The Little Villiage:
The Camrose and District Museum is waiting for you, at 4522 – 53 Street, across from St. Mary's hospital, in Camrose. It opened its doors for the first time, on July 1, 1967! The museum stewards over 85 000 artifacts, including an exemplary collection of photographs, and rare books. The real luxury though, comes in exploring any one of the 13 outbuildings! The grounds at the museum will escort you into a praire village from over a century ago. Each building replicates an experience. Wander through the 1907 fire hall, the Camrose Canadian newspaper Co., the 1906 one room school house, the 1898 settler's log house, even a replica of the first home in the area, a hut pulled together with a mix of mud, sod and logs. It's all waiting! You may not be quite sure when you stumbled across the time machine, but the transformation is undeniable.
Click on "MORE ON THE MUSEUM" to visit its site. Some of the original planning documents, full of rich information on the museums beginnings have been scanned and linked to "HISTORICAL BEGINNINGS". Frank Farley is pictured above, thanks to naturealberta.ca. Farley makes many appearances throughout Living Heritage! Nature conservationist, and president of the first Historical Society of Camrose, Farley's contributions to our area, and now to the world, through his nephew, Farley Mowat, have been far reaching. You can check out more of his foundational work in the County of Camrose, by visiting the pages linked below.
www.tripadvisor.com provides the photo of the museum's school house seen below. The photo of the hut, also a part of the experience based learning at the museum, comes via www.panoramio.com.
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In a conversation linked below, under the "PEOKIS POSSIBILITIES" tab, museum curator, Janine Carroll opens up about her work, in facilitating wise stewardship of lives once lived. She mentions two types of longevity: the physical variety, quite possilby extremely well exemplified in the life on an Indigenous man, Peokis. Carroll points out though, that part of what she is most passionate about doing, is offering another type of longevity, by restoring connections to our past; remembering those who might otherwise be forgotten, highlighting their contributions to our present and future.
Along with Pe-o-kis, Frank Farley, is mentioned. Farley, a nature conservationist and prominent early resident of the area (great uncle to author and activist, Farley Mowat,) interviewed Peokis a short time before Pe-o-kis passed. This is significant, given the expansive time frame that must have been involved, to see these two minds meet! Peokis, must have been an incredible soul. He is mentioned in Duhamel and Armena history, and is associated with many other interesting lives, Farley, Father Beillevaire, Father La Combe, he is a man of connection and contribution. Yes, he is notable for the pure fact of his long life span, but recorded history proves that he not only lived, but lived well. The web of history is astounding and inescapable! The photo below shows one of the literary artifacts found at the Camrose & District Museum. It clearly documents the conversation that took place between Frank Farley, and Pe-o-kis, as interpreted through is son.
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The Camrose and District Museum operates without any admission fee, but monetary donations are appreciated. This structure stands as a reminder of the spirit of collaboration that exits between the county of Camrose, and the city that rests within its borders. The bulk of the capital required to see this Centennial Project find its wings was provided through federal provincial grants of course. Of the expenditures provided by local government, once again, the county of Camrose lead the way in supporting this effort, followed by the City of Camrose, and Bittern Lake.
Experience based learning is always at the ready, and curriculum founded educational programs have been developed to connect future generations. There are year round adult and family focused opportunities cultivated here, to reignite an awareness of place, community, and the lives that have made these things possible.
You simply need to come.
Experience based learning is always at the ready, and curriculum founded educational programs have been developed to connect future generations. There are year round adult and family focused opportunities cultivated here, to reignite an awareness of place, community, and the lives that have made these things possible.
You simply need to come.