Former Meaford Mayor Wally Reif and  Museum Board member and former Councillor Gunter Neumann helped to officially open a new permanent exhibit at the Meaford Museum on Friday.

The exhibit was researched and created by Museum Board member and volunteer Paul Ratcliff.

The display, entitled From Zero to 2000: Municipality of Meaford, tells the story of the settlement and development of the land that is now embraced by the Municipality of Meaford.

"Zero" was the name given in 1821 to the township which later became "St.Vincent" in 1834. The Municipality of Meaford was formed in 2000, joining the Townships of St. Vincent and Sydenham to the Town of Meaford.

One of the many interesting facts illustrated in the exhibit notes that the population of the area now within the Municipality peaked in 1881 at 10,000 people; a number that was not reached again for 120 years.

From Zero to 2000 was made possible by a generous donation from St. Vincent Heritage Association, an organization that published the book, St. Vincent - A Beautiful Land in 2004, now on sale at the Museum.

The exhibit can be viewed at the Museum (winter hours - Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., or by appointment, admission by donation.