INSIDE DOUGLAS COLLEGE / MAY 22, 1990 History Buffs, Take Note! and the New Westminster Museum, located at 302 Royal Avenue, New Westminster, began their summer season on May 1. The Historic Centre and Museum will be open Tuesday through Sun- day, 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., plus holiday Mondays, 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. until September 16. Irving House is the preserved home of Captain William Irving, pioneer riverboat man on the Fraser River. If you love the past, antiques, Victoriana, bric-a-brac, or simply old things, you will love Irving House. . . wallpaper from 1864, carpets from the 1890's, a horsehair settee, a square grand piano, marble fireplaces, ornate plasterwork, floors laid and caulked like the deck of a ship, a knife cleaner and other Victorian kitchen gadgets, and more . .. It’s all here for you to see in 14 rooms furnished to represent the period from 1864 to 1890. The New Westminster Museum, located directly behind Irving House, contains many dis- plays and memorabilia on the local history of the New Westminster area. Two floors of ex- hibits include The Dufferin Coach, May Day, Royal Engineers, Fires in New Westminster and much more. The temporary entrance display area currently features artifacts and photographs of the Irving and Briggs families that occupied Ir- ving House from 1865 to 1950, as well as reminders from the early days of Irving House as an His- toric Centre. 1990 marks 125 years since Irving House was first oc- cupied by the Irving family in 1865, and 40 years since the House opened to the public as New Westminster’s Historic Centre in 1950. Museum staff have gathered a number of artifacts that were ac- [= House Historic Centre tually used by family members, and have even graciously been loaned the original family bible. Dolls, paintings, books, the sextant and parallel rule used by John Ir- ving, a cruet set used on one of the Irving paddlewheelers, lap writing desk of Nellie Irving, cash box of Thomas Briggs, and many other fascinating items all make for an interesting and insightful display. Also included in the exhibit are newsclippings from the opening of Irving House in 1950 and the New Westminster Museum in 1965 (25 years ago), plus memorabilia and souvenirs from those earlier times, Pounds Off! including a guest book signed by Princess Margaret when she visited the House in 1958. Irving House and the New Westminster Museum have served the citizens of New Westminster and visitors to the area well for many years. If you haven't visited lately, why not take the oppor- tunity to rediscover these treasurers in their anniversary year. Phone 521-7656 for more in- formation. Admission to both Irving House and the New Westminster Museum is by donation. @ ave you noticed some colleagues who look trimmer, have more energy and are smiling? A group of 20 happy Douglas College employees have recently shed 214 pounds collectively in the eight-week Weight Watchers At Work Pro- gram at the College every Thursday at noon. Weigh-in, some talking and some listening took place in their lunch hour and now there is a lot of satisfaction from the results. Camaraderie and encouragement for each other abounded as everyone worked towards their goal. Thank you Anne Fenton for arranging to have Weight Watchers come to the College, and thank you Thelma for being our guide and mentor. Good news for those who would like to participate. A new 8-week session is planned (providing there are enough registrants) starting on Thursday, May 17th. The cost is $68.00. Please call Anne Fenton (local 5374) if you wish to register. Meantime, if you wish to drop in and see what goes on please come by Room 4306 on Thursday, May 10th. & Editor's Note: Since there was no Insider last week this notice is a bit dated. Please call Anne Fenton (local 5374) to find out if you can still register. Quotable Quotes "A little learning is a dangerous thing, but a lot of ignorance is just as bad. Pale Bob Edwards, Publisher, Calgary Eyeopener, August 20, 1921. ”