Artifacts

As museum tour guides, Brubacher House hosts have enjoyed sharing stories of the museum’s intriguing collection with thousands of curious visitors over the years. Here are some highlights of the tour, from the perspectives of those who know it best!

Kitchen

Brubacher House kitchen, with wooden table, chairs, a grand open fire place, a cabinet with china plates, and a large bright window.

The Brubacher House kitchen

A wooden counter, with the top recessed to create an open shallow box. A face cloth, hand towel, soap, and bowl for washing sit whithin it.

Dry sink

A wooden kitchen table, four wooden chairs placed around it.

Kitchen table

The view inside the open hearth fireplace, with brick covered in white ash, a cast iron cooking set hangs

Inside the open hearth

A brown glass medicine bottle

Medicine Bottle

A black metal item, small, with a ring hook on top. Bell shaped

Bonnet Iron

A tiny metal tankard shaped cup, with a lid on a hinge.

Baby's sippy cup

Brubacher House kitchen, with wooden table, chairs, a grand open fire place, a cabinet with china plates, and a large bright window.
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The Brubacher House kitchen
A wooden counter, with the top recessed to create an open shallow box. A face cloth, hand towel, soap, and bowl for washing sit whithin it.
2 / 7
Dry sink
A wooden kitchen table, four wooden chairs placed around it.
3 / 7
Kitchen table
The view inside the open hearth fireplace, with brick covered in white ash, a cast iron cooking set hangs
4 / 7
Inside the open hearth
A brown glass medicine bottle
5 / 7
Medicine Bottle
A black metal item, small, with a ring hook on top. Bell shaped
6 / 7
Bonnet Iron
A tiny metal tankard shaped cup, with a lid on a hinge.
7 / 7
Baby's sippy cup

Brandon: “I like the large open fireplaces and the cooking techniques associated with them.”
- Bethany and Brandon Leis (2006-2009)

“The main kitchen area, with large hearth, dry sink, bell. The story of Magdalena Brubacher having emergency surgery on the kitchen table (and later dying of complications) also made for a dramatic reference.”
- Arlyn and Judith Friesen Epp (1994-2000)

Josh: “The kitchen, and in particular, the dry sink. I find that everyone has an idea of what a kitchen is and people are always able to find something relatable in that room. The dry sink then reminds them of how different life would have been without everyday conveniences like running water, and gets guests really thinking about the stories of everyday life and how it would have been both different and similar to life today.”
- Laura and Joshua Enns (2017-present)

“The kitchen - it was easiest to compare 'then and now' in a space with such obvious differences in tools and appliances.”
- Colin and Jennie Wiebe (2000-2004)

Pantry

Laura: “I always enjoy taking people through the pantry. I find that the various tools spark people’s memories or imaginations, and rather than sharing a scripted narrative, I’m able to ask questions and get people more engaged. I also find that people from all different cultural backgrounds are able to find something that they relate to. Everyone loves food!”
- Laura and Joshua Enns (2017-present)

Karl: “The meat grinder in the pantry, specifically because of a hilarious/maybe a bit gruesome story a friend’s grandma told us when she saw it. (we’ll spare you the details!)”
- Jacquie and Karl Reimer (2013-2017)

The view of one side of a room, with baking supplies in old tins and cans. A bright window lights up the space.

Pantry (baking supply area)

A view of the pantry, with open cupboard, two large windows, a counter with baking tools, dry sink

Pantry

A wooden funnel, shaped like a bell, sits on it's side on a wooden counter

Wooden funnel

A can with clear signs of age, labled "edwardsburg Crown Brand Corn Syrup" on a yellow and blue label

Edwardsburg Crown Brand Corn Syrup

A shelf holds a tall glass bottle, and an old silver tin.

Honey Jar - from Oscar Trussler's Apiary, Kitchener

A large box meant for holding large bags of flower opens to reveal it's split into two compartments.

Flour box

A tall, slatted brown wood rack, which would be placed over a sink to let wet dishes dry over.

Drying rack

The view of one side of a room, with baking supplies in old tins and cans. A bright window lights up the space.
1 / 7
Pantry (baking supply area)
A view of the pantry, with open cupboard, two large windows, a counter with baking tools, dry sink
2 / 7
Pantry
A wooden funnel, shaped like a bell, sits on it's side on a wooden counter
3 / 7
Wooden funnel
A can with clear signs of age, labled "edwardsburg Crown Brand Corn Syrup" on a yellow and blue label
4 / 7
Edwardsburg Crown Brand Corn Syrup
A shelf holds a tall glass bottle, and an old silver tin.
5 / 7
Honey Jar - from Oscar Trussler's Apiary, Kitchener
A large box meant for holding large bags of flower opens to reveal it's split into two compartments.
6 / 7
Flour box
A tall, slatted brown wood rack, which would be placed over a sink to let wet dishes dry over.
7 / 7
Drying rack

Bedroom

A small bedroom with three large windows, dresser, baby's crib, and bed with a quilt

Bedroom

A close up of a quilt collection

Quilts

A large wooden dresser, with a small, rectangular mirror hanging above at a slight angle

Dresser and angled mirror

A wooden rocking crib with handmade quilt. There are two hearts carved into each end.

Rocking crib

A small bedroom with three large windows, dresser, baby's crib, and bed with a quilt
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Bedroom
A close up of a quilt collection
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Quilts
A large wooden dresser, with a small, rectangular mirror hanging above at a slight angle
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Dresser and angled mirror
A wooden rocking crib with handmade quilt. There are two hearts carved into each end.
4 / 4
Rocking crib

“We can’t decide. Some highlights were: The mini iron, the baby sippy cup made of lead, the angled mirror (to promote modesty), the dresser with dove tail drawers, the dry sink, the practicality of the hooks all around the main floor. It was always fun to be able to surprise someone walking by on the road by ringing the bell!”
- Chris Steingart and Jillian Burkhardt (2004-2006)

Jacquie: “The hooks on the walls; I always ended the tour by telling guests the hooks, while practical, were also a sign of welcoming and there was always space for them to ‘hang their hat’ and stop by again.”
- Jacquie and Karl Reimer (2013-2017)

Parlour

“I think the grandfather clock was the favourite. I believe it was the oldest one and its migration story was really interesting.” - Allison and Mark Brubacher (2009-2013)

Bethany: “I love the parlour with its “wall-to-wall carpeting”. It also contains the grandfather clock as well as books and photos. The lead sippy cup and mini iron were also some intriguing items.” - Bethany and Brandon Leis (2006-2009)

A room with various wooden chairs, and a grandfather clock

Parlour

A tall, wooden, ornate grandfather clock

Grandfather clock

A finger points to a hand painted back of a chair, featuring a golden deer, some light green leaves and red raspberries

Decorated chairs

A red hat rack, made of wood runs along the wall

Hooks on each wall

close up ofa woven carpet

Woven rugs

A room with various wooden chairs, and a grandfather clock
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Parlour
A tall, wooden, ornate grandfather clock
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Grandfather clock
A finger points to a hand painted back of a chair, featuring a golden deer, some light green leaves and red raspberries
3 / 5
Decorated chairs
A red hat rack, made of wood runs along the wall
4 / 5
Hooks on each wall
close up ofa woven carpet
5 / 5
Woven rugs