By Emily Stonehouse

In the heart of Gooderham, there lies a piece of Haliburton County history.

Barr’s General Store was opened when Peter Barr moved from Irondale to Gooderham to start the shop in the late 1800s. The store formed a community around it, with the hamlet becoming a hustling and bustling destination, servicing the Irondale River, Monck Road, Buckhorn Road, and the IB&O Railway.

Located at 1023 Gooderham Street, the shop has evolved and changed over the years, but in its booming days, carried “a little bit of everything,” according to Amber MacDuff, the new tenant of the historic space.

MacDuff has called Gooderham ‘home’ her entire life. She recalls the building being a staple in the community for as long as she can remember, and pinches herself that she’s created a world inside it.

And not just any world. An entirely miniature world, meticulously built and crafted with the next generation in mind. “Everything here is designed for little people,” said MacDuff, the director and founder of Highlands Childcare. “Kids need a place to just be kids.”

MacDuff has a background in nursing and personal support work. She has supported individuals of all ages and stages in their lives, and has dedicated her life to helping others.

But when she started to grow her family, and the strains of shift work became apparent, the lack of childcare in the county began to weigh on her day to day. “It’s a huge grey area in our community,” said MacDuff. “Especially in a county this size, where you have to drive everywhere for work.”

Before long, the wheels started to turn for MacDuff to open her own childcare facility in the heart of Gooderham. With a Pinterest board loaded with ideas and a husband in the trades, MacDuff was able to execute her dream into a reality.

Pulling from her background of support work, MacDuff knew what would be needed to create a desirable destination for young minds. “This project is deeply personal,” she said, “and deeply rooted in giving back.” With a miniature village crafted, including a restaurant, an ice cream parlor, and even a tiny Barr’s General Store, the facility is loaded with toys, books, and games, specifically designed for open-ended, imaginative play.

MacDuff has hired a full staff to operate the facility, which can accommodate 24 pre-schoolers, and up to four toddlers. With her goal to become fully licensed in the coming weeks, MacDuff hopes to open her doors by next month.

And once she opens, she intends to be fully available. With hours from 7:15 a.m. to 6 p.m., MacDuff hopes to offer parents the opportunity to have enough time to drive to and from work, without leaving early to accommodate pick-ups. “There’s been a lot of interest for sure,” she said. “The community is entirely behind this project.”

The location at 1023 Gooderham Street has sat vacant for nearly a decade. It was purchased by Scott Crichton in 2015, who still owns the building, but the right tenant hadn’t come along until MacDuff approached earlier this year. “I think this is just great for the community,” said Crichton during a recent phone interview. “She’s putting something into the community that everyone wants and needs.”

Crichton shared that when he purchased the building over ten years ago, it was a passion project for the community of Gooderham. “It was in bad, bad, bad shape,” he said. “The easiest thing to do would have been to knock it down. But there was just too much heritage. So we rebuilt it, one wall at a time.”

Crichton and his wife, Susan Browne, along with his business partner Chris Birker, dedicated their time, money, and energy into properly restoring the exterior of the building, honouring the original shape and format of the old general store. “We’re very happy with it now,” said Crichton, noting that the main floor is set for Highlands Childcare, and there are two restored apartments upstairs. “We also needed housing in the area,” he said, “so we’re happy to have that.”

MacDuff is hopeful that Highlands Childcare will bring a new energy to the previously sleepy hamlet of Gooderham. “[We are] honoured to be part of bringing this space back to life,” she said. “This is more than opening a childcare centre. It’s about renewal. It’s about community investment. It’s about creating a space where families feel supported and children can learn, grow, and thrive right here at home.”

Highlands Childcare is privately owned and operated, and is currently in the process of becoming fully licensed through the Ministry of Education. MacDuff noted that her priorities are to offer structured, high-quality early learning programming with registered early childhood educators leading the classroom. She also aims to create meaningful local employment opportunities in a safe, nurturing environment, rooted in community values.

“This building has been lovingly restored with the hope of serving Gooderham again and soon it will be filled with the sounds of children, learning, and connection,” said MacDuff. “It’s about breathing life back into a space that was always meant to bring people together.”