The Village of Ashcroft has been able to make upgrades to the existing museum, and will be making improvements to the historic fire hall at the foot of Railway Avenue, thanks to grants the village has received in recent months.
A Canada Cultural Spaces grant of $20,644, and one from Northern Development Initiative Trust for $20,475, have enabled major upgrades to the museum’s HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) system, as well as the replacement of stairs at an emergency exit at the back of the building.
“There was no central air conditioning in the building, just window units that were very noisy and inefficient,” says Michelle Allen, Ashcroft’s chief administrative officer. “And the furnaces were well past their useful life. We need to have low heat on in the museum all year round for the preservation of the artifacts. It was a big job, putting in central air conditioning. We expect to see energy savings by having more energy efficient equipment.
“The cement steps at the back were crumbling, so they’ve been replaced with low maintenance porous metal steps that will provide better safety. And it’s all been done at minimal cost to the village.”
The village has also received $24,000 from the B.C/Canada 150 fund, which is administered by the BC Museums Association and supported by Heritage BC with funding from the provincial government. The aim of the fund is to support the creation of meaningful legacies that honour the province’s unique and diverse history, culture, and heritage.
Council and staff decided to pursue funding under the program to refurbish the historic fire hall, which was built in 1919. The building, which houses a small display, needs new siding, and the grant will go to pay for removing the current siding and replacing it with new cedar siding; new doors and windows; and minor electrical upgrades for the lighting.
It will also allow development of a new display within the building. “The B.C./Canada 150 fund is, in part, to expand or develop museum space,” says Allen. “For the past three years we’ve been having informal discussions with the Ashcroft Volunteer Fire Department about a museum. The displays currently in the fire hall are old and need to be updated.
“The fire department has a lot of antique equipment that they would like to display, and they can hang hoses from the drying tower.” The plan is to display the items inside the fire hall, alongside new storyboards. “It’s a stop on the walking tour of historic Ashcroft, about halfway through the tour,” adds Allen, who hopes that the improvements and additions to the building will encourage more people to check it out.
Acknowledging that there is not really any parking for visitors at the site, Allen says that signage will be put in place directing motorists to the overflow parking lot above the Legacy Park, a short walk away. “The signs will direct people off the highway to where they can park safely.
Ashcroft mayor Jack Jeyes says that “It’s thanks to staff that we’ve been so successful in the last year in getting grants. Staff put a lot of time and effort into putting these proposals together, and the granters have rewarded us.
“At the end of the day, almost all these upgrades have an efficiency part—heating or lighting—which will be a savings for the village.”