Waterloo Region Museum is the entrance to Doon Heritage Village, a picturesque 60 acre living history village open seasonally from May 1 to December 22. One admission price includes entry to the village and museum exhibits.
Doon Heritage Village shows visitors what life was like in Waterloo Region in the year 1914. The village comes to life with knowledgeable interpreters dressed in authentic 1914 clothing and features historic buildings, farm animals and fun activities the whole family will enjoy.
Explore Doon Heritage Village:
| Railway Station |
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The Railway Station was originally located in Petersburg, Waterloo County. Constructed in 1856. Original owner, the Grand Trunk Railway. Gift of Canadian National Train Engine 894. Original owner, Canadian Pacific Railway. Constructed in 1911. Gift of the City of Kitchener, 1964. |
| Martin House |
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Old Order Mennonites wanted to stop the growing influence of the outside world on their daily lives. Consequently, the Old Order Mennonites chose to hold fast to their religion and traditional rural ways. The plain, unadorned interior of this house reflects their simple, unworldly approach to living. Peter Martin House: Originally located in Waterloo Township, Waterloo County. Constructed around 1820. Original owner, Peter Martin. Gift of the Waterloo Regional Heritage Foundation, 1974. |
| Shantz Barn |
 The Shantz Barn, originally built in 1810, features a large drive floor and a mow, which would be used to store hay and straw. The rack-lifter (the circular disks mounted on the inside of the south wall) made it possible to lift the loaded hay rack high up into the air, allowing the farmer to pile the hay or straw into very tall mounds. |
| Shuh Barn |
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Wagon Drive Shed Built by Simeon Martin, 1969. Barns Originally located on the "Old Shuh Farm", Kitchener, Waterloo County. Gift of the County of Waterloo, 1957. |
| Weavery |
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Originally located at the Thomson Family farm in Waterloo County. Constructed around 1845. Original owner, Jacob Z. Detweiler. Gift of the Swedenborgian Church in 1973. |
| Dry Goods and Grocery Store |
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Originally located in Delaware, Middlesex County. Constructed around 1830. Gift of A.R. Goudie, 1957. |
| Jubilee Park |
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Recreated in 2009. Gift of the Friends of Waterloo Region Museum in honour of the village's 50thanniversary. |
| Harness Shop |
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Reproduced in 2016. |
| Tailor Shop and Post Office |
 The tailor of 1914 offered both ready-made and custom-made clothing for men. In addition to tailoring, mending, cleaning and pressing, he also sold bow-ties, collars, hats and underwear.
The main way of communicating in 1914 was by letter. It was possible to stay in touch for one cent for postcards and for two cents for letters. Rural mail delivery was available, but village residents had to collect their mail at the Post Office each day. Originally located at Wellesley, Waterloo County. Constructed around 1870. Original owner, George Bellinger. Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Mattiussi, 1969. |
| Sawmill |
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Originally located on the Bartholomew Property, Strasburg, Waterloo County. Gift of the Pannill Veneer Co., 1967. |
| Blacksmith Shop |
 Blacksmithing was a vital rural trade in the life of a small community and survived well into the 20th century. The blacksmith did general farrier work like shoeing horses, as well as repair work on ploughs, wheels and even automobiles. Often the seasonal work taking place in the fields and the needs of the farmer dictated the type of work in which the blacksmith was engaged.
Reproduced in 2004, after the Valentine Gies Blacksmith Shop, built around 1894 and originally located in Conestogo, Waterloo County. |
| McArthur House |
 By 1914, Peter McArthur was a popular author with a nation-wide audience thanks to his columns featured in the Toronto Globe and the Farmer's Advocate. His house, which is quite rustic for a 1914 home, reflects his romantic vision of rural life and his attachment to Canada's pioneer past.
Originally located in Ekfrid Township, Middlesex County. Constructed around 1835. Original owner, the McArthur Family. Gift of Donald Sinclair, 1962. |
| Meat Market |
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Reproduced in 1965 with assistance of J.M. Schneider Ltd. Restored in 2010. |
| Repair Shop |
 By the early 1900s, wagons made by large manufacturers and those sold through catalogues forced many rural tradesmen to alter the kinds of services they offered. The woodworker in this shop would have repaired the wooden parts of wagons, buggies, wheels and farm machinery, while the blacksmith would have done the metal work.
