Bonnyville residents and tourists alike can dig deeper into local history, as the Bonnyville Museum debuts new artifacts and exhibits.
The local museum opened its doors for the summer season last week. Staff have been busy over the last month preparing to showcase more of the area's past.
As visitors walk into the main showroom, they'll notice a brand new exhibit replacing the one that had been there for the past couple of years. The finishing touches were just put on an exhibit that focuses on the First and Second World War, as well as a display that centres around the RCMP.
“Many of the artifacts in the new displays are from Bonnyville and area residents. We tried to focus on local histories and stories,” said Rachael Phillips, second-year summer student at the museum. “We think that this is a really interesting exhibit, especially because before the Bonnyville Museum only had a small section for both war and RCMP artifacts and history. It is really cool to see that being expanded.”
For over two decades, the Bonnyville Museum has been offering a look inside local history. Home to 13 different buildings, the museum grounds hold three original structures that were transferred from their sites – the Ardmore Community Church, the Aime Segin cabin, and the Croteau house.
The oldest building, the Croteau house, was constructed in 1908 and is known as Bonnyville's first framed house, meaning it wasn't a log cabin. The community church was originally built by Ardmore community members in 1921, and the Aime Segin cabin was built in 1921 by a homesteader who served in World War One.
One of the more popular exhibits at the museum, and a personal favourite of Phillips', is the J.N. Vallee General Store.
“It displays a number of items and goods that a person would have been able to see or buy in the original store. In fact, a few of the objects, such as the cash register and front counter, are original to the Vallee General Store.”
The original Bonnyville water tower, which served the town up until 1980, is also housed on the museum grounds.
In addition to new exhibits on RCMP and the World Wars, the museum's Cultural Pavilion was updated for this season's visitors. Staff are working to finish up three displays within the pavilion, one of which is a small seamstress shop. The two smaller displays focus on radios and home goods.
“The museum is a very important aspect to our community because it offers visitors a look at what life was like in the region for the first people who lived here. Our museum shows the progression of Bonnyville from what it was in the early 1900s to what it is today, and that is a really great thing for a community to have,” said Phillips.
To attract more residents to view the new exhibits, and the rest of the museum, they are hosting a few special events over the summer. Starting on June 10 with a Seniors' Week event they will be offering admission through donation. Following that there will be Aboriginal Day on June 21 at the museum, as well as their annual Canada Day celebrations on July 1. The summer finishes off with the Bonnyville Museum Fall Fest on Sept. 10.
Phillips noted they've jumped into summer early this year, and are already open seven days a week.
