Our Blog is Moving!

Hey Folks, The Clayton McLain Memorial Museum has an updated and refreshed website and our blog is moving over there to join us. The CMMM lives at cmmmcutknife.ca and the blog link is here. Come on over and give the blog a follow as we emerge from our Covid-19 cocoon.

102 Years Young

Today is a special birthday for a special person.
On February 13, 1915, Ruby McLain Sleath was born in Illinois. In 1917, she moved with her parents, Robert and Luna McLain and her siblings, Lucille and Clayton McLain, to the Riding Hill District, east of Cut Knife. Sadly, little Lucille passed away soon after they arrived in Canada. Another sister, Alene (Hardy), was born in 1920.
Clayton McLain's interest and love of local history resulted in the wonderful collection and museum established in Cut Knife. The whole McLain family has donated and supported the museum since its beginnings in 1971. Clayton's wife, Elizabeth was the first curator/manager/promoter/etc.

Ruby, Len, and Marilynn  1947.

Ruby went on to marry, Leonard Sleath, and they welcomed daughter, Marilynn Sleath (Hampson).
All through this time, Ruby was very supportive of her brother's passion for history and his resultant collection.
After Clayton passed away from cancer in 1968 and the museum was established, Ruby and her family continued to support and donate family items to the museum.
In the years after Elizabeth passed away, the museum has remained a special interest for Ruby. She has an amazing memory that she has willingly shared with museum volunteers. She regularly donates to the museum. She is very interested in museum 'news' and developments and has attended museum events up until she was not physically able.

So today, Ruby is 102. Amazing. Even more amazing is her love of history, family and friends and her strong faith and positive attitude of life. AND her love of the museum at Cut Knife, the Clayton McLain Memorial Museum.

Thank you, Ruby, for being so supportive of the museum and the communities in which you have been a part.
There have been many times that I have visited Ruby in the Cut Knife Special Care Home to ask her questions about photographs or past events. After shedding light on my questions, she usually has something else to donate to the Museum. Another special item, photo or piece of archival history to add to our community's rich heritage.
Bless you, dear Ruby. Happy Birthday!

2016 Muse-ings 

It has been a while since I blogged for the museum. The changing nature of a volunteer board means that a 'techie' was difficult to find. So I am back at it.

The summer of 2016 brought a few changes to the museum. We no longer are the sole residents of our Archives building. The RM of Cut Knife have moved their office back to the building taking over the front two rooms. Our Archives still are located in the back room and overflowing to the basement of the building. We are in the process of locating new premises for the Archives.
The Board is grateful for the support of the RM of Cut Knife and appreciate the years that they had the full use of the building and the continued space the RM have granted us until other heated space can be found.

Some of our furnishings had to be moved to the Church at the museum. This meant that the Church is no longer open for touring. 

All of this has made it more difficult to continue the organization of the archives, but we are taking the time to do much needed data updates on the computer. 
This summer, there will be an inventory taken at the museum and a new modern bar code system will be implemented. The Board is updating our Acquisitions Policies to include a Collections Policy. This will make our policy much more relevant to the museum's situation today. 

The old buildings that house our museum artefacts are deteriorating rapidly and tough decisions need to be made in order to protect our collections.

Our fundraising crew of ladies once again put on a successful Ladies Night Out late in October. This raised over $5000.

Several volunteers have been updating our records on PastPerfect to include the Cut Knife Cemetery. In doing this we will be able to provide the RM with a new up-to-date map as well as keep our community histories updated.

We are really in need of new Board Members. There are several more people who are going off the Board this year. Your help in keeping this museum operating is needed now. Please consider letting your name stand for the CMMM Board. 


Lucille B.

2015 Museum Staff

Things will be winding up at the Museum in a few weeks, although, we still have an afternoon Kids' Camp scheduled for August 20^th and a Hi Pie Friday for August 21^st. Our guided tours will continue to run on into September, by appointment. So, we have lots of opportunities for you to meet our summer staff before the Clayton McLain Memorial Museum closes for the season!

2015 Summer Staff: Jayden, Aunica, Blake (Photographer: Colleen)

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Our Museum Manager, this year, is Colleen, a three year resident of the Cut Knife area. She, and her family, live on an acreage which, she claims, “would qualify as a zoo!” Many may recognize Colleen from her work at the Cut Knife Elementary School as a Special Education Assistant. Her favourite exhibit, although it was a tough choice, was Raymond's General Store; she especially likes seeing the original items for many of the name brands we use today.

