NestledinthetreesattheSouthernintersectionof MeadowbrookLoopandCougarGulchRoad,isasingle storygablebuildingwheretheresidentsofCougarGulch havegatheredtodance,commune,andconduct agriculturalbusinessforover110years Whilecommonly referredtoas“theCougarGulchGrange”or“Meadowbrook Grange,”thecobbledtogethertwo roombuildinghasits ownuniquehistorythatisnotpartoftheIdahoState Grangecollective. Beginninginthe1880ssettlersmovedintothe mountainousareatothewestofCougarBayandBlackwell N E W S L E T T E R | S U M M E R 2 0 2 2 | V O L U M E 4 2 | N U M B E R 3 “It’s Not a Grange: The Meadowbrook Farmer’s Union Local 56 & Community Hall" MeadowBrookCommunityHallandschool.EDU-1-114 WrittenbyCourtneyBeebe Island,homesteadingtheareanowknownas“Cougar Gulch.”Between1890and1911,around27homesteads werefoundedandtwoofthehomesteadingfamilies,the JohnsonFamilyandtheRodiusFamily,metthe community’sneedforaplacetoeducatechildren, socialize,andconductagriculturalbusiness In1883,attheageofseventeen,NickolasRodius immigratedfromLuxembourg,Germanyandintheearly 1890sfoundworkasaminerinWallace.Hemet PetronliaBengtsdotter,animmigrantfromVoxtorp, Sweden,whoarrivedin1891andworkedasamaidand
cookinSpokaneandWallace. UponenteringtheUnited States,Petronlia’snamewas shortenedto“NellieBenson” byimmigrationauthorities NickolasRoduisandNellie Bensonweremarriedon October7,1897 Nellie(Benson)Rodiushad followedhersister,Ceclia BengtsdotterJohnson,who alsoimmigratedfromSweden withherhusband,JohnPeter Johnson.NowknownasJ.P. JohnsonandSallyeBenson Johnson,thecouple purchaseda160 acre homesteadfor$10000atthe Northernintersectionof CougarGulchRoadand MeadowbrookLoop,where theyoperatedtheGreen 2 NicholasRodiusandhisfamilyareshownontheporchoftheirhomesteadin1904.HE-1-63 MeadowDairyandraisedtheirsevenchildren NickolasandNellieRodiusvisitedtheJohnsonsshortlyaftertheir weddingandfoundalarge,flataccessibleparceloflandaboutamileaway KnowingthatSallyeandNellie’sbrother, LudvigBengtsdotter(akaLouisBenson)livedclosebyinMicaFlats,theRodiuscouplepurchased160acres,evicted somelandsquatters,and movedto“CougarCreekFarm” withtheirthreechildren:Lucia Selma(b.1898),Sampson Alfred(b.1900),andEmil Oswald(b 1901) Accordingto familyrecords,thecouple purchasedthepropertyfor $30000andreceiveda homesteaddesignationin 1904 ThechildrenofCougar Gulchwereeducatedataseries ofoneroomschoolhouseson variouspropertiesbetween 1900and1905,andtheprecise location,construction,and destructionoftheseschool housesremainsamysterytobe solved However,theremains ofoneoftheschoolhousesare stillvisibleontheJohnson homestead,anditislocallorethatNickolasRodiushadburnedtheschoolhousein1904.Itisalsorumoredthatalocal residentattemptedtodynamiteasecondschool,theTamaricschool,locatedonpropertybetweentheRodiusand Johnsonproperties.Thereasonforburningaruralschoolhouseisthesubjectofmuchspeculation. However,NickolasandNellieRodiusconstructedtheMeadowbrookSchoolinapproximately1904atthesouthwest corneroftheirhomestead,aboutaquartermilefromthecurrentlocationoftheMeadowbrookCommunityHall The classof1914featuredsixchildren,includingEmilandSamRodius OnFebruary10,1912,thefarmingfamiliesofCougarGulchformedtheFarmer’sUnionMeadowbrookLocal56and becamemembersoftheFarmer’sEducational&Co OperativeUnionofAmerica Theelevenchartermembersincluded JPJohnsonplowingwithhorsesathisfarm,1931.AGR-7-167
