UNITY - Unity and District Heritage Museum is updating residents on where they are and where they are going. UDHM committee and volunteers are heading into spring and summer with optimism, thanks to individuals and organizations that contribute to museum goals and outcomes.
The list of projects for spring and summer 2023 is being complied.
“A few of the jobs lined up including refixing machinery row, after last year’s highway bypass construction project so this will entail redoing and finding a home for the buffalo rock and pad,” museum spokesperson, Chris Martin says.
“We are also crossing our fingers the roof on the old soddie will grow grass again.”
The list of other jobs ranges from fence fixes, painting and landscaping if the blacksmith shop is moved as well as a future heated shop to work in year-round if the decision is made to proceed with the project.
“Everything depends on funds available,” Martin says.
There is a priority list for 2023, which gets added to the five-year plan for the future.
The idea of a heated machine shop is on the table to house old tractors that don’t work but the museum still wants to display and it will free up other Quonsets for working vehicles.
Office staff will be tasked with more cataloguing of Mason Hall and Royal Purple items.
Other projects discussed are signage and painting of the caboose without damaging lettering or compromising its unique qualities. Parts on existing vehicles are hard to find and are costly. A pole shed for a machinery display is being considered. Swarthmore Church needs painting in but funds are needed. The gable on the front of the hall needs fixing and painting.
“At times, we have thought a task is too big, but somehow it is overcome and efforts are welcomed. While it’s the UDHM that gets the praise, the truth is, it is the people in and around Unity that make these things happen, creating the venue we all admire,” Martin says.
Opening day is set for May 15.
“The buildings will be cleaned starting May 1 in hopes to get them ready for opening day … Canada Day is on a weekend this year which is a concern, as folks leave for the summer.”
Martin, adds, “Service clubs and organizations have been a big part of our museum success story. I think we can say you could name any organization or service club and know they were here at one time or another.”
The museum also has support from the business community which includes product and volunteer hours.
Martin also pays tribute to the support of the town.
“The Town of Unity has been a big factor in the existence of the museum. Former Mayor Len Boxell had the land the museum is on designated to the museum in 1979.”
She says the town has provided buildings, maintenance and construction help when asked.
Former and current residents have been a huge part of the museum’s existence and ongoing goals. Support is provided through donations, hands-on help or simply supporting events and activities.
UDHM says they are happy to welcome help whether it is young people assisting with new technology or offering young muscle power as well as youthful ideas that can help build on the museum’s objectives. The senior generation has so much to offer with the knowledge they have to share.
Martin says the lists of tasks to do is varied and interesting.
Volunteers pick their area of expertise, commit to what they are able and arrange with the UDHM committee to pick their time and place to complete the task they are offering.
UDMH committee say projects or work undertaken requires careful consideration of funds available, balanced with volunteers to do the work. In discussion, they assess what will the project or work be used for, what will the upkeep look like and how will it benefit the museum and visitors as well as the venue overall.
Martin says it is important to create and promote events to show the community the museum is viable and important to the community.
The museum committee says their efforts are reaffirmed when a visitor tells them how much they enjoyed the venue and how interesting it is or when residents bring their guests to come and check out all that is on display.
Another diversified benefit for the museum is bookings. Martin says weekends in April are booked already and they are coming up to 12 bookings so far, including the Sunday pancake brunches. As of April 1, the museum has four bookings for May, five bookings for July one of which is a wedding and three bookings for August, two of which are reunions.
The museum committee knows that one of the biggest drawing cards for visitors is spacious grounds. A small children’s playground, picnic tables, a hall with a full kitchen and equipment as well as a bathroom facility are all bonuses for museum visitors.
