Museum – Page 10 – Clayton McLain Memorial Museum

Mid-Summer Update

August 5, 2023August 5, 2023 Clayton McLain Memorial Museum

GIFT ITEMS | FLOWERS | UNIQUE VISITS

In 2021, Ovenstown was demolished.

Ovenstown, the museum’s Registration and Tourist Information Centre, fell victim to the elements in 2020, when its foundation was compromised by record-setting rains. The artifacts within the building were relocated to the Duvall House and the Exhibit Building. The former school and church was leveled, except for the cupola housing the old bell. That was saved and will find a second home on site.
Ovenstown

What isn’t mentioned above, is that the Gift Shop items were also rescued, packed up, and put aside until a space could be arranged for them. Well, that day has come, and a mini-gift shop has been set up in the Duvall House. Local history books, commemorative plates, pottery and woodworking items, Tomahawk Park souvenirs, and more, are once again available for purchase at the museum.

If you’ve been anywhere near the the museum grounds and Tomahawk Park this summer, you must have noticed the colourful pots of flowers decorating the exterior of the heritage buildings. We sincerely thank Marion Blaine for selecting and planting such a beautiful array, and for faithfully watering and caring for them through these hot summer days.

(Some of our flower pots are showing their age. If you have any extra large pots, you’re no longer using, please consider donating them to the museum. They would be very much appreciated. Thank you.)

Many campers and travelers stop at the park overnight, or for a picnic lunch, and often tour the museum while they’re here. The area is also frequented by residents as part of their (and their dogs) daily walks, and by local youth visiting the bike park nearby. So, it’s not unusual for people to come-and-go all day long for various reasons.

However, staff have reported 2 unique visits so far this year:

Firstly, an individual was spotted flying a drone from his vehicle. If anyone sees video footage of the museum or the World’s Largest Tomahawk online, please tag us on Facebook.
Secondly, two young men respectfully asked if it would be alright to walk around the grounds without touring the museum. The reason: they were playing Pokémon Go! Any idea if they captured any?

~ Debbie M.

Events, Museum, Summer

Time for Coffee & a Walk?

July 25, 2023August 19, 2023 Clayton McLain Memorial Museum

Enjoy a cup of coffee in the historic Duvall House, tour the heritage buildings, or simply take a moment to enjoy beautiful Tomahawk Park. There’s a walking path, plenty of benches, and some really, really nice views.

COFFEE AT THE DUVALL HOUSE

WHEN: Wednesdays from 2 – 4pm
WHERE: In the Living / Dining Rooms of the Duvall House at the Clayton McLain Memorial Museum
COST: By donation

TOURS

WHEN: Wednesdays thru Sundays from 10 – 4pm
WHERE: Register at the Duvall House
COST: By donation

view of canola fields from the Duvall House back porch — Looking west from the back porch at the Duvall House

~ Debbie M.

Museum, Summer

Tourists at the Museum

July 16, 2023 Clayton McLain Memorial Museum

The 2023 season was jump-started on Canada Day when more than 90 people toured the Heritage Village. This past week has averaged 2 tours per day. In recent years, multiple daily tours often don’t happen until August, so we’re excited to see if this summer will average more visitors than usual. However, it will be really tough to beat the CMMM’s first season, which coincided with Saskatchewan Homecoming ’71. They counted 2,440 visitors from around the world!

Read Elizabeth McLain’s account in the November 11, 1971 edition of the Highway 40 Courier:

~ Debbie M.

Events, Museum, Summer

Canada Day Brief

July 10, 2023July 11, 2023 Clayton McLain Memorial Museum

A GREAT SUCCESS!

July 1, 2023 was the CMMM’s first Canada Day Open House in years, and it was great fun. It coincided with the Town of Cut Knife’s Canada Day celebrations, and Tomahawk Park was buzzing with people, bouncy castles, quilts, and a horse-drawn wagon. More than 90 registered visitors wandered through the CMMM heritage buildings with Board members, Staff, and Volunteers onsite to assist.

Guests were treated to an outdoor Quilt Walk along the walking path between the Duvall House and the Friends of Tomahawk Park bricks. Terri Paziuk, a former CMMM Board member and the organizer of the event, brought together more than 30 quilts from owners and creators in the Cut Knife area, and almost 2 dozen smaller pieces of textile art displayed in the Duvall House. Thankfully, the rain held off until early evening after the quilts had been packed up.

Registered visitors to the Canada Day Open House came from as far away as Colorado, USA, Alberta, British Columbia, and Ontario; in Saskatchewan from Fort Qu’appelle, Grandora, Medstead, Saskatoon, and Yorkton; the neighbouring communities of Little Pine First Nation, Neilburg, Poundmaker Cree Nation, Sweetgrass First Nation, Unity, and Wilkie, and local residents of the Town and R.M. of Cut Knife (plus maybe a few from locations missed in the Visitors’ Book).

Remember: Coffee at the Duvall House Wednesdays from 2-4pm.

Enjoy your summer!

~ Debbie M.

Events, Museum

Thank You: Quilt Walk 2023!

July 3, 2023July 3, 2023 Clayton McLain Memorial Museum

A Message from Terri Paziuk, Organizer of the Quilt Walk event hosted by the CMMM in Tomahawk Park on Canada Day 2023:

“The Cut Knife July 1^st Quilt Walk and Textile Show was a success and enjoyed by many throughout the day at Tomahawk Park and inside the Clayton McLain Memorial Museum’s Duvall House. Thankfully the weather worked in our favour!

There were 32 quilts and crocheted items displayed outside along the “walk”. Inside the Duvall House, a 100 year old quilt was on exhibit, along with denim quilts, and more than 20 additional items that included Siwash sweaters, knit sweaters, cross stitching, hooked rugs, wall hangings, crocheted doilies, tablecloths, embroidery and hardanger items.

Sending out a big THANK YOU to all the owners and makers of the quilts and textiles, who generously shared their special creations and hand crafted art either created by themselves – or by someone special in their lives:

Debbie Biggart, Dixie Eddingfield, Lucille Fairley, Donna Gregoire, Marie Hampson, Cindy Heupel, Helen O’Donnell, Terri Paziuk, Marcella Pederson, Bonnie Ramsey, Janet Schmidt, Amy Singh, Colton Stapley, Andrea Stewart, Gale Stonehouse, and Randy Strelioff.

We hope to see you again next year!”

~ Terri Paziuk

Truly, a treat to view more than 30 beautifully crafted pieces of artwork. If you missed the event, here’s a snapshot of each quilt hanging outdoors on Canada Day along the walking path to the Tipi.

Unfortunately, we don’t have photos of the items inside the Duvall House but those exhibit items were as beautiful and well done as the quilts outside.

~ Debbie M.