3 NikolasRodiusandJP Johnson, andtheypaid$200perquarter inmembershipdues Notably, SallyeJohnsonandNellie Rodius,aswellasdaughter LuciaRodius,becamemembers by1915.OnJune24,1912,the Farmer’sUnionstartedbuilding theMeadowbrookHallon propertyleasedbyNickolas Roduis,approximately¼mile fromtheMeadowbrookSchool Thebuildingwasconstructed byvolunteersatacostof $34395 Recordsshowthatthe buildingwascompletedintime tooperateasapollingplacefor the1914elections. TheMeadowbrookSchool burnedin1934andwasrebuilt inthesamelocationin1935.On TheJPJohnsonfamilyreceivedtheCenturyFarmAwardin2022.Fromleft:DonPischner, VirginiaJohnson,BrettDonaldGilbert,MauriceJohnson,andGraydonJohnson-seated. PhotocourtesyKootenaiCountyBoardofCommissioners. StudentsposeoutsideoftheMeadowBrookSchoolin1908.EDU-2-49 August23,1950,SamRodius,thecurrentowneroftheRodiushomestead,transferredownershipoftheMeadowbrook SchoolbuildingtotheFarmer’sUnion,andtheWorksProjectAdministrationmovedthestructuredownthehilland attachedittothewestsideoftheFarmer’sUnionHall Thebuildingwasplumbedforwaterandwiredforelectricityin 1938,andthrough1964,itoperatedasameetingplacefortheFarmer’sUnionand4 HHighlandersClub Thegreater CougarGulchcommunitygatheredatthehallforsquaredances,potlucks,communityservice,weddings,andeven funerals In1965,membershipintheFarmer’sUnionLocal56haddwindledto5members,butCougarGulchwas experiencingapopulationboomasaresultofthesubdivisionofanumberoftheoriginal27homesteads.In1968, undertheleadershipofElmerMundt,RayOliver,EdGage,BobHunter,SueBunn,andWillOrtega,thecommunity formedanon profitorganizationthatwasnamedtheSamRodiusMemorialParkAssociation(SRMPA).TheSRMPA wasorganizedtomaintainthebuildingforthebenefitoftheCougarGulchCommunityandthegrouprenameditthe MeadowbrookCommunityHall In1995,theSRMPAbecameanon profitcorporationandthevolunteerboard, comprisedofCougarGulchresidents,continuestomaintainthebuildingasapollingplace,dancehall,wedding venue,4 Hmeetingplace,andcommunitycenter TheJP JohnsonFamilyreceivedthe CenturyFarmAwardfromtheIdaho HistoricalSocietyonJuly9,2022 The awardwasgiventothefamilybecausethe descendantsofJP Johnsonhave consistentlyownedthefarmforoverone hundredyears TheRodiusFamilyHome andoutbuildingsstillstandintheir originallocations DonPischner,Idaho HistoricalSocietytrustee,presentedthe awardtothefamily TheMeadowbrook CommunityHallstillhostscommunity eventsforCougarGulchResidentsandis availabletorent Tolearnmoreaboutthe CougarGulchcommunityandthe MeadowbrookCommunityHall,visit https://www.cougargulchcommunity.com.
Ioftenaskmyselfthesequestions.Whatishistory?Whyishistoricalpreservation important?Whyisitessentialthatweknowandunderstandourpast?Tome,our heritageiswhatdefinesusasapeople,whatunitesusasNorthIdahoans.Wehavea sharedpastBeyondthat,understandingourpastandlearningfromitcanhelpus betterinformourowndecisionsandbehaviorsTheMuseumofNorthIdaho'swork topreserveandshareourhistoryhelpstocreateasenseofplace,afeelingofbelonging andcommunityTheMuseumdoesnotexistinabubbleWeareapartofthis amazingcommunity,andweworkhardtoensureourcommunityisstrong,healthy, andunited.Sowhatdoeshistorymeantoyou,andwhatroledoyouseetheMuseum playinginourcommunity'sfuture?
