MV Textile Museum

Let’s go back to August 8th, 1991! The Mississippi Valley Textile Museum officially opened on this day. Here, we can see a lively group celebrating our open doors, including the board President at the time, Alex Hughes. #MVTM #textilemuseum #ontariomuseums #almonteontario

Meet Doris Sillibourne, born in 1894 in England. During WWI, she helped out at the local hospital, where she met Romeo Chevrier, a wounded Canadian airman. They married and moved to Canada, settling in St. Lambert, QC! #MVTM #textilemuseum #ontariomuseums #almonteontario

This art piece is part of a series of fabric collage tapestries made by Johnnene Maddison, depicting the London Shamrocks! They were an all-woman basketball and softball team that won the Eastern Canadian Championship, 1945. #MVTM #textilemuseum #ontariomuseums #almonteontario

This rather stiff-looking device is aptly named: a stiffness tester! It’s used to test the stiffness of the wool, by hanging a sample for a determined amount of time. #MVTM #textilemuseum #ontariomuseums #almonteontario

In 2020, the #MVTM proclaimed Pride Month and flew a Pride flag, which was torn down and vandalized. The town rallied and raised thousands of dollars to replace the flag and purchase others for businesses to fly around town! Have a safe #PrideMonth, everyone! #almonteontario

Could your work picnic ever be so orderly? The employees of Harding Carpet Mills, ON and their families are all lined up and looking their best for a get-together in 1927! #MVTM #textilemuseum #ontariomuseums #almonteontario

This glass negative may have a bit of a ghostly appearance, but it clearly shows a woman working on a factory’s mechanical loom. With her long skirt, apron, and pinned-up hair, this photo likely dates from 1860 - 1900! #MVTM #textilemuseum #ontariomuseums #almonteontario

We're a day late, but who says Mother’s Day is the only day to show appreciation for mothers and mother figures? This chocolate box has a lovely poem about the support and comfort they provide. The poem is in the alt text! #MVTM #textilemuseum #ontariomuseums #almonteontario

While there are many styles of quilts, crazy quilts were all the rage in the late 1800s! They're made with scraps of fabric that can be as expensive as they can be cheap. It all comes together to form an eye-catching piece! #MVTM #textilemuseum #ontariomuseums #almonteontario

How cool is this shot? These 2 workers at Collie Mill in Appleton, Ontario, are winding the warp, ca. 1948, making it easier to feed the thread into the looms. #MVTM #textilemuseum #ontariomuseums #almonteontario

How eye-catching is this bold fleece coat? It was made at Collie Mill in Appleton, ON. The Collie family operated the mill from 1937 - 1987, but it opened as the Teskey Woolen Mill in 1862. Would you wear it? #MVTM #textilemuseum #ontariomuseums #almonteontario

How sweet is this moment? This is a picture of Jean and David Collie, in 1946, enjoying a good swing in the sun. The Collie Mill in Appleton, Ontario can be seen in the background. #MVTM #textilemuseum #ontariomuseums #almonteontario

Monday, already? This exquisite needlework is part of a series of 7 hand embroidered tea towels crafted by Johnnene Maddison. One for each day of the week, they depict women from the WWII period and their role in history. #MVTM #textilemuseum #ontariomuseums #almonteontario

Don’t you just love a good tree planting? This tree was planted in 1953 at the Rosamond Memorial Hospital in Mississippi Mills, Ontario, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Alexandra Club H.A. #MVTM #textilemuseum #ontariomuseums #almonteontario

Who doesn't love a good musical? The MVTM is excited to share that "The Millworkers' Musical" will be taking place on behalf of the MVTM at Almonte Old Town Hall in November. Give their page a follow for exciting updates! facebook.com/profile.php?id…

This device is a warp tension meter. It’s used when weaving to measure the fabric’s tension, and whether the weave will be too tight or too loose. This one likely dates to the 1960s and clearly belonged in the “weave room”! #MVTM #textilemuseum #ontariomuseums #almonteontario

Our website is currently down! We appreciate your patience as we work to get it up and running. We're still open from 1pm-4pm, today through Saturday!

Is it too early for lunch, yet? Pictured here are some lovely workers having lunch at the Zephyr Textile Mill, ON in 1969. #MVTM #textilemuseum #ontariomuseums #almonteontario

We are celebrating local industry with this #MVTM bundle! For $35, you can treat yourself or someone else with a specialty MVTM mug and @HummingbirdChoc hot chocolate. For $75, we have the ultimate treat: the mug, hot chocolate, chocolate bar, and handwoven tea towel!