The Fred Light Museum in the town of Battleford reports it had a good season this year.
“The numbers were up quite a bit,” Mayor Ames Leslie said following council’s recent meeting.
For the 2017 season, the museum had 610 visitors, 290 more than the 2016 count of 320.
“They were almost doubled from 2016,” Leslie added. “That is really good to see.”
He said the museum fire station, old gas station, Andersen woodworking, the gazebo, and now the blacksmith shop that’s being constructed help make the museum such a popular site.
“The board had done a tremendous job to highlight what a great attraction the Fred Light Museum is,” Leslie said. “Anytime you can add something new, it brings new people in, and old people back too. The visitor numbers were definitely showing it.”
Admission donations were also strong, and jumped from $810 in 2016 to $1,422 in 2017.
The mayor credited the combined efforts of the museum board as well as the town’s parks and recreation department in working together.
The new blacksmith shop that is currently under construction is also progressing well.
Fundraiser calendar
The museum is looking at plans to create a 2018 calendar as a fundraiser project.
The calendar would include pictures of various sites in Battleford, including area churches, the town hall, local schools, as well as some historical tidbits about the town.
Organizers hope to get a sponsor for support for each month in the calendar.
Coun. Shelley Boutin-Gervais said the museum board is still working on all the details for the calendar, adding: “I think it will be a good fundraiser.”
angela.brown@jpbg.ca
On Twitter: @battlefordsnow