4
BrittThurman,ExecutiveDirector From the Executive Director From the Board President BuenCaminoforMONI AswecontinueonourjourneytoraisethefundstocompletetheWhiteHouseso thatitcanbecomeournewmuseum,itseemsappropriatetouseanotherjourneyto contributetomakingournewmuseumareality.OnSeptember6th,Iwillbeleaving forStJeanPieddePort,FrancetowalktheCaminodeSantiago.AlthoughIhave walkedthisjourneyintwoparts,myintentionistodothis800kilometerwalkacross NorthernSpainfromstarttofinishin34days.Iaminvitingpeopletousemyjourney tosupportthejourneyoftheMuseumofNorthIdahobymakingapledgeforeach KilometerIwalkfromSeptember7thtoOctober11th.Ihavesetupawebpageto helpfacilitatethisprocess.Youcanmakeapledgebygoingto
Staff ExecutiveDirector BrittThurman ProgramsManager
www.pledgeit.org/buen camino for moni.There,youwillbeabletoreadabout myjourneyand,ifsomoved,makeacommitment.Apledgeof$.10perkilometer comesto$80.Ihavepledgesrangingfrom$.01perkilometerupto$2.50per kilometer,andwearegratefulforanyamount.Whenyoumakethepledge,youwill beaskedtogiveatiptothewebsitetohelpsupportthisplatform.Thatiscompletely optional,soyoudon'thavetogiveatipifyouwouldrathernot.Ifyouchoosetogive atip,youwillbechargedthatimmediately,andthebalanceofyourpledgewillbe paidattheendofmyjourneywhenIhavesubmittedthedistanceIwalked.Iwillbe payingmyownexpensesforthetrip,soallmoneygivenwillgodirectlytothe Museum.MuchasGraciasmisamigos! StephenTowles,BoardPresident M U S E U M N E W S Board of Directors BernieGregAnnJuliSteveDickMarileeDirectorsTomTreasurerCourtneySecretaryDaveViceStevePresidentTowlesPresidentPatzerBeebeRichardsWallaceSheldonWidmyerZookRuleThorhaugRosen
JordanThomas Accountant LisaTurner,CPA Volunteers DebMitchell,Debora Petersen,Cedris&Steve Shepperd,KarinGray, JeremyNunez,Dorinda Thurman,RobInabnet, KellyConnaway,Dorothy Dahlgren,BillDelyea, GreggThurman,Collette Turner,KarinGray,Carol Fairhurst,ColleenTurner, BeckyPowers,Jim Schramm,JimChapkis, MarkWeadick,Rod Schobert,DennisHouchin, DaveEubanks,Julie Champion,RobynBruns, JennSnow,Sherrie Peterson,KevinSmith, SheilaBruning,Anita Parisot
Whatdoeshistoryandthemuseummeantoyou?Whatdotheymeantoour community?Whileweworktobuildanewmuseum,wearepresentedwithagolden opportunitytoreimaginewhotheMuseumofNorthIdahois,whatwestandfor,and whatourroleisinourcommunity.Ithinkitisreallyimportanttounderstandnotjust whatourvisionfortheMuseum'sfutureisbutwhatourcommunity'svisionisaswell. OurgoalistoturntheMuseumofNorthIdahointoapremier,regionalmuseumthat isapillarofthecommunity,butwhatexactlydoesthatmean?Itmeanswewillbe moreengagedwithinthecommunitythroughprograms,exhibits,andevents,andwe willalsobemoreattunedtoourcommunity'sneeds.
