Museums are fun places to visit, for you never know just what you’re going to see in them. Some are strictly art, some are set up for only one purpose like computer museums, some honoring one person and his work; and then there are those like the Jefferson Valley Museum that display artifacts from the past collected from the Whitehall and Jefferson Valley area.
These artifacts date from the 1860s on down, some maybe not so old but are no longer being used, so where do you put them but a place where memories can be recalled by those who used them. The museum has a good collection for all ages, and it also tells the history of the area, all placed in an old red barn and two other buildings along with an authentic blacksmith shop that was moved in from an old established homestead.
Not only are there many artifacts here, but one can delve into their genealogy should they have lived in this area at one time. Many have learned more about their relatives since doing this, even finding pictures that they did not know existed, thus completing a family tree for the future. Many have done research on items turned in, these being old records of past businesses, newspapers and other items. It is great to note some grandparent telling their grandkids about how a certain piece of machinery or utensil worked or how they used to do it in "the good ol’ days." They also state you look like your great grandfather or great grandmother, "that is where you got those big feet or big nose, see."
The museum is able to tell you what Lewis and Clark named the local creeks near here and why they made a mistake in not taking one Indian tribe’s recommendation on their route. There are the booms and busts noted. There are pictures of the smokestack on the east side of town and the story of why it is there. There is another picture of a smokestack that once stood on a cliff overlooking the Jefferson River south of here at what once was called Gaylord, later Parrot; and why all that remains now is some old concrete foundations there. Once a bustling railroad town with two lines serving it, the Northern Pacific and the Milwaukee Railroads, it now lies quiet with no passenger or freight trains going through it but only an occasional toot-toot for local freight.
Hardly anyone has ever seen a 42-star flag, but one is on display here. Montana was the 41st state to enter the union in November 1889 with Washington being the 42nd, but no new flags were made until the next July 4. This one appears to be a hand-sewn flag and possibly was flown over some college in the eastern United States.
The music of the 1920s and 1930s can still be enjoyed when the Victor Talking Machine is wound up and a record placed thereon (no dancing allowed). Kids have enjoyed talking on the old hand-crank telephones that used to let everyone know the news of the day if you were curious enough to pick up the receiver when somebody else's number rang on a party line. One can see the grades of Television Hall of Famer Chet Huntley, famous newscaster along with David Brinkley, who graduated from Whitehall High School. There are yearbooks from many graduating classes, military displays, old tools, kitchen supplies, dairy utensils, mining items, an old 1931 Reo car, and much, much more; so why not stop by and enjoy. Our volunteers are always happy to answer any questions. IT IS HERE FOR YOU TO ENJOY. - THANKS TO MUSEUM CURATOR ROY MILLEGAN FOR WRITING THIS STORY!
These artifacts date from the 1860s on down, some maybe not so old but are no longer being used, so where do you put them but a place where memories can be recalled by those who used them. The museum has a good collection for all ages, and it also tells the history of the area, all placed in an old red barn and two other buildings along with an authentic blacksmith shop that was moved in from an old established homestead.
Not only are there many artifacts here, but one can delve into their genealogy should they have lived in this area at one time. Many have learned more about their relatives since doing this, even finding pictures that they did not know existed, thus completing a family tree for the future. Many have done research on items turned in, these being old records of past businesses, newspapers and other items. It is great to note some grandparent telling their grandkids about how a certain piece of machinery or utensil worked or how they used to do it in "the good ol’ days." They also state you look like your great grandfather or great grandmother, "that is where you got those big feet or big nose, see."
The museum is able to tell you what Lewis and Clark named the local creeks near here and why they made a mistake in not taking one Indian tribe’s recommendation on their route. There are the booms and busts noted. There are pictures of the smokestack on the east side of town and the story of why it is there. There is another picture of a smokestack that once stood on a cliff overlooking the Jefferson River south of here at what once was called Gaylord, later Parrot; and why all that remains now is some old concrete foundations there. Once a bustling railroad town with two lines serving it, the Northern Pacific and the Milwaukee Railroads, it now lies quiet with no passenger or freight trains going through it but only an occasional toot-toot for local freight.
Hardly anyone has ever seen a 42-star flag, but one is on display here. Montana was the 41st state to enter the union in November 1889 with Washington being the 42nd, but no new flags were made until the next July 4. This one appears to be a hand-sewn flag and possibly was flown over some college in the eastern United States.
The music of the 1920s and 1930s can still be enjoyed when the Victor Talking Machine is wound up and a record placed thereon (no dancing allowed). Kids have enjoyed talking on the old hand-crank telephones that used to let everyone know the news of the day if you were curious enough to pick up the receiver when somebody else's number rang on a party line. One can see the grades of Television Hall of Famer Chet Huntley, famous newscaster along with David Brinkley, who graduated from Whitehall High School. There are yearbooks from many graduating classes, military displays, old tools, kitchen supplies, dairy utensils, mining items, an old 1931 Reo car, and much, much more; so why not stop by and enjoy. Our volunteers are always happy to answer any questions. IT IS HERE FOR YOU TO ENJOY. - THANKS TO MUSEUM CURATOR ROY MILLEGAN FOR WRITING THIS STORY!
JEFFERSON VALLEY MUSEUM
WhitehallLedger.biz
Roy Millegan, curator at the Jefferson Valley Museum in Whitehall, displays an old Kodak camera donated to the museum in 2008. Several other old cameras are on display. LEDGER PHOTO
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