LUSELAND — The Luseland Museum committee held a number of special events which revolved around their 2022 theme, “Women of the Prairie - All in a Day’s Work.”
Held in the theme, events included planting geraniums, making pickles, sewing on a treadle sewing machine, hand quilting and even an afternoon tea of Hazel Luse.
The museum group says they featured notable women in the displays. Julia (Allen) Pattison, who is the mother of Luseland’s most famous resident Jimmy Pattison, was highlighted. Pattison was a school teacher at the Luseland School in 1923.
Well over 400 people visited the Luseland Museum in the spring and summer of 2022. A museum spokesperson said, “Everyone enjoyed learning about the part women played in the early years.”
The upcoming window display to mark Remembrance Day will focus on women in war.
Residents were encouraged to guess the weight of the huge rock just outside the front door and following the Fall Fair, it was finally weighed, coming in at 4,497 pounds with Kim McKenzie being the closest guess at 4,396 pounds. That’s a rock-solid addition to the museum location.
The town of Luseland donated the historical council chambers table and chairs for use. The beautiful wooden set of furniture will be perfect for museum board meetings, adding some class to the meeting area.
“With the help of the provincial government Museum Technology Microgrant program the Luseland Museum purchased a new printer/scanner, plus a wireless projector and speaker for use at the museum,” adds museum volunteer, Jean Halliday.
The next event on tap for museum volunteers is the tradition of participating in Santa Claus Days in early December as Mr. and Mrs. Claus visit the museum and offer photos with the kids. The added bonus of the antique toy train running is a family favourite of the event.
Halliday says during the winter months, volunteers spend their time cleaning, adjusting and improving displays as well as working on a theme for summer 2023.
The Luseland Museum committee continue to commit to preserving and displaying the history of Luseland, showcasing the community and surrounding area’s past. The location offers many artifacts and displays including one of the few remaining snow planes, built by Bill Warnock, a nature display featuring a whooping crane and 3D artwork by local artist Jared Fischer. There is also a library of German and Russian history books and other materials available for genealogical research.
