Lang Pioneer Village celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2017

By Rebecca Bartlett

BELLEVILLE – Lang Pioneer Village Museum is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, and some special events are planned.

The pioneer village, just north of Keene outside Peterborough, brings in visitors from all over the world as well as local residents.

It all started back in 1962, says the museum’s manager, Joe Corrigan. 

“The idea came about because at the time Black Creek and Upper Canada Village had been established (in Toronto and Morrisburg, Ont., respectively). So it was kind of in vogue to have these living-history sites,” Corrigan said. “Before the age of computers … it was kind of a way to do virtual reality in the ’60s.”

But even though the planning for Lang began in 1962, it wasn’t opened until August 1967 – Canada’s centennial year.

When the decision to have a living-history site in Peterborough County was made, there was one big reason to choose Lang, said Corrigan.

“I think the key factor was the proximity to the existing Lang Mill. It was restored by (the Otonabee Region Conservation Authority), in ’65, I think. They had looked at a site up near Lakefield as well, but this one seemed to be appropriate, and also we’re in the vicinity of Hope Mill,” a historic sawmill on the Indian River.

“I guess one of the benefits of this site is that it’s so far removed from urban sprawl that it maintains an air of authenticity,” he said.

The buildings at Lang – including homes, a schoolhouse, town hall and general store, all from the 19th century or modern replicas – were moved to the village from various locations in the county. A lot of the buildings were chosen because of their connections with people from the county’s history, Corrigan said.

“Frank Doris was the mayor of Peterborough; his family had a connection with the Keene Hotel. Another former mayor, Paul Ayotte, had a connection with the Ayotte Cabin, which came here in the (19)80s … It was turned into a representation of northern Peterborough County and the lumbering industry, because we didn’t have anything telling that story at the time. Douro Township donated the town hall; I think the blacksmith shop came from Douro as well. The Fife Cabin was actually rebuilt, but there was a connection with the Red Fife Wheat history there and the Fife Line.” Red Fife is Canada’s oldest variety of wheat and was developed by Peterborough County pioneer David Fife at his farm just a few kilometres from Lang.

It Lang Pioneer Village celebrates its 50th anniversary, it is getting a new addition. The construction of a barn dedicated to the history of agriculture in Peterborough County is underway, and Corrigan said he expects there to be events throughout the summer centred around it.

With the anniversary falling in the same years as Canada’s celebrating its 150th, some new events are planned as well.

“They’re going to set the village up like a county fair – they’re going to bring a Ferris wheel and things like that,” said Corrigan. That event will be held Sept. 24.