We're Moving (Domains)!

Stay tuned, Commanda Museum is updating and upgrading our website. In a few weeks, you will now find us at commandamuseum.org

Commanda GENERAL STORE Museum

4077 Hwy. 522 Commanda, ON P0H 1J0

Phone: (249) 968-0397

Email: MUSEUMINCOMMANDA@GMAIL.COM

Instagram: @commandastoremuseum

Facebook: Commanda General Store Museum

Come explore the area's most beautiful historical building! Visit our café & gift shop. See you soon!
Hours of Operations this SUMMER 2024
Open 10am to 5pm
Wednesday to Sunday
July 01 to September 02

past...present...future

THE COMMANDA GENERAL STORE MUSEUM

The Commanda General Store Museum is a unique example of late 19th century Victorian commercial architecture. The focus of this building, erected in 1885 by James and Elizabeth Arthurs, is Commanda’s central location on the Old Rousseau-Nipissing settlers’ route which continues today as the central location for visitors to the whole region.

The Commanda General Store is historically significant for its association with the development of Commanda and the surrounding area. During the boom years of settlement in the Southern Canadian Shield, the store was the hub of the community. It served as an important supply centre for pioneer lumbermen and farmers, and families came from near and far to hear about what was going on with their friends and neighbours.

Visitors who step through the doors of the Commanda Museum instantly go back in time. The counters, flooring and goods date back to 1885 -1934.

PAST...PRESENT...FUTURE

COMMANDA's heritage

Commanda is nestled in the Parry Sound District of Ontario. The picturesque region is filled with majestic forests and lakes, and the vibrant community has a rich history that is intertwined with the surrounding area.

Commanda has strong Indigenous ties and is named for an Ojibway chief. In the late 1800's, the community sprang up as a way station along the Old Nipissing Road, one of the last routes built to entice immigrants to Ontario's near north. This road was a colonization route constructed between 1866 and 1873 to promote settlement in the last section of the province deemed suitable for agriculture. The Commanda General Store was an important fixture of the community that also features a flour mill, sawmill, hotel and churches plus a school, as well as a variety of merchants.

The Commanda General Store was sold in 1907 by James Arthurs who went on to serve as the area's Member of Parliament and as a Senator from 1908-35. He also briefly commanded the 162th Battalion Canadian Expeditionary Force. The structure continued to function as a general store until 1977. It also served as the community Post Office from 1911 to 1977.

Reflecting the lessened importance of the Rosseau-Nipissing Road, and the increased importance of Highway 522 and east to west travel, the store was moved a few lots north to its current location in 1933 to take advantage of the highway trade.

The Commanda General Store is the only Victorian aged, commercial structure to survive from the pioneer era.

Around Town

These are early photos of Commanda looking south toward the direction of the future Highway 522, from the top of Carr's Hill on Old Nipissing/ Rosseau Colonization Road. The village of Commanda was situated on both sides of Commanda Creek where it crosses the Old Nipissing Road. The photos show the original General Store location before it was relocated to its present site. The original settlement road to Trout Creek ran along an old Indian Trail north of present Highway 522 which became the old Barrett Settlement road.

There were many establishments in Commanda, including a hotel, coffin factory, garage, church and a school house. The General Store was later sectioned into four parts and pulled across the terrain on rollers, by horses, to its present location in 1933, and re-built. Across from the present General Store location, was the Commanda/Evers Hotel.

The Lutheran Church, built in 1883 as a Presbyterian Church, was shared between the Presbyterians and Lutherans until1926 when the Lutherans purchased the church and moved it to the lot behind the Commanda Store. The Lutheran Church operated until 2016, at which time it was decommissioned and give to the Commanda General Store Museum.