HUMBOLDT — These buildings may be gone, but the Humboldt Public Art Committee is working to make sure they’re not forgotten.
“We're marking spots around town where there’s a historical site of some significance and trying to give visitors and citizens alike a sense of the spirit of the place,” said Catherine Harrison, a cultural programmer with the Humboldt and District Museum.
At the spots, there will be plaques to tell the stories of the buildings.
The museum is hoping to hear stories and receive old photos about seven buildings that are no longer there.
The buildings include the Old City Hall, located where the Brick is now; the first Humboldt Public School, which was built in 1913 and torn down in 2014; the Arlington Hotel, located near where the present Pioneer Hotel is; the Humboldt Flour Mills; the original Westminster United Church, which burned down in 1989; the Leo Parker Arena and Curling Rink; and the original St. Augustine School, built in 1936 and burned down in 1976.
Because the museum is doing St. Augustine School, it is also including St. Dominic School, which still has its original parts. Both schools are part of the separate Catholic school system.
Harrison said the museum is hoping that going to the public will allow it to collect the information that will give the plaques that extra little bit that shows what the building meant, not just the rote historical information. The museum is also hoping to have more photos on the plaques than text.
“Pictures with people in them always give more of a sense of energy,” she said.
The museum will need the stories and photos by March 12. The goal is to have the plaques up in time for the summer tourism season.
