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The Clancy
Building: Room to Grow
Many visitors to the Humboldt County Historical Museum comment on the number of items that have been donated by county residents. Even though the Museum artifacts are displayed in six buildings on the grounds, there are many more items that are stored away because there just isn’t room to bring them out and display them. In 2004, the Historical Association decided to embark on a new project that would result in a building that gave the Museum more space for displays, activities and meetings. The result is the Clancy Building. This large red and white building sits on land purchased from William Kunert in 2003. The funds for the purchase were provided through the sale of seventy-three acres of land donated by Aldene and Myron Clancy of Hardy. In July 2004 surveys and permits were completed and clearing of the ground began. With the Historical Association acting as contractor, the building slowly took shape. Don Clarken wrote up the list of what was needed and designed the building. Kent Knight created a small model of the proposed building. The Association wanted to use suppliers in Humboldt County, so Sande Construction and Supply in Humboldt and Gilmore City Lumber provided wood and steel. Concrete cost $9670 and steel $6600. The Clancy Building is an example of the Monitor Barn plan, which is basically modular, with stalls for animals along both sides and a high central area used to store hay and feed. Classically, farmers used this type of barn to house cattle or horses and protect them from the harsh winters of the central plains. A Monitor Barn plan has no fixed size—it depends on its use. The Clancy Building is 48 feet wide and 156 feet long, a large space. The bays along both sides, set off by posts or walls, provide space for separate displays. The central area, with its high roof, adds space vertically as well as providing an open area for displays or activities. One end of the Clancy building is enclosed to provide rest rooms, a military display room, a secure space for the Campbell Collection of Native American artifacts and a research room. The rest rooms walls have been decorated with murals and display items. A grant has been applied for which will arrange the Campbell collection for research purposes. The first meeting in the Clancy Building of the Humboldt County Historical Association Board was held on September 12, 2005. The Board meeting was followed by a program by Jim Kempell, a tinsmith from Fort Dodge. Several members brought examples of early tinware and Kempell showed the techniques that tinners used to create a huge range of items, including tea pots, pans, boxes and lanterns. The Clancy Building is a work in progress and probably will remain so for some time. Today displays fill some of the bays .Visitors can see the workings of the old Rutland Post office, which was created in June, 2006. Next to that the heavy decorated doors of bank safes are the backdrop to a display of antique banking machines and furniture. Antique automobiles on loan to the museum include a 1914 Model-T delivery truck, a 1928 Chevrolet Coupe, a 1923 Model-T Touring car and a 1928 Chevrolet truck. There are sleighs, horse drawn wagons—including the covered wagon which won the Historical Association first place in the 4th of July parade in 2008. A favorite with young people is the 1934 REO Speed Wagon fire engine that is parked in the central area. However, older people are just as impressed as the young ones with the shiny red engine and the siren. The Research Room gives visitors with a range of historical photos, maps, news clippings and other documents to help in their family research. On April 25, 2006, the Museum took possession of the Chattel Mortgage Books that had been discarded by the Humboldt County Court House. This wealth of historic information is now preserved in the museum for future research. Newer displays include a Country Store which fills two bays. It displays a range of goods that were for sale in the 1800s and early 1900s. Prices for these goods can be checked out in an old Montgomery Ward catalog. Next to the Store is the Shoemaker’s Shop—where shoes were repaired and actually made to order. A photography display shows a range of old cameras and darkroom equipment. The large Century View Camera that is the center of the display was used by three generations of photographers in Saul Studio, which is still in business in Humboldt. Photos by early photographers are pinned up on the walls give a view of the past—people, houses, businesses, interest groups, and work. Many single items are on display: the racer made and driven by John Heinle in the Soap Box Derby on August 3, 1963 in Akron, Ohio; buggies and delivery wagons; birds of the area; and a single gravestone rescued from Oakwood Cemetery. The Clancy building is available to rent for all types of events. The Historical Association has used the space for meetings, garage sales, demonstrations, parties, kite making and flying, to name a few. What will be on display in the future in the Clancy Building? It’s a lot of work--each display has to be designed, built, items gathered and arranged—and this takes the coordination of volunteers and hard labor. But what is certain is that the Clancy Building gives the Museum room to grow, so visitors need to “Watch Its Space” for new displays and activities. |