The formation of the Spirit River Settlement Historical Society began as a result of a field trip to the old Catholic Mission site and a search for the original town site of Spirit River in the fall of 1985. The first executive consisted of Gerard Dufour, President; Elaine Rein, Secretary; Harold Imes, Treasurer; and Pete Bondar, Vice-President. The Society adopted three aims: the restoration of important historical sites, the building of a museum which could include the concept of a pioneer village, and the creation of a history book of the area. The history book project was undertaken in 1987 by a separate committee of the society. Workers on the history book included Jean Gurnett (editor), Louise Schultz, Dixie Mitchell, Ethel White, Helen Sideroff, Alice Blackie, Isabel Thompson, Marian Imes, Gladys Durkin, Claudia Paish, Pearl Jarvis, Bark Kurz, Ann Haggerty, Doug Blackie, Sylvia Payeur, Bonnie Flintoff, Kathy Esselink, Joyce Delfs, aand Steve Jarman. The book was completed and printed by Friesen Printers in 1989. Work on the securing a site for a museum proceeded at the same time when Spirit River town council donated a piece of land. Much cleanup first had to be done, a ravine had to be filled in and a long drainage culvert installed. In the fall of 1987, the first building, the Charlie Orford Cabin, was moved onto the site and a $4000 New Horizons grant was obtained for its restoration. The loss of two of the areas most historic buildings, the Hudson Bay Post (demolished in 1986) and the Revellion Frere building (destroyed by fire) has spurred the society on to continue to preserve the area's history.