Sylva residents Howard and Janet Papke recently completed their 400th hour of volunteer service at Western Carolina University’s Mountain Heritage Center.

Since February 1999, the Papkes have worked at the center researching various artifact collections, including wood-working tools, cookware and, most recently, the center’s collection of hats and clothing. They also have assisted the Mountain Heritage Center by constructing hands-on activities for several exhibits and transcribing oral histories from local sources.

“We have very much enjoyed working at the center. We’ve found that we can visit other museums and appreciate the items on display even more now that we know something about how they were made and who made them,” Janet Papke said.

The Papkes are originally from the Midwest but worked for many years in the Durham area and retired to Jackson County in the late 1980s. They also volunteer at the Friends of the Library book shop in Sylva and help reconfigure donated computers for distribution to Pathways for the Future recipients. In their spare time, the Papkes enjoy cycling along the East Coast and have been on several archaeological digs and Elderhostel programs.

The Mountain Heritage Center is Western’s museum of Southern Appalachian culture and history. The center is open 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 2-5 p.m. on Sundays, June through October. For information about the center’s school and public programs, call 828.227.7129.