The Northwest Mounted Police (NWMP) Museum, the heritage building located on Fourth Street by the Estevan Art Gallery and Museum (EAGM), needs help.
The NWMP museum bears a collection of artifacts and preserves the history of the region. Besides, the post, built in Georgian Revival architectural style, is an artifact in itself. The Wood End Northwest Mounted Police Post was built in 1883 and used as one of a series of outposts along the Canada-U.S. border until 1897.
Time and weather gave no quarter to the oldest NWMP post in Saskatchewan.
"It's in need of some repairs to the exterior," said Amber Andersen, the curator-director of the EAGM, who made a presentation on the issue during the latest city council meeting on Jan. 25. "This is the original barracks that was used on the track west."
The paint on the designated heritage institute is starting to come off and the wood is breaking down. The EAGM turned to the city for assistance with the renovations. Besides, they are looking into grant avenues and sponsorship opportunities to get it redone.
"It's needed in order to keep the building in good repair," Andersen said.
She went on to explain that the renovations they are looking into will be more than simple repainting. The wood is starting to rot, and because it's a historic building, for replacement they have to try and find materials that are as close to the original in terms of age as possible. Any construction company can do it, but they will need to get the proper wood.
"It will be a bit more difficult than a modern building," said Andersen.
The building is the city property and the EAGM takes care of it.
A few years ago they were able to get a grant that allowed them to fix the roof. The interiors of the building also have been constantly maintained and are in good shape. Now their focus is on the siding.
While repairs are the main concern, the NWMP museum also had good news to announce. Outside of the regular collection of artifacts, the museum regularly displays temporary exhibitions, and the new one is coming up next summer. Their intern Chantel Schultz is currently working away, interviewing and collecting oral histories from local Indigenous elder and residential school survivor Bud McArthur.
"We are doing a new display on his history, some of it is tied to the Northwest Mounted Police. And we are also doing familial history on his family," Andersen said.
The NWMP museum is seasonal, and once it opens the exhibitions there share the space with the permanent collection. The artifacts are put in special cases for protection, and the museum staff is doing their best to preserve those pieces.
The new exhibition is slated to open in the 2021 season.
