Laura Neame is a member of the Board of Directors of the Lake Country Heritage and Cultural Society and a volunteer archivist at the Lake Country Museum and Archives. Neame is a retired college library administrator.
By Paige Hohmann and Chris Ives Often, archives are viewed as esoteric, ephemeral, and largely inaccessible. The image of an intrepid researcher finding obscure treasure previously “lost” to history in the archives is a familiar one. While it is accurate... [Continue Reading]
The Ailanthus Tree, or Tree of Heaven is an invasive and unwanted tree that grows thickly along Okanagan Centre Road West. The Municipality of Lake Country has been attempting to eradicate as much as possible along the roadways, and has... [Continue Reading]
The Rainbow Ranche Collection was donated to the Lake Country Museum and Archives in 2013 by Roger MacDonnell, a grandson of the Ranche Manager, James Goldie. We are fortunate in having these records, preserved by James Goldie’s daughter, Nancy Goldie.... [Continue Reading]
The Board of the Lake Country Heritage and Cultural Society regretfully accepted the resignation of Shannon Jorgenson, the Manager of the Lake Country Museum and Archives. Shannon was the first manager of the Museum and was thus responsible for establishing... [Continue Reading]
Here are two pictures taken in Okanagan Centre Hall, probably early spring of 1947 or 1948. According to Eleanor (Brixton) Geen, who supplied the photos, there was a tradition of spring shows at the hall, with local ladies acting as... [Continue Reading]
Winfield in the 1930’s and early forties, had an elementary school, but for high school, students had to travel to Oyama. Mary White, whose parents had their home and orchard on Highway 97 near Berry Road, took many photos of... [Continue Reading]
The first Women’s Institute was founded in 1897 in Stoney Creek, Ontario and by 1913 institutes were established in all the provinces with the motto “For Home and Country.” Often responsible for much of their farm’s economic success, the Institute... [Continue Reading]
Lake Country Museum and Archives recently received class photos dating from the 1970s. These are for Winfield Elementary, Wood Lake Elementary and Okanagan Centre schools. While only one of the photos appears here, more are available for examination at the... [Continue Reading]
The Okanagan today is identified with beaches, orchards and vineyards, rather than the Wild West. However, this letter, written in 1910, is a glimpse into the Okanagan’s frontier past. James Goldie, manager of the Rainbow Ranche in Okanagan Centre, was questioning George C. Goulding of Rainsford Ranch, Long Lake, as to... [Continue Reading]
April 29, 2013: e-mail to Mits Hikichi, son of Rainbow Ranche (Lake Country) Foreman Sam Hikichi, from Laura Neame, archivist of Lake Country Museum and Archives. Hello Mits Hikichi, We are hoping you can shed some light on a mystery.... [Continue Reading]
