The Boswell Historical Society is celebrating its formal launch and first anniversary with an art fair featuring the work of over 20 established East Kootenay artists.
The event will be held 10 a.m.-4 p.m. July 31 on the grounds of Saint Anselm’s Church — located on Highway 3A three kilometres north of the Boswell boat launch — and will feature a variety of works, including painting, pottery, stained glass, woodworking, glass blowing, quilting, dyed silk and sculptured cement.
Local musicians will perform the Hymn of the Kootenay, as written in the 1920s by Rev. J.S. Mahood, a popular early minister who served the East Shore. East Shore published authors will be displaying their books, the historical society will be operating a food and refreshment booth on the grounds of the church, and St. Anselm’s itself will be open to the public to enjoy the craftsmanship of the stained glass windows and hand carved woodwork.
The society was formed in the summer of 2015 to explore, document and celebrate the history of the beautiful area along the East Shore of south Kootenay Lake known as Boswell. Two projects currently underway include an updating of an earlier publication, Boswell Beginnings, and a documentation of the fruit ranches established in the area during the first part of the 20th century that, reputedly, included one owned by former governor general Earl Grey.
The society has entered into a collaborative partnership with the Anglican Diocese, which permits the society to use Saint Anselm’s Church for meetings, special events, and lectures sponsored by the society. In return, members of the Society will help maintain the church and grounds and, to date, have repaired the Celtic cross and bell tower, pruned the fruit trees and put a fresh coat of paint on the building.
—BOSWELL HISTORICAL SOCIETY