Skip to content

Museum is asking for artifacts

Summerland Museum is looking for donations of interesting vintage items
97473summerlandMuseumorchardwagonweb
Historic sprayer John Topham restored a 1920s orchard sprayer

The Summerland Museum has received some newly restored artifacts in recent months, but thecurator would like to see more items and pictures from Summerland’s past.

“Think of us before you throw things away,” said Sharon Stone. Last year, the museum received a large bell donated by Luisa and Alfredo Bonaldi, a 1910 Democrat wagon, restored and donated by John Topham and a 1920s orchard sprayer, also restored by Topham. A total of 325 items from 50 donors were acquired by the museum in 2012. At present, there are more than 6,800 artifacts stored at the museum building and in off-site storage containers. The museum also  has more than 2,600 textual documents and around 5,800 original photographs from Summerland’s past. Staff and volunteers are now working to scan photographs for an electronic record. While many of the items are from the first decades of the 20th century and earlier, Stone said more recent items and photographs are needed now. She said former Summerland students, returning for reunions, often ask at the museum for photographs and items from their school days. The museum does not have such items unless someone had the forethought to donate them. The same holds true for other items from the last 50 years. “When your grandkids come to Summerland in 50 years to research their family, you want to make sure we have what they are looking for,” Stone said. She would also like information and artifacts from the various Summerland businesses, in order to tell their stories to future generations.

“It’s important that they think of us,” she said. Items from various cultural minorities are also wanted. “All cultural groups need to let us know about their heritage,” Stone said.

Around 2,040 people visited the museum in 2012, with the majority from out of town.