Pincher Creek Voice: Shell and CFEP help history grow at KBPV

Saturday, October 19, 2013

Shell and CFEP help history grow at KBPV

Jim Berridge, Ray Degan, and Derek Breeze Shell out the dough to KBPV
C. Davis photos

Chris Davis

Three members of the Pincher Creek and District Historical Society (PCDHS) board donated their annual Shell Community Service Fund allocation toward ongoing projects at Kootenai Brown Pioneer Village, which is managed by PCDHS. Jim Berridge is putting his money into the 'new' carpentry shop, Ray Degan is putting his towards renos of the car barn, and Derek Breeze is putting his towards new boardwalks.

The Shell Community Service Fund provides grants of up to $1,000 per Shell person to support not-for-profit organizations where Shell employees, retirees and retailers/agents regularly volunteer.

KBPV was also the recipient of a $9,228 Government of Alberta Community Facility Enhancement Program (CFEP) grant earlier this year.

Wednesday work crew in front of the 'new' carpentry shop
Ken Wittkopf, Jim Berridge, Derek Breeze, Fran Cyr, Ray Degan

On 'Workday Wednesday October 16 PCDHS President Colleen Cyr took me on a tour of KBPV's newest expansion project, a 1920's themed exhibit, showing me how some of the money is being and will be spent.

"This is a very utilitarian grant. We'll put in power, all the electrical for the carpenter's shop, the bank, and the bakery, and the street lamps that will go on top of the boardwalk, "This grant was awesome for paying for all the boardwalks, all the electrical, streetlamps, benches to sit and on."

When finished the 1920's exhibit, will include the car barn, a carpenter's shop, Cyr house, a bakery, and a Co-op themed frontage to the east side of the Beere Hall that will include a grocery store, a Seed Plant, Waldorf Hotel (which was later turned into Co-op offices), and Pincher Creek Motors (which was owned by Pincher Creek Co-op).

According to Cyr she was recently notified that Joint Funding from the Town of Pincher Creek and the MD of Pincher Creek gave the Historical society $60,000 to operate Kootenai Brown Pioneer Village and to run the Information Centre in 2014

"We're really grateful for their support for the community," said Cyr. KBPV received a total of $62,500 from Joint Funding for 2013, including an initial $50,000 and another $12,500 after Cyr appealed for more. (see: Town Council Notes, May 13, 2013 meeting)

New acquisition: Sorge shed

The most recent addition to KBPV's building collection is a structure donated by Adeline Sorge that was moved from east of town and now sits next to the community gardens and the area used as a rink in winters past. The building was used by Adeline's husband to repair motors, apparently a passion of his. It is being renovated to be used as a sizable garden shed, which will come in handy next year as KBPV will now be looking after mowing the extensive grounds, a task previously performed by Town personnel. Mrs. Sorge also donated a used ride-along lawn mower, one of two that will be housed in the shed when not in use. Patrick Hochstein is donating tin for the roof of the structure.