Wednesday, June 29, 1977 THE REVIEW

PHOTO STORY
By
BRENDA
DALGLISH

would go away but it was
not long before they were
back again.”’

It is not only the society’s
intention to help people
remember, they also want
to save these pieces of our

Why do some people
hold. onto the past, tracing
family lines, visiting homes
relatives lived in years
before, enjoying museums
that capture remnants of
the past? And why do

ca ern eee A RAEI PON BET TEER

others care for nothing that | heritage for future
happened before last week? | generations. As Michell
Willard and Olive Michell, | pointed out in his life

long time members of the
Pioneer . Society _ cannot
explain it.  Willard’s

farming became an industry
and it has the equipment of
an industry but, for their

grandfather settled. in the | time, the machines of the
‘area in the 1880’s and he | past were even more
and his brothers and sister |.remarkable. than -. our

grew:up here yet most of
them. have no particular
interest in preserving the
past.

The Saanich Historical
Artifacts. Society came one
big step closer to reaching
their goal of recreating a
turn-of-the-century
working farm recently.

The federal government
finally agreed to sign a 60°
year lease with the society
for 23-acres of green belt
land on Highway 17.

automatic bailing machines
and air conditioned trac-
tors.
THE SOCIETY

Michell was one of the
founding .members of the
Artifacts Society when. it
formed in 1965. He. was
also a. member. of. the
Pioneer Society which has
been operating for over 40
years.

The Artifacts. Society
branched: off from the
Pioneer Society because of
their members — particular
' interests.. The. large. farm
of the farm and until the | equipment, steam. engines
society was assured Of | in particular, are both
having it, fund raising and-| Gardner. and Michell’s

other . plans progressed ‘favorite. pieces and the
Slowly. The government’s | pioneer Society’ con-

delay seemed to be for | centrates more on items

This land is proposed site

Teasons of caution — | from the home and the
wanting to assure the | human history. The two
. society’s. intentions .and | organizations "are ‘still
_ Feliability. closely. related and _ the.

eos FE SENG OTROS TTL! PORTE BEE TERRE

Artifacts Society is hopeful
the Pioneer Society will join.

. In ‘anticipation’ of this -
lease: the artifacts society .

WHEELS. from the past are 2 interesting. ‘This.< one: has a metal 1 rim a

th h . r d bb ti — > has collected a them on their museum site.

oO ers ave WOOC an Tu er varia tions. © - warehouseful ‘of ‘smaller The artifacts society basa”
items and a considerable | jarge collection ©. of
amount. of old farm_| machinery that is constantly

equipment. Their plans for , growing. It is stored on

the site -include: © an’ Michell’s. farm. on. East
operating farm.with a'small .|:Saanich Road and” every.
set of buildings one vou -year the society attempts to
: expect ona 1900 era farm, a rejuvenate at least one piece’

oo saw mill, a.windmill, a] of. equipment. » This year.|
“museum” “building and the. with help. from: a’ -New.

“model train’ “enthusiasts:
= have a:corner to-récreate a.
“miniature train system.

ee ATER EERE TPR ST TT

completely. refitted .an’ old

Te willl be some time, the’ ‘original mill. from up-island

“president of: ‘the. club, Art.
Gardner thinks maybe five
“or. ten. “years, before’ the
whole” -area: is. developed, -
but. the actual. farm
‘operation is working now, -~

condition,

that: only ithe: |:
“metal”:

fittings “were

entered ‘in. the.» heavy®
See . |.equipment owner’s show-at
: For.the last few years the | the’... Juan. ‘de. Fuca
society has been growing a | Recreation Centré. Watch
crop on the land, They | for. it in the All Sidney. Day

engine ‘and a small original
aunp ire:

have ‘collected

began to be used. In the fall
. the: golden. rows of stocks

attract passersby: from the: |. "They.
“highway into” the farm, threshing machines,
either to. reminisce -about | tractors, . old. cutters © or

sleighs from the days when
the peninsula. often had
snow and inumerable pieces
of equipment for eventual
restoration. Over the years,
along with their machinery
collection, the socicty has
received household eiects
too, °

The.society has asked for
and received two |New
Horizon’s. grants, totalling
$27,000, Some of the last

their old farming days or to
_ inquire . about’. what. -the.
small, pointed | stacks of
grain are. ,

Those who come to
reminisce’ are never alone,
as so many Canadians came
from farming backgrounds.
Willard Michell, past
president of. the . society,.
‘recalls: taking the. society’s
‘large . collection... of -small
and. ploughs to fairs, he
writes, “1 got quite a lot of
“> enjoyment watching elderly
-men. come along and hold
the handles of the ploughs
until they found: one they
felt was like one-they had
used dn: carly days,” They,

10 obtain. even
ape ART GA RDNE Ri is pr esident of the Saanich Historical Artifacts Society.
4 ' Here he sits -besidea: well, polished stove similar to what our grandmothers
Used as

ay

Wn eee

ih ® yin aa xe

yausedin: building, The first ‘building ici be
constructed is the saw mill which will go in the
back corner of the property.

