Long-lost piece of history now hangs in Baden library
Baden’s library visitors are signing out their books under a long-lost piece of local history.
A vintage “Baden Public Library” sign has been discovered, restored, and now hangs in its proper place above the service desk at the Baden branch of the Region of Waterloo Library.
This piece of Baden history was returned to its rightful place this spring, thanks to the dedication of Greg and Adrienne Shinnie. From 1995 to 2005, the Shinnies owned the historic Baden Emporium and several surrounding buildings on Snyder’s Road in the heart of the village.
One of the old buildings was an historic tin shop. During a renovation, Greg made a surprising discovery in a crawl space: an old wooden sign that had been repurposed as a concrete form. Despite its rough condition, it caught his eye. Curious, he carefully had a closer look and discovered a library sign from Baden’s past.
The paint was faded and the lettering barely visible. One side read “Merchant Tailor,” while the other said “Baden Public Library.” Time had worn away much of the paint, but enough remained to make out the original colours and lettering.
To bring the wooden sign back to life, Greg enlisted the help of his friend Lance Russwurm, a local artist. Russwurm is best known for painting beloved murals in Wilmot Township, as well as two well-known paintings of Castle Kilbride.
So how did the sign end up hidden there? It turns out, this spot on Snyder’s Road once housed Baden’s original library on its upper level. That small library served the village in the later decades of the 1800s, then closed in the early 1900s (the library has been at its current location at 115 Snyder’s Road East since 1985).
That library sign, once discarded and forgotten, has now returned to its original purpose. It’s a charming relic of Baden’s past and a tribute to the resourcefulness of earlier generations who found new uses for old things.
Greg and Adrienne chose to donate the restored sign back to the Baden library in honour of their friend, Mary-Eileen McClear, who was Baden’s beloved storyteller. Mary created the Story Barn, a magical little space tucked behind her family’s property on Snyder’s Road West. She also founded the Baden Storytellers Guild.
Mary died in 2021, and is remembered for her deep love for stories and how she generously shared her gifts with generations of listeners. The Shinnies hope their gift will serve as a tangible link to the past and a beautiful reminder that stories still live on in every corner of town.
Did you know?
The Region of Waterloo operates 11 library branches (plus one satellite location in Clyde!) across our four rural townships. These libraries offer a wide collection of books and other resources, such as DVDs, board games, hobby kits, and park passes.
Thanks to Andrea Berwick-Shinnie for providing photos and information for this story