Humboldt County Historical Association
Norm Caldwell, President Connie Overby, Director
332-5285 890-9652
www.humboldtiowahistory.org
June, 2009
The Humboldt County Historical Association will not meet until we begin our new season in September. Be sure to watch the newsletter for upcoming events and the calendar for our fall, winter and spring meetings. Also, if you have any program ideas for our meetings, and if you would be willing to serve as a host/hostess for a meeting, please contact Jeanne Raine (332-3264)
The July board meeting will be held on Monday, July 6 at 6:30 at the home of Mabel Erickson.
Norm’s Notes:
What is fun, happiness and satisfaction all rolled into one called? The answer is Wednesday morning jobs at the museum. Last Wednesday Terry Hart and I installed the arched arbor in the flower garden. Then we went to the livery stable in the barn to work on lighting and the huge bellows that will be on display (soon). Then we cleaned the alley-way of the Clancy building. Other than sweeping around a fire engine, a sleigh, several horse drawn cultivators, and a 20 foot power shaft to be installed this summer, it did look ready for public viewing. Then we took the “rug loom” from the second floor of the Erickson barn and hauled it to the Clancy building for a new display and/or demonstration area. Then we had a quick Pepsi and discussed our next job. Then we watered some newly planted trees. Then we showed the Hardy Church basement to a potential renter for a meeting. I am having fun…..
--Norm
News From Your Museum Director:
The museum has opened with the sounds of cameras and horse hoofs. Yes, the folks from the IPT show “Saddle Up With Dennis Brouse” filmed a segment at our museum for their next season. Martha Schmidt was our official historian and I had the honor of talking about the museum. What a day, Martha and I both agreed that the stress of doing something out of the ordinary was quite tiring. I just can’t wait to see this program when it airs next season. I will certainly let everyone know the schedule as soon as I hear anything.
The museum looks beautiful. The flowers in Donna Days garden are in full bloom, the peonies on our grounds are lush and blooming, our new iris garden on the west side of the school are blooming and we look forward to seeing more and more blooms with each season. The hostas on the west and east side of the house are doing their job by giving a soft and green base around the foundation. We added a new planting of hostas, donated by Carolyn Rohlf, and geraniums around the deck and entrance of the new store. Norm built the planter we placed on the deck of the store and filled with a huge red geranium, Norm also built two window boxes that we hung off the red barn and filled with vines and plants, adding a spot of various colors as you walk toward the barn.
Inside the house the rooms are clean, curtains and rugs washed, floors polished, owing a big thank you to certain wonderful volunteers (you know who you are).
I am proud and excited to announce the Grand Opening of our Museum Gift Shop. This is something Mabel has envisioned for years and it has become a reality this season. A Grand Opening will be held on Saturday, June 20th from 10 AM to 4 PM, so please stop by to see what we have to offer. We have filled the shop with hand made items, some gently used vintage items, books and, of course, we still offer the vintage post cards and Frank Gotch items. Pat Baker has assembled a History of Dakota City that is available in the gift shop for a mere $15.00. We are still in need of “vintage jewelry” which we could sell in the gift shop. This could be donated to the museum or sold on commission.
Norm and Terry have been working on enlarging the Black Smith Shop located in the red barn. The walls are down and new display cabinets have been installed. I will be working on the display in June and July, but I ask anyone who has any knowledge of black smith shops to please stop by and visit with me, I value you knowledge and input.
Carolyn Logan, who last year set up a Saul Studio display of antique cameras etc in the Clancy Building, will this year work on getting our antique loom in shape and hopefully getting some weaving done on items we will be able to sell in our Gift Shop. Carolyn is also our Web Mistress and is responsible for setting up our top notch web site and keeping it up to date. Check it out at www.humboldtiowahistory.org
Our new historic Kitchen Garden, on the east side of our house, is growing and is a beautiful addition to our museum. A thank you goes out to the Master Gardner Program of Humboldt County.
Speaking of plantings, maybe we should add the word Arboretum to our official name. Over the years Norm has been planting various types of trees around the edge of our property. Many of the trees have been planted using money donated by members of the museum. If you are interested in donating to this project contact Norm. Norm also planted a big butterfly bush on the south side of the Hardy Church. We also had a mock orange bush donated and planted near the front door of the house, and also a butterfly bush that we planted next to the school.
We are looking forward to opening our museum to several groups over the course of the summer. The Women Land Legacy will bring 60 or so members to our museum on July 30th. As I mentioned in last months newsletter additional visits from the Community College, the Republicans, the Girl are also on the books. The Over 50 Humboldt High School Reunion will be held on September 12 and we will offer tours and a tea that afternoon. The Victorian Tea will be held September 13th, the Fall Fling on September 27th, of course we will have a booth at the Fair the week of July 20th, and look for our float in the 4thof July Parade in Humboldt.
Also in the works, a new brochure.
The Museum is run by the Association, and YOU are a member of the Association if you are receiving this newsletter. Please, if you can help with any of the above mentioned activities, by sitting at the fair booth for an hour, by working at the Fall Fling, by manning a building during one of our tours, by baking, by maintaining the grounds or buildings, by serving at our teas or by just dusting or cleaning give me a call at the museum 332-5280 or my cell phone 890-9652.
I ask one more thing of you, if you find yourself with an empty morning or afternoon, come to the museum and walk our grounds. It is quiet and beautiful; you can sit on one of our new benches and take it all in. As a member you can enter the museum for free as many times as you like.
I look forward to seeing you!
--Connie
Remember to do the Dues!
Remember to send your 2009 dues ($10.00 single per year or $200.00 lifetime) to Jeanne Raine, 509 11th Street S.W. Humboldt, Iowa 50548.
This article was printed in the Republican on February 8, 1918.
Where is the Booze?
It will be remembered that Charles Defoe was recently arrested and fined for illegally transporting whiskey. Mayor Johnston (Robert) was supposed to have charge of the stuff that cheers, and he put it in the vault. When he came down town the other morning two gentlemen were working at the door of the vault trying to make an entrance. They wanted a drink. Seeing Johnston they made a break for the open. However, Johnston had a hard time getting the vault open. Not wanting to be bothered again he gave the booze to the safe keeping of another official. He in turn transferred it to still another, and efforts yesterday failed to locate it. Someone had suggested that a party be held, and a celebration planned. But in the absence of the juice that is all off. Johnston is trying to figure out if someone stole the booze, if his brother officials were afraid he would drink it, or what the matter really is. The fact is that there are four quarts of whiskey that has disappeared.
(It sounds like someone had a party!!!)
--Martha