For those who think they’ve seen all the historic displays around Snohomish County, take another look.
Middy Ruthruff and five friends have scoured the attic at Blackman House Museum in Snohomish to create a unique two-week display of items never before shown.
They’ve dusted off military uniforms, typewriters, cameras, ice skates, an antique apple peeler and a wedding dress from World War II made from a parachute.
All members of the Snohomish Historical Society, they formed a “Come Home Snohomish” History and Education Subcommittee a year ago after Ruthruff was inspired by the fabulous Granite Falls Historical Society Museum.
She got the notion to display tons of stored items folks have donated to Snohomish historians through the decades.
She was joined by John Gamble, Betty Morse, Donna Harvey, Dana Gilpin and Vina Donow.
“Treasures from the Attic” is planned for 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily through July 25 at the Waltz Building, 116 Avenue B in Snohomish. The Blackman House Museum will be open at the same time.
Let’s sort our venues. The Waltz Building is used as a rental for receptions and gatherings. It was built in 1938 as a music building for the high school.
Next door is Blackman House Museum, built in 1878, where folks can stroll from room to room to see how a home looked at the turn of the century.
Blackman is informative, but it never changes, Ruthruff said. It doesn’t have display cases to adequately reveal the keepsakes.
She said that Snohomish and Everett are major cities with no substantial museums.
“We need to save these things,” Ruthruff said as we browsed through the storage attic at Blackman House. “Can you see why I’m doing this?”
David Chrisman with Historic Everett said the Snohomish County Museum of History, 3001 Oakes Ave., features Everett memorabilia.
“A good portion of their upcoming exhibits will feature the city of Everett,” Chrisman said.
He mentioned Bellingham as a hub of history with a separate radio museum, a small train museum and art, children’s and historical museums.
Snohomish could arrange keepsakes in multiple buildings. To raise money, perhaps they could sell some duplicates, if donors approved, to raise money for an expanded museum.
I eyed a darling milk can and a sewing spool holder that should be rushed, by armored car, to the “Antiques Roadshow” program.
Items like those will only be shown for the next 13 days in Snohomish. Get there to see graduating class pictures, school memorabilia and Sea Scout scrapbooks.
Thanks to folks like Middy Ruthruff, they do a great job with their available space.
Kristi O’Harran: 425-339-3451, oharran@heraldnet.com.
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