TREENA MIELKE/Rimbey Review
Step back in time with a visit to Rimbey’s Pas-Ka-Poo Park Historic Village and The Smithson International Truck Museum.
The village is open mid-May to early September from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and includes a main museum building and historical village of Arch Rib Museum built on site in 1970 and displaying household and small business artifacts.
The village contains the original Bluffton Legion Hall, built in 1952, which houses several veterans’ artifacts, a barbershop and meat market built in 1915, a train station from the early 1900s along with a wooden caboose built in 1947.
Also located on the premises is the first school in Rimbey, the Kansas Ridge School, built in 1902.
The Rimbey town office, built as a residence in 1915, prior to becoming the town office and Rimbey’s first church, the Church of Epiphany, built in 1908 using vertical logs, are an interesting part of the historical village.
A hand-hued log homesteaders’ cottage built in 1932 also graces the village.
Near the park’s playground are replicas of a blacksmith shop and a trapper’s cabin. Just outside the trapper’s cabin stands ‘The Traveler’, a chain saw creation by local artist Darren Jones and donated by his family in 2002.
In 1990 the Rimbey Historical Society added a museum to house Ken Smithson’s collection of 19 restored International pick-up trucks and The Smithson International Truck museum was created. The museum is the most complete collection of International half-ton trucks in the world.
In 2002, for the town’s 100th anniversary, a 1957 anniversary edition truck was refurbished and donated.
An extensive license plate collection and many vintage photographs are also in the Truck Museum, open daily. Call ahead to book a tour guide at 403-943-2004.
Cheryl Jones, administrator for the Rimbey Historical Society, said several events are planned at the park for the next few months to provide fun and entertainment to citizens and visitors alike.
The New Life Fellowship Church will hold its service in the park on June 26.
Canada Day activities held at the park promise to provide the entire family with great opportunities for fun and excitement.
And on July 10 the Parkin’ in the Park Show & Shine will offer visitors a chance to show off their vehicles, and perhaps, even win a trophy.
Activities for August include Gospel in the Park and a booknic (sponsored by Rimbey library).
An art festival is to be held Sept. 30, Oct. 1 and 2.
Farmers’ Markets will be held every Saturday at the park throughout the summer.
Jones said artifacts have been added to the tractor museum and work is underway to create a medical museum displaying memorabilia from the Rimbey hospital.
Artifact donations are being accepted for Pas-Ka-Poo Park and volunteers are welcome.
“Anyone who wants to help out with one event or more or has a talent or skill they would be willing to share is more than welcome,” she said.
For more information contact Cheryl at 403-843-2004.