Most Interesting Museum Experience: Colleen actually had the nerve to participate in one of Fort Battleford's Ghost Walks! Led by the light of a single lantern, the tour winds its way through the fort's buildings while the guide recounts ghostly historic tales. Colleen admits it was “a whole new experience” and, she says, she “would do it, again.”

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Jayden is a recent graduate of Cut Knife High School with plans to attend the Canadian Tourism College in Surrey, BC for her Adventure Tourism Diploma. She “loves being outdoors and working with people.” Jayden's favourite part of the CMMM is the Medical Building. She's had occasion to spend lots of time at hospitals over the years and finds it interesting how medical tools and procedures have changed over time.

Most Interesting Museum Experience: Jayden has also had a “spooky” musuem experience but this one was closer to home. She opened up the Duvall house one morning to find a footprint “clear as day” on the floor. Now, what's especially peculiar about that is, after Jayden had swept the floor and locked up the house for the night, no one had entered the building until Jayden unlocked the door the next morning - to find the footprint!

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Blake is a resident of Cut Knife and a student at Cut Knife High School. He's working towards his Journeymen's in either carpentry or electrical. Blake, like Jayden, loves the outdoors; he spends time hunting, fishing, hiking and camping. The Gallivan School House is Blake's favourite exhibit; he finds it “fascinating how our education has changed in the past 50 years.”

Most Interesting Museum Experience: Blake visited the Royal Ontario Museum and was impressed by “the shear size of it” with many levels of exhibits from a variety of ancient civilizations as well as an animal exhibit “which was cool.” Unfortunately, it was also so large that he became separated from his group and spent two hours wandering, looking for them, until finally meeting up with them, again, in the front lobby.

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Aunica is a student at Cut Knife High School and a resident of the area. She lives with her family on an acreage on the Rockhaven road. Aunica's favourite exhibit is the Train Station, not only because it's filled with so many different kinds of artifacts but because she also likes the architecture of the building.

Most Interesting Museum Experience: Aunica used to live in Calgary and, once, she spent a whole week at an overnight immersion camp at Heritage Park Historical Village. The participants dressed in period costumes; they learned all about life at the turn of the 20^th century and they lived it that way for 5 days!

Cemeteries and Family Histories

The Cut Knife Cemetery, like so many others in Saskatchewan, is over one hundred years old and, meandering through on a Sunday afternoon, it is easy to recognize the older graves. Lettering has eroded on many of the softer marble stones and names and dates on others have filled with mosses and lichens, both of which make the inscriptions difficult to read and the graves to identify. A few headstones have broken, a few plots have remained unmarked for reasons unknown. Perhaps, there are records that can fill in the gaps, perhaps not.

Cemetery records everywhere, especially the older ones, are notorious for being lost, or damaged, or destroyed in fire and flood. This makes it especially difficult for families who are searching, at a distance, for an ancestor. A grave connects a person to a place and provides a context; a grave marker records vital statistics. Sometimes, a marker can also shed light on a personality through the choice of epitaph, the presence of religious or association symbols, nicknames, etc. When both records are no longer accessible, a vital piece of family history is lost.

Many rural cemeteries are cared for by volunteers and are just not in a position, financially, to undertake large restoration projects. In addition, the volunteer hours required to clean, photograph and annotate a whole cemetery of headstones is probably not realistic, either. Maybe, a simpler approach would work . . . providing online accessibility to researchers. . . 24/7?

CanadianHeadstones.com is a volunteer-driven, not-for-profit organization that archives photos and text of cemetery grave markers submitted by individuals or cemetery committees. The CMMM has listed it on our Family History | Canada page as a genealogy resource. The Cut Knife Cemetery and the Carruthers Cemetery are already represented online with a number of photos to view for each.

The next time you're wandering through your local cemetery with your phone or digital camera, consider digitizing your family's headstones and sharing them online with those who may be searching for them. In all probability, if any part of the headstone is illegible, you or a family member would have the knowledge needed to record the correct information.

Acquisitions: To Accept a Donation . . . or Not?

On March 17, 2015, the Cut Knife Chamber of Commerce dissolved. The organization had been a part of the Town since, at least, the 1970s and had hosted some well loved community traditions including the May Long Weekend Garage Sale, Oktoberfest and the Canada Day Pancake Breakfast at the Museum. However, now that it had disbanded, the question arose: What was to become of its records?

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The first box of materials - with signed Transfer of Ownership, to the right. The items will be organized along timelines, described, filed in archival boxes and stored.

