Avista Upgrades Musuem Lights
Philp Changing Lamps in Twin Cities room
We are pleased to report that thanks to Avista's Energy Efficiency Program together with their Business Partner Program, the Museum has had all of its lighting updated to LED lamps. That includes all of our restrooms, display cases, and storage rooms. All this at no out-of-pocket cost to the Museum.
Many Thanks to Rachelle Humphrey the current SR Program Manager for Energy Efficiency at Avista, for help in scheduling this work.
Philp and James check out Mine Model at end of long day
James Cummings, Little Light Lighting and Electric owner and his helper Philip Barnett spent their Halloween chasing lighting goblins from the Museum by changing out every fluorescent and incandescent lamp in our century plus old building with energy efficient and long-lasting LED lamps.
Not only will these lamps save energy but also keep us from having to change constantly failing fluorescent tubes and ballasts.
Historic Mural Study Donated
Jackie Field’s brother Kevin Etherton and his wife have donated a 1939 mural study by Fletcher Martin titled “Mine Rescue” to the Museum in memory of Jackie.
This reproduction from the Smithsonian American Art Museum depicts two miners carrying an injured miner out of a mine on a stretcher and was proposed to be painted over the door of the Postmaster at what was then the newly constructed Kellogg Post Office.
The depiction of an injured miner drew great disapproval from local citizens, the Chamber of Commerce and mining executives and was withdrawn from consideration. Instead, the artist agreed to paint a replacement titled “Discovery” which can be seen to this day in the lobby of the Kellogg Post Office.
The “Mine Rescue” mural study is hanging on the west wall of the Museum Gift Shop where this fine quality, but controversial artwork can be appreciated.
Display Cases Donated by Chamber
The Historic Silver Valley Chamber is moving from the old railroad depot in Kellogg and has donated several items to the Museum including a pair of oak display cases.
These lovely fixtures have found a new home center stage in our Gift Shop.
Many thanks to Terry Douglas for donating the services of his Kellogg Moving and Storage team that got these big heavy and fragile items safely from the Depot to the Museum.
Statue Donated
New Exhibit Coming
New Exhibit Coming
Earl H. Bennett has donated a Ken Lonn sculpture titled "Company Man" to the Museum. This sculpture is fashioned from welding rod and only about a foot tall but shows the extraordinary detail Ken is famous for. It will be on display this coming year.
New Exhibit Coming
New Exhibit Coming
New Exhibit Coming
Board member Diane Trecker has undertaken the transformation of the upstairs fireplace room into an exhibit tracing the history of early Wardner and Kellogg known at one time as the Twin Cities.
The new exhibit will be open when we open this Spring.
Time Books Being Scanned
Deninis Galbraith from Family Search watches as local volunteer Sherry Escobar scans pages from the early Bunker Hill Mine time books. These books date back to the earliest days of the mine and list employees names, occupations, hours worked, rate of pay, various deductions and show their signature for their pay check. Its a big job and will likely take a couple months to complete. When finished the scanned images will be indexed by name and be available on the Family Search website.
Girl Scouts sell Lemonade
On August 18th with temps pressing 90 degrees Girl Scout troop 2505 was doing a brisk business selling lemonade in front of the Museum. The troop was recently formed by weekend Museum host Crystal Corbett.
In Memorial - Jackie Fields
We are deeply saddened by the loss of a long-time board member and pillar of our community.
Jackie has been active in the Museum for many years. Some of her more recent contributions included organizing the Joe Breckenridge art exhibition, arranging music for the Christmas Parties, baking for the Pie Socials together with creating several exhibits. Some of the exhibits she put together included the Elementary School exhibit, the Pine Creek mines exhibit and most recently the tribute to Ed Pommereing’s leadership in the reforestation of the Kellogg area. She was also the author of “Jessie Colby and the Great Pine Creek Fire of 1910” which she published and donated the proceeds to the Museum.
She was always a lively, fun and hard-working member of our board and will be sorely missed.
Grant Money Helps Keep The Staff House In Good Repair
New Windows Finaly Installed
SLFRF Funds Kickstart Repainting of Building
SLFRF Funds Kickstart Repainting of Building
Rick Dickinson puts final nails in trim around newly installed windows.
In mid-October we finally got the windows purchased from Shoshone Glass with money from a 2022 grant from INNOVIA.
The windows were ordered right after receiving the $7,200 grant but since they were a custom size and with manufacturing delays due to COVID it took nearly a year to get them.
We were able to purchase three custom Pella windows that were installed in the School and Fraternal display room on the second floor.
Thanks to Rick Dickinson who gave us very favorable pricing for his highly skilled work installing the windows.
We also thank Dante Bisaro owner of The Rental Store for giving us a free day's rent and waving delivery charges on the manlift.
SLFRF Funds Kickstart Repainting of Building
SLFRF Funds Kickstart Repainting of Building
SLFRF Funds Kickstart Repainting of Building
A fresh coat of paint graces the south elevation of the Staff House.
(The chimney will be stripped back to original red brick and sealed in near future)
In the closing days of 2022 the Shoshone County Board of County Commissioners allocated $22,500 of Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLRF) to the Mining Museum to partially fund a $35,000 request for repainting the exterior of the Staff House building.
Silver Valley Painting was awarded the contract to paint the West and South elevations. The work was nearly completed in late November before weather prevented final detail work. Our deepest gratitude to Philip Howard and his crew for squeezing us into their busy schedule this year. Their work has been first rate and the crew was a pleasure to work with.
Idaho Heritage Trust has approved grant money that will help will help us to continue the painting at the upper North elevation which we hope to have done in the Spring.
Special Visitors to the Museum
IHT Architect Visits
Shannon Sardell the Historical Architect for the Idaho Heritage Trust (IHT) visited our museum in early September. Much useful information was provided about past work on the building and recommendations for future projects was obtained. It was recommended that the paint be removed from the brick chimney exposing its original appearance. We were pleased to learn that due to their good condition and insulation value of storm windows on the windows opening onto the veranda, that such will not need to be replaced in the near future.
Our many thanks to Shannon for the useful input and to the Idaho Historical Trust for providing her services.
Geology Managers Visit
Nearly fifty members of the National State Boards of Geology Managers visited our museum in late October. The group of managers for state geology boards from across the country especially enjoyed our various mineral collections, the Bunker Hill exhibit and the mine models. Their tour director arranged for Radio Brew Pub to cater their lunch which they were served at tables we provided in the basement. Earlier they had visited Kaiser Aluminum in the Spokane Valley and were headed to the Sunshine Mine after leaving us. We greatly enjoyed hosting this very interesting group.
Exhibit Honors Kellogg's Johnny Appleseed
An overview of how Ed Pommerening lead the transformation of the once brown bare hillsides of Kellogg into the lush green hills we see today.
Exhibit Highlights New Mine Owner's Progress and Plans
Maps show Longterm Mine Plan and Water Issues being delt with