From Hearth to Hospitality

A Glimpse into Early Northern Life

Our upcoming exhibition with the Dyment Museum and Melgund Recreation, Arts and Culture showcases how everyday technology has evolved. Here are three highlights from our latest collection preview:

1. The Stoneware Whiskey Jug (circa 1900)

This large, two-toned ceramic crock is a classic piece of “pioneer” kitchenware.

• The Detail: It features a hand-written tag identifying it as belonging to “John Oberg” in 1900.
• The Use: These durable jugs were used to store everything from vinegar and molasses to spirits, designed to keep contents cool and protected from light.

2. The Brass Primus-Style Stove

The gold-toned metal apparatus in the center is a portable pressurized-burner stove.

• The Impact: Before modern electricity or propane, these “Primus” stoves were revolutionary for hunters, trappers, and families in Northwestern Ontario.
• The Design: They provided a hot, reliable flame for cooking or boiling water in remote areas or during long winters.

3. The Vintage Credit Card “Imprinter”

A more “modern” piece of heritage, this manual machine (often called a “knuckle-buster”) comes from the Van Patter’s Motel in Dyment.

• How it Worked: Before digital card readers, a merchant would place a customer’s card inside and slide the handle across to press the raised numbers onto carbon paper.
• Local History: It serves as a nostalgic reminder of the local hospitality industry that welcomed travelers to our region.

Preserving Our Stories

These items represent the bridge between the rugged early days of the 1900s and the developing commercial culture of the mid-20th century. We are excited to provide these artifacts a new home where their stories can be told through our upcoming programming.

About the Author

Art Borups Corners

Administrator

Art Borups Corners is a dynamic participatory arts collective and living lab, based in Winnipeg, Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario. It's a space where innovation and creativity thrive. The program was founded in 2014, with its arts incubator established in 2021 and 2022 with funding and support from the Canada Council for the Arts Digital Greenhouse. Today, working with students and faculty from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design, we fuse traditional and participatory media arts with artificial intelligence, music, storytelling and community-driven, land-based artist residencies to cultivate new voices and bold ideas. Whether through collaborative projects or immersive experiences, our small but vibrant community supports creators to explore, experiment, and connect. Join us at the intersection of artistry, technology, culture and community—where every moment is a new opportunity to create.

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