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Flowers – as if by Magic

Clayton McLain Memorial Museum

At least half a dozen large super-sized flower pots are located at the museum. They sit on the station platform, on the Duvall House back steps, at the corners of various buildings. By the time September rolls around, the flowers have reached their peak and are glorious to see. What’s magic, is that these flowers are purchased and planted by volunteers and, on a day in late spring, will just appear.

For many, many years, Bob and Betty Duncan tended the museum grounds: Bob mowing the grass and Betty planting and caring for the flowers. Sadly, Betty passed away a few years ago but Bob continues to tend the lawns, for which we’re very grateful. Last year, the ladies of the Cut Knife Royal Purple surprised the museum by taking over Betty’s tradition of planting the pots. This was very much appreciated as they had to haul water to do so.

Now, this year, both the museum and the Royal Purple were surprised when, one day, the flower tubs were magically filled with bedding plants. Marion Blain, a gardener at the Community Garden is responsible. We sincerely thank her for the donation of plants and for her time. All of us look forward to watching them grow.

tub of flowers
Flowers by Marion this year
tub of flowers
Tub on the Duvall House back deck

To see what else is on the museum grounds, click here.

~ Debbie M.

Museum, Our Stories

The Reel Mower

Clayton McLain Memorial Museum

Outdoor exhibits at the Museum include farm equipment, different modes of transportation, and a wide variety of tools. Pictured below is a vintage lawn mower. If you’re a person ‘of a certain age’, you may have actually used a machine similar to this one in your youth.

The first lawn mower was invented in England, in the 1830s by Edwin Beard Budding. By the 1900s, mechanized mowers powered by gasoline were on the market. Rubber tires came on the scene in the mid-1930s and, in the beginning, were an optional purchase. Gasoline and electric powered lawn mowers have been the norm since the middle of the last century and the technology for this tool continues to evolve. Now in stores are battery powered machines and, believe it or not, the reel mower is making a comeback!

For more information about the museum grounds, click here.

~ Debbie M.

Museum

The MAAC is moving… but not yet

Clayton McLain Memorial Museum

If you’ve heard a rumour that the Museum Administration and Archives Centre (MAAC) will be moving to a different location, well, that rumour would be correct. The museum has long wanted a permanent year-round facility for its administration and archives but also a publicly accessible space with display cases for rotating exhibits. Our current home at 201 Railway Avenue was the former RM of Cut Knife Office. It was very kindly made available to us by the RM along with their support for the renovations we made to the building to preserve the archival materials and unique artifacts in our care.

Since last year, we’d been working with the Town of Cut Knife, the RM of Cut Knife, and the Cut Knife Library to build or to find a facility which both the Library and Museum could share. In April 2022, the Good Shepherd Church at 113 Broad Street disbanded and approached the Town with an offer to sell.

The Town approached the R.M. with the idea that the two municipal governments could partner to create a new space suitable for the Cut Knife Library, and potentially, the Clayton McLain Memorial Museum. The building is solid, with a new roof and recent upgrades. The Town and R.M. will provide assistance with any remodeling requirements that are necessary to serve the public.

New Community Building, Town of Cut Knife, April 4, 2022
On Friday, April 1, Town of Cut Knife Mayor Gwenn Kaye and R.M. of Cut Knife Reeve Brett Robertson received the keys to 113 Broad Street from Jeremy Brown, Board Chair of the Good Shepherd Church.

When are we moving in? Hopefully, as soon as the interior painting has been completed!

~ Debbie M.

Board, Museum

No Experience Necessary

Clayton McLain Memorial Museum
looking out duvall house window
Duvall House

Each spring, the Board of Trustees participate in a walk-thru of the heritage buildings. We compile a to-do list of the maintenance tasks and chores that need to be completed in order to open the museum to the public. One item that is ALWAYS on the list is cleaning and dusting each building and its contents.

That may seem like a daunting task but a small group of volunteers will take on a building and, before you know it, everything has been vacuumed, mopped, dusted, and shined. Time passes quickly, and I know this because last year was my first year spring cleaning. It was fun, and interesting, and sparked many, many stories and memories.

We could sure use your help. If you’d like to join us this year, please contact a Board member or email the museum at cmmmcutknife@gmail.com. There’s a wide range of tasks on the list, something to suit everyone – no experience necessary. And, we even invite you to bring a friend!

~ Debbie M.