MOOSE JAW — Fun for the family will be present at the Sukanen Ship Museum and Pioneer Village on Sunday, July 20.
This year’s version of the annual Family Day event will give visitors an opportunity to see and explore a rare part of Saskatchewan history.
A restored snow plane manufactured in Moosomin will be on site for viewing.
The first Fudge snow plane was made in 1929, using skis and an aircraft propeller. By 1931, the inventor began commercial production of the snow vehicle.
About 400 were made at Moosomin until 1956 when production ceased.
The snow plane made winter travel over the road allowances easier until rural road systems improved.
The snow plane restored by Lisl Gunderman and her husband Darrel Hunter of Alberta is on its way to a permanent home in the Elkhorn, Man. museum.
The snow plane was acquired by her grandfather, Dr. Galoway, a doctor at Oxbow and used for 10 years.
He painted a red stork on the end, a feature which helped the couple identify the machine.
They saw the remnants of a Fudge snow plane in the Elkhorn Museum. She recognized the faded red stork that was on her grandfather’s machine.
They took the snow plane back to Alberta and restored it with the promise to bring it back to Elkhorn.
The noisy snow plane may be started during Family Day from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
They will have a trailer with displays about the Fudge snow plane on site for viewing.
Admission fees will be reduced for everybody to $2 a person as the museum wants to reward the community for its support of the museum and pioneer village.
Children can take rides on a fire engine or one of the tractors.
A saddle horse from president Gord Ross will be available for rides with an adult holding the reins.
The burger and hot dog concession will be open, as will the Kampen Hall cafeteria.
Ice cream cones and treats are only 25 cents. All museum buildings are open for the day, allowing visitors to see how older generations lived and worked almost 100 years ago
The museum is located 12 kilometres south of Moose Jaw on Highway Two.
Ron Walter can be reached at [email protected]