The Clayton McLain Memorial Museum and Archives has established a set of guidelines that helps us to determine whether, or not, a potential donation fits our mandate. These criteria were designed to keep us on track. Our display space, our storage space and our volunteer resources are limited. By following our Significance Worksheet, we eliminate duplication and we maintain the museum's focus on the stories directly relevant to the area.

Filing cabinet filled with the documentation for our artifacts and archival materials.

Honestly, if it were up to the individuals of the Acquisitions Committee and the Board of Trustees, we'd probably take in everything that was offered to the Museum. Most of us have a weakness for collections, for antiques, for documents and books or for items of a sentimental nature but that approach is unworkable. So, we've set up a procedural based upon what other museums are doing and we work at creating a unique, manageable collection reflective of the people, events and history of the Cut Knife area.

The Archives is a climate and light controlled, dust and pest free area.

The records of the Cut Knife Chamber of Commerce will be accepted into the Archives because they fit - to a tee - the requirement for historical significance: “. . . collection [that] contributes to changing the course of local history or [has] an impact on development of community.” The boxes of materials will be processed and, in time, will be available to the public for viewing or research.

Bert Martin's Cabin

Homesteading in the early 20th century, on the wind-whipped stretches of prairie was no easy task for new immigrants. Often, they knew little about farming and, even if they had experience working the land, surviving a Saskatchewan winter would still be a bitter struggle. Much of their success would depend upon how well they were able to make preparations before the cold weather hit.

A Prairie Winter View

First shelters were often considered temporary, constructed quickly with whatever materials a settler could afford or could find on the land. Tents and caves, sod or tarpaper shacks were common, replaced by log, frame or stone houses as the homesteader’s fortunes improved. Severe weather events like droughts, floods and cyclones were widespread as were their consequences - fire, insects, mud, and hailstones.

Bert Martin's Cabin, circa 1920

Winter would be the worst. Blizzards with extreme temperatures and wind chills, little visibility and drifting snow could shut down an entire area. A settler needed a supply of food and firewood to survive until the roads were passable, again. He would need wool blankets and quilts, lamp fuel and something to occupy the long days of solitude and isolation.

Bert Martin's Cabin, left wall

Bert Martin's Cabin, rear wall

Imagine living in a shelter like Bert Martin’s: A log cabin, plastered with mud to keep out the wind, a small wood stove for heat and a few small, windows to let in the weak winter sun. There’s a dirt floor, a single bed, a table and chair, a few pictures to decorate the walls but it’s a simple dwelling. Could you imagine living like that for a year or two? It’s humbling to think about how many homesteaders did.

[For more details and some great pictures, visit the Saskatchewan Settlement Experience at the Saskatchewan Archives Board website.]

Museums 101: The 2014 Version

Last Friday morning, John, a fellow CMMM Trustee, and I were on our way into North Battleford for the Museums Association of Saskatchewan (MAS) course, Museums 101, and wondering what-the-heck had we gotten ourselves into? Hosted by the Allen Sapp Gallery, the workshop was scheduled to be a 6 - 7 hour presentation based upon a 120 page, coiled, policy handbook. Not the most exciting subject matter, to be sure, but, boy, were we pleasantly surprised!

Dan Holbrow (standing) and Kim Houghtaling (seated)

Kim Houghtaling, Curator of the Art Gallery of Swift Current, and our MAS Representative, Dan Holbrow, led us through the material in a series of PowerPoints, readings and round-table discussions. Houghtaling was a great moderator and, almost effortlessly, synthesized the information presented by the group leaders. Holbrow showed us, time and again, how MAS had the resources to help with many of the situations our museums encounter. Our surroundings were enlivened by beautiful artwork; we were served lots of good food during our breaks and we were able to connect with other museum professionals.

And, that’s probably one of the more interesting things we learned from the course: When our volunteer-driven museum follows the procedures and protocols set out in the Standards for Saskatchewan Museums, we become professionals; our museum is seen to be managed in a professional manner. The CMMM has already incorporated many of these standards into its operations and we have our Curator, Lucille, to thank for that!

I also spoke to representatives from the Melfort and Sturgis Museums, from the Allen Sapp Gallery and from the Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame in Battleford. We shared tips on preserving heritage buildings; commiserated with each other about the agonies of grant writing and realized, no matter the age of the building, there will always be pests to control. I confess I’m taking away much more than I’d anticipated and, in the process, have met some wonderful people that I’m looking forward to seeing, again.

Ladies, It’s Your Turn!

