The finishing touches are underway for a new interpretive centre meant to share the history of the lost community of Waldo, along the shores of Lake Koocanusa.
Waldo was founded in the 1890s and grew as a logging town until the construction of the Libby Dam in the early 1970s.
The new dam and the formation of Lake Koocanusa ultimately led to the community being submerged, with residents forced to find other homes.
“The only thing that was saved from the community was the Waldo Church, which was moved to sit beside the Baynes Lake Community Hall,” said Stan Doehle, Regional District of East Kootenay Electoral Area B Director.
“We don’t want to lose that part of history. The buildings were torn down or burned, and the residents were displaced. We want to keep that history alive by telling that story in the Waldo Cove Interpretive Centre.”
The interpretive centre is almost finished, and Doehle says it will be a positive addition to the South Country community.
“There has been a lot of work from the Columbia River Heritage Touring Route Steering Committee, with help from the Friends of Lake Koocanusa and RDEK staff,” said Doehle.
“The contractors who were working on this project have their hearts and souls put into this, so it’s really nice to see the concrete poured and the building sitting there.”
The Ktunaxa Nation will also have a place in the Waldo Interpretive Centre to tell their history in the region.
The Waldo Interpretive Centre is part of the Columbia River Heritage Touring Route, which is aimed at preserving and sharing the stories of how the Columbia River Treaty has shaped and changed communities through the Kootenays.
“We’re the committee that’s putting this touring route together. There will be a map at Waldo Cove, with other sites in Revelstoke, Arrow Lakes and other places,” said Doehle.
“They will map out this whole touring route to other locations that were flooded out when the reservoirs were created under the Columbia River Treaty.”
Doehle says a grand opening event will go ahead this summer, but has not announced a specific date just yet.
Be the first to know! Don’t miss out on breaking news and daily updates in your area. Sign up to MyEastKootenayNow News Alerts.
