Our Mission

The mission of the Rolph, Buchanan, Wylie & McKay Historical Society is to operate the School House Museum and preserve the history and heritage of the former four townships of Rolph Buchanan Wylie and McKay in the Upper Ottawa Valley. The scope of the Museum collection encompasses many facets of local history such as Lumbering, Hydro Electric and Nuclear Power development, railroads, pioneer farming, highway construction, life on and along the Ottawa River and home life. Social institutions, schools, churches, Scouting, and Women's Institute.

About ROLPH, BUCHANAN, WYLIE & MCKAY HISTORICAL SOCIETY

The Rolph, Buchanan, Wylie and McKay Historical Society own and operate the School House Museum and have been in operation for more than 30 years.  The society is incorporated as a registered charity, under the Ontario Historical Society and is a member of the Renfrew County Museum Network.

The Schoolhouse Museum contains unique collections of records, artifacts and photographs -some dating back over a thousand years.  The collection preserves and showcases the history of the in the Upper Ottawa Valley, including the Town of Laurentian Hills and Deep River ( formerly the  four townships of Rolph, Buchanan, Wylie and McKay  (RBWM) which also originally included Deep River). The Museum showcased many facets of local history people, places, and activities along the Ottawa River in the Upper Ottawa Valley, such as:

• Native: canoe, tools, arrows and spears,
• Pioneer: lumbering, trapping, farming, cooking, homes, clothing, tools, equipment
• Industrialization: hydroelectric dam and nuclear research,
• Transportation by canoe, steam, trails, road, highways, railroads, and air,
• Communities, businesses, schools, churches and social institutions, and more

The Museum is open to the public from June through to September and by appointment.  Tours are available. The Museum has 4 main building on the grounds, as well, as artifacts on the grounds:

• The Schoolhouse - this is a reconstructed building based on the original Rolph SS#3 Schoolhouse which was located on the site. 
• The Church - this church was originally located in the Rolphton Colony and was moved to the museum when the colony closed. 
• The Log House - the building was reconstructed from an old 2 storey log home from the Pontiac which was donated and then salvaged/dismantled. , moved and reconstructed by museum volunteers. The authentic Log House is fully furnished.
• The Machine Shed - this large shed built on the site to house farming and logging implements and equipment.
• The Quyon Tugboat – Donated by Ron Bowes and Myro Mykolyshyn.
• The CP Railroad Caboose - Donated by George Viens.

Throughout the year, volunteers work to maintain the buildings, hold events and fundraisers, maintain the collection of artifacts and inventory database, create and build displays showcasing our history, research and record and building local history, make presentations to various organizations on the history, and work on virtual exhibits online.