Welcome to the Prince Township Museum!
The Prince Township Museum is managed by the Heritage/Museum Committee, chaired by Councillor Margaret Christenson,
Come explore the Prince Museum, where history comes alive through our five unique buildings that make up the museum: the Classroom, the Conway Log House, the Old Church, the Shed of Small Antique Equipment, and the Large Shed of Antique Farm Equipment.
Admission is FREE, but donations are greatly appreciated to help us preserve and share our local history.
The Prince Township Museum is managed by the Heritage/Museum Committee, chaired by Councillor Margaret Christenson,
Come explore the Prince Museum, where history comes alive through our five unique buildings that make up the museum: the Classroom, the Conway Log House, the Old Church, the Shed of Small Antique Equipment, and the Large Shed of Antique Farm Equipment.
Admission is FREE, but donations are greatly appreciated to help us preserve and share our local history.
About Colonel John Prince:
Born in 1796 in Hereford, England, John Prince became a lawyer before marrying Mary-Ann Millington and moving to Cheltenham. In 1834, they relocated to Essex County, Canada, escaping his father's tarnished reputation and seeking new opportunities.
Community Leader and Controversial Figure In Canada:
Prince became a respected member of the Imperial Assembly but faced controversy after ordering the execution of Fenian prisoners during the Fenian Raids. Despite this, he was appointed the first Judge of the Provisional District of Algoma in 1860.
Founding Prince Township:
On November 30th, 1860, Colonel John Prince became the first “Judge of the Provisional District of Algoma”. With him came his son Septimus Redyard Prince, who was born in Essex County on May 20th, 1838. Septimus came to begin a new surveyor’s job that was given to him on March 2, 1860 by a man named “Vankoughnet” of the Department of Crown Lands.
This new job is very significant today because it was this job that called for the formation of the townships in the Algoma Districts. One of those townships was Prince Township where this museum, “Prince Township Museum”, is located today. Once Septimus completed the staking out of this township, he named it after his own family; hence the name “Prince Township”.
Born in 1796 in Hereford, England, John Prince became a lawyer before marrying Mary-Ann Millington and moving to Cheltenham. In 1834, they relocated to Essex County, Canada, escaping his father's tarnished reputation and seeking new opportunities.
Community Leader and Controversial Figure In Canada:
Prince became a respected member of the Imperial Assembly but faced controversy after ordering the execution of Fenian prisoners during the Fenian Raids. Despite this, he was appointed the first Judge of the Provisional District of Algoma in 1860.
Founding Prince Township:
On November 30th, 1860, Colonel John Prince became the first “Judge of the Provisional District of Algoma”. With him came his son Septimus Redyard Prince, who was born in Essex County on May 20th, 1838. Septimus came to begin a new surveyor’s job that was given to him on March 2, 1860 by a man named “Vankoughnet” of the Department of Crown Lands.
This new job is very significant today because it was this job that called for the formation of the townships in the Algoma Districts. One of those townships was Prince Township where this museum, “Prince Township Museum”, is located today. Once Septimus completed the staking out of this township, he named it after his own family; hence the name “Prince Township”.
