Once the funding is in place, Pas Ka Poo Park could have a welcome addition to its historical village.
Presently discussions are being held to determine the feasibility of transporting the original Hoadley post office and the contents of Janette Oke’s writing museum to the park.
Park administrator Cheryl Jones said the Steeves family, whom own the post office made the generous offer. The famous author, Janette Oke’s maiden name was Steeves and the family lived at the post office when it was turned into a home for the large family.
“It was a fabulous offer and we would love to do it, but we need to look at what would be involved,” said Jones. “It would be a wonderful addition to the park.
The building, which is located east of Hoadley on Hwy. 611, has an upstairs, would be difficult to move and moving costs could run in the neighborhood of $20,000, she noted. Once it was at the park, more funding would be requipred as it would need to be moved onto a foundation, the fence would have to be temporarily taken down and electrical wires disconnected.
Jones added Oke’s writing museum is amazing, noting the author is now the bestselling author of over 70 books, 32 of which have been translated into fourteen languages. Her books have sold over 22 million copies.
The well established author recalls growing up, one of several Steeves children, in the Hoadley area.
“I had good growing up years,” Oke said. “It wasn’t a big house, but it was often filled with people, in for a meal or an evening of games.”
She said she was a reader as a child and her love of books never left her. She began her own writing career when she became aware there were few Christian books on the market.
Her books are delightful tales of hardship, love, and enduring strength of spirit in the face of adversity.
“Life is very repetitive,’ she said. “Human needs, generation to generation are still the same. They still experience sorrow and joy and the need to be loved and accepted.”
Oke, who lives in the Olds area, received the 1992 President’s Award from the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association for her significant contribution to Christian fiction, the 1999 CBA Life Impact Award and has been awarded the Gold MedallionAward for fiction.
She and her husband, Edward, have four grown children, 15 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.