Cooking up memories at the Valley Museum and Archives

By Andrea Arnold

The new Kitchen Kitsch exhibit at the Valley Museum and Archives in McBride seems to be succeeding as one of two most successful connection creating exhibits that curator Bridget Uhl has been a part of.

The other, the History of Telephones, and this one, are easy for patrons to relate to.

“Everyone has a phone, and everyone has been in a kitchen,” said Uhl. “The kitchen is the heart of the home.”

Uhl said the museum has hosted a kitchen exhibit before, at the old location on Dominion Street, but this is the first time they have been able to create one of this scale. 

The idea came to her after a 100-year-old cookbook from the Holdway family, and some old corningware was donated. 

“Hey! Kitchens! That’s an idea,” she said.

The exhibit is set up to feel like visitors are guests in someone’s home. Many of the items are on loan from about two dozen residents spanning from Dome Creek to Dunster. Uhl also used items that she found in the archive room that have been donated to the museum over the years. She says that the exhibit isn’t finished, and changes will be made up until it is taken down in June.

“If you have something that you feel would be a good addition, please talk to me or bring it in,” she said.

So far the exhibit contains items that span approximately 100 years of kitchen history. There is a stovetop waffle iron from the early 1900’s and a stand mixer from the 1930’s. Some of these items, even the stand mixer, still work.

Uhl had several cookbooks loaned for the exhibit. Many of these are compilations of local recipes submitted by recognizable names. The cookbooks are no longer available for purchase.

“I have photocopied a variety of individual recipes, and people are welcome to take a copy home to try.” said Uhl. 

The display has really tapped into the feeling of nostalgia for many.

“So many visitors have shared stories of either first hand experiences with items they are seeing, or memories of seeing the items at their grandparents homes,” said Uhl.

This exhibit is an opportunity for parents and grandparents to come with the younger generations and tell stories and have props to help the kids better visualize what they are hearing. Uhl has created two short scavenger hunts, two levels of difficulty, that can help kids take a closer look.

Joanne McClinton brought two of her kids into the museum for a look. She was able to show them items she had used growing up, and the kids even pointed out a few items that they still use around the home.

Young Ava was drawn to the rag rug that lays next to the old wood cookstove. For good reason.

“That looks like the rugs Grandma Carol makes,” she said. 

Upon closer examination, McClinton confirmed that yes, it was in fact, the result of her mother’s handiwork.

As the exhibit is still in its early days, it will be up until mid-June, Uhl is working on ideas that will allow people a more interactive experience. She is looking for ideas of what pioneer type skills people would like to learn, or teach, and welcomes feedback and ideas.

Wood cookstoves, stovetop toasters, wooden flour canisters, hand mixers, and a wooden drying rack are just a small taste of some of the items on display. Uhl invites everyone to come for a wander down memory lane, then sit at the kitchen table with a hot beverage and share some stories.