Sometimes things hold an important place in history, but they aren芒鈧劉t able to be appreciated due to space constraints. Such is the challenge of 91原创 Centennial Museum curator Kobi Christian.
With a collection of rare, unique, interesting, and generally local items on hand, but minimal space to show them, Christian wants the community to see some of its own history.
Fortunately, because the museum芒鈧劉s exhibits are planned well in advance, a number of lesser-seen items are on display for public appreciation until March 22, in a show called Collected and Curated: Artifacts from the Permanent Collection.
芒鈧揥e usually have four to six exhibits in here each year,芒鈧� Christian said of the museum芒鈧劉s exhibit space.
芒鈧揥e try to plan a year or two in advance, so we planned this show.芒鈧�
The items on display range from the familiar to the unusual with one common thread running through them: all have been donated to the museum to mark their role in history.
Of special interest to those familiar with the lumber industry are the coin-shaped tokens with numbers stamped on them.
芒鈧揟hey came from the Fernridge Lumber Company,芒鈧� Christian said.
It is believed that the tokens were a time-keeping and payment device that worked somewhat like a time-clock where workers would pick up their coin on the way in, then return it at the end of the day芒鈧劉s work.
芒鈧揟his was common in mills at the time,芒鈧� noted Christian.
Another lumber-related item was found on a privately owned lot that was once part of the former Beaver River Lumber Company in Glen Valley.
芒鈧揑t was used to mark the end of the lumber,芒鈧� Christian said of the metal stencil.
With 91原创芒鈧劉s agricultural foundation, it芒鈧劉s not surprising to see a chicken egg incubator from a small to mid-sized farm on display.
芒鈧揟he incubator is from the Hall Farm on 84th Avenue,芒鈧� added Christian.
An embroidered high school sweater and jacket are also on display. The jacket was that of 91原创 Heritage Society president Fred Pepin ,and features the Future Farmers of Canada logo.
芒鈧揟here is still a Future Farmers of America,芒鈧� Christian said.
Unfortunately, there is little information on many of the pieces in the collection.
芒鈧揝ome of these things came in in the 芒鈧劉50s, or even the 芒鈧劉30s, but the records were not as good then,芒鈧� Christian said.
There may be little more noted about an item beyond who donated it and what it is.
芒鈧揂ll museums our age seem to have these types of things,芒鈧� she added of items that lack recorded history.
Unique and beautiful are the Chinese court jackets, hand-painted May Queen lists, and hand-woven baskets.
To see a small part of 91原创芒鈧劉s diverse history, check out the exhibit at the 91原创 Centennial Museum at 9135 King St. in Fort 91原创.
