Autumn is here. Yeah! Many folks love it because of the beautiful fall colors. Others just enjoy the wonderfully pleasant days and cool crisp nights. We have enjoyed a great year so far being visited by all fifty states and 36 International countries including some unique ones such as Tahiti, Mauritania and Azerbaijan.

Our Saturday night showing of “Timberjack” September 15 was one of the best attended performances in the entire Polson Fest-of-All. All attendees enjoyed seeing the film partially filmed right here in Polson. It even showed the Feil/ Klein/ Mahugh place and Dewey Lumber sawmill! Karissa Koberg entertained us with period pieces she played on the piano before the movie started. Bill Olson played a DVD of the movie. We will be getting a copy for the Museum’s permanent collection. Brian Mahugh gave us a copy of the movie poster and we have a copy of the theme song music. We will probably show it again.

Gary Gudmunson created 2 new signs for the mansard roofs of the two buildings separated by the Paul Bunyan; they are HUGE white letters which show up well against the darkened shingles. Some of the letters are 6 ft. wide. Anyone searching for us now ought to be able to see us. Gary and his wife discounted the cost.

A little over a year ago we were donated a building which we chose to use as a teacherage in conjunction with the Green Mountain School. Then the Montana Teachers Assn. agreed to take it on as a permanent project. We are still awaiting their involvement. This last month we have been donated several pieces of furniture which will work beautifully. Carlene Brooner of Somers donated a beautiful oak ice box, a very old primitive Hoosier cabinet, a wash stand and this unusual Red Willow table. We have suitable chairs, lamps and bedstead, quilts and other necessities to create a snug little nest.

• 9/16 Thank you! Grazie! My kids were so impressed!
• 10/4 Eighth wonder of the world!
• 10/6 I love it. Very creatively displayed. Hours to “ooh and aah!” Need to return!
• 10/6 Truly a treasure! Filled with lots of positive spirit — God Bless America!
• 10/7 This is Awesome! A wonderful experience!

The restoration of a 1928 JD Harley Davidson put Gil on another quest for parts. A nice rear wheel sprocket was donated by friend Dale Walksler of Magic Valley NC. His magnificent museum of cycles and autos may be seen at wheelsthroughtime.com.

• Regina Adams — Multi-media art piece/picture schoolhouse by Jackie Jacobs 1970

• James Brooke — Cystoscope used by his uncle Dr. J. M. Brooke of Ronan

• Fern Deranleau — Three room wooden house

• Phyllis Fulkerson — 3 political pins, 4 milk bottle caps

• Kirk Hubbard — His grandfather’s WW I Navy uniform

• Howard Hudson — Child’s ironing board, maps, wood, tools, JAWA manual, hardcover children’s book “The Mouse & The Motorcycle”

• Darcy Maiers — David Bradley chainsaw

• Dee Mortensen — 65+ yr.-old time clock from Kalispell Pole & Timber, ’50s drapery pleating machine

• Hayes Otoupalik — Ojibwa Indian beaded picture frame

• Dan Sharp — Several Girl Scout items (shown) including a GSA pocket knife in original box which had been his mom’s, great art-deco door knobs, more

• Jean Swanson — Misc. ’30s Christmas decorations, Flip Wilson doll, 10 other asst. antique items

• Jill & Jerod Sweesy — WW II survival mirror, Lowery field flag, 2 complete US Navy WW I uniforms

Jane Winkley donated a beautiful antique porcelain doll. The doll has kid (goat-skin) legs, which are made in such a way that she can either stand or sit. Jane also donated a 1950s RCA TV and other artifacts.

Occasionally we are asked “What is your personal favorite thing in the museum?”, or “What is the rarest item in the museum?”. Often Gil will say, “It depends on which category or display you are asking about.” We are credited by our visitors every day for displaying rare objects which they haven’t seen anywhere else. We do budget for purchases when the opportunity to obtain something unusual comes up. One such item is a WW II infant’s gas mask. Not many survived as the soft rubber deteriorated. A baby’s lungs weren’t strong enough to draw air through the filter, so there was a small pump on the side to gently force air through the filter into the compartment. We also have the mother’s mask. In the event of a poisonous gas attack, she would put her mask on first so she would be alive to take care of her baby. Although purchased, Rick Larson, a friend from Oregon, sold it to Gil at a reasonable price.

First Joanne registered two couples. After about ¹/₂ hour one of them came rushing to the desk. “That vehicle has the ‘109^th MP plt.’ painted on it. Is there someone here who knows about that? We were in the 109^th MP platoon.”

I told them my husband Gil was an MP in Germany and he had restored the vehicle. They could hardly believe it. They rushed over to the shop and sure enough, they knew Gil from their Army days 44 years ago. Here’s a then and now. I’m sure they will not become separated again. Bob Starks recently moved to St. Ignatius from back east. Joe Pecucci is from Washington [state].
	[Starks]	[Mangels]	[Pecucci]

The following week, Joanne had an interesting meeting. As she was watching a couple of folk, a brother and sister, sign the guest book she noticed they were from MD. She told them the jail door was from Rock Hall and lo and behold they were from the adjoining town and knew the Davidsons who had donated the door. As if that wasn’t enough, when they proceeded down the museum aisle, the lady became all excited. We have a poster advertising an early day trip around the lake to see the villa sights. It was promoted by W. L. Hopkins. She was ecstatic — he was their grandfather! The Linduskas are shown here with their grandfather’s poster.

At a recent out-of-state auction Gil added several interesting artifacts including a “watermelon pig-oiler.” Pigs have no pores, sweat glands, or oil glands in their skin so it becomes very dry, flaky and itchy. Conscientious farmers offer their pigs skin-oil for comfort. [Suntan lotion?]

Another item was an original high-wheel bicycle with its extremely rare kerosene light. It is suspended from the axel hub inside the spokes with clear lens to the front and red to the rear. Gil doesn’t think he’s brave enough to ride the bike though.

We have a few faithful volunteers but certainly could use more. If you have a talent, and could help, please let us know. Some things can be done in the comfort of your own home! While we do not hire anyone per se, we are a host agency for Experience Works. Alma will be moving on soon and we have a desperate need for a receptionist who may also do light housekeeping — maybe “museumkeeping” is a better word. The applicant must be over 55 and low income. Please call if you know someone who might qualify.

With Postal rates rising again we have to remind Friends of their dues with greater regularity. If you can remember it will help, but if you forget we may be sending the reminders the month after your membership is due. We really appreciate those who donate regularly, because we hate begging.

Everyone who donates, receives at least one newsletter. After that, if you still want to receive newsletters please let us know. A star beside your name on the address label means this may be the last newsletter you receive unless we hear from you. Our memberships are reasonable, are tax deductible and provide free admission, copies of our newsletters, and a 10% discount in our gift shop.

When Gil’s shop work is slow, he restores or repairs museum artifacts. Fortunately he can make parts of metal when the originals are long gone. A recent project was a 1915 Rapidayton gas pump. It was very broken up when he obtained it from a Great Falls scrap yard years ago. It looks nice now especially with the painting help from Paul Bonelli.

 
 
Other times Gil dons his “Spoof Mfg., a division of Mangels Machine Works” hat and progresses on his outdoor sculptures. His “Rusty Thumb Flower Garden” now holds up the museum mailbox.
Gil looked for several years for a pair of matching [satellite] TV solid dishes and all of a sudden several came forth from Howard Hudson, Dave Marshall, Charles Mangels, and Steve Nichol. David Bosley assisted Gil in creating a flying saucer with another in the works. One will be child accessible for play and photos. When not flying they will be displayed in our “Area 51.”