5 Featured Exhibit From1920to1933,themanufacture,sale,and consumptionofalcoholwasillegalacrossthecountry InthesmalltownsofNorthIdaho,moonshiners, bootleggersandsmugglerskepttheregionstocked withbooze. The Rum Rebellion tellsthescandalous storiesofcorruption,federalraids,andspeakeasiesand howthepanhandleofIdahowasanythingbutdry duringduringthenationwideprohibition.Onexhibit fromJune17th October29th. SponsoredbyAllegraPrinting,TDSFiber,andDave SmithGMC. St. Maries Scrapbook Upcoming Events MovieontheLawn-September9th@8:00pm Bringyourlawnchairorblanketandcomewatch SmokeSignals-filmedentirelyontheCoeurd'Alene Reservation-onthelawnoftheFortShermanChapel. Thiseventisfreeandopentothepublic. Oktoberfest-September17th celebrationVisitLastyearwassomuchfunthatwe'redoingitagain!theMuseumduringtheannualOktoberfestandgrabapintoflocalbrew. MonthlyLectureSeries-September21st@5:30pm Each Chapel.presentmonthwewillfeatureaguestlecturerwhowillonaregionalhistorysubjectattheFortShermanAlllecturesarefreeandopentothepublic. StMaries,Idaho, locatedontheStJoe andSt.Mariesrivers, couldhavebeen anotherghosttown, butthe determinationofits residentstellsa differentstory. Expandedand revisedwithanindex andphotos,St. MariesScrapbook writtenbyGeorge Currierusescityandcountyrecordsandpersonal storiestofollowthedevelopmentofthiscommunity Preorderyourcopyforjust$1995at museumni.org/shop. RomancingtheWest-September25th@2:00pm SponsoredpurchaseStoptheirtheir250documentaryShermanPoetSinger/songwriterChristinaLynnMartinandCowboyandBalladeerButchMartinwillbeattheFortChapeltoperformtheirtime-travelingconcerttellingthehumanstoryofoveryearsofthepeopleoftheAmericanWestthroughtrials,tribulationsandtriumphsandcelebratingdiversecultures,livesandlegacies.bytheMuseumorvisitmuseumni.org/eventstotickets.Adults-$20andYouth-$15.by:AnnRule CemeteryWalkingTours-WeekendsinOctober Backbypopulardemandandwithextendeddates!Join localhistoriansastheyguideyouthroughForest WitherspoonSponsoredpublic,toSeptember.Saturdaydaring,availableburiedCemeterytolearnabouttheimportantpeoplewhoarebeneathyourfeet.DaytimetourswillbeSundayafternoons,andforthosewhoareflashlighttourswilltakeplaceonFridayandeveningsatdusk.TicketsgoonsaleinAsamembershipperk,MONImembersgetpurchaseticketsaweekbeforetheygoonsaletotheandatadiscountedprice.Staytuned!by:SteveandMarieWidmyer,TDS,and-Kelley
6 TheGatsbyGardenPartyandGalaattheJewettHouse wasaHUGEsuccess!Thankstothetremendous communitysupport,we doubled ourfundraisinggoal, bringinginatotalof$63,000.Wecallthata monumentalwinforourfirstbigfundraisingevent.It wassosuccessfulthatwearealreadyworkingonour 2023fundraiser,whichwillbethemeda1940sUSO ClubandwilltakeplaceattheKootenaiCounty Fairgroundsinabuildingthatusedtobethehangarin theoriginalCoeurd'AleneAirportduringWWII.We hopeyou'llallbeabletojoinusforthatfunand historicalevent! ThankyoutoouramazingEventsCommittee, volunteers,vendors,anddonorswhomadethisevent suchasuccessandsomuchfun!Wegenuinelycould nothavepulleditoffwithouteachandeveryoneof you. Thankyoutooursponsors! WashingtonTrustBank DinnerSponsor NorthwestSpecialtyHospital VenueSponsor MetroExpressCarWash LoungeSponsor Clark'sDiamondJewelers DessertSponsor Fundraising Updates Grants Idaho Commission on the Arts $7,056 Fundingwillbeusedtocompletetherenovations insidethehistoricJ.C.WhiteHouse. Innovia $9,000 Fundingwillbeusedtocompletetherenovations insidethehistoricJ.C.WhiteHouse. Target Circle $2,000 GueststoTargetvotedfortheirfavoritelocal nonprofit,andtheMuseumofNorthIdahowon! Fundingwillbeusedforoperationalsupport. IHC and ISHS $10,000 AspartoftheSisterAlfredaElsensohnAward,the IdahoHumanitiesCouncilandIdahoState HistoricalSocietyawardedtheMuseum$10,000 infundsforourcapitalcampaign.Fundingwill beusedtocompleterenovationsinsidethe historicJ.C.WhiteHouse. Laura Moore Cunningham Fdn. $25,000 Fundingwillbeusedtocompleterenovations insidethehistoricJ.C.WhiteHouse. Your Dollar Goes Further Createadigitalaccount LinkyourcardtotheMuseumofNorthIdahoby searchingforournameandthenenteringour NPOnumber ClickSave 1 2. 3. WanttosupporttheMuseumeverytimeyoushop? Nowyoucan!ShopatAmazonorFredMeyer,anda portionofeverydollaryouspendwillbedonatedto theMuseumofNorthIdaho.Here'showitworks. SearchCharity"Undersmile.amazon.comLoginorcreateanewaccountat"YourAccount"goto"ChangeYourfor MuseumofNorthIdaho Visit321..museumni.org/donateformoreinformation.
