History lives in Granite Falls

Published 10:19 pm Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Check out a pumpkin vine at the Granite Falls Historical Museum on Friday at a “bite” benefit.

One plant has lunged about a dozen feet beside a new addition to the museum. It’s wound back on itself, heading to the mother plant, dangling baby pumpkins along the stem.

Things grow well at 109 E. Union St. A spectacular $275,000 addition to the original old-fashioned house is a tribute to Granite Falls’ volunteerism, creativity and sweat equity.

Volunteers raised money for the project and installed fascinating exhibits that include a real spar tree and a box of lenses used to gauge eyesight at a turn-of-the-century apothecary.

Penny Cruger and Tamara Quillen took care of outdoor planting, while Ed Boede provided daily care until the automatic sprinklers started working.

Fred Cruger, 60, who works for Agilent Technologies, is one of the town’s volunteers who is passionate about museums.

“Commitment is what preserves a museum,” Cruger said. “Our all-volunteer force is committed to success. They commit time and resources and do whatever is necessary to keep the doors open. Much of their time goes into raising money to pay the ongoing bills, because we exist in a real world of utility, phone and building maintenance costs.”

The building chairman is Bill Davisson. Contributions to the project included large donations from Oso Lumber, Rinker Concrete, Appleby’s NW and Glen’s Rentals, as well as gifts from many other local businesses and organizations.

The two largest benefactors were the Murdock Foundation and Miller Shingle.

I wrote about a Miller donation four years ago when they gave a 1916 shingle-cutting saw to the museum. I had no idea what the eventual display would look like.

It’s very well done. A mannequin stands at the slicing machine, with real shingles, while a video nearby tells the manufacturing story.

The museum also features a modern touch. Display explanations may be heard on a cell phone by dialing a local phone number.

“It seems that people get progressively more interested in history as they get older,” Cruger said. “Surely someone has studied that effect and reached some conclusions, but we witness it every day.”

They aim to connect to the younger set, providing information for a young man down the street who is fascinated with steam trains, or for a young lady in town who loves vintage fashions.

The most time-consuming chore is raising money. A Bite of Granite is planned for 6 p.m. Friday at the museum. It costs $15 at the door. Cruger said he hopes donations to the museum endowment fund will grow and offset expenses.

“A large enough fund will allow our volunteers to focus all their time on improvements to the museum,” Cruger said. “With less fundraising, there can be more tours, lectures and displays.”

Visit the museum from noon to 5 p.m. Sundays or by appointment. For more information, call 360-691-2603.

And feel free to take a ripe tomato from the flourishing plant by the front door.

Harvesting is a hometown touch you won’t find at other museums.

“Granite Falls is proud to have one of the finest small-town museums in the country,” Cruger said. “That isn’t idle talk; it’s what visitors tell us every week.”

Columnist Kristi O’Harran: 425-339-3451, oharran@heraldnet.com.

Have a bite

A Bite of Granite is planned for 6 p.m. Friday at the Granite Falls Historical Museum, 109 E. Union St. in Granite Falls. It costs $15 at the door and benefits the museum. Area restaurants and residents will provide the food.

Also, Railroad and Reunion Days, an annual heritage festival, is planned this weekend in Granite Falls with carnival rides, crafts, food vendors and a parade at noon Saturday.