INNISFAIL – For the past 50 years the Innisfail and District Historical Society has been an essential part of the community.
“It’s our seasonal grand opening and we are celebrating 50 years of the Innisfail and District Historical Society,” said Anna Lenters, president of the historical society. “It’s an important milestone.”
The season grand opening and open house takes place May 25 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., but doors will be open an hour earlier for a pancake breakfast from 9 to 11 a.m.
“It’s the 50th anniversary of the society, not this museum. The museum came later, but it is the society that eventually created this,” explained Lenters. “It is the society we are celebrating and we are the society today.”
Families are welcome to join in the special event that will include a variety of activities with the price of admission.
“There’s a pancake breakfast; you can have a ride on a Model T Ford,” said Lenters. “We’re going to have displays of textiles, ceramics and wood all throughout the village.”
In addition, visitors will have a unique opportunity to learn some details about some of the operations at a museum.
“We’re going to open up where we do the accessioning of the artifacts and explain the procedure to people,” she added, noting it includes sorting, recording and documenting of historical items.
“I’d like people to learn more about us. I want them to learn more about artifacts that they may have hidden in their own house,” said Lenters. “Bring it out, we’ll identify what it is and maybe help you to understand how to care for it and how to store it correctly.”
She noted all artifacts, buildings, equipment and items at the village originate from Innisfail and surrounding areas, some of them dating back to the turn of the 20th century.
“Our oldest building is from 1890. The first floor of the Sinclair House was built in 1888.”
Lenters said that while the Sinclair House itself will not be open to the public this season, it will be open for
only.
“It’s not quite ready to let somebody in there by themselves,” she said, noting ongoing renovations. “It’s a safety issue. It’ll be a matter of one of our staff members taking groups through and making sure that they’re safe.
“We’re still renovating, but there will be free guided tours that day,” she added, noting it will be the first time that the public has a chance to see inside the historic Sinclair home.
“We’ll be touring the first and second floor,” said Lenters. “I want people to see what we’re doing and what’s involved in the restoration (of the Sinclair House).”
Tickets for the season grand opening are $3 per person or $15 per family.
For more information contact the Innisfail and District Historical Village at 403-227-2906 or via email at [email protected]
