Fabric of a Small Town

Fabric of a Small Town:
The industrial manufacture of woolen textiles in the Mississippi Valley

Wool Hall Gallery, 2nd Floor

The Wool Hall Gallery houses the museum’s largest permanent exhibit, “Fabric of a Small Town”.  The exhibit features 19th century artefacts, machinery and short videos showing industrial manufacture processes – from “sheep to shawl” – typically used in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century to create woollen textiles. A fascinating glimpse into how fabrics are made – some of the processes are still in use by industry and craftspeople today!

Also features live weaving demonstrations on a weekly basis!

This exhibit was created by students Felicity Maxwell and in partnership with Algonquin College’s Applied Museum Studies Program.

VIDEOS – From Sheep To Shawl

The videos below show the industrial manufacture of woollen textiles – from “sheep to shawl” – typically used in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Some of the processes are still in use by industry and craftspeople today.

PART 1: Introduction – Shearing (Please note: viewers may find the content upsetting)
PART 2: Washing
PART 3: Carding
PART 4: Spinning and Twisting
PART 5: Winding and Weaving
PART 6: Finishing the fabric

The textile industry played a significant role in the founding and development of the Mississippi River Valley in Ontario. A great tributary of the Ottawa River, the Mississippi River had a significant amount of mill industries built on it, and the Valley was responsible for the economic development of the area. Indeed, Almonte became the capital of woolen industry in Canada and was known as “Little Manchester”.

 

PART 1: Introduction

PART 2: Washing

PART 3: Carding

 

PRODUCTION CREDITS

Production: William Sullivan, Pakobrats
Narration: Ken Ramsden
Executive Director/Curator: Michael Rikley-Lancaster
Assistant Curator: Matthew Moxley
Master Weaver/script writer: Roberta Murrant
Weaver: Gertrude Thibeault
Textile mill workers: Shirley and Richard Auprix, Osgoode Textile Mill
Music: “Air” and “Riff #2”, Peter Sullivan
Music: “Painted Corners” and “That Other Guy”, George Turcotte
Music: “Pony Express”, Tom McCain and Ghost Train and Friends
Music: “How Come You Do Me Like You Do Do Do”, Tom McCain and Bill Poulin
Music: Fiddle tracks 2 and 4, Ken Ramsden

PART 4: Spinning and Twisting

PART 5: Winding and Weaving

PART 6: Finishing the fabric

MISSISSIPPI VALLEY TEXTILE MUSEUM

3 Rosamond Street East
Almonte, Ontario K0A 1A0
Phone: (613) 256-3754
Email: [email protected]

Year-Long Hours

The Museum is open from 1-4pm Tuesday thru Saturday. This includes the Permanent and Temporary Exhibits as well as the Gift Shop.