Two historic buildings are in need of community members to “adopt” them and keep them ready for visitors to an Argyle-based museum.
The historic Ekhart railway station — a rare 1916 Canadian Northern Railway boxcar station — is also seeking community adopters to help maintain and interpret the structure
Settlers, Rails & Trails has launched an adopt-a-building program at its heritage park in an effort to better connect with the community.
President and executive Shayne Campbell said the initiative allows interested parties to keep the buildings ready for public viewing.
“Commonly seen in other small museums, our program also allows people to adopt a building for a set time period and offer their services with cleaning, light maintenance and tours of the structure,” he said.
“These tasks help get the buildings looking their best for annual open house events, tours and summer visitors. The museum recognizes our adoptive parties with building signage and through social media posts.”
Of the four buildings on site, two of them still need adopting: the Ekhart railway station and the Langley livery stable.
“The Ekhart railway station is a very rare boxcar station — once a common sight in Canada’s west, they have all since disappeared. Our museum is the only one in the nation with such a structure. It was refurbished in 1916 by the Canadian Northern Railway and placed 3.5 miles south of Argyle in the tiny hamlet of Ekhart,” Campbell said.
“Moved away from the rails in the 1950s, it spent 40 years in a local farm yard and was initially donated to the museum by the Gramiak family in 1991, being moved to the Campbell residence. In 2019, it was moved once again to its permanent location at the museum’s heritage park. At that time it received a new foundation, railway platform, roof, windows, stairs and ramp, and interior and exterior paint.”
The Langley livery stable was building in 1997 using locally sourced heritage lumber.
“The building was purposely constructed to resemble a small blacksmith shop, similar to the one located in Argyle which had been in operation from 1918 to 1950. The stable was moved to its current location in the museum’s heritage park in 2020 and received a new concrete foundation, structural repairs, exterior paint, replica sign and new doors,” Campbell said.
“The building is named after the Langley family, who lived in Argyle and operated a small livery business. The interior will feature tools and equipment commonly found in a small-town livery.”
The two other buildings in the museum’s heritage park — the Dugald McLeod house and Charlie Amy’s log cabin — have already been adopted.
“The Dugald McLeod House was adopted by Tracy Dunstan and family. Tracy has volunteered for many years as the museum’s first treasurer, and some of her family’s historic items can be found furnishing this small two-room home,” Campbell said.
“Charlie Amy’s log cabin has been adopted by its namesake. Purpose-built on site in 2023, it resembles the kind of construction that was common for the first European settlers who arrived here in the mid 1870s. This one-room cabin has been fully furnished by Charlie and his family.”
With an eye on the horizon, museum directors have been discussing expansion plans for the museum’s heritage park, aiming to see it grow to its full 12-acre space. “The entire parcel was purchased in 2019, but only the lower four acres have been developed at this point,” Campbell said.
“The group is currently seeking funding, donations and working out logistical choices to see this major expansion project a reality.”
Learn more about the volunteer-run museum at settlersrailsandtrails.com.