October 25th is less than three weeks away! So, put away the jeans, let your families fend for themselves for the evening and come out for CMMM’s 2nd Annual Ladies’ Night Out. Walk the red carpet in disguise or dressed to the Nines. The choice is yours!

Last year’s event holds a lot of good memories for those who attended. The Baldwinton Hall was the scene of the crime, oops, location of the fundraiser and, of course, a heavy snow descended just prior to the event. This meant a scramble to clear the parking lot for red carpet arrivals but, as they say in the biz:  The show must go on.

And, go on, it did. A great meal was served; amazing entertainment catered to the ladies; there were prize-winning costumes and laughter rocked the hall till midnight. Rumour has it that two, count ‘em, two limousines were hired by guests for the evening. If you missed the fun in 2013, mark a star on your calendar for Saturday, October 25th. This year, we’re coming to Cut Knife.

The Jolly Roger Banquet Hall in Cut Knife will host the Clayton McLain Memorial Museum’s 2nd Annual Hollywood-themed Ladies’ Gala Evening**.  Details as follows:

Saturday, October 25th

5:30 p.m. – 12 Midnight

at the

Jolly Roger Banquet Hall in Cut Knife

located at the corner of

Steele Street & Battle Avenue

(formerly the Royal Canadian Legion building)

$50 per Diva / Group Table Rates (8) available

For tickets, please contact

Gale 306.398.4064 | Janice 306.398.4713 | Cheryl 306.398.4053 | Lucille 306.398.2619

or purchase at the

Innovation Credit Union

Tickets include Live and Varied Entertainment, Served Meal, Silent Auction, Door Prizes, Best Costume Prizes.

**Note this event is restricted to those 19 years of age and over.

ALL PROCEEDS TO THE CLAYTON MCLAIN MEMORIAL MUSEUM

Saying Goodbye to Museum Friends

It is not easy to say goodbye to long time friends of the museum. 

Museum boards in small towns tend to accumulate dedicated people who give years of their time and energy. And we are so grateful that they did because the museum would not exist without their many volunteer hours.

This year some have chosen to retire and though we are sad to see them go, we understand. Retirement is not a bad thing if one does it voluntarily. They can look back and see much that they accomplished. 

We wish Orval Ens, Lloyd How and Azelia Tesolin many more years of happy and healthy retirement. Your dedication to the Clayton McLain Memorial Museum will be remembered and appreciated.

As well this year we have had to say goodbye to Walter Pooler who passed away September 30, 2013. Walter was such an integral part of the museum it will seem strange without him.  From Christmas Lights, a ticket in his pocket for sale,  to lively dance music, Walter's ideas kept life interesting. His tours left visitors with a smile on their face and always with a bit of poetry. The following poem will forever be linked with Walter, a good man who loved his community and who gave it his all. 

Leetle Bateese ~ by Henry Drummond

 YOU bad leetle boy, not moche you care

How busy you're kipin' your poor gran'pere
Tryin' to stop you ev'ry day
Chasin' de hen aroun' de hay–
W'y don't you geev' dem a chance to lay?
        Leetle Bateese!

Off on de fiel' you foller de plough
Den w'en you're tire you scare de cow
Sickin' de dog till dey jomp de wall
So de milk ain't good for not'ing at all–
An' you're only five an' a half dis fall,
        Leetle Bateese!

Too sleepy for sayin' de prayer to-night?
Never min', I s'pose it'll be all right
Say dem to-morrow–ah! der he go!
Fas' asleep in a minute or so–
An' he'll stay lak dat till de rooster crow,
        Leetle Bateese!

Den wake us up right away toute suite
Lookin' for somet'ing more to eat,
Makin' me t'ink of dem long leg crane
Soon as dey swaller, dey start again
I wonder your stomach don't get no pain,
        Leetle Bateese!

But see heem now lyin' dere in bed,
Look at de arm onderneat' hees head;
If he grow lak dat till he's twenty year
I bet he'll be stronger dan Louis Cyr
An' beat all de voyageurs leevin' here,
        Leetle Bateese!

Jus' feel de muscle along hees back,
Won't geev' heem moche bodder for carry pack
On de long portage, any size canoe,
Dere's not many t'ing dat boy won't do
For he's got double-joint on hees body too,
        Leetle Bateese!

But leetle Bateese! please don't forget
We rader you're stayin' de small boy yet,
So chase de chicken an' mak' dem scare
An' do w'at you lak wit' your ole gran'pere
For w'en you're beeg feller he won't be dere–
        Leetle Bateese!

