On the 29th of October, 1956, at a meeting of interested citizens the Grand Forks Centennial Committee was formed with Emerson Reid as chairman, E.W. Euerby as Secretary and E.C. Henniger Jr. as Treasurer. This Committee was to organize the Centennial celebrations and to select and carry out the Centennial Project. The government of British Columbia donated 40c per person for the celebrations and 60c per person towards an approved project. The two stipulations regarding the project were that it was to be fully completed in 1958 and was to be fully paid for in 1958. Many suggestions, ranging from a fish hatchery to a new hospital were put forward. In February 1957 a brief from the Boundary Historical Society was presented proposing a Museum and the Committee chose the Museum as their project for Centennial Year, 1958. In March a Finance Committee was appointed, and in May a Building Committee.
That the Museum became an accomplished fact is due to the enthusiasm, work and perseverance of about a dozen people. As so often happens help in the form of work, materials, or money was received from many sources, some unexpected, but also the committee received no assistance from some expected sources. The people who contributed work, money or materials are too many to be enumerated here but the books and records of the Centennial Committee, which are to be preserved in the Museum, show the immense amount of work by several of the members.
Activity really commenced with a donation to the Museum of $200.00 by Grand Forks Knights of Pythias Lodge No. 30. In June the rebuilt stage coach "The Red Flyer" was made part of the Museum. The building was completed during the summer and the opening was set for Sunday, 5th of October, 1958. The building is 30' x 40' of concrete block construction with a full basement. It faces Fourth Street on lots reserved by the City of Grand Forks as park, and which has been maintained in lawn by the Grand Forks Gyro Club for some years. The Grand Forks Volunteer Fire Department have placed an old fire engine on view there, over which the city of Grand Forks has placed a roof. There was a concentrated effort to obtain articles of interest for the opening in October. and the public responded generously.
The opening took place on a bright fall day and the ceremonies are recorded on tape. Chairman Emerson Reid was in charge, Mayor Archer Davis introduced the guests. Mr. C.M. Campbell of Vancouver, who was in charge of the Granby Mines at Phoenix for most of their operations was the principal speaker. Others were Lois Haggen, M.L.A., David Pugh, M.P., J. D. Whitham, President of the Okanagan Historical Society, J.J. Verigin for the residents of the valley of the Doukhobor faith, Mrs. E.C. Woodward and D.C. Manly as two of the children born in the valley before 1900, Sam Makortoff for the early Doukhobor residents, Mayor Ed Cooke of Greenwood, and Rev. E.S. Somers, who dedicated the Museum.
from Boundary Historical Society Report #2