It's been a busy season at the museum facilities in Carman.

Trish Aubin is the President of the Dufferin Historical Society. She says between local schools doing tours and the Pioneer Days, about two hundred-fifty kids have came through the Dufferin Historical Museum in June.

Aubin adds the DHS has also acquired some new artifacts for the Boyne School building, which she hopes will open in the summer of 2017. The building has been under renovation and restoration since its big move to the museum grounds at Ryall Park in 2013.

"We got a couple pictures of students that had gone to the Boyne School with some of them being named, so we're looking forward to having those put up in the School when we open. We also got a write-up of the origins of the Boyne Ladies Club, and we have a couple of pictures donated of Queen Elizabeth and one of Prince Phillip that used to be put up in schools."

Work to expand parking at the Museum also got started this summer. Aubin says the additional spots are going north of the current parking lot, north of the Boyne School.

"We had very limited parking space when we had meetings or events and we have more events now and people have to park along the highway or...across the street, it's not safe for one thing and it's a long walk for others."

However, Aubin says not all of the work anticipated by the Board got done this summer. She explains plans to replace chinking on the log house were put on hold after the DHS was denied a Community Places Grant that was intended to pay for the work.

"We didn't open it at all this year, unfortunately, because of that. Last fall we wrapped it in hard wire so we could stop any squirrels (and other wildlife) from hopefully getting in, but we really need to replace the chinking."

She goes on to say that one part of the Museum roof was redone this summer and covered with aluminium, however another section still needs to be done and a Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries grant for that work was also turned down.

Despite the disappointing result of these grant applications, Aubin says the Board continues to look at other funding options and might even try for another Community Places Grant in 2017.

"When you apply for grants sometimes you have to have a facilitator come out and look at your building, so we are having that done in September and then from there we'll possibly apply for some other grants."

Also, Aubin says the plan is to paint the inside of the School this fall, build a ramp at the entrance and possibly tackle some interior electrical work. She adds activities for the season include Grandparent's Day September 10th where children can bring their grandparents to the Museum for a tour and some fun.

The DHS Board will also be searching for a new President, Vice President and a Director this fall as the people in these positions have already served two terms. Aubin says the group is also searching for more members.

"If people don't want to feel like they want the commitment of being a member and they would like to help, please let us know because we really need to the volunteers to help out for different events."

And as the 2016 season starts to wrap up at the Museum, Board members are looking ahead to a special project this winter. In celebration of Canada's 150th birthday in 2017, Aubin says the DHS plans to compile a book of at least 150 stories about the history of the area.

"We are asking everybody in the community to write down a story that they remember and submit it to us, we would love to put it in our book. There's lots of stories out there but they're getting lost."

Aubin explains the Board has yet to receive any submissions but expects stories will start rolling in during the winter when things slow down for people. "We have people that have said that they are going to write stories."

She adds it doesn't have to be a long story and can be about childhood memories, local stories told by their parents or origins of their family business.

The Dufferin Historical Museum closes for the season on August 30th.