Blog

Two collections made their way into the archives this summer amid fires, smoke filled skies, and COVID gathering restrictions. The collections were paintings by different artists that had a lovely connection to our community. What was even more amazing was that the artists were, at one point, neighbours on the same avenue. Were they friends?

Aubree Jeffrey was formally edging a flower bed at Haney House. She says she has learned a lot about gardening from Head Gardener Debi Stone. Her greatest contribution this summer was a one of a kind find, though.

A train stopped at the Village . . .

A collection of large cedar root baskets came to us at R.J. Haney Heritage Village and Museum. The Secwepemc baskets were created for sale in our community. The donor, Delta Saddler, explained that her parents, Max and Twink Ladner, had bought them when they lived in Salmon Arm. The baskets had been in their Vernon home for years. Delta inherited them but it was time for her to downsize. I explained that we no longer collect First Nations artefacts at the Salmon Arm Museum. We collect for our...

Pressman Egnar Sandahl was a difficult character to research. It didn't help that the historical records did not spell his name consistently! A little perseverance and researchers were able to fill in the blanks. His was, without a doubt, the Observer's employee of the month in 1913.

Every year staff tally the stats, an exercise that tells us that we should be very proud of the work both staff and volunteers have accomplished. It has been an unforgetable year!

An Internet search for "heritage" brings up DNA testing and hints on how to fill in blanks in your family tree. This curator thinks that heritage covers a much wider range of topics. It is living and organic, meaning different things in different contexts to different people . . .

Avenues traditionally run east and west, while streets run north and south don't they????

There's a great new digital walking tour of Downtown Salmon Arm. Lace up your boots and join us in a tour . . .

When a new archival donation arrives, we all get excited - - especially if it connects to other collections in the archives. This package was like an unexpected Christmas present!