Jean Duvall Parkinson and Janice Duvall cutting ribbon for Grand Opening of Duvall House
different cultures...prairie neighbours
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Duvall House Grand Opening
We had a week of cleaning, moving, arranging, cleaning again, re-arranging, changing my mind, and re-arranging again. (Yes, Tori, the old bat is losing it!) But last night made it all worth while.
The Grand Opening of the Duvall House, 1928 farmhouse, was a wonderful success. After the ribbon cutting at the front door by Jean Duvall Parkinson and Janice Duvall (both had lived in the house), Noreen welcomed everyone and made a few short remarks. There are so many people to thank in the journey of restoring the house from volunteers to donors that we decided to be very general and not mention names in fear of leaving someone out.
Of course there are a few that just have to be mentioned. Like Randy Brackenbury and Lorne Veikle - they instigated the whole project and did so much work to fix up the building.
Glenn Stewart spent the last day and a half getting the electricity to all parts of the house so we could light it up and show how magnificent it is.
Some people who will not be named stained and varnished the floors upstairs and quite a bit of the woodwork pretty much by herself. And she wields a mean paint brush on cupboards too!
Refreshments were served and many little remembrances of the house were heard in conversations. If only they would have agreed to write them down.
There were about 75 people attending which was pretty much a full house.
The Grand Opening of the Duvall House, 1928 farmhouse, was a wonderful success. After the ribbon cutting at the front door by Jean Duvall Parkinson and Janice Duvall (both had lived in the house), Noreen welcomed everyone and made a few short remarks. There are so many people to thank in the journey of restoring the house from volunteers to donors that we decided to be very general and not mention names in fear of leaving someone out.
Of course there are a few that just have to be mentioned. Like Randy Brackenbury and Lorne Veikle - they instigated the whole project and did so much work to fix up the building.
Glenn Stewart spent the last day and a half getting the electricity to all parts of the house so we could light it up and show how magnificent it is.
Some people who will not be named stained and varnished the floors upstairs and quite a bit of the woodwork pretty much by herself. And she wields a mean paint brush on cupboards too!
Refreshments were served and many little remembrances of the house were heard in conversations. If only they would have agreed to write them down.
There were about 75 people attending which was pretty much a full house.
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Painting Restored
This beautiful painting by Marilyn Weikle and Ralph Veikle was restored by Marilyn and returned to the museum on Friday. Now to find a spot to put it so it can be shown off. What a great job, Marilyn! Thanks so much - especially for all the trouble that you and Gordon had in getting it to the museum.
This is the kind of help that warms one's heart. :)
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Metal, Paper, Grass and Paint
Our summer staff always has a variety of tasks.
This year we hired two boys who are working with Lloyd. They are manufacturing metal wheelchair ramps.
One by one our museum buildings are becoming wheelchair accessible. No grants - it was too much trouble to attempt the application in which we may not be successful. Instead we have a dedicated volunteer who has researched and designed the ramps, found reasonably priced sturdy material and taught two young men how to weld. And they have produced very good ramps.
The abundant rain has filled the campground and made the weeds and grass grow. It is a challenge to keep it tidy. Glad to have Bob back to help out with the mowing.
The girls are busy cleaning, making signage, painting and moving items to the Duvall house. The countdown is on to the grand opening on August 13th. Today we moved a cupboard and hutch that has resided in my mother-in-law's shop for several years where it awaited its new home in the Duvall House kitchen.
This year we hired two boys who are working with Lloyd. They are manufacturing metal wheelchair ramps.
One by one our museum buildings are becoming wheelchair accessible. No grants - it was too much trouble to attempt the application in which we may not be successful. Instead we have a dedicated volunteer who has researched and designed the ramps, found reasonably priced sturdy material and taught two young men how to weld. And they have produced very good ramps.
The abundant rain has filled the campground and made the weeds and grass grow. It is a challenge to keep it tidy. Glad to have Bob back to help out with the mowing.
The girls are busy cleaning, making signage, painting and moving items to the Duvall house. The countdown is on to the grand opening on August 13th. Today we moved a cupboard and hutch that has resided in my mother-in-law's shop for several years where it awaited its new home in the Duvall House kitchen.
Friday, July 23, 2010
Through the Eyes of a Child
We had a group of Grade One and Kindergarten children tour our museum this spring. One of the popular artifacts was the typewriter.
They had absolutely no idea what it was. They could make the connection of the QUERTY keyboard and a computer keyboard. After that they had no clue. Once they realized that the keys could be pushed to produce a letter on the paper directly without pushing 'print', they were lining up to have a go at it.
Interesting how just a few years has relegated the once popular tool to obscurity.
The hands on activities were definitely a hit with this age group. Trying to think up other similar activities that are safe, educational, and relatively inexpensive to design is a challenge.
I'll think on it over the winter.
They had absolutely no idea what it was. They could make the connection of the QUERTY keyboard and a computer keyboard. After that they had no clue. Once they realized that the keys could be pushed to produce a letter on the paper directly without pushing 'print', they were lining up to have a go at it.
Interesting how just a few years has relegated the once popular tool to obscurity.
The hands on activities were definitely a hit with this age group. Trying to think up other similar activities that are safe, educational, and relatively inexpensive to design is a challenge.
I'll think on it over the winter.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)