The world's first curling museum has re-opened in Weyburn at a new location. The museum, which celebrated its' grand opening on January 12, has been made a part of the newly renovated Tom Zandee Sports Arena. It is situated directly across from the Weyburn Curling Club, with its own entrance on the north end of the Arena.
Since November 1990, the collection, which includes more than 18,000 curling pins and plenty of curling treasures from across the globe, was housed in the Weyburn Leisure Centre and prior to that, it resided in the basement of Don and Elva Turner.
The Turners were avid curlers and they were also devoted collectors of curling paraphernalia. When their collection grew too large for the space in their basement, the City of Weyburn gave it a permanent home. Once the recent renovations to the rinks began, the Turner Curling Museum was included in the City's plans.
"Weyburn is proud to participate in the expansion and renewal of the museum. We are confident that it will soon become a destination location for curling fans from across Canada and around the world. It is a further sign of Weyburn's status as a community of growth and opportunity," said Mayor Debra Button.
The Turner collection features many odd historical curling pieces, including one of the largest collections of curling pins in the country. The collection also contains a rare set of circular curling rocks with iron handles, used in the Ottawa Valley circa 1800. The largest piece is a rock sharpener used by the Queen City Curling Stone Company of Regina from the 1930s to the 1950s. The Turner Museum also has a collection of books from the Saskatchewan Curling Association and stacks of programs from various competitions throughout Canada and the world.
A first-rate, unique and eccentric collection of its magnitude would not be possible without the enthusiasm and commitment of Don and Elva Turner, who simply loved curling.
"Grandma said, 'we should start a collection'," said Shelley Miller-Hertes, the Turners' granddaughter, who was in attendance at the grand opening.
As a matter of fact, it made great sense to begin collecting, as everything the Turners did for years revolved around curling. Don Turner was instrumental in helping to bring forth the formation and building of the Weyburn Curling Club and then he managed it for a number of years.
"Any time there was an event on, he wanted to be able to help and contribute and volunteer in any way to make the event a success," said Miller-Hertes about her grandpa's love of curling.
Because the Turners both had a genuine love of the sport, for their children and grandchildren, growing up in a curling museum was not so strange.
"It really just was part of Grandma and Grandpa's basement," said Miller-Hertes. "Grandpa was very well organized. He made sure the artifacts were labelled and in order for each year, by the different types of spiels. Clubs were organized such that they could quickly find something if they were looking for it. Grandma was very much involved. She certainly kept things clean and organized and she dusted all those shelves!"
The Turners always brought home the programs and pins from any event they attended and kept it all for the collection, which quickly became more than just pins.
As various curling clubs shut down in the smaller towns, the people involved were often willing to donate the score boards, the rocks, the sharpeners for the rocks and more to the Turners, whose collection was well-known.
"They were actually glad to be able to give it to someone who could preserve the history," said Miller-Hertes. Hertes herself enjoys curling and even met her husband while doing so. In fact, all of the Turners' grandchildren have curled at some point.
"We usually make sure we get back to the Boxing Day bonspiel at the Curling Club in Weyburn every year," said Miller-Hertes. "It's a good way to reminisce with all those other people that we grew up curling with or families that have been connected with curling in Weyburn for generations now. It's always kind of nice to reconnect with the people we spent a lot of time with in that curling club."
Miller-Hertes said that her family is glad that the museum is located directly across from the Curling Club, because it allows easier access for those who also have a passion for the sport.
"We consider it a legacy of my grandparents' love for curling," said Miller-Hertes. "It's also a legacy for the community of Weyburn, in a sense, because it is hopefully part of their pride as well."
With such a unique space of passionate origins, Weyburn can indeed boast of its history rich in curling heritage.
Curling fans and history buffs should 'hurry hard' to the Turner Curling Museum, which is open Saturdays from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. and is located at 327 Mergens Street in Weyburn.
