by Jacquie
Mallory and Giorgio Busetto
(click on photos to enlarge image)
THE SOO LINE HISTORICAL MUSEUM - WEYBURN
Weyburn is a small city (its population is 10000 people)
114 km (71 miles) SE of Regina, the major commercial
centre of southern Saskatchewan (Canada).
Weyburn was founded in the late 1800's on the shores of
the Souris river by railroad workers. The name of the
town comes from the Scots phrase 'wee burn', meaning 'small
river', in reference to the Souris river which runs
through the city. Weyburn was officially incorporated as
a village in 1902, a town in 1903, and a city in 1913.
Weyburn is the largest inland grain gathering point in
all of Canada. Well over half a million tons of grain
pass through the Weyburn terminals each and ever year.
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The Soo Line Historical Museum is located in a building
constructed in 1909 when the City took over the Weyburn's
electric utility succeeding the Weyburn Electric Light and
Machine Company formed in 1905 by a group of Canadian Pacific
Railway employees.
The Soo Line Historical Museum was dedicated June 14, 1969 by J.
Ross Barrie, Minister of Natural Resources, Province of
Saskatchewan.
The objective of the institution is to preserve the heritage of
Weyburn and community, so that "As we walk on the present, let
us not forget the past".
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The Soo Line Historical Museum building
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The plate commemorating the dedication
ceremony
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The Soo Line Historical Museum houses a collection of
artifacts that were used by Weyburn and district pioneers, a
collection of Native artifacts, the Soo Line Historical Archives
and the Charles Wilson Silver Collection.
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Charles Wilson Silver Collection display
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Charles Wilson Silver Collection display
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The Soo Line Historical Museum: General Store
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The Soo Line Historical Museum: School Room
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Charles Wilson was a bachelor who lived on the family farm
northwest of Weyburn. After a lifetime of attending auction
sales, he chose to will his collection to the Soo Line
Historical Museum so everyone might enjoy his lifetime of
collecting.
The Museum received this rich and unexpected bequest in 1995
after Mr. Wilson passed.
The collection consists of over 5000 artifacts of silver, brass,
crystal, clocks and antique furniture.
The Silver collection numbers over 3000 pieces and is the
largest one man collection of silver known to exist in Canada.
They dated from 1750 to 1972, ranging from full tea services to
opera glasses and spoons.
More than two years were spent in the cleaning, appraising, and
proper displaying of the silver.
The collection comprises many rare pieces, so that the Canadian
Government has protected 400 pieces under the Cultural
Import/Export Act.
The museum is open year round but with shorter hours in the fall
& winter.
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The Charles Wilson silver collection hall
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Charles Wilson Silver Collection display
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Eleanor of Aquitaine: silver and ivory
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Travelling Teaset - Four pieces set in case.
Circa 1863
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How to contact the Museum:
Soo Line Historical Museum
P.O. Box 1016
Weyburn, Saskatchewan, Canada
S4H 2L2
Phone - 1 (306) 842-2922
Fax - 1 (306) 842-2922
E-Mail: slhm@sasktel.net
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ASSOCIATION OF SMALL COLLECTORS OF ANTIQUE SILVER
