Michelle LaRoux (left) talks to Osoyoos Museum curator and executive director Kara Burton at the museum’s open house on Dec. 15. LaRoux, a 38 year resident of Osoyoos, brought her children and grandchildren to the open house. Her family have lived in town since the 1940s. (Michele Weisz photo)

By Michele Weisz

Osoyoos Times

Osoyoos Museum and Archives curator Kara Burton said that people have donated a lot of things to the museum over the years. Some are important historical artifacts, period clothing and items (including a piece of Queen Elizabeth the second’s wedding cake!) and items that document the history of the town or region.

And then there is the alligator.

In the upper level of the museum, in a box in the archival storage room, sits a small, real alligator that was donated to the museum many years ago. It has nothing to do with the Okanagan region and there are no plans to include it in any exhibits in the near future, but it and the many other items that make up the Museum’s archives take up precious room that the current museum cannot spare.

The building that houses the museum and its extensive archives has become something of an artifact itself.

The quonset where some of the larger items in the museum’s collection are kept is an old curling rink that was not meant to contain fragile, aged or rare items long-term. There is no heat or air conditioning in the building and the lack of climate control has added to the deterioration of the delicate artifacts.

Museum and archives president Mat Hassen said it is “like storing it in a garage and it’s hard on the artifacts.”

The museum is moving to its new location on Main St. in 2020 and at the annual Christmas open house on Dec. 15, both curator and executive director Kara Burton and Hassen said they were excited about all the things they plan to do once the museum has relocated.

• Read more: Leaking Roof May Force Osoyoos Museum To Find New Location To Store Archives

Hassen finds that people are hesitant to donate their valuable or rare items to the museum now, but thinks they will do so in the new location because they know that their historical items “will be safe” in the new environment.

Beginning at 11 a.m. guests were invited to take a look around at the exhibits in the museum. There were photographs and artifacts from Cherry Festivals of the past, genuine arrowheads, wedding gowns dating back to the early 20th century and an exhibit showcasing vacuum cleaners, gramophones and other household items from the 1940s and 50s.

Judy Slingsby has been a resident of Osoyoos since 1946 and said that she comes to the museum “once or twice a year.” Michelle LaRoux said that she had not been to the museum in about 25 years but “definitely” plans to go to the museum in its new location.

Set in the centre of the museum was a Christmas tree that was decorated with black and white, vintage photographs of Osoyoos residents that people looked at to see who they remember from the photographs.

Hassen said that although “the museum has been very fortunate to have this much space for over 40 years,” the new facility will be modern and be climate controlled to protect the artifacts.

“We want it (the new museum) to be based on the faces and the voices and the stories of the events that shaped the community.”

Hassen said that visitors will get a sense of what type of community the town is and residents will find meaning in it as well.

Until then, the museum will continue to operate in its current location where boxes and boxes of community history and one stuffed alligator remain.

Lisa Tobin and her children (from left) Elizabeth and Cohen Hebig do a scavenger hunt during the Osoyoos Museum open house recently. (Michele Weisz photo)

A Christmas tree decorated with vintage photographs of past and present Osoyoos residents was on display at the Osoyoos Museum’s open house. (Michele Weisz photo)

Judy Slingsby checks out the artifacts at the Osoyoos Museum open house on Dec. 15. (Michele Weisz photo)

Dustin Hebig looks at the artifacts at the Osoyoos Museum open house on Dec. 15. Hebig’s family are long-time Osoyoos reesidents and some artifact bearing their name are in the museum. (Michele Weisz photo)