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2013 is Quesnel Museum's 50th anniversary

Check you the many and varied exhibits at the Quesnel and District Museum and Archives

As our Annual Report to City Council arrives, the Museum Commission is preparing to make a presentation that recaps our accomplishments for 2012.

Naturally we want to remind them that 2013 is our 50th Anniversary of the opening of the Museum.  The preservation of artifacts actually started some time before that with the Quesnel Historical Society and these same artifacts were stored in the basement of City Hall and the Library, among other ‘venues’.  They were not on display, just stored.  From there, it was onwards and upwards, which resulted in the building of our current Museum.

The sign on the front says Quesnel Museum and Archives and unless you are a researcher or are completing a paper on family history or some such thing, it is not likely you would be delving in to this area. The Quesnel Archives are an integral part of the Museum and as such, are a valuable resource for those looking for  information regarding Quesnel events and/or family history.

An excellent idea has been put forth by a former commissioner that eulogies for members of the community be preserved by the Museum as a record of those who have lived here for any length of time.

The Museum would be only too pleased to preserve your family’s eulogies and are hoping that you will consider donating a copy of that to the Museum.

And on that note, we would like to remind you that the Friends of the Museum have now set up a legacy gift fund with the Quesnel Community Foundation.

A more detailed explanation of this process to follow in an upcoming column.

Those same Friends of the Museum are busy working in the background to support your Museum and right now are in search of a writer to complete their Bridge Book.  The Friends have compiled pictures and written chapters regarding our Fraser River Bridge and are in need of a “wordsmith” who would be prepared to put it all together.  If you are interested, contact the Museum at 250-992-9580

And the Friends of the Museum asked me to put in an early reminder for them...

Spring cleaning? Please keep us in mind as the Friends of the Museum Annual Used Book Sale is currently being planned. This year’s sale will take place on Saturday, May 4, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the museum. We will be happy to receive donations of used books, puzzles, DVDs and CDs which may be dropped off at the museum April 3 – 27, Wednesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Please remember that we do not take encyclopedias, Readers Digests or National Geographics.

At this same sale, the Museum Commission will be selling barn boards so those of you who are into renovating or decorating with that

rustic look, come on down and pick out some Cariboo barn boards.

Hope to see you as you “pass time” at the Quesnel Museum.

Discontentment makes rich men poor while contentment makes poor men rich.

Honey Affleck is chair of the museum commission and regular Observer contributor.