Pleasejoinusinthankingthefollowingbusinessesfor theirsupportoflocalhistory. WashingtonTrustBank NorthwestSpecialtyHospital Seright'sAceHardware TDSFiber AvistaUtilities AllegraMarketing,Printing,andMail JABertschHeating&Cooling WitherspoonKelley DaveSmithGMC MetroExpressCarWash Clark'sDiamondJewelers LakeCityMortgage SteveandMarieWidmyer AnnRule 7 Prepare for Year-End Giving Up to $100 BerniceBaker*CourtneyBeebe*Deidre Chadderdon*MikeDixon*PaigeGorton MichaelHawley*LizMontgomery*Margie Myers*AnnRule*DougSchedler*Dick Sheldon*MarleneStein*SueStiner*Laurie Thomas*SteveTowles*JuliZook $101 to $499 MaryLynnAnderson*ChrisAnderson*Glenn& JoannBorden*EliseBurton*Jacki&GeorgeConn LindaCoppess*Nancy&ArtFlagan*Jay&Connie Gridley*LorettaHartin*JudithKrueger*Marcia Lydiksen*KyleMai*Stanley&MicheleMulkey*Kay &JoannNelson*KatheNunez*ToniOlson*Kerry& PaulRammIII*JoanneRossetti*JudithSalzer*Jim& RobinShepperd*LindaShinn*JeanSiddleAnderson DaveWalker*GloriaWeidner*SarahWhite*Steve &MarieWidmyer*WendyWilson&Edward DuddingJoanWoodard $500 KevinBrown*Ronald&CarleneLitz*JillianMorton Steve&JanieRoth*Luke&DebbieRussell*Marilee Wallace $1,000 AspenHomes*GlenBrandvold*AnnaLombard DavePatzer&JenaHayenga*MarySanderson $10,000 to $24,999 RoyandJudyGlickman Recent Artifact Donations DaveWalker HumanRightsSignfrom1990s VeteransofForeignWars PhotosandRecords KellySaraceno WWIIPhotographs CurtNelson TremblayPhotographs DickBarclay CookingPotfromFarragutNaval HabitatforHumanity LedgerandPhotographs GeorgeCurrier PhotographsofSt.Maries LaurieHarris BrickfromCoeurd'AleneBrewery LeeHopkins Sweyolakan100Yearbook AnneRoth DelCardoBayHistory Thank You to Our Donors! CashDonations IRACharitableRollover StockTransfers RealEstateDonations PlannedGiving Didyouknowthatapproximately31%ofall annualgivingoccursinDecemberand approximately12%occursinthe last three days ofDecember?Asyoulooktomakecontributions toworthwhilelocalnonprofitsthisyear,consider makingagifttotheMuseumofNorthIdaho.We area501(c)3nonprofit,andalldonationsaretax deductible. Hereareafewexamplesofdonationswereceive: Forquestionsonwhichtypeofgivingisrightfor you,pleasecontactyourfinancialadvisor.More informationoncharitablegivingcanbefoundon ourwebsiteatmuseumni.org/donate. EndofyeargivingofficiallystartsonGiving Tuesday.MarkyourcalendarsforTuesday, November29thandhelpusendtheyearwitha bang! New Corporate Members Corporate Sponsors
POBox812 Coeurd'Alene,ID83816 0812 Non Profit US Postage Paid Permit #10 Coeur d'Alene, ID 83814 TheMuseumofNorthIdahopreservesandilluminatesourpasttoinspireourfuture.
