The Open Door

With urban farming being the latest trend and home gardens becoming popular again, we remember a time when almost everyone had their own vegetable patch at home. In this episode, domestic historial Meg Grimsmo joins us to explore the World War II era Victory Garden and why they may be the perfect cure for what ails us today.

One of the compelling discoveries about The Brown Homestead was its use as a tavern between around 1809 and the late 1830’s, but our modern assumptions about what that means may not be accurate. In this episode, we raise a glass and swap stories about the complex role of taverns in Colonial society with medical historian, Dan Malleck, director of Brock University’s Centre for Canadian Studies.

Why do we cut down evergreen trees and put them in our living rooms every December? Why do people kiss under the mistletoe? And what is plum pudding, anyway? In this episode, we explore the curious origins of our Christmas traditions with domestic historian and historic interpreter Meg Grimsmo from the Nelles Manor Museum.

In this episode, we dig into the complicated question of what to do about the controversial statue to Private Alexander Watson in front of St. Catharines City Hall. Brock University professors Michael Ripmeester and Russell Johnston examine the complex history of the monument and walk us through ways that its challenging narrative offers opportunities for education and reconciliation.

In this episode, we celebrate Halloween with a walk on the spooky side! Historian and author Dr. Adam Montgomery, the creator of Canadian Cemetery History, leads us through the history of burial grounds and death rituals as we explore how cemeteries, as historical sites, have an important role to play in helping us celebrate life and shape a better future.

In 2015, The Anarchist’s Guide to Historic House Museums challenged and outraged the orthodox heritage community. In this episode, we catch up with the Museum Anarchist himself, Franklin Vagnone, to talk about how embracing change has helped progressive historic sites survive Covid, and how continuing to reinvent the heritage paradigm will be essential to thriving in the new normal.

The history of Upper Canada begins with the Loyalists, but they remain misunderstood and sometimes misrepresented. In this episode, Dr. Timothy Compeau, an expert on the cultural history of the Revolutionary period, joins us to delve into the enigma, dispel some of the myths and consider what understanding the Loyalists can teach us about the present and future.

In our inaugural episode, we explore the project that inspired the podcast, the restoration of The Brown Homestead. Founders Andrew and Jennifer Humeniuk revisit their journey from the purchase of the historic site in 2015 through reimagining its future as a community cultural space where people gather to celebrate our heritage and work together to shape a brighter future.

The Open Door is a brand new podcast presented by The Brown Homestead in the Niagara Peninsula. This podcast will share our journey of reimagining our historic site as a cultural and educational venue and explore ways that other sites can be catalysts for change in their communities. You can also expect great conversations with guests about historical issues that relate directly to the world we’re living in as we work to create a better future – by exploring the past. So make sure to join us for the first full episode, coming soon!