The board members of the Kamsack Power House Museum held an open house event for those who have purchased Kamsack Power House Museum memberships in 2016. A single membership may be purchased for $5, while a family membership is $7.
The open house, which was said to have been a special way for the board to thank those who are card-carrying supporters, was held on August 14 at the museum.
At noon, a chili luncheon was served. The chili was prepared for the occasion by Betty Dix and Darlene Brown, both of whom are board members. Tannis Negrave, another board member, had prepared two varieties of cake which were served with ice cream and strawberries.
Shortly after the lunch concluded, the crowd was treated to a musical performance by Colleen Kazakoff of Kamsack. She began with a tune made famous by Tanya Tucker, called Strong Enough to Bend. She followed that with a Ray Price song, My Shoes Keep Walkin’ Back, a Suzy Bogguss tune called Somewhere Between, a Statler Brothers tune, Bed of Roses, a Forrester Sisters tune, I Fell in Love Last Night, and a song originally sung by Mary Chapin-Carpenter, Let Me into Your Heart.
Kazakoff remarked that the next tune, a Don Williams number, Lord I Hope this Day is Good, has a very special meaning for her, and that upon waking each day, she utters the words “Lord I hope this day is good.”
Three more tunes, Pick Me Up on Your Way Down, Turning to the Light, Sometimes it Takes a Mountain, were sung byKazakoff before she invited the audience to help her conclude her performance by joining in to sing Keep on the Sunny Side. An appreciative audience joined in and thus concluded the entertainment portion of the afternoon.
Kazakoff was said to have “a charming, ingratiating manner with which she interacts with her audience while she is performing,” and her husband of 32 years, Lawrence Kazakoff, provided some laughs with his witty banter and joke-telling between songs.
Ed Yurkiw, one of the oldest members of the museum board, then shared a funny story with the audience. It was all about a pig and a wheelbarrow, and if one is acquainted with Yurkiw, it would be well-worth it to ask him to share this story.
Len Benneke is the longest serving member of the museum board, comprised of 12 members, but he was unable to be in attendance for the membership appreciation event.
Board member Betty Dix then took the floor to express a thank you to all in attendance and to present the door prizes. A fire extinguisher, donated by Cottenie and Gardner was won by Mayor Rod Gardner of Kamsack. Joyce McLean was the winner of a jacket, donated by the Town of Kamsack, and Susan Aikman won a folding chair donated by the Affinity Credit Union.
Museum tours started at 2 p.m. and concluded at 4 p.m. It was said that one is enveloped in the atmosphere of days gone by and transported to the past when viewing the meticulously laid out museum exhibits.
Each exhibit vividly portrays a part of history that has shaped Kamsack’s past: the antique tools, the re-creation of the doctor’s office, and the display set up to re-create a store set-up from days gone by.
Upon entering the museum, one is greeted with the sight of the impressive form of the one-remaining power generator, one of six that had originally been in used in the 1940s and 1950s to generate power for the town, until SaskPower became the sole provider of electricity in the province.
All these reminders and many more, from musical instruments to sporting events are contained and on display for anyone who wishes to tour the facility and explore the past.
The museum is only open to the public during the summer months and is staffed by a student during the hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., seven days a week, including statutory holidays. Beginning with a fundraiser pancake breakfast, held in May on the Victoria Day long weekend, the museum opens to the public for the season, and the season then ends with another fundraiser pancake breakfast on the Labour Day weekend in September.
