Features of the Museum
On the main floor of the Museum, one tours a living room, a dining room, and
kitchen, set up as they would have been at the turn of the century. There also
are rookms containing pictures, different artifacts and sports memorabilia.
The second floor rooms house a variety of displays
dedicated to a pharmacy and doctor’s office. Wolseley’s former newspaper, the
Royal Canadian Legion, a real estate office, a nursery and bedroom. A washroom
is located on the second floor.
The Boarding House
In 1901, Mrs. West, who later became
Mrs. Slipp, purchased a lot on Blanchard Street on which “The Boarding House”
was built. From 1901 until the early 1970’s, the home operated as a boarding
house. Mrs. Slipp owned it until 1946, with short intervals when other people
tried their hands running it. In 1946 Russell and Erma Biden bought the house
and ran the boarding house until it closed.
The house was purchased in 1978 by
Mairlynn Malo, and opened as an Arts & Craft Shop. In 1980, the house was sold
to the Wolseley Museum Association and has been kept as much as possible in its
original state, making an excellent and centrally located Museum.
Located behind the Museum is a
spacious building containing many more artifats of historical importance.
The Original Beaver Lumber Company
Office
In 1883, Mr. E. A. Banbury and his
brother Robert started Banbury Bros. Lumber Company. Later R.W. Gibson began
the Gibson Lumber Co., with R.J. Gourley as his clerk. In 1904, Gibson moved to
the coast and the Banbury Bros. bought Gibson Lumber and rejoined the firm. The
Regina Lumber and Supply Co. also joined with them, expanding the business to 12
yard.
The desire to expand further had
them joined with a company in Winnipeg. In 1906, a meeting was held in Winnipeg
by this Wolseley-Regina-Winnipeg group, at which time a name for the new company
was considered. They wanted a name that was in some way connected to wood. E.A.
Banbury suggested Beaver and the name was accepted at once.
In 1980 the original office building
of the Beaver Lumber was sold to the Wolseley Museum Association. In 1983
the building was relocated to the north side of the Boarding House to become
part of the Museum, and has since been restored to its original design.
