PAST...PRESENT...FUTURE

THE COMMANDA REGION

OUR AREA IS ABSOLUTELY RICH WITH HISTORY. HERE'S A LOOK AT THE COMMUNITIES INCLUDED.
past...present...future

Arnold Gehrke: Memories Of A Commanda Veteran

THE COMMANDA GENERAL STORE MUSEUM HAD THE HONOUR OF SPEAKING TO 99-YEAR-OLD VETERAN ARNOLD GEHRKE ABOUT GROWING UP IN THE REGION AND THE SWEET MEMORIES OF HIS CHILDHOOD.
PAST...PRESENT...FUTURE

ARNOLD GEHRKE: MEMORIES OF A COMMANDA VETERAN

IN THIS TOUCHING VIDEO, 99-YEAR-OLD VETERAN ARNOLD GEHRKE SHARES HIS STORY OF SERVING OVERSEAS DURING WORLD WAR II, AND HIS BITTERSWEET MEMORY OF RETURNING TO HIS FAMILY.
PAST...PRESENT...FUTURE

RODNEY FRY

In this segment, 93-year-old Rodney Fry shares his funny and touching memories, and his family shows us keepsakes dating back to 1885. The museum is looking for more stories from Commanda’s past. Please contact us at MUSEUMINCOMMANDA@GMAIL.COM
PAST...PRESENT...FUTURE

Is the commanda museum haunted?

Volunteers have reported strange voices and sometimes artifacts seem to move on their own. While shooting a story for the museum’s ongoing genealogy video series, we also had an experience that left us speechless! Check out this story about a spirit named “Amelia” who may dwell at the Commanda Museum.
PAST...PRESENT...FUTURE

STEVE HOLMAN

The Commanda General Store Museum was built in 1885 by James and Elizabeth Arthurs. Fast forward 138 years - and we sat down with the Arthurs' great-grandson Steve Holman to delve deeper into their family tree and see the wonderful photographs from this bygone era. 
PAST...PRESENT...FUTURE

rOD RENNETTE

In 1886, Nicholas De Rennette left behind a wife and 7 children to emigrate from Belgium to the Nipissing region. When the family was reunited they were plagued by tragedy, but still managed to build a new life together. As part of the Commanda Museum's genealogy project, we spoke to Nicholas's great-grandson, Rod, who lives on the Rennette homestead to this day. He read a letter written by Nicholas - and it brought the room to tears. Please enjoy this amazing story about tragedy, triumph and unbreakable family bonds.
PAST...PRESENT...FUTURE

Larry & tamara bain

In approximately 1880, the Bain brothers emigrated from Scotland to Canada. It took incredible strength and determination to forge a new life in the unsettled Nipissing region. Still, the Bains prospered. Tragedy struck the family in 1935 when Ed Bain died of strep throat - leaving behind his wife Mae and their six-week-old baby. This is the story of how Mae’s fortitude created a legacy that lives on to this day and inspired generations of women in their family.
PAST...PRESENT...FUTURE

WANDA AULTMAN

Wanda Aultman used to visit the Commanda General Store as a child to buy chocolate. She's now 81-year-old, and we were with her as she walked about what is now the Commanda Museum.
PAST...PRESENT...FUTURE

JUDY MERRICK

Was it destiny or a remarkable coincidence that brought Judy Merrick to Commanda from Brampton? In the latest story from the Commanda Museum Genealogy Project, Judy and her young grandchildren share why they are delving into their family's past.
PAST...PRESENT...FUTURE

ROLLIE & SHARON FRY

Last year, we met Rodney Fry. This time to speak to Rodney’s son Rollie and his wife Sharon, who have been documenting the family’s history. We explore how the Fry family’s history is intertwined with other families in the region, we see family treasures dating back to the 19th century, and how they uncovered a spooky footprint from the past!
PAST...PRESENT...FUTURE

Ernie Bain

92-year-old Ernie Bain has a legacy in Commanda and the surrounding area that will be felt for generations to come. As an officer with Ontario's Ministry of Natural Resources in the 1950's, he originated the Loring Deer Yard and saved the lives of tens of thousands of these beautiful wild animals.