Starks, Arvin
Share
Bear Trap
Description:
The bear trap is in fairly good shape with average signs of wear; some degree of rust is present on the center piece (by which the bear sets the trap off when he steps on it). There looks to be an old maker's name of some sort. Arvin Starks & George Bikadi found it in the McKenzie Basin in 1957 while hunting. Believed to have belonged to Oscar Johnson. [update 2013]: Bob Menzel believes the type of trap to be "Newhouse" brand based on the hinges (Aug 2013).
Date of Object:
ca. 1940
Accession #:
988.07.01
More Info:
"The Triflers"
Description:
A mottled purple hardcover book titled "The Triflers" by Frederick Orin Bartlett. It was published by Thomas Allen, Toronto, and Houghton Miffin Company, Boston and New York. 1917. Donated by Arvin Starks that belonged to Frances Decker. 317 pages.
Date of Object:
1917
Accession #:
020.04.01
More Info:
"Edinburgh - Picturesque Notes" and "Virginbus Puerisque - And Other Papers"
Description:
Two brown and green patterned hardcover books both titled "Edinburgh - Picturesque Notes" a) and "Virginbus Puerisque - And Other Papers" b). Both are by Robert Louis Stevenson and published by The Co-Operating Publication Society, London and New York. Donated by Arvin Starks that belonged to Frances Decker. 190 pages a) and 216 pages b).
Date of Object:
Unknown
Accession #:
020.04.02ab
More Info:
jack knife
Description:
A 1940's German "Sheffield Steel" jack knife that has a clip point blade and is wooden at the bottom along with brass metal in between the blade and bottom part. Carol Morphy (nee Starks) says that her grandfather J.O. Decker was a Justice of the Peace for the area and hosted Prisoners Of War (POW) at the Decker farm during WWII. This knife was confiscated from a German POW at the farm. J.O. Decker had German ancestry and could speak a smattering of German. Carol also believes the knife could have been fixed to a rifle like a bayonet, as the knife has a metal attachment at the end.
Date of Object:
ca. 1940s
Accession #:
020.04.03
More Info:
"Two boys in fur coats" photo
Description:
A photograph with a cream coloured border depicting two boys in fur coats and a dog in the middle. J.O. Decker is on the left side while his brother is on the right. The photo is presumably an advertising campaign for "Klondike" that has the caption below of "You Can't Have Us Or Our Dog …For... Klondike" in bold letters. The photo was more likely taken in Vancouver, B.C., as shown on the bottom right corner.
Date of Object:
ca. 1900
Accession #:
020.04.04
More Info:
"Decker family" portrait photo
Description:
A photograph with a gray and black lined border that resembles the Decker family with J.O. Decker at the top left above his youngest sister (baby).
Date of Object:
ca. 1900
Accession #:
020.04.05
More Info:
Frances E. Decker oil portrait painting
Description:
An oil portrait painting with a wooden frame of Frances E. Decker painted by her daughter, Rosemary M. Starks (nee Decker). The back of the frame has metal wiring tied up on hooks. The colours have warm tones of yellows, browns, and oranges. Frances in the painting has her hair up in a bun and is wearing a white shirt, though the pigment of the paints used has yellow tinges.
Date of Object:
ca. 1950
Accession #:
020.04.06
More Info:
cow bell
Description:
A cow bell that was from the Decker farm. The bell was likely came from the Decker's farm in the Cariboo where they lived before moving to Pemberton in 1927. The bell itself has patina of rust covering the exterior and interior.
Date of Object:
ca. 1920s
Accession #:
020.04.07
More Info:
small tube with gold flakes
Description:
A small tube with small gold flakes inside. Looks to be placer gold flake that would have been gathered by gold panning. It was found inside the cow bell wrapped up in newspaper.
Date of Object:
Unknown
Accession #:
020.04.08
More Info:
galena stones (rough)
Description:
Four rough galena stones with one slightly larger and the other three small in size. It was placed in a paper made box and was found inside the cow bell wrapped up in newspaper. Galena, also called lead glance, is the natural mineral form of lead(II) sulfide (PbS). It is the most important ore of lead and an important source of silver.
Date of Object:
Unknown
Accession #:
020.04.09abcd
More Info:
The Pemberton Museum recognizes and respects that it operates within the traditional unceded territory of Lil'wat Nation.
Explore our Video Gallery
Location
We are located in the downtown area of Pemberton at 7455 Prospect St.
Hours of Operation
The Pemberton Museum is currently CLOSED for the winter and will reopen to the public in the spring of 2025.
Meetings
The PDMAS Society meets on the 2nd Wednesday of each month at the Museum.
Our 2024 AGM will be held July 10 at 7pm.
Become a Member
Museum memberships ensure the long term sustainability of the museum society and the history it preserves.
NEW! Business membership - $100
Your membership ensures you will receive regular news from the museum regarding upcoming events and programs and special projects. To become a member fill out the FORM and mail to us or you can follow this LINK.
We accept payment by cheque, e-transfer or by card online via the links above.
Did you know?
Port Pemberton was founded as a stopping point on the historic Harrison-Lillooet gold rush trail over 160 years ago.
30,000 gold-rushers passed through this region from 1858 to 1865 and Port Pemberton was an important stopping point for travelers making their way to Lillooet and the gold-fields beyond!