The East Coulee School Museum is one step closer to taking on Phase 1 of its improvement and renovation plan, thanks to a boost from the Alberta Government.
This week the museum received a Community Facilities Enhancement Program (CFEP) Grant for $25,000, putting them closer to their goal, and allowing the museum to tackle its most pressing need, its boiler.
Executive director Barb Steeves is happy they were successful in their application for the grant, but understands there is still some hard work ahead.
“This is a big leap forward in the money needed to get this project rolling, but we are still looking forward to matching funds,” said Steeves.
For almost 80 years, the museum was famously heated by its coal fired boiler heating system. This, however, is no longer functioning. While they will keep the original boiler in place, they will be installing a modern heating system to keep the museum functioning.
Along with the boiler, Phase 1 also includes foundation work and improvements to get the building up to fire code.
With this donation, Steeves explains they have raised about $60,000 of the approximately $101,000 needed to complete the phase. They have hired a mechanical engineer to begin installing the new heating system.
The East Coulee School Museum was recently granted a heritage resource status designation by the town of Drumheller, the first of hopefully many in the valley. This will allow possible access to more funding to continue restoring the iconic museum. Steeves says they have begun to explore this option and have tasked a grant writer to help them.
