Board members, other volunteers and members of the families of deceased workers of Kamsack’s Power House Museum were honoured during the museum’s 30th anniversary celebration on September 6.
Among volunteers recognized were: one person who marked his 25th year as a board member, a long-time member who recently celebrated her 99th birthday and the children of original board members.
More than 120 plates of pancakes and sausages were served in the morning, Lydia Cherkas, board president said. The afternoon program began with greetings on behalf of the Town of Kamsack by Councillor Sandy Nykolaishen.
The Kamsack and District Historical Society received its charter from the Province of Saskatchewan on October 16, 1978, Cherkas said. At that time Harry Shukin was president of the board.
The museum opened on August 14, 1985 with John Andrychuk as president, she said. Also on the board were: Mike Nadane, vice-president, and directors Lillian Hovorka, Johanne Chepil, John Chepil, Ruth Rygiel, Edith Kinnear, Rosella Diduck, Mabel Buceuk (secretary) and Jennie Andrychuk.
“Today we are pleased to have some representation of the descendants of members of the first board in our audience,” she said, urging visitors to refer to an album of photographs of past board members and other volunteers, which was compiled by Connie McKay, the board’s current secretary
Entertaining were two Kamsack-based groups, Redeemed, a gospel group comprised of Rick Chernoff, Maureen Holoboff, Cindy Hoffert and Diane Hilton, and the Polka Pals, a group comprised of Al Makowsky, Peter Cherkas, Brent Toporowski, Fred Chorney, Danny Horkoff and Allan Kondratoff.
Introduced were: Nora Clyde, a previous board member who recently had celebrated her 99th birthday; Elmer Andrychuk, the son of the board’s second president; Adrianne Black, daughter of original board member Mike Nadane and previous board presidents Peter Cherkas, Len Buenneke, who has been a member of the board for 25 years, and Joyce MacLean.
Currently serving on the board with Lydia Cherkas, president; Connie McKay, secretary; Peter Cherkas, past president; and Darlene Brown, treasurer, are board members Mary Vereschagin, Cliff Paluck, Len Buenneke, Tannis Negrave, Ed Yurkiw, Betty Dix, Marvin McKay and Bill and Faye Zbeetnoff.
Lydia Cherkas said that it was unfortunate that representatives of the family of Lorne and Molly Poole, who were instrumental in the museum’s development, had not been able to attend.
An anniversary cake was cut and served with ice cream and pyroshki.
Ann Hordichuk was the winner of the 50/50 draw, and door prizes were won by Laurie Scobie, Tony Bobyk, Ardis Irvine, Lorraine Achtymichuk and Adrianne Black.
The event also marked the end of the museum’s summer season which had begun at the May long weekend. During the summer Daniel Ruten of Kamsack was employed as the summer student, a job he has held for three consecutive years.
