The Niagara–on-the-Lake Museum is taking a big step forward in its multi-million expansion.
The museum has purchased the Janet Carnochan house at 25 Castlereagh St., next door to the museum complex.
Carnochan helped establish the NOTL Historical Society in 1895, which led to the opening of the NOTL Museum in 1907. It was the first purpose-built museum in Ontario.
Next Monday, the museum will host a news conference to officially announce its acquisition of the Carnochan house.
The property was listed for sale about four months ago by Niagara-on-the-Lake Realty with a price tag of more than $1.5 million. Real estate records show the house sold for $1.425 million in May.
While museum officials are staying mum about the details, it is believed the purchase was made possible by a large donation to the museum.
The museum is bursting at the seams and launched a $10-million fundraising campaign last fall to cover the costs of a major expansion.
Headed by pharmacist Sean Simpson, the campaign aims to bring in $5 million from donors and match that amount with government grants.
Carnochan is a revered figure and credited for doing much to preserve NOTL’s history.
A teacher who was active in community affairs, Carnochan was born in Stamford, in Niagara, in 1839. She died in NOTL in 1926 at the age of 86.
Amy Klassen, the museum’s director of finance and marketing, acknowledged the purchase is big news, which is why the organization is hosting a media event to make donors available for questions and comments.
“Thanks to the unwavering generosity of donors, we’ve been able to take steps forward in our Building History: Strengthening Community capital campaign,” Klassen said in a news release about the acquisition.
