PAGE 2, WHITBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17, 1988 Whitby museum: Taking a look back Has thesfast paceio By Debbie Luchuk Offering displays of artifacts from the late nineteenth century and early twentieth century and a variety of events and special exhibits, the Whitby Museum offers people of all ages a taste of local histo that is very much a part of te town's character tôday. Friendly, PersonaliService 24 Hours -7 days a week BUTCHER SHOP Pork, Loin Star Brand Bacon (center cut) nChops Mock Eye of Round Chicken Pastrami caCl Cauliflower Cabbage product of Canada product of Canada 500q tubWhGROCRY Ast ro White Yogurt Swan Paper Towels. -- SAVE 10% ON TUESDAYS LOTTERY TICKETS AND TOBACCO PRODUCTS NOT INCLUDED Local people interested in preserving Whitby's heritage were responsible for the opening of the Whitby Museum and its predecessors. "The museum started with a group of private individuals that decided the area needed a museum," said curator Deseree Rolley. "It began out of an interest group who felt that if some of the things were not saved they would be lost to collectors, and so on." Prior to the existing location in the Kendalwood Plaza, it was housed in the Centennial building from December 1967 to June 1970. In 1970, the museum moved to Myrtle Community Temperance Hall and remained there until 1972. It then moved to the Lynde house on Dundas St. (now a part of the display at Cullen Gardens) where it was located from 1972 to 1986. A permanent home is now being sought for the museum, as the Kendalwood location can't accommodate a full museum operation. "It can't be just any site. It has to meet museum standards," Rowley said. Currently the facilities are very limited, restricting proper preservation and cataloguing of artifacts. Any new location would have to have space and facilities (such as water) to carry out these procedures, and would have to have temperature and humidity controls. "The committee is working very hard to find a permanent home," Rowley said.- However, she was quick to add that the existing location is a great temporary solution to the accommodation problem. With a new location, Rowley anticipates her position becoming full-time (she is part-time); and a greater range of programs and exhibits will be offered. She hopes that will include some assistance with the admin- istration of the museum. Although there are volunteers to help run the museum, she herself performs most of the administrative duties. "Bringing in shows and exhibitions, looking after public relations and general adminis- tration take up a great deal of time and energy." Rowley said that she is looking forward to the creative input of a permanent staff as well as the community with the eventual relocation of the museum. "Museums are not dead places. The function· is to be alive to people around it," she said. Rowley is certainly part of liveliness of the museum. She applied for the position of curator two years ago, previously employed in Saskatchewan as the curator of the Cultural and Heritage Centre there. Rowley has a Ph. D. in parapsychology, working full time as a counsellor and therapist. She also has a masters' degree in anthropology. An interest in Canadian history got her involved in museum work. "I find Canadian history down-to-earth, exciting in that it doesn't blow things up too much out of proportion," she added. In the past, Rowley said, museums perpetuated an image of intellectual learning and were not places for the average person to visit. She says that may be why so many people will not visit a museum, because "history is dead, or not relevant. "The past, the present and future is one thing. They are not separate. The past and the future belong to the present," said Rolley. "It is relevant to the common man, it gives him a sense of where he came from and why he is the way he is, where he is today." Learn To Dance CELEBRIATIN 20 Vooff .ec 20/of sngles adcouples Put a littie fun in your iire. Try dancing. New Students Only! rans e urdo Franchised ~Dance Studios 10A.MA-1PMý Mon.-Fri Sat. Noon to 5 PM. H~as the fast Pace of technological change prompted people to look nostalgically at their past? Rowley believes people are having difficulty dealing with an incredible amount of change over a short period of time. "Look at t~he human character. We're slow to change. We're moving too fast. I think we're in the state of mind of "Oh, for the good old days. "In a sense were afraid of tlie future, under a constant cloud. This fast pace has made us think "Wouldn't it be nice if we could go back to a slower pace of life." Rowley also believes that there has been a focus, since the 1950's, on the acquisition of goods. Now the materialism of our society is being questioned. "Since the 1950's, acquisition has been our priority. We're learning that (material wealth) doesn't make us happy. "If people go back in time, they feel they'll find a base for their lives. They'll only find it if they realize the present is the past and going from there." The Whitby Museum will be featuring a photographic exhibit callled "Quintessential Canada," photos by Felix H. Man, from Sept. 10 to 20. The exhibition highlights photographs taken by the German photojournalist vhile on assignment in Canada during 1933. The collection of photos reinforces the European aud- ience's perception of Canada as "a few acres of snow" and the "breadbasket of the world." Museum hours are Moncay, 3:15 p.m. to 7:15 p.m.; Tuesday, 5:15 to 9:15 p.m.; Saturday. 1 to 5 p.m.; and Sunday, 1 to 5 p.m. The Whitby Museum is located in the Kendalwood Plaza, Dundas St. E. Those interested in volun- teering their services to the museum should cal] the museum. Butter Croissants Assorted Muffins EFFL2 jgVa &Jq<Ye . n 4. 121 Brock St. N. Whitby 430-0014 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -