“This is our history and if we want it told right we need to preserve the information for future generations,” says Kettle River Museum Director Stephanie Boltz.
The museum, located on Hwy 3 frontage in Midway, is looking for photographs for their image archive. Specifically they are hoping to locate pictures of the water flumes and orchards that were once a part of the Rock Creek and Kettle Valley agricultural scene. Also wanted are train pictures—either old photographs or more recent ones.
They say a picture is worth a thousand words and Boltz said they would like to have family pictures in their collection that could enrich the story of the local area.
She said these photographs could be either given to the museum or loaned for copying purposes.
“Our history will be lost if we don’t archive it,” Boltz said. “There is so much history that still needs to recorded, the people who opened up this country and their families, the events and industry, the ranching, mining, logging, law enforcement, train history, the Dewdney Trail, Burns Meats, Customs, mineral claims, teachers, industry, and local government, to name but a few. People talk about these things if someone is interested; however, our children don’t talk much anymore. They look at a screen, they text—who will be left to tell them what it was like when they finally want to know?
“The museum will be the caretaker of the history for the Kettle River Valley, the Boundary. We have only a few people left who can tell us about our history and interpret the pictures, we need to archive that information.”
Boltz said the museum is also looking for volunteers who would like to come in once a week or a few times a month to greet visitors and give tours while the museum is open.
“We have not been able to afford a second part-time person this season, so volunteer help would be appreciated.”
The museum is much appreciated by many in the community. One recent visit found museum director John Kohlhauser working on an inventory; and Casey Bot, who has served the museum as chief handyman for several years, was putting the finishing touches on new flower boxes that will brighten up the parking lot.
The museum is open seven days a week 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. July, August and September.
Contact them at 250-449-2614 or online at kettlerivermuseum.weebly.com.