The Collections: DeBolt

'Year one' is 1969 with the formation of Hubert Memorial Park Committee, and the next year found the erection of a sign to honour pioneer families. Also in those first few years, the manse building was stabilized, post fence was put up around the parking lot and grass planted in the park. In 1974 the DeBolt United Church Manse was chinked outside and painted inside and historic artifacts were installed. Also that year flowers were planted in tires, trees were planted along the northern boundary and a cairn was put up honoring Tom Hubert.

In 1975 a committee was initiated to put together a local history book (later to be known as Across the Smoky). Those on the committee were the museum society executive plus many more (information gatherers, typists, proof readers, and other assistants). Also, in September, 1975 we became an Incorporated Society.

Another year brought the official opening of the museum with Mrs. Stevenson cutting a ribbon in October, 1976. In August the following year "Hubert Memorial Park" was officially opened by Marv Moore, M.L.A. at our very first "Heritage Day." In 1978 the first piece of playground equipment was purchased and installed, a merry-go-round.

The year 1978 also marked a big accomplishment with our book Across the Smoky being published and available after three years of work. It was available for sale in July and at our heritage Day in August. With pre-selling and a big push that summer the publisher was paid off that fall.

Almost as soon as the paint had dried in the little manse building, it was known that we needed more

space for displays if we were to fulfill the objectives we had laid out in our by-laws. This problem was solved, temporarily, in 1979 when Robert Mehlum donated his Uncle John's barn. Allan Perkins plowed an early snowy spring road across country from its original site to the park and a mover came and moved it, on the frost, and in place on a cement pad. Now we had much work to get the barn stabilized, new shingles on the roof and partitions in, ready to house our office, work-room and displays. This work took two years as the barn was officially opened at Heritage Day 1981 by Robert Mehlum cutting a ribbon that Winnie Moore and Ellis Turner held.

During this time we published our first museum brochure, which served us well for many, many years. In 1982 we built a small pole shed with wire-mesh sides so that displays can be seen even when the building is not open and, in 1983, a large wooden playground apparatus was built for the park.

DeBolt and District Pioneer Museum (continued)