The entertainment was again stellar as the fourth annual Sunday Afternoon at Dickson Store Museum was held on the weekend.
About 50 people listened to songs, poems and chuckled at humorous snippets included in More Letters to Grandma and Grandpa, a one-act play written by Sharon Lightbown and featuring she and Fred Pedersen as the actors.
MP Earl Dreeshen attended to announce a $10,102 grant through the Museums Assistance Program of the Department of Canadian Heritage to purchase and install a collections software system, allowing the museum to preserve and catalogue the more than 1,000 artifacts it currently houses.
“For more than 20 years, Dickson Store Museum has educated Canadians on the unique and storied history of the region,” he said. “By investing in this important project, our government is giving visitors, historians, and educators greater access to artifacts, while enabling the museum to take advantage of modern technological advances.”
“Investing in our cultural heritage is essential to the wellbeing of Canada,” he said. “It’s even more important as we count down to the 150th birthday of Canada in 2017.”
In a news release from Dreeshen’s office, Lightbown was quoted, “this funding will ensure Dickson Store Museum has the capabilities to maintain records that identify, describe and classify all objects in the collection. Information will be readily accessible and easily shared with the community, surrounding areas, other heritage institutions, and eventually online.”
MLA Kerry Towle and Red Deer County Councillor Richard Lorenz also spoke about the value of the museum and volunteers who keep it running.
Antonia Nissen, President of Dickson Store Museum Society, thanked the various levels of government for their contributions through grants that help keep the museum operating.
“It’s great support for community events like this that keep the commitment from our community strong,” she added.
Following speeches, Nissen began the entertainment reading the poem Song For A Little House written by Chris Morley.
When I First Came To This Land was sung by Fred Pedersen, Henry van der Kolk, Margie Miller and Sharon Lightbown, accompanied by Virginia Pedersen. The group also sang April Showers and They All Call It Canada later in the program.
Sandy Martin read the Mary Fitzgerald poem Rendezvous and Gerald Miller recited two poems he’d written, The Range Rooster and Hoofprints in The Garden.
The highlight, as always, was the play performed by Sharon Lightbown and Fred Pedersen, which followed along with the theme of several previous plays.
The audience was encouraged to sing along with the songs The Good Old Summertime and When You’re Smiling.
Night Song was sung by Virginia Pedersen, Margie Miller and Henry van der Kolk.
Following the performances, cake (compliments of Nettie Pettman) and refreshments were served.
Dickson Store Museum Society, established in 1985, is a non-profit heritage organization responsible for management of Dickson Store Museum. The museum opened in 1991 and promotes interest in the history of the region, with special emphasis on Dickson and the first Danish settlement in Western Canada.