Originally located on the "Old Shuh Farm", Kitchener, Waterloo County. Gift of County of Waterloo, 1957. |
| Seibert House |
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Originally located in Kitchener, Waterloo County. Constructed around 1850. Last owner, the Seibert Family. Gift of City of Kitchener, 1964. |
| Sararas-Bricker Farm |
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Sararas House originally located in Wilmot Township, Waterloo County. Constructed around 1840. Original owner, Nicholas Sararas. Gift of the Pennsylvania-German Folklore Society, 1970. |
| Bricker Barn |
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Bricker Barn originally located in Waterloo Township, Waterloo County. Constructed around 1845. Original owner, Abraham and Mary Thoman. Gift of John Steckley, 1976. |
| Freeport Church |
 The church was the focal point for spiritual concerns and much of the community's social life. The ministry served as a moral guidepost for the community, encouraging the congregation to take notice of the evils of the world and to join the fight to reform society.
Originally located at Freeport, Waterloo County. Constructed in 1861. Original owner, the United Brethren Church. Gift of the United Church of Canada, 1962. Limerick Cemetery relocated from Waterloo Township, Waterloo County, 1966. |
| Fire Hall |
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Reproduced in 1974. Gift of Economical Mutual Insurance Co. |
Outside markets were easily accessible to much of rural Waterloo County in 1914. The Grand Trunk and Canadian Pacific railway systems connected small rural communities with the larger urban centres in the county and with destinations farther away such as Chicago, Toronto and Montreal. Train stations would have featured the latest in technology, including telegraph service (often called the "Victorian Internet"), electricity, telephones, typewriters, and, of course, steam technology.
Railway, 1968.
Mennonites from Pennsylvania were among the first European settlers to come to Waterloo County, and they helped to make this area one of the most productive agricultural regions in Canada.
The Shuh Barn, like all bank barns, features an easily accessible upper level that was used to store feed, bedding and machinery and a lower level, which housed the livestock.
Waterloo County has a heritage steeped in the weaving tradition. By 1914 large scale industry had taken over most of the textile production though there were still a few independent weavers making a modest living using recycled household textiles to make rugs.
The store was the focus for commercial and social activity in the community. With increased competition from larger urban centres and mail order catalogues, the store owner's greatest advantage was the fact that he offered credit; Eaton's and other mail order stores required cash payment only. The store keeper also installed modern conveniences, such as an ice box, electricity, a gas pump, and telephone in an attempt to better serve his customers.
Public parks with flower beds, natural vistas, gates and archways, gazebos and grandstands became commonplace at the turn of the last century. Named in honour of Queen Victoria (1819-1901), who celebrated her Golden Jubilee in 1887 and her Diamond Jubilee in 1897.
The harness maker focused on making, selling, and repairing horse harnesses and other horse-related goods. They would also make money repairing other leather goods such as shoes, skates, and luggage.
This sawmill would have been powered by a steam engine. However, with the number of local trees large enough to be used for lumber declining by 1914, sawmills like this one were under-used.
Meat markets with meat curing and processing areas were common in small towns and villages. With a meat market of this size, the butcher would slaughter the animals on the farm, and bring the beef, pork, and poultry back to the shop, where he would prepare different cuts of meat and sausage for the local community.
Not everyone living in a small village would have farmed for a living, and the Seibert House reflects how a reasonably successful tradesman or small business owner's family might have lived. Since their money wasn't tied up with the workings of a farm, this family could afford to buy some modern conveniences, such as a phonograph, a telephone, and other mass-produced goods. 
Large mixed-use farms were typical in 1914 Waterloo County. On a mixed farm, the farmer would grow a variety of cash crops, as well as raise various types of livestock, such as dairy or beef cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, chickens and geese.
The Bricker Barn is a good example of an overshot bank barn. The structure is built into the side of a hill, and features a ramp allowing easy access to the upper level of the barn. The overshot, or overhanging feature, provides shelter for livestock and equipment storage.
Fire was one of the great fears in rural society. If a barn or home caught fire, years of work and savings could disappear in a matter of hours. Members of the community joined together to form volunteer fire brigades to help combat fires. The fear of fire would eventually lead to the formation of mutual fire assurance companies to offer insurance against loss due to fire.