Donalda Diary
The Donalda & District Museum is famous for its collections of lamps – about 1,000 – that began with Beth and Don Lawson’s private collection of 500 oil lamps which they donated to the village. The village constructed the Museum in 1979. The collection of lamps has since doubled since the museum opened in 1980.
But we have much more than lamps in the museum’s collections. Some items are commonplace such as the tools and household items used by early homesteaders to our area. Other items are rare and unusual such as a mouse-proof kitchen cabinet, a home-made mousetrap, a collection of Depression glass, pre-Confederations coins and tokens, and a display of Klondike Nites awards and badges. There is talk of reviving this winter event that started in 1955.
We also have a collection of Métis artifacts that relate to Donald and Peggy Whitford. Donald Whitford was a famous buffalo hunter in the region. The collection includes quill and beadwork, basketry and a teach pouch made from two moose noses. The Whitfords are buried in the Red Willow Cemetery, south of Donalda. There is also a collection of artifacts found in the Boss Hill area on Buffalo Lake where there was once a large Métis encampment and a trading post in the 1870s.
Besides lamps, the museum accepts donations of items that are of local interest. The story behind the artifacts is especially important. A recent donor gave us a beaded leather glove that was made by a native woman in the area, as well as a lace–making device from Denmark. The stories behind these two donations connect them to the Donalda area. All the items we obtain are catalogued so there is a record for posterity. We are also collecting the stories of homesteads in the area. Photos of homesteads are appreciated.
Happy Birthday this week to Brent Hartum, Laura Hebbes, Michal Henderson, Jim Awe, Kelan Carroll, Trudy Bailey, Jennifer Reyes, Cathy Stewart, Chad Montgomery, Cheryl Charles, Joseph Broemeling, Claus Mueller, Loverna Dahl, Sheldon Donald, Sheryl VanHaga, Amber Standage and Janine Dalueg.