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A lot going on at the Boundary County
Museum |
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March 29, 2012 |
By Dottie Gray
Much has been happening throughout the winter
months at the Boundary County Museum.
“Hole in the Wall, Part 2” (brought to us by Don
Morice, the destructor) is in progress, opening
up the Annex with Portrait Hall.
We are just waiting for the doors to be hung to
finish that project.
Curator Sue Kemmis has been moving displays,
painting, moving displays, painting, and moving
displays again. Research by Terry Howe and
Howard Kent is resulting in more information
about logging railroads and logging camps,
blacksmithing, the history of downtown buildings
and their locations, and many other topics.
As a result of past and recent grants, and a
good deal of volunteers’ labor of love, many
changes are taking place. Last fall the old
heating system in Portrait Hall was completely
disabled due to a gas leak and antiquated
heating equipment.
With a reimbursement grant of $2,500 from Union
Pacific Foundation through their community-based
grant program, we have been able to purchase a
new heating system. The oil paintings of 40
“pioneers” of Boundary County, commissioned by
Stan and Georgia DeHart and painted by local
artist Bette Myers, are now safely protected
from the cold.
In 2010, Gini Woodward applied to the Idaho
Humanities Council for hosting “The Way We
Worked,” a Museum on Main Street exhibit from
the Smithsonian.
This exhibit fell on the heels of the exhibit
called “Journey Stories,” which Gini also
applied for and received for 2010. A recent
Idaho Humanities Council grant is providing
$1,500 for exhibit development, educational
materials, and promotion and publicity in
support of “The Way We Worked” exhibit, which
opens May 12 and runs through June 23.
Another recent grant from the Idaho Humanities
Council in the amount of $2000 has been awarded
for construction of a two-part exhibit, “Fire
and Flames.”
This exhibit will feature A.J. Kent, Frank
Zimmerman, and Wes Deitz and chronicles the
formation of the Bonners Ferry Fire Department.
The focal point of the exhibit is a 1923 REO
Fire Truck belonging to the Smoke Eaters Club,
and various and sundry fire equipment and items
displayed on behalf of the City. The second part
of this exhibit will explain the history of
blacksmithing and local smithies Peter Silas and
Jess and Bob Meeker of Meeker’s Machine Shop.
The exhibit will feature Marion Bradley’s
blacksmith shop collection including a forge
with blower, coal tinderbox, anvil and various
hand-held forging tools. It is expected that the
“Fire and Flames” exhibit will be completed
later this summer.
The Idaho Community Foundation, through the
Steele-Reese Foundation Special Project Fund,
awarded a grant to purchase folding tables,
chairs, and a chair caddy for large group events
hosted by the Museum.
Colet Allen, project director for the
Smithsonian exhibit is finalizing a number of
events to be held in the Portrait Hall, which
will make good use of the purchases from these
funds.
Two large brick and mortar projects totaling
over $8,000 made possible by grants from the
Idaho Heritage Trust, written by Gini Woodward
beginning in 2009, have been completed as of
early 2012.
One of those provided correction of drainage
issues on both the north and south buildings.
The second project called for stabilizing
building foundations, repairing wall cracks and
damaged masonry, and reinforcing existing
interior framing and has been completed.
A grant, written by Gini Woodward, was received
from the Idaho Humanities Council in the amount
of $2000 which provided for a new exhibit in the
south foyer entrance. Photos by Dave and Andrea
Kramer adorn the panels of the docent counter
and replicate the front panels of the Court
House. This project was finalized in the fall of
2011.
Without the grants from such funding sources as
The Idaho Humanities Council, The Idaho Heritage
Trust, the Idaho Community Foundation, and the
Union Pacific Foundation, these exhibits,
building needs, and improvements would not be
possible.
The Boundary County Historical Society
appreciates the efforts of many who have made
these projects possible. Preserving history and
educating the community about the people and
events of this region is why the Society and the
Museum exist.
And speaking of new exhibits, you must stop in
to view the Ned Dyer clock collection. Nearly 40
hand-made wooden clocks were part of Mr. Dyer’s
estate, gifted to the Museum. They are grandly
displayed in refinished oak display cases
donated by Paul and Charlene Wells. You won’t
want to miss this display. Mark your calendars
now for May 12 – June 23rd for the wide variety
of programs that will be taking place with “The
Way We Worked.” |
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