Picture R.J. Haney Heritage Village mid-winter blanketed by a fresh
snowfall. One of the volunteers, Rosemary Wilson, has shoveled the
driveway. A truck pulls up. Unannounced, Danley Carriage and Wheel is
about to deliver the last of the vehicles its owner, Dwayne Danley, has
contracted to restore. The vehicle is historic. It is a cutter – a
small horse drawn sleigh. The project, started almost a year and a half
earlier, is coming to a close.
Danley takes General Manager Susan Mackie through his restoration. He
is a pro. He shows Susan the parts he has replaced and saved for the
curator. He knows she’ll want them. Susan marvels. There are Robertson
screws. She knows her history. The screws are old enough for this
restoration.
The seat has been repaired and reupholstered in a rich red-burgundy
fabric. Susan smiles. Wouldn’t you just like to put on a fur coat and a
muff and go for a ride?
The artefact will be on display in the building we affectionately
call the Hanna Shed. It is a modified salt box style single gable
building that came from Hanna and Hanna orchard. The democrat, doctor’s
buggy and a few other cutters sit there now. A total of four vehicles
are now restored.
The Shuswap Community Foundation funded this project.
“We’re so grateful,” Susan says. “With all the work we do taking
care of the buildings and with the Montebello project starting this
month at the Village, we don’t have the resources to restore these
artefacts.”
People need to see what a lovely job Dwayne Danley did. The curator,
yours truly, is making plans to take this cutter on the road to town. I
am hoping to arrange for the cutter and maybe a fur coat or two to be
at the Mall at Piccadilly for Heritage Week. See you in the third week
of February!