
Hogmanay Remembered by Stephanie Ford Forrester
Hogmanay Rememvered by Marilyn MacNaughton
Hogmanay Through the Years (slideshow)
Be sure to follow us on our Social Media Chanels all day on January first for more memories, pictures and trivia throughout the day.
Hogmanay Trivia for Social Media
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube
Hogmanay Meals now Robbie Burns Day
Deadline to Order: December 18, 2020
Pick-Up CHANGE: January 25, 2021 between 10am and 4pm
One of the biggest changes to the Hutchison House event line up is our popular annual Hogmanay event. Unfortunately no amount of adjusting this event could make it viable to run in 2021 with the current pandemic and social distancing requirements. However, even if you can't celebrate Hogmanay with us here at the museum, we would like to bring it to you. All day long on January 1 Hutchison House will be flooding our social media accounts with Hogmanay content including history of the holiday and images from past events. If anyone has any video or images from past Hagmanays at the museum that they would like to share through our social media please contact the museum office at info@hutchisonhouse.ca. In addition to our social media, Hutchison House volunteers will be creating Hogmanay meal-to-go with much of the food that we would normally serve here on January 1. You must pre-order your meals by December 18 2020. Meals will be available for curbside pick-up between 10am and 12pm on December 31, 2020. Meals are $20 and will include: a Scotch egg, tatters and neeps, oatcakes, cheese, and a sampl of potted salmon, shortbread and clootie dumpling. For an extra $5 you can also get a piece of Haggis. For more information or to order a Hogmanay meal to go please contact the museum at 705-743-9710 or info@hutchisonhouse.ca.
Victorian Christmas
Date: December 12, 2020
Registered Time slots: 11am-3pm
Cost: $5
Come and enjoy a tour of the museum as it is decorated for the holiday season and learn how the Hutchison family would have celebrated this time of year. There will be timed entry with a maximum of 6 people (of the same household)per 20 min time slot. Children can take home a goody bag with gingerbread men and the material to make a holiday craft. Admission is $5 per person, children under 5 are free. Registration and advance payment is required. For more information or to reserve your time slot please contact the museum office.
You are required to wear a mask at all times when touring the museum. Museum staff will be sanitizing all high touch surfaces between visitors. All Hutchison House events are subject to change or cancellation with the ever changing COVID-19 regulations. If the museum has to cancel an event then full refunds will be awarded.
Christmas Market and Snowflake Tea and Dessert
Dates: Saturday November 28 and Sunday November 29, 2020
Christmas Market only: 10am to 12pm
Cost: No Admission for Market only
Snowflake Tea and Dessert Sittings: 1pm and 2:30pm
Cost: $10
The Christmas Season is upson us, and Hutchison House Museum volunteers will host their annual Christmas Market on Saturday November 28 and Sunday November 29 from 10am to 12pm. Due to COVID-19 the Market will look a little different this year. In addition to the Empire Cheese ofers, we will be offering some of our most popular items for pre-oredering as well. While there will be some limited shopping available the day of, there will be a maximum of 4 visitors in the sale room at one time. Be sure to order ahead to ensure that you get the items you hope for. There will be NO Attic Treasures or Christmas Items available this year. For Books in the Bookshop please see our website or call the museum office for availability. Thank you for your patience. The deadline for all advance orders is Friday November 13, 2020. Order forms are available for download here.
In addition to the Christmas Market Hutchison House volunteers will host a Snowflake Tea and Dessert on Saturday November 28 and Sunday November 29 with sittings at 1pm and 2:30 pm. Enjoy a delicious dessert by the Fire in the Keeping Room for $10 each. There is limited seating and pre-registration and payment is required. Items for sale at the Christmas Market will be available during the tea. For more information or to reserve your seat please contact the Museum office at 705-743-9710.
Harvest Tea and Dessert
Date: Thursday October 22, 2020
Sittings: 12pm, 1pm, 2pm
Cost: $5
Hutchison House Museum will host a Harvest Tea and Dessert on Thursday October 22 with sittings at 12pm, 1pm and 2pm. Enjoy a taste of fall with a delicious piece of apple buckle, topped with a dollop of whip cream. Tea, iced Tea or lemonade will add a refreshing compliment to this fall repast. Tickets are $5 each and booking and payment are required in advance. Seating is limited. Weather permitting the event will be held on the terrace or in the Keeping Room with the windows open for extra ventilation. Masks are required while you are inside the museum. If the museum has to cancel the event you will be entitled to a full refund. For more information or to make a reservation please contact the museum office at 705-743-9710.
Haunted Halloween for Kids
Dates: Friday October 30 from 6-9pm and Saturday October 31 from 10am-4pm
Cost:$5
While things will look a little different this year, the month of October would not be complete without the Halloween tradition. Look out for young ghostly ghouls and goblins on Friday October 30th from 6-9pm and Saturday October 31 from 10am-4pm, when Hutchison House will host Halloween tours of the museum. Enjoy a spooky tour and take a craft and treat to go. Registration is required. There is a maximum of six people (from the same bubble) per 25 minute time slot. Admission for the Haunted Halloween spooktacular event is $5 per person. Costumes are encouraged and an adult must accompany young children. While we do make the upper levels of the house a little spooky, it is not our intention to scare anyone. For more information or to reserve a time slot please contact the museum office.
Scottish Tea in a bag
Cost: $15 each
For anyone interested in the Scottish Teas and were not able to visit this summer, staff and volunteers have put together 'Scottish Tea in a Bag' that can be purchased from the museum for $15 each. Each bag includes dry mix for one scone (when cut into 8pc at the museum, it is enough to serve 4), 1 doz oatcakes, a jar of jam, a tea card with two tea bags and the recipes for both the scones and oatcakes. Purchase one for yourself to have your own tea party or give as a gift! For more information or to purchase please contact the museum office at 705-743-9710 or email us at info@hutchisonhouse.ca.
