Members of the Ladysmith and District Historical Society voted in overwhelming support of a temporary museum on First Avenue.
President Maureen Martin said the society will now look at building a wheelchair ramp to the top entrance of the old Resources Centre on Buller Street and First Avenue.
They could build a ramp to First Avenue, but that would also include building a sidewalk along the avenue. Another option could be to build the ramp towards the parking lot.
Martin said while they look at the ramp, excited members have already banded into two groups, fundraising and form and design, to get things moving.
Martin said the museum will cover the usual aspects of life including the lumber and coal industries, but she also wants to see attention paid to other aspects such as the oyster farming and our early diversity.
“Ladysmith has a great history of multi-ethnic areas and this is something different,” said Martin, noting our used to have a Finland Town, German Town and other distinct areas.
“Another thing that affected our town a great deal was the strike,” she added.
Space is limited, said Martin, and the society members will be looking at frequently changing the displays to keep people interested and coming back.
“We want the town to come and care about it.”
Martin said they are very pleased to be partnering with the Ladysmith and District Credit Union, who are giving them the place rent free and paying the property tax along with the sewer, water and garbage collection levies on a temporary basis.
“That’s wonderful to have them on board.”
Anyone wishing to lend a hand with the project and the new ramp can call the historical society at 250-245-0100.
“We are going to need a lot of community support,” said Martin.
There will also be a lot of artifacts to pull out of storage at the archives and on Oyster Bay Drive near the Maritime Society.
During the August 16 meeting, a member of the Maritime Society Museum was also on hand, said Martin, expressing an interest for the two groups to work together in the future.
The current maritime museum however, is not great for artifacts, said Martin, given the closeness to the ocean.