Garfield County’s new Agricultural Museum

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Reprinted with permission of the Lewiston Morning Tribune

Exhibits at the Eastern Washington Agricultural Museum show what hard work used to be

By Kerri Sandaine of the Tribune

Sunday, November 4, 2007

POMEROY - Long before the days of air-conditioned, ultra-expensive combines, farmers harnessed dozens of horses to pull their farm equipment and hoped for a little cloud cover to help blot out the blazing sun.

Sometimes it took 32 animals to get the old combines up the steep hillsides where grain grows in this part of the country. After the harvest, sacks of wheat were placed in buckets and put on trams resembling ski lifts to get the crop from the bluffs above the Snake River to the steamboats below.

At home, farm wives fed clothes into hand-operated wringer washers before hanging everything from diapers to dungarees on lines to dry. They baked bread and churned fresh butter, and pieced together garments on trundle sewing machines.

The mail was delivered in a horse-drawn rig with wheels that could be converted to sled runners when the snow flew.

Folks can step back in time and take a look at the equipment used for these tasks at the Eastern Washington Agricultural Museum at the Garfield County Fairgrounds. The museum, which is open by appointment, houses all sorts of antiques, from branding irons to horse- drawn buggies used in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

Jay Franks, president of the museum, and David Ruark, secretary, recently gave some visitors a tour. They point out unusual items and talk about the hard work required to operate the antique machinery.

"They used to talk about them being the good, old days," says Ruark, a fifth-generation farmer who was born and raised in Garfield County. "It was good compared to what their ancestors had. We feel fortunate to have the machinery we have now, but it's more costly and one might wonder have we really gained?"

Farmers didn't use much oil and families were self sufficient, Ruark says.

"Families worked together. They didn't go on long trips. When they went to a dance on Saturday night, the whole family went, from babies to grandparents. Social activities revolved around the community."

In addition to preserving history, the museum often sparks memories, Franks says. "It's really fun to see an older gentleman come in and recognize stuff and hear their stories. This has been a great learning tool for me. And we're finding out people still have things in their sheds and barns that make great donations."

The contents have been donated from various families, with a good share coming from Jennelle and Louise Branson of Spokane.

"He came to a plowing bee in Colfax and said he wanted to donate his equipment and he wanted it kept together," Franks explains. "I told him we just happened to be opening a museum. That donation made a huge jump in our exhibits."

Ruark said the idea for the museum took root three years ago when a group began holding monthly meetings. "We envisioned having an agricultural museum to preserve old equipment and educate the younger generation."

The group started raising money through donations and by salvaging steel, lumber and roofing from the Green Giant pea cannery in Pomeroy that was about to be torn down. They approached the state Legislature and were awarded a $150,000 grant for the project.

The building was completed last spring and filled with visitors during the Garfield County Fair. School kids have visited the museum, and private parties can arrange a tour by contacting Ruark or Franks. There is no admission charge, but there is a donation box by the doors and a guest book to sign.

Someday, the museum board would like to see a working forge and kitchen complete with wood cook stove on the premises. They are going after grants to pay for electricity at the building.

"We've made tremendous strides in the past six months," Ruark says. "Our hope for the future is to get lighting and be able to have it open on a regular basis and continue to have donations of items. We foresee another building not too far in the future. There's a lot of history here."

Sandaine may be contacted at kerris@lmtribune.com or (208) 743-9600, ext. 264.