Construction begins on building to house Arrow Lakes Historical Society

CBT contributes $100,000 toward Centennial Building addition

With support from Columbia Basin Trust, the Arrow Lakes Historical Society will have a new home in 2012. From left to right: Rosemarie Parent, Arrow Lakes Historical Society; Lynda Lafleur, CBT Community Liaison; Milton Parent, Arrow Lakes Historical Society.

Construction has begun on an addition to the Centennial Building in Nakusp, which will house the archives of the Arrow Lakes Historical Society. Columbia Basin Trust (CBT) has supported the project with $100,000.

The Centennial Building currently houses the Nakusp & District Museum and Nakusp Public Library. The addition will unite the three services while providing a permanent, safe home for archival material.

"CBT believes in supporting projects like this that build local partnerships," said Neil Muth, CBT president and CEO. "Moving the archives to this location will bring the three organizations together, reducing operating costs and offering a sustainable future to all three."

The two-storey addition, which should be ready to move into in fall of 2012, will provide an elevator to the top floor for the archives office and the library, which is currently inaccessible to those in wheelchairs and the elderly. The lower floor will provide storage space, plus room for an additional diorama for the museum.

The Arrow Lakes Historical Society (ALHS) is a volunteer organization that collects, catalogues and shares archival records and artifacts dating back to the earliest days of the Arrow Lakes region.

"This information is used by residents, students and historians and is considered to be a very valuable resource in the community," said author and historian Milton Parent, ALHS. "Moving the archives into a central location on the main road leading into Nakusp will increase visibility and make them easy to find."