News from the Boundary County Museum

Agriculture in Boundary County

The Idaho Humanities Council awarded $72,658 in grants to organizations and individuals at its October, 2017 board meeting in Boise. These grants are supported in part by funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Idaho Humanities Council Education Endowment. Boundary County Historical Society received a $2,000 grant to develop interpretive panels for an exhibit on area agricultural history inside and outside the Museum.

The custom and culture of agriculture in Boundary County is best characterized as varied and is predicated on unique environmental and soil resource conditions. The agricultural soils of this area are sedimentary in origin, highly fertile, and structured for a wide range of crop adaptability. Agriculture is a business and as such must maintain some level of profitability over time to survive. Over the past hundred years, the production of crops and livestock have changed in response to reclamation and technological advances in equipment, production practices, crop varieties and livestock breeds, transportation, marketing, and communications. Capturing in word and photos the importance and value of agriculture to the local economy of our County, became the driving force of this project.

The process involved in this project began in April 2017 with a group of the local farm community coming together in “round table” format to discuss possibilities, topic ideas, and general direction for the interpretive panels. Following this initial in-gathering of ideas, the grant application was made to the Idaho Humanities Council in September of that year. The Grants Board met in October, and notification was received by the Historical Society in November. Then the real work began gathering photos, news articles, maps, and various documents and papers written by University of Idaho students and local Historian, Howard Kent and Field Researcher, Terry Howe.

What began as a four- panel and one-map project, grew and evolved into a much larger undertaking as conversations among the text committee were known to exclaim, “...but we can’t forget... what about the story of... this is a very large subject ...What do we know about farming? We need an expert here!”

At last, in April of this year, after careful scrutiny by our Humanities Scholars, Tom and Tracy Iverson, the panels were ready to present to the “round table” experts for their perusal. Each panel was presented and discussed. Receiving approval for the final draft, the panels are now in the hands of Graphic Artist/Designer/Photographer, Andrea Kramer who will design the photo/text layout in preparation for printing.

In the coming weeks, each panel will be featured, leading to the Project Dedication scheduled for Saturday, June 9, at the Museum.

100 years ago...

What global event was taking place in 1918 that ties Boundary County to the rest of the world? “The War to End all Wars,” World War I, The Great War that originated in Europe and lasted from July 28, 1914 until Nov. 11, 1918. This year, the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, will mark the one hundredth year of the end of this devastating war.

The Boundary County Museum, will be holding its Summer Opening Program on Saturday, May 5, from noon until 2:30 p.m., and will feature stories of how Boundary County contributed to this notable World War I effort.

A World War I Lunch will be served in the Railroad Courtyard from 12 noon until 1:30 p.m. All are welcome! Featured will be “Doughboy Stew,” Bread, Soldier “Biscuits”, and World War I Cake. The Museum’s personal trio of chefs (Vic White, Dave Gray, and Howard Kent) will be conjuring up some of the best stews ever tasted!

Following lunch, adults are invited to attend Museum Historian, Howard Kent’s reminiscences of Boundary County’s involvement in the war: soldiers enlisting and being drafted, to Red Cross volunteers, to rationing, to the Slampire Club! There will be stories that only Howard can tell. If you have the 2018 Boundary County Historical Calendar, you can sneak preview some of these unique highlights. (If you don’t, they are available at the Museum’s Gift Shop!)

For the children, there will be stories that were popular during 1918, games, and a cupcake walk. Weather permitting, we will hold these activities outdoors in the Railroad Courtyard.

The Museum will open for summer hours on May 1: Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. throughout the summer months and into October. There is a minimal charge of $2 per adult with a family rate available. The Opening Program is a FREE day for all.