| Museum
to celebrate 75th anniversary
In 2006, The Historical Museum at St. Gertrude will celebrate its 75th anniversary, making it one of the longest continuously operating museums in the Northwest. Begun in 1931 by Sister Alfreda Elsensohn, the museum continues to reflect the history of north central Idaho. Exhibits pertain to the first residents, the Nez Perce; to the settlement of the area; to the ranching, farming, mining, and logging in the region; to weapons of the past; to an exquisite Asian and European collection; to the history of the sisters of the Monastery of St. Gertrude; and much more. The museum staff invites you to visit the museum to see the improvements that have occurred, to see the new exhibits, and to reminisce about the “good old days”. To celebrate this 75 year milestone, the museum plans several activities during the year including a big band dinner dance on March 25, the 14th Annual Raspberry Festival in August, a variety of lectures during the year, a Smithsonian traveling exhibit in October/November, and much more. We are initiating a monthly Cottonwood Chronicle feature entitled “75 Years Ago This Month”. We hope you enjoy this historical venture. We welcome your comments. Lyle Wirtanen, Director
(Compiled by Sister Bernice Wessels, Museum Technician) Peanut butter, 1 pound – 13 cents Oranges – 35 cents a dozen Royal club coffee 3 pounds $1.19 or 42 cents a pound Campbell’s tomato soup, 6 cans for 54 cents Featured Cottonwood news for February, 1931 The new Cottonwood gym was dedicated this month. [It was situated on the land where the present St. Mary’s Hospital stands.] Two couples B.J. Stubbers and Francis G. Nuxoll celebrated their 40th wedding anniversaries this month. Dr. Wesley Orr was the medical doctor in Cottonwood and Dr. William Loft was the dentist. Rev. Cyprian Bradley became the chaplain of the Monastery of St. Gertrude and a faculty member of St. Gertrude’s Academy. The trains will change schedules in March. The Grangeville passenger train will leave Lewiston at 7:55 a.m. for Grangeville, arriving at 10:55 a.m. and will leave Grangeville at 11:20 a.m. and arrive in Lewiston at 2:10 p.m. Frank McGrane has received word that $60,000 of Federal and State funds will be allocated toward completing the 3 mile stretch of the North/South highway from Riggins north to the bridge across the Salmon River near that point. Mrs. Emmely Anne Chenoweth, a native of Ohio who came west in 1882, died Wednesday. She was 81 years old. The family first located on a farm in the Pataha region [near Pomeroy, Washington] and later homesteaded what is now the J.F. Jenny farm. National and International Events Thomas Edison submits his “last” patent application. He dies later this year. New Delhi becomes the capital of India. The black and white movie Dracula is released starring Bela Lugosi as Count Dracula. Also, released this year was Frankenstein starring Boris Karloff as the monster. California gets the go-ahead from U.S. Congress to build the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge. Born in February, 1931 Actor James Dean on February 8; author Toni Morrison on February 18; one-time president of Argentina, Eva Peron, on February 4. |
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