HISTORY

Lucan and Area Heritage Society, a non-profit organization, was formed in April 1995, to celebrate the history of the Lucan area. Our first site was in the old Ford dealership building owned by Hank Arnold on Main Street, Lucan, Ontario. Our members loaned us historical artefacts and they were displayed every Saturday afternoon for public viewing.










There was increasing interest in the Lucan and Area Heritage collection within the community in the next few years. By the fall of 1998, we purchased a lot with a two-car garage from Dr. Lock, and by February 1999, the growing collection was moved into the new structure.












In 1999 we acquired a log cabin with a similar floor plan to the original Donnelly cabin. With donations and loans from community members we furnished the cabin. It is one of our favourite attractions and where we retell the story of the infamous Donnelly murders.












Community interest in local heritage continued to grow. Lucan-Biddulph’s heritage is primarily agricultural so a year later, the Hearn’s barn was moved to the site in March 2000. This structure houses agricultural tools, a life-sized horse (used for fittings in the making of harnesses), an egg grading machine and many other interesting farm items that you may (or may not) recognize.












The new museum building was built after the University of Western Ontario identified the need for a larger community museum to spur economic growth in the Lucan community. With community support, the Lucan Area Heritage Society, the District Lion’s Club and the Township of Lucan Biddulph raised over $600,000 for the construction of a new Museum building, located on the site of the old Central Hotel (destroyed in a fire in the 1990’s.) The new museum building was completed in 2008, and opened to the public in 2009.