Founding of the Museum
Heritage Park Museum was established in 1983 by the Terrace Regional Museum Society.
The society’s original Board of Directors in 1983 included Mamie E. Kerby, Aileen Frank, Norma J. Kerby, V. Marie Piffer, Vera Frank, Donald (Don) Cooper, Alex Houlden, Walter McConnell and Jenny Smith, with A.E. (Ted) Johnston and Floyd Frank named to the Historical Names committee. The society’s membership list grew to eventually total over forty people.
Fred Kerby, the husband of the society’s president, Mamie Kerby, played an important part in the early history of Heritage Park Museum: he undertook the daunting task of moving and restoring the museum’s numerous log structures. Fred also repaired and restored many of the artifacts given to the Museum.
Buildings targeted for demolition or in danger of structural collapse were placed at the head of the list of significant buildings to be relocated.
The Hampton Bard was the first building to be moved and restored. Kalum Lake Hotel was the second structure slated for preservation. At the time the hotel was still at its original location on the south end of Kalum Lake and suffering attack from both the elements and vandals.
Later, six additional log structures were transported to Heritage Park along with over 4500 artifacts.
Funding and technical assistance were provided by various levels of government as well as the community. The City of Terrace was an active participant in the project since the beginning. Bookkeeping for the larger grants were done through the City of Terrace. All buildings in the Museum complex were signed over to ownership by the City of Terrace when original owners donated them.
Operational history
Heritage Park Museum was managed and operated (and cared for) by volunteers from the Terrace Regional Museum Society for over sixteen years. Mamie Kerby was the volunteer Director and Manager through this period of time.
In early 1999, the society transferred operation of the park to the City of Terrace. At the time it was acknowledged the city was uniquely positioned to bring greater resources to bear for the next stage of development.
The city, in turn, transferred administration to the Terrace and District Facilities Society which oversaw operations from 1999 to 2004.
At the beginning of 2004, the Terrace and District Museum Society was formed and assumed responsibility for Heritage Park Museum.
One of the first tasks undertaken by this new group was the recruitment and hiring of a full-time director/curator.
The current director/curator is Meghan Leschert. Stay up to date on museum happenings by visiting the Curator’s Blog.
