Birthday Party at Fred Light Museum

The Fred Light Museum will be celebrating the 100th birthday of its historic home Sunday, Aug. 24 with a come and go tea.

Overlooking the North Saskatchewan River valley, what was originally the St. Vital Public Catholic School was built in 1914. It was constructed of brick manufactured in Battleford, with four classrooms on the first two floors, an auditorium on the third floor and two rooms in the basement. At some point in the late 1970s, the brick was covered with stucco.

It was built in a modified Second Empire architectural style, popular with the Roman Catholic church for its convents and schools even though the Second Empire style had otherwise fallen out of fashion by the 1890s. Elements that reflect the Second Empire architectural style include its symetry, its window arrangement and design, the mansard roof, dormer windows and prominent pavilion. It also features elements that denote its use as a Catholic school, such as the cross atop the pavilion and original stone signage above the entryway.

The building served as a school until 1974. It's been home to the Fred Light Museum since 1980. In 1982, it was formally recognized as a Municipal Heritage Property by the Town of Battleford and is listed on the Canada's Historic Places Register.

Now owned and financed by the Town of Battleford, the museum is named after Fred Light, who was part of a local pioneer North West Mounted Police family. He dedicated years to collecting and displaying local artifacts.

Manager Bernadette Leslie, who has been with the museum for 35 years, says this has been a good year for the museum and that the board is looking forward to the come and go tea Sunday from 1 to 3 p.m.

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