If the enthusiasm and sold out crowds at last winter’s Silver Star Story Telling events are any indication, locals and mountain guests alike are hungry to learn more about the history of our mountain.
Good news. Three new exhibits will be on display this year at the latest satellite of The Greater Vernon Museum and Archives, on site at Silver Star in the ski school reception area on Main Street. Drop in to find out about the early days of mining, back when Cornelius O’Keefe formed the Silver Star Mining Company in 1894. Or discover stories of early forestry and fires that shaped the history of the mountain. Then hike up or take the chair to visit the coffee shop in the old forestry lookout, slated to be open when the green chair runs on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
And discover how Silver Star’s mountain biking, started in the early ‘90s, has grown to be one of North America’s most sought after destinations for both hard core downhill and family oriented cross country cyclists.
Ski memorabilia exhibited last summer will remain on exhibit in the lobby of the Chilkoot Centre.
As well as cash donations, artifacts, photos, old ski gear, items used on or from the mountain, and your stories of the good old days at The Star are needed. So dive into your basements for those old skis, boots and poles, or bikes you haven’t been able to part with, and get out those old photo albums full of happy times, summer or winter, at Silver Star.
There will be opportunities throughout the summer for people to share their stories with volunteers who will be in attendance at the ski school reception area July and August, every day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Volunteers are needed. To join the volunteer team, contact Patti Wild at skiwild@live.ca.
For tax-deductible donations or to donate objects or photos, please contact Vernon Museum curator Ken Mather at curator@vernonmuseum.ca or archivist Barbara Bell at archives@vernonmuseum.ca or call 250-542-3142.
Patti Shales Lefkos is media director for the Silver Star Dreamweavers Society.