‘Owandem’ fundraising chugs along

Duane Hicks

The fundraising to refurbish the small tug, “Owandem,” is chugging along full steam ahead with the next event, “Novemberfest,” happening tomorrow evening at the Fort Frances Museum.
The “Keep It Hanging Around” silent auction, which ended Saturday, raised $3,300, museum curator Sherry George told the Times.
This event saw area residents donate framed paintings, decorative vases, antique lamps, and other gently-used art, which patrons bid on at the museum through the month of October.
“The fundraiser went fairly well,” she noted. “Lots of great donations from some very generous people.
“The auction itself saw some competing bidders that came in during the final hours Saturday.”
George said the biggest draws were the Royal Albert bone china, the Ducks Unlimited wooden mallard, native art prints by Norval Morrisseau and Robert KaKay Geesic, and Signe Green’s “Four Seasons” set of paintings.
“Very few things received no bids,” said George, adding small lot of items have been donated to the Salvation Army Thrift Store here.
So far, fundraising for the “Owandem”–which also has included a pledge drive conducted through town’s utility bills this past July–has brought in $7,700 altogether.
“We’ve a ways to go but have made a great start,” George enthused.
But the fundraising continues tomorrow during “Novemberfest.”
Hosted by the “Friends of the Museum” and running from 6:30-9:30 p.m., the gala will feature beer, wine, tasty German food, live music by the Rainy Lake Community Orchestra, a live auction with auctioneer Kim Cornell, and games.
Tickets are available at the museum and From the Grind Up, which cost $30 in advance and $35 at the door.
The event will coincide with the new exhibition, “150 Years of Costumes,” on loan from the Costume Museum of Canada, but the museum will be decorated according to a festive German theme, as well.
The overall fundraising goal for the “Owandem” project is around $25,000.
The cost to refurbish the boat is roughly estimated at $20,000, with possibly another $5,000-$6,000 needed to pay for the infrastructure around it once it is moved to the waterfront near its big sister, the “Hallett.”
Earlier this fall, the “Owandem” was moved from the Public Works yard to Mark Faragher’s BodyWorks shop in Devlin, where he could begin working on it.