E , Feature TheReview Wednesday, July 29,1992 — A15 Tons of historical information available at Sidney Museum The little museum that could — that phrase sums up the Sidney Museum, which has preserved both the Peninsula’s pioneer past and expanded into an excellent marine mammal centre. Both sides of the museum have relied heavily on community sup- port through the years, starting in 1971 when a donation from May and Joe John formed the nucleus - of the museum. In a letter to Sidney council, written on Feb. 1, 1971, May John ‘suggested a worthy Centennial project for the town would be a museum housing artifacts from the Peninsula. = Members of a pioneer family and of the B.C. Museums’ Associ- ation, May and Joe John had collected an estimated 2,000 arti- facts of pioneer Sidney, which they had stored in a building on their Blue Heron Road property. Since the province was celebrat- ing the centennial of B.C.’s 1871 entry into confederation, interest in an appropriate Centennial pro- ject was high. Nine days after John’s offer, on Feb. 10, a fledging historical society had been formed. The site seemed almost pre- ordained. For $30,000, Sidney council had recently purchased the former custom’s building at the foot of Beacon Avenue, plus the adjoining water lot. At the time the municipality was interested in developing a “holi- day atmosphere” at that corner and was seeking a tenant for the building. A town museum was the ideal tenant. The Johns’ offer was accepted and volunteers flocked to catalogue the collection and arrange the artifacts for display in the museum. - The former drive-through sec- tion of the building was closed off with cedar siding provided by Russel Ker. A Centennial grant provided money to landscape the grounds. A scant three-and-a-half months after John’s letter was received by — council, the new museum was officially opened on May 30. A five-year agreement was signed between the town and the Sidney and North Saanich Histori- cal Society to operate the museum. From the outset, the museum was staffed by volunteers: Operat- ing hours were 10 a.m. to noon and 2 to 4 p.m. daily. - [MUSEUM From the day it opened, the museum collected praise from vis- itors for the glimpses it gave of pioneer life. Among the artifacts displayed was a Section of a log cabin, originally bought from Sooke by May John, which was erected in the museum and hung with farm- ing implements and tools of a century past. ~ There were old cash books, recording five cent postal stamps; a sack of rolled oats and yeast powder for 75 cents, gloves for 50 cents and an axe and handle for $1.50. A gramophone with a laminated wood horn, old baskets, native artifacts and a hand-operated washing machine are among the items which have drawn comment from early visitors to the museum. A year after opening, a kitchen section, including a 1912 wood and coal range, was opened in the museum. Among the intriguing imple- ments in the museum collection were an egg topper, a humane live trap for mice, apple corers and HOw MANY CANADIANS VOLUNTEER IN SPORTS AND RECREATION ¢ | 500,000 00 §) peelers, and sausage makers. A reconstruction of a pioneer bedroom and of Critchley’s Gen- eral Store were added by museum student Estelle Inman while work- ing in the facility over the summer. In, 1985 the museum admitted its 10,000th visitor, one of the members of a California family who dropped by the site. In 1986, the museum celebrated its 15th year with an anniversary party sponsored by the newly- formed Friends of the Sidney Museum. Two years later, work started on a major new addition to the museum — a marine mammal exhibit. Funded in part by a $150,000 grant from the B.C. Expo 86 legacy fund, the expansion added 3,000 square feet to the museum. The expansion also permanently sealed the one-time roadway through the former customs build- ing. Earlier wood construction closing off the Toadway did not ° entirely seal the opening, Buu i! exhibits in the area at risk. Murals of whales, displays of skeletons, an electronic echo loca- : tion exhibit and a lecture theatre | ; are all part of the Marine Mammal ° : Museum, which was officially : opened on Sept. 12, 1990. Huge jaw bones from a blue whale hang from the ceiling of the | lecture theatre. A shaded blue color scheme, « soft lighting and an aggregate peb- ble floor create an undersea — atmosphere throughout the centre. Development of the exhibits has been overseen by full-time curator Calvor Palmateer, who joined the project in 1989. In addition to developing the Marine Mammal Museum, Pal- mateer also overhauled the historic | - side of the museum, upgrading the exhibits. The facility is now open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sere | STRAIGHT TALK | ABOUT : YOUR MONEY. falated ch XO 0 g i (Rates Subject to Change without Notice) RON GURNEY FINANCIAL SERVICES LTD. FINANCIAL CONSULTANTS - LIFE UNDERWRITERS SUITE 10A — 9843 2nd St., SIDNEY (In Marina Court) 656-9393 FRINGED BY FLOWERS, Sid- ney’s museum has blos- somed with the help of many volunteers info an excellent display of both his- torical artifacts and a marine mammal exhibit. CARPETS BLINDS OR : \k We've got | thebest £ 4| lines £ on blinds. E ems) CERAMIC TILE HARDWOOD CARPETS LEE Vertical or horizontal we can line you up with the best blinds in the business. The best quality. The best prices. The best value. Guaranteed. Visit our showroom or~ call us for a free in-home estimate. VINYL FLOORING | “AREA RUGS 9752 4th ST. 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