LUSELAND — Opened in 1991, Luseland Museum has provided residents and visitors alike with a great opportunity to learn about their community and the surrounding area’s history.
Bob Hoddinott purchased the building that houses the museum when the co-op closed the hardware store at the location, and it has been the museum’s home ever since.
The museum board includes: Alvin Bekemeier, president; Niel Scholer, past president; Val Finley; and members Brent Honeker, Victor Delhommeau, Marianne Delhomeeau, Ed Walz, Charlie Boser who is the rep. for town council along with Greg Macklie and Jean Halliday. Val Finley is the longest-serving museum committee member as she has been on the board since the beginning and has held the president’s chair for 25 years.
“There are 6-7 people who help out over the year,” museum volunteer Jean Halliday says.
Halliday also notes that the museum is funded by the annual Museum Grant Program through Sask. Culture, which in turn is funded by Sask. Lotteries. As well, the committee holds mini-fundraisers throughout the year. The organization also benefits from community donors.
“Luseland’s most famed resident, Jimmy Pattinson, loves to come and show people he is travelling with his mother’s trunk that is on display, but he is not keen on a display solely about himself,” adds Halliday. In 2022, Pattinson’s mother was one part of the “Women of the Prairie” display that was featured.
The theme for 2023 is country schools, which Halliday describes as the heart of the community. Research on the country schools in the area was completed over the winter months and a display board for each school has been created. The storyboards will include the name of the school, the years the school was open, where it was situated and the history of the school’s name. A photo of the school is also included on the display board.
The museum committee are hosting various events for the summer months that pertain to country schools. Spelling bees and math quizzes are two examples. Visitors will try their hand at writing with a real ink pen as well as learn the fine art of shorthand. Schoolyard games will also be available from hopscotch to marbles and jacks.
“As the museum has as its goal to preserve history, we are exploring the possibility of installing a sign at each country school that is currently unmarked,” says Halliday.
“The signs will be large metal signs which would be readable from the road. This will be a significant undertaking but is a valuable addition to the rural area. We also plan to spearhead a Saturday afternoon trip to the country to visit each school site and include a stop for lemonade and cookies along the way,”
