Currently on display at the Cut Knife Library (113 Broad Street):
This outfit was worn by Hughenna Rutley at her marriage to Ovide Bertrand, August 8, 1928. Their children: Mary, Clare, Evelyn, Lorraine, Arthur, David, and Lucille.
~ Debbie M.
Remember this quote from a couple of days ago in Cut Knife Goes Western with Wild Rodeo?
Thousands of souvenir “wooden nickels” will be manufactured and redeemed during the days of the rodeo…
~ from Wild Rodeo
This past Saturday, during the Museum’s annual spring walk-thru, I found some! This is what they looked like.
Notice that the nickel back (bottom left) is stamped with Cree syllabics. Syllabics are symbols that represent either a combination of consonant and vowel, or just a consonant, or just a vowel. The Cree language was spoken by many First Nations in Saskatchewan historically, and continues to be spoken, and taught today, including in the neighbouring communities of Little Pine First Nation, Poundmaker Cree Nation, and Sweetgrass First Nation.
The October 9th, 1969 Courier Editorial described how the Town residents were working together with the three neighbouring First Nations communities on a joint economic endeavor to benefit the district. The goal was to establish an annual rodeo, and construct a giant tomahawk recognizing “the important part” these First Nations “have played in local history”.
The rodeo and the tomahawk will provide Cut Knife with its opportunity to cash-in on the tourist trade – one of the northwest’s fastest growing industries.
~ from Industrious People (page 2)
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To be continued…
~ Debbie M.
While the Cut Knife Rodeo Tomahawk Association was being formed, and tourism opportunities researched and discussed, the community was also fundraising for a building to house Clayton McLain’s collections. In July 1969, the Cut Knife Odd Fellows Lodge sponsored a Walkathon, one of many efforts carried out over the next few years, that led to the Clayton McLain Memorial Museum opening in 1971 on the Canada Day weekend.
In the face of an early morning downpour, muddy roads and threatening skies, 47 participants turned out to compete in the walkathon from Cut Knife to Atton’s Lake, a distance of 13 miles on July 6. The proceeds will initiate a fund to move the Ovenstown School from Cloan to Cut Knife.
It is a project of the Cut Knife Odd Fellows Lodge to have a district Museum to house the collection of mementoes of early life and settlement in the Cut Knife and Riding Hills, collected by the late Clayton McLain. The Ovenstown School, itself a fitting reminder of the earliest days of settlement in the Rockhaven – Cloan district and in later years serving the congregations of the United Church, was donated to house the exhibits. The site in the park area on the west side of town has been donated by the town, and will make an admirable setting for such a building…
A total of $1679.50 was raised in pledges…
~ from the Highway 40 Courier: Thursday, July 10, 1969 (page 5)
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To be continued…
~ Debbie M.
Last year, about this time, we received a research request into the origins of the Clayton McLain Memorial Museum. Ultimately, the information we provided will contribute to a research paper on the development of Saskatchewan museums prior to the mid-1970s. The CMMM’s origin story, in and of itself, is interesting but factor in a giant Tomahawk and a rodeo…
Well, many of us don’t really know the history of the World’s Largest Tomahawk or why it’s in our backyard. So, let’s go back to 1969, to a front page article in the Highway 40 Courier.
There is no way to learn how to hold a rodeo, other than holding one, and that is precisely what this town is planning to do. The rodeo will be held October 21 and 22.
It has set its sights high, at creating one of the top rodeos in western Canada, but that goal is still in the future.
This year, the community will be content to hold an indoor event, attracting amateur cowboys from the province, and letting it grow from there.
The idea hatched out of a discussion of the lack of attractions Cut Knife had for the tourists. Someone suggested a giant tomahawk and while that project is somewhat in the future, a rodeo was suggested for this year.
An association was set up with Ken Sayers as president, and other members being Irwin Blanchette, Jim Wettlaufer, Herman Stang, Gordon Weikle, and Bill Ross, who chair the meetings.
Mr. Sayers and Mr. Blanchette looked into the possibility of holding a rodeo, and the result is the indoor event, this month.
It is being held under the Canadian Amateur Cowboy Association and the stock is being brought in by Vern Franklin, of Marwayne, who supplies the animals for Meadow Lake.
Whereas one of the problems for most communities is to get public support, it hasn’t happened in Cut Knife, where everyone is doing his or her bit for the big show…
Thousands of souvenir “wooden nickels” will be manufactured and redeemed during the days of the rodeo…
Included in the rodeo will be saddle and bareback bronc riding, bull riding, calf roping, steer decorating, ladies’ barrel racing and midget calf riding.
It promises to be a big and exciting rodeo with much to see and do.”
~ from the Highway 40 Courier: Thursday, October 2, 1969 (page 1)
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To be continued…
~ Debbie M.
Back in the day, people carried cash or wrote cheques for admission to the CMMM. Donations, again, either by cash or cheque, were delivered in person or via Canada Post. There are many individuals who still carry cash and write cheques, but there are many, many others who don’t, and the Museum sees the difference.
Admission is by donation and includes a guided tour of the Heritage buildings. Tours ensure the safety of visitors and the preservation of artefacts. Comments in the Visitors’ Book often express delight and appreciation for the tour, and for the guide who provided answers and shared additional anecdotes.
Visitors who arrive without cash in their pocket are still offered a tour. Some will make a quick trip to a cash machine and return momentarily. Others will leave with regrets. Those without cash-on-hand also miss the opportunity to purchase one of the local histories or gift items on display in the Duvall House.
The CMMM continues to receive annual contributions by cheque from long-time donors. Cash donations also come in at the Duvall House during Coffee Afternoons or with an Admission. All of these are put to good use: some on building repairs, some on exhibit maintenance; some on supplies i.e. printer ink, paper, laminating plastic, and so much more.
Auto-deposit: This past fall, around the time of the Brick Fundraiser, the Museum enabled auto-deposit. No more security questions / answers required. It’s a relief for everyone. Use cmmmcutknife@gmail.com. One long-time donor used it recently for an annual contribution!
Canada Helps: This is a charity set up to facilitate online giving. Board members who have used it in the past recommend it as very user-friendly. To donate once, or monthly, click on the blue/green DONATE button on the Museum website to take you to the form, or visit our Canada Helps page here. Payment options are credit card, PayPal, or Google Pay. Canada Helps provides the tax receipt.
P.O.S. System (i.e. tap): We’ve done our research for internet service to the Duvall House and are eagerly awaiting its installation (date to be determined). It will enable a point-of-sale system to be available to visitors for admissions and / or donations. We’ll be announcing it’s arrival. Stay tuned!
As always, we are grateful for monetary donations of any amount but the community’s support also means so much i.e. attendance at events, word-of-mouth support to neighbours and friends, purchase of gift-shop items, sharing our posts on social media, and volunteering your time and energies to help with projects. Thank you!
~ Debbie M.
Clayton McLain Memorial Museum 