HISTORY

In about 1830 Andrew Archibald Woodrow packed up his family and headed for Canada, leaving behind forever his Scottish Highlands home in Islay. Archibald and his wife Katherine and daughter settled on 100 acres of land in what is now known as Coldwater, Ontario, Canada and built himself a one room log cabin and shortly after he added a barn. By the mid 1850's his family had grown and the single room home was insufficient so Archibald  went to work adding two larger front rooms and a second floor with materials that came from the land surrounding the homestead. Archibald's children numbered 10 upon his death in 1875. Katherine Woodrow lived to the age of 85 yrs and is buried in the Coldwater cemetery.

Coldwater Canadiana was started in 1965 by a group of local people interested in making Coldwater a focal point for surrounding areas. A small store was opened on Main Street in the Village in which arts & crafts and antiques were sold.

In 1966 the group moved to the Woodworth garage and in the fall of that year acquired the "Woodrow Homestead" and became dedicated to repairing and restoring the lovely old log house. In 1979 the Coldwater Canadiana Museum became Ontario's newest Museum.

In the years following 1979 a number of buildings were added to the 6.5 acre site at 1474 Woodrow Road. Many artifacts from 1850 to 1950 are housed within the Homestead and the surrounding buildings.

The mandate of the museum (now known as Coldwater Canadiana Heritage Museum) is the promotion and retention of the history of Coldwater and the surrounding areas.

In 2007 the museum received a grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation. This grant will pay for a new Cedar Shake roof on the Woodrow Homestead thereby returning the structure to it's original appearance. All of the Canadiana buildings and homestead will be completely electrified and upgraded where necessary.The homestead building will receive a new furnace and airconditioning system. This addition will provide the homestead with a better environment for storage of the many artifacts.

The improvements provided by the Trillium Grant will allow the museum to remain open longer and be available for more community activities etc.

COME VISIT AND LIVE OUR HISTORY WITH US