The Mountain View Museum and Archives needs your help. The donation-reliant organization is running out of money, space and time. Without community help the doors will close.
This year’s shoestring budget is just over $55,000: $25,000 is donated by the town; $6,000 from Mountain View County and the rest from fundraisers and donations. The numbers of visitors remain strong, but voluntary donations have plummeted.
Olds’ Fortis Franchise fees designed for arts, heritage and culture are earmarked for the museum. The town owns the former AGT building and pays the annual operating costs totalling nearly $30,000.
The museum is operated by two passionate part-time employees—program director Chantal Marchildon and archivist Jeff Kearney. An equally dedicated volunteer board oversee its operations.
The museum, located in the quaint former AGT building, is at 5038 50th St. The two-person staff and volunteers strategically use every inch of its cramped quarters to tastefully display our rich history and give us real-life insight into lives of our predecessors. Donations outstrip space many times over.
The archives include more than 14 metres of textual documents and more than 2,000 photographs relating to Olds and area. It’s the largest archive of its kind between Calgary and Red Deer. Archival requests are placed from all over the world. Our roots run deep and far.
Recently, a wedding dress from the first wedding celebrated in Olds was rescued from a plastic bag in the museum’s basement storage. Despite improper storage, the handmade dress defies its age and shows few signs of wear and tear. If you’d like more detail, you’ll have to visit the museum.
Town officials and council are well aware of our museum’s space and money constraints. Plans for a larger museum, possibly housed in a civic centre, have been discussed. Budget constraints and time, however, are working against the museum’s future.
What can you do? Visit the museum, donate what you can, and tell others about the importance of this vital organization. It’s a registered charity and you’ll get a tax receipt. Our museum deserves to grow and prosper in the same way Olds and area have for more than 100 years. Phone 403-556-8464 to find out more.
