Harwood Station – circa 1890

This project will result in the development of a regional heritage museum. Located in the community of Harwood, the Museum will showcase the history of the Cobourg and Peterborough Railway as well as the impact it had on the development of the surrounding area in the 19th century.

Our Mission

The Mission of the Harwood Station Heritage Museum is to collect, educate, display, conserve and feature the history of the railroad and the surrounding area from its earliest settlement to its present status by providing heritage programs highlighting these areas.

Evolution into a Museum

In the early nineteenth century Harwood (originally named Sully) transformed from a small village into a commercial trading post. Its history evolved from the exploitation of the region’s natural resources by European settlers into the area. As a result, roads and railways were built to connect Harwood with the surrounding areas.

The Cobourg and Peterborough Railway was constructed under a charter obtained in the year 1852, authorizing the building of the railroad from Cobourg to Peterborough.

Friends of the Harwood Waterfront

The Friends of the Harwood Waterfront are a group of concerned residents from the surrounding area who formed an association to plan for improvements to the waterfront area in Harwood while also incorporating the site’s railway heritage. A master plan has been created to include the development of a heritage museum showcasing the cultural heritage features of the area. The original train station located in Harwood, built in 1853, was dismantled and moved to Roseneath, Ontario, in 1901 where it became the Orange Hall. The current owners offered the building, at no charge, to assist the group in achieving their vision of a local heritage museum to be located in Harwood.

The Harwood Station Heritage Museum Foundation (HSHM Foundation)

The Harwood Station Heritage Museum Foundation (HSHM Foundation) will be incorporated as a charitable organization and formed to develop, and execute, a plan to raise sufficient funds and operational knowledge to support taking the Museum from “Vision” to “Reality”.

The Foundation is seeking individuals who have a strong interest in, or are passionate about our heritage and would be willing participants in assisting the Foundation achieving both the “Vision” and “Mission”…