A BULLDOZER has Ween hired to clear
) Various areas of land on the 23 aeres owned,
by the society. Here is the site of the planned

THIS STEAM ENGINE is the pride and joy
of many members of the society who put in.
long hours getting it into perfectly working

condition and polishing it to a gleam. Each.

amounts to carry. out the
plans for the newly. leased -
land.. They are hopeful the
lease will mean grants will
be more easily come by.
They estimate the. entire
‘project will be a multi-
Million dollar addition. to
the community.

items are restored the cost is
‘for
amount
labour required. The’ bulk -
“of ‘the work. is’ done® by.
‘members: . for. no’: charge.
Gardner said the society
-has many talented members
who
inclined.
and have the: time to Spend
“on restoration.

-on’ Michell’ Ss...

rowin ‘all the time, all his:
‘Horizon’ $:grant;’ “the. ‘group. ef 5.

‘one: section turned: cover.‘to:|.

‘ saw-mill:: They. bought the.

-but. it) was -in® “such: poor:

-salvageable. The project is: |.

run ae ‘do “not: have’ ‘the : time: to.
‘completed and was recently:

.members.. because”

plant, grow, harvest and parade.

-thresh: the crop -as: it was eas *
done when P he: first. ‘The society “has also
mechanical ~ equipment refurbished an old: steam

: Artifacts Society is a non-
‘profit: organization that has

‘building on
_ Agricultural Fair Grounds. .

_the society is always on the

“They buy very few things,
‘depending almost. entirely.

grant is left and when it,
runs .out. the society hopes.
larger.

WHIS TLES on nthe steam engines were not only
decorative t but were used fora variety of signals.

donate to. a museum
‘organization and still others
who will sell anything to the
highest bidder.

“I can understand people
wanting to keep something

At. the. irioment when

materials
of.

and: . any
specialized

are. mechanically
Some are retired

‘The machinery collection:
farm is:

farm: buildings have at. least. :

storing. equipment ; and even. :
“then= some . -must: be ‘stored.
outside. - 7

-The:. society-: -Aelconies
new members: even: ‘if they:

participate in'a great deal of :}-
restoration... Gardner’ said,
“We're looking- for new
it - will
show the government. that
we ‘have .a: lot of interest
here in doing this type. of
work, It. may . help with
grants,” ,

“The Saanich | Historical

meetings. every’ month
except during the summer
season. They ‘meet in the.
Pioneer’s. Society. log
the Saanich

As. well as new members

look out:for new items to
add =o. their ~ collection.

on donations. Gardner said
‘there are three types of
people, people who- are.
attached to.their things and
would not: part with them,”
others who, are willing to

80 year old working farm is ambition of Saanich Historical Artifacts Society

The society has collected scads of equipment and whole area will be complete 1 in a decade

year the boiler must be safety inspected by a
government inspector before operating it for
display.

while they are alive,’’
Michell,
fortunately they don’t make
provision: for it after they.
go and their things: get lost
or of destroyed. ”

8: 00 A.M. TO 42:00 Noon
“hilton 1°

Page 9

At. ‘the. moment the
society. is hoping to~ get
Sidney’ s Vintage © street-§
sweeping machine when the
town . buys a’ new one to¥

V replace it.

said

“but un-

ete :
"Enjoy! I

BEACON. PLAZA MALL :

ALL You CAN EAT |
__Adults 1

,

AT SANSCHA HALL

: “Outdoor ra
a “Kinsmen Bavarian

oe : 8:00 To 12: 00”

_SIDNEY & N. SAANICH —
» CHAMBER OF COMMERCE —

PARADE.
~ Starts 11:00-A M.
Downtown Sidney

-& GROUNDS |
- eKiwanis Bingo ©

Rotary Midway

~-Sanscha Hall

- Single a couple ye 5