This cache has been placed as part of an initiative by the County of Peterborough, its member municipalities, the City of Peterborough and local First Nation communities to celebrate Canada 150+. There are 23 geocaches placed throughout the region showcasing local history.
The geocoin stock has now been exhausted. Please continue to enjoy exploring local history through other geocaches within the Canada 150+ collection.
GC Codes full list: GC74A7F - Payne Murders & First Execution, GC74A76 - Victoria Museum at "Inverlea", GC72PWE - Memengweshii, GC72PWP - Historic Curve Lake Village, GC72PX1 - Old Rail Road Stop, GC72PXA - Hiawatha Church, GC72VFW - Sucker Hunt at "Welbeck", GC74A7Q - Richard Birdsall, GC74A7V - John Deyell, GC74A7Y - Cavan Blazers & Paddy Maguire, GC72VG3 - Balm for her Wounded Heart, GC72VGA - Sedgwick Lime Kiln Park, GC72WDJ - Nepheline Syenite A Global Lustre, GC75D68 - Havelock Public School, GC72WDT - The Brush Factory, GC72VGJ - Sam Edgar Crypt, GC72VGQ - Nelson Brawl at the Keene Hotel, GC75D6H - Lang Grist Mill, GC72VGW - Catharine Parr Traill, GC72WDZ - The Pope Stallion, GC75D5Q - Adam & Eve Rocks, GC74A8B - Going to School on the Oregon Trail.
In 1897, the newly-formed Peterborough City and County Historical Society (now the Peterborough Historical Society) created the “Victoria Museum” in rooms of the large mansion known as “Inverlea”. The museum was named in honour of Queen Victoria, and was dedicated on her Diamond Jubilee day, 22 June 1897. It was not ready for public visitations until October 1898. In 1902, Peterborough hosted the Ontario Historical Society’s annual conference at the Victoria Museum. The museum’s only curator was T.A.S. Hay, a grandson of early settlers Thomas A. and Frances Stewart.
“Inverlea” was built at the north end of the property, in the Gothic Revival architectural style, for Robert Dennistoun, who was Scottish-born but settled in Peterborough, established a law practice, and became a long-serving County judge. In 1894, his property was acquired by the Nicholls Park Trust and made into a riverside park.
Part of “Inverlea” was leased to the Historical Society to use as its museum, until 1911 when the house was condemned as unsafe (and eventually demolished). The Victoria Museum’s artifacts were moved to the new Carnegie Library (now the northern wing of City Hall). This collection formed the core of the present-day Peterborough Museum and Archives’ holdings, in its current site atop Armour Hill.