Dear Editor:
From 1956 to 1975 I grew up in Summerland and showed such interest in the museum and history of Summerland I was granted a life membership in the museum society.
To this day, Summerland and its history is of great importance to me.
Recently I have become aware of an ongoing controversy surrounding the museum and groups interested in the museum and its position as the archival repository of historical artifacts. This has brought discord and disrespect to all involved.
Summerland was founded on the belief that something good could be made to exist there. History has proven that the founding fathers and pioneers that opened up the country were right.
Today descendants of those forefathers and builders have become embroiled in a fight over the historical artifacts and documents held in trust by the museum.
The problem seems to stem from the actions of certain individuals who are engaging in questionable actions. These actions may or may not in fact be questionable.
The gas pump for example is the only one left with a connection to lower Summerland. For the museum to simply deaccession it without ensuring that its associated history is preserved is wrong.
Ideally keeping the gas pump is the way to go, but, if that is not possible then at least photograph the pump and make some notation as to where it came from and when it would have been in use.
Letters and photographs of historical significance should never be simply squirrelled away. Displays can be arranged and these documents can be changed out periodically.
The persons donating these no doubt intended for that to occur. Failing to do so would be disrespectful to the donors.
I would strongly urge all parties to sit down and discuss what may be the best method of resolving this issue and to bear in mind that this dispute and controversy surrounding it is hurting not only the parties involved directly. It also is hurting the museum and its society in general.
Summerland in this day and age has enough problems without losing even more history than it already has.
David Lenzi
Edmonton