Day Camp Kits
Cost: $15 each or 2/$25
While Hutchison House is not able to accomodate Day Camps at the museum at this time, we would like to bring the museum to you! Hutchison House staff have prepared instructional videos and materila kits for three of our most popular day camp programs: Bookbinding, Teddy Bears and Woodland Fairies and Toadstools. Instructional videos can be found by going to the Hutchison House YouTube channel or by following the links below. Material Kits can be purchased from the museum at a cost of $15 each or 2 for $25. For inquiries about our day camp kits or to purchase please contact the museum at 705-743-9710.
Bookbinding
In this kit children will create their very own hand crafted journal. Your child will not only feel satisfaction for making their own book and personalizing it however they would like, but it will also make a great space for them to store memories.
Check out the bookbinding instructional video here.
Teddy Bears
A hands-on activity, children will love making their very own teddy bear. Many different skills are involved in the creation of this toy, with a final result that is oh, so satisfying.
Check out the Teddy Bear instructional video here.
Woodland Fairies and toadstools
Fairies and elves were both good and bad, pranksters and helpful. They were the guardians of nature, woodland animals and gardens. They were helpful if you respected them, but caused problems when you didn't. In this kit children will create their own fairy out of a variety of materials.
Check out the Woodland Fairy Instructional video here.
Hutchison House Re-opening Plan
Including new Scottish Tea and Tour Regulations
The museum will be open to the public three days a week (Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday) with time slots at 1pm, 2pm and 3pm starting July 15th, 2020.
Tours and Scottish Teas require pre-registration and payment in advance. This can be done by calling the museum office at 705-743-9710.
Hutchison House will provide hand-sanitzer for visitors upon entering and exiting the museum. Visitors will be required to wear masks when inside the museum.
Please do not visit the museum if you have recently travelled outside of Ontario in the past 14 days, have or been in contact of a confirmed case of COVID-19 or any of the following symptoms including: fever, new or worse cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, sore throat, headaches, diarrhea, chills, runny nose/nasal congestion without other known cause, nausea/vomiting, pink eye (conjenctivities), difficulty swallowing, unexplained fatigue/malaise/musle aches, abdominal pain, decrease or loss of sense of smell or taste
For more information please contact the museum office at 705-743-9710 or email us at info@hutchisonhouse.ca.
Digital Resources
Are you a teacher or parent looking for educational Resources for your children at home? Hutchison House Museum has compiled a series of activities, worksheets and overviews for you to download and use at home. Our digital resources will be updated as new content is being developed and adapted for home use. So while you can not visit the museum right now, let us help bring the museum to you.
Overviews
Historical Overview of Early Settlers
Historical Overview of Peterborough
Historical Overview of Hutchison House Museum
Worksheets
Early Settler Daily Life worksheet
Early Settler Letter writing worksheet
Early Settler Mystery Artefact worksheet and answer key
Activities
Virtual Exhibits
Growing Up in Peterborough: A Century of Stories
When the City of Peterborough, Ontario celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2005, reminiscing about the way things used to be was an important part of the occasion. "Growing Up in Peterborough: A Century of Stories" is a collection of these reminiscences, memories of how the city came to be the city it is today.
This Hutchison House Museum exhibit looks back at the lives of 11 citizens born, raised and still residing in Peterborough. Some left for one reason or another, such as war or school, but all returned to testify that there is no place in the world they would rather live.
This exhibit is available online and can be visited by clicking here.
The Life and Times of Dr. Hutchison in the Backwoods of Upper Canada
In 2010 Hutchison House Museum received funding to create a virtual exhibit for the Community Memories section of the Virtual Museum of Canada. After a year of hard work by staff and volunteers the result was the creation of ‘The Life and Times of Dr. Hutchison in the backwoods of Upper Canada’. This exhibit is now online and can be found by going to this link:
http://www.virtualmuseum.ca/pm_v2.php?id=exhibit_home&fl=0&lg=English&ex=00000758
The museum would like to thank Peterborough Museum and Archives, Trent University Archives, Royal Ontario Museum, Library and Archives Canada, Jean Cole, Ann Baker, Gale Fewings and Erin Panepinto for all your help in the creation of this exhibit.
Hutchison House on YouTube
In honour of our 175th Anniversary last year Graham Hart from CHEX TV created this clip which can be viewed on YouTube.
Flash Back 1988: Hutchison House Museum
This past spring in honour or Toursim Week in Peterborough, the film students at Crestwood High School created 2.5 minutes clips of various attractions around town. These promotional clips aired on local CHEX TV the first week of June, 2013 and can also be found here on YouTube.
Hutchison House Living Musuem, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada.
New Interactive and Accessible Program
New to Hutchison House: In an effort to make every learning experience a valuable experience, we have included a new interactive program within the Museum! As an addition to our Virtual Museum Tour DVD, Museum Management and Curatorship students from Sir Sandford Fleming College have created a new chest full of artifacts that represent a great deal of the history presented in the museum for individuals who cannot access the upstairs levels of Hutchison House. This chest is accompanied by a book providing an introductory explanation to the history of Hutchison House, allowing an independent learning experience for those who wish this. There is also a short Braille version. This experience is great for visitors who cannot trek up the stairs of the museum, those who would rather sit and experience the artifacts first-hand, or those who are visually impaired. Come and join us for your next museum experience and enjoy the history of our museum hands-on!
