Nobleford Area Museum opens for the season

Sunny South News Photo by Kristine Jean. NOW OPEN: The Nobleford Area Museum is now open for the season with regular hours Monday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This year features a kitchen themed exhibit from the 1920’s and 1930’s.

By Kristine Jean
Sunny South News

Every summer, the Nobleford Area Museum welcomes residents and visitors to experience the history of Nobleford.  

The museum has now officially opened for the season, and will be open for July and August, Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

It’s an opportunity for residents and visitors to learn about the people and the history of the Town of Nobleford. 

“I think it’s a valued asset for the community because it preserves the roots of the community,” said Don Zech, president of the Nobleford Area Museum. “It does that in terms of the changing community because Nobleford is growing and many of the people here really have had no long-term ties with the community, so it’s an opportunity for them to have some idea of the history of the place they are living in.” 

This summer, the museum is sharing a new exhibit that kept in theme with their float in this year’s Heritage Day parade on July 18. That theme revolves around a 1920’s and 1930’s era kitchen, that was put together by museum board members, Sheila Rast and Glenda Smith.  

“We’ve got a display set up in the museum made up of artifacts that we put together for this display, of kitchen equipment and appliances,” said Zech. “We’ve got a wood burning stove, we’ve got an ice box, we’ve got an antique table, antique wash stand, an antique cupboard and a wall display of various tools,” he added, noting a set of wooden butter tools and boxes, cartons and tins “of things you would find in that time period.” 

Visitors and residents alike will see various recipes, cookware, aprons and kitchen items from the 1920’s to 1940’s as part of the kitchen display.

In addition, they also have an advertising display at the front of the museum, showcasing advertising from the 1920’s. Every year, the museum tries to host a different theme for the season. 

“Last year we did a tribute to the one-room country schools and we put up signs where the one-room schools used to be,” he said. “That was our big project for the year, and in the museum display we had artifacts from the schools and materials that were used in the school.”     

Zech noted the museum is located in the original Nobleford Cultivators Factory where the museum has a permanent display of Dr. Charles Noble, the man the Town was named after – he was the founder of the Town of Nobleford. 

“Dr. Noble was a leader, a member of the Order of the British Empire and honourary doctorate in terms of agriculture in this area, especially in controlling wind erosion and soil preservation,” explained Zech. 

Some of Noble’s inventions include the Noble Blade. 

“It didn’t turn the soil over for farmers, when you were cultivating. It cut the roots off and left the top relatively undisturbed,” Zech said of the invention. 

The museum stays open during the summer months with help from a summer student, who they hire each season. The museum can also arrange a free tour outside of regular summer hours, anytime throughout the year.   

“During the year we will do personal tours – one of the board members will open the museum up and take people through if they want an opportunity to see the museum when it’s not open,” said Zech.