Hi! Pie and Coffee Thursdays

This summer we thought we'd try something different at the museum to attract more local residents to the museum on a regular basis. One of our new board members came up with the idea to host a weekly social event at the Duvall House, include pie and coffee, and have an ongoing silent auction.

It has been a great success bringing about 30 people each week to enjoy the visiting and of course, the pie.

Organizer, Gale, has enlisted the help of many pie makers in the community. Our capable summer staff have helped with the setting up, serving and cleanup each week. Two of the young staff members even made pies without being asked!

The exhibits in the museum and the sales shop has had more traffic as well. As well as locals there have been outside visitors.

It goes to show how just one new person with new ideas to try can really make a difference. 

Ancient Trail from Eagle Hills to Manitou Lake Mapped

2013.002.1

Lloyd How's interest in local history and archaeology is reflected in a new acquisition to our archives.

Ancient trails crisscrossed this country mapping the routes that were used by the First Nations, the European explorers, the North West Mounted Police and then the immigrants that followed. One such trail crossed the lands that Lloyd and his wife, Noreen, lived on before they retired to the town of Cut Knife. They both grew up seeing the evidence of the trail as indentations in the prairie soil and recognizing that it is disappearing.

This ancient trail was used by the local River Cree as they travelled from the area where the Battle and Saskatchewan Rivers joined at the Eagle Hills (Battleford) to Manitou Lake, Sounding Lake and further into Alberta.  These lakes are considered sacred by the First Nations and were often visited via the trail.

Anthony Henday used this trail in 1745 as he made his way  through what is now Western Canada.

Along the trail are many areas that were used for centuries for camping, hunting and trapping.
Lloyd consulted local Cree elder, Wally Simaganis, written historical accounts, and locals who remembered seeing the trail. Then he spent countless hours exploring and mapping.

Thank you, Lloyd and Wally, for all of your work in the mapping of this ancient trail to keep alive stories of this corridor and the fading memories of those who walked or rode along it.

Guest Post: Radical Collaboration - Tools for Partnering with Community Members

Here are some good ideas for Partnering with Community.


Guest Post: Radical Collaboration - Tools for Partnering with Community Members

Sask Lotteries

Just a little reminder to keep buying lottery tickets. Strong support ensures Sask Culture of the funding monies used to support the many cultural institutions and activities throughout Saskatchewan.

And as a bonus,you could be lucky and win a jackpot. Who wouldn't like to be Sask's newest millionaire?

Tomahawk Park Reservations

The Tomahawk Campground is now under the administration of the Town of Cut Knife.
Please contact the Town Office for information and reservations.
www.townofcutknife.ca
Town Office: 306-398-2363

New Blog for Sask Museum

Check out the new blog
www.cuparmuseum.blogspot.com
It showcases some very interesting videos of the people and town of Cupar.

Projectile Points with Cultural Perspective Workshop

It was an interesting day of exploring new perspectives of the topic of Projectile Points.
The points in our museum's collection were somewhat overlooked in the past, positioned on a board in a pretty pattern reminiscent of mosaic tiling and not revealing much of their past.
Workshop leader, Audrey Drever, inspired us to use them as the beginning of relationships, storytelling, programming and exhibits that will educate and illuminate.
Those little pieces of stone are not destined to be mosaic pieces much longer.

Summer Is Over

This is the last official day for our summer staff, Brandi and Megan. They have worked very hard on building maintenance and exhibit construction. As well they have cleaned and cleaned.
They survived the crazy Centennial weekend, met a lot of visitors and gave some tours.
They can look back on the summer work with pride. Well done, ladies!

Summer Visitor Feedback

Our museum tries to encourage our visitors give us feedback on the museum, internet sites and the park. We've tried surveys but they don't work out that well because few people like to fill out forms of any kind. Also it means remembering to ask them to fill one out! It is so easy to forget. 

So when someone volunteers some feedback, it makes it much more special and real. The following message and link arrived by e-mail recently.

 

"We had the distinct pleasure of visiting your fine town, touring your museum and spending one night in your awesome campground. I mentioned our experience in my blog titled: "Largest Tomahawk in the World!" I hope you enjoy the story.   http://susanbraveheart.blogspot.com/ 

I've let my family and friends know about you. We really enjoyed our stay.

Best wishes, Susan and Frank in Campbell River"

This made our day!  Guess we are doing something right.

Geezers on Wheezers

What a great name!
This group of travelers on vintage motorbikes came today to see the museum and the 1885 Battle of Cut Knife Creek site. They are visiting other sites in Sask as well.