Benn’s Bulletin Summer 2013

Coming Events

A Publication of The Friends of the Aberdeen Museum

Aberdeen Museum Board

Meeting

First Tuesday of each month

Aberdeen Museum

7:00 p.m.

Friends of the Aberdeen Museum

Meeting

Third Tuesday of each month

Aberdeen Museum

7:00 p.m.

Benn Portrait continued on page 3

SSSSSam Bennam Bennam Bennam Bennam BennThePortrait

For over 90 years, an oil painting of Samuel Benn has kept

watch on the elected officials who have overseen the city of

his founding: a silent observer of countless budget battles,

zoning wars, and a long parade of passing city employees and

council members.

The origins of the painting are found at a meeting of local

businessmen in the First Methodist Church in March of 1918.

July 2, 2013

The 181st Anniversary

of Sam Benn’s birth

in Emo, Queens County,

Ireland.

July 13, 2013

The Legacy of Washington’s

WPA

1:00 - 4:00

Guest Speaker

Marjorie Barton

2

Aberdeen

Museum of History

Dann Sears, Director

Board Members

Byron Eager, President

Roy Vataja, Vice President

Margo Shortt, Secretary

Barbara Jones Caskey

John Erak

Arlene O’Connor

LaMont Shillinger

Linda Wilson

Alternate Member

Joan Turner

Friends of the Museum

Sally McCarthy, President

Carol Stubb, V. President

Anthony Airhart, Secretary

Shawn Dickson, Treasurer

Citizen at Large

John Erak

Happenings

Happenings continued on page 6

at the Museum

Trustees

Carman Ainsworth

Bettie Garbe

Bill Reid

Wow! The Aberdeen Museum of

History is still alive and well.

Everyone, volunteers, staff, and

visitors have weathered all the

problems thrown at them for the

past year and a half. Loss of heat,

new heating equipment installation,

major computer aggravations,

sickness, surgeries, and even the

passing of some very dedicated

volunteers and members.

Thanks to loyal Fund Drive donors,

members and volunteers; the

museum remains ready to charge

up the history hill. Even though the

Benn’s Bulletin has not been

published over the past few months

the museum has been very active.

As of May the museum has logged

in 1547 visitors, including people

from 6 foreign countries, and

provided meetiing and event space

for 11 private and non-profit groups,

Geneology seminar and 6 school

district visits.

On Saturday, June 8, 2013 the

museum hosted the third open

discussion entitled “Who Killed

Laura Law.” Historian and

investigative reporter Tommi Gatlin

and Washington State’s Legacy

Program Director John Hughes

gave a great presentation to 40 plus

attendees. John set the historic

scene about the strife and struggles

that had engulfed the Grays Harbor

involving policitical and social

battles between union organizers

and labor managemnet during the

1930s and 40s. Then both speakers

went on to sort out fact from fiction

surrounding the grizzly death of

Laura Law, wife of local union

organizer Dick Law. Although this

73 year old crime has not been

solved, new facts and interesting

theories have been uncovered provid-

ing hope to researchers, that one day

this dark shroud of mystery will be

resolved and give some closure to the

community.

COMING EVENT!

Mark This Date On Your Calendar!

Saturday, July 13, 2013

1:00 to 4:00 p.m.

The museum will be host to another

fascinating program. “The Legacy

of Washington’s WPA.” This presen-

tation will highlight projects accom-

plished by the WPA (Work Progess

Administration, Later renamed the

Work Project Administration) in

Washington State, Grays Harbor and

Aberdeen. The program will be

conducted by author/historian

Marjorie Barton. Her story takes

listeners on a fascinating journey into

past-times of economic strife, and the

establishment of an amazingly bold

program bringing relief and jobs to the

suffering citizens of our nation.

Marjorie’s first book, “Learning On a

Legacy - The WPA in Oklahoma,”

released in 2008 by the Oklahoma

Heritage Association, and was just the

beginning of her love affair with this

important era in our Nation’s history.

Majorie will open your eyes to the

many wonderful projects the workers

of the WPA left throughout the State.

Parks, dams, buildings, sport stadiums,

a beautifully rendered wall murals,

many of which remain today. All

reminding citizens what can be

accomplished when government and

citizens worked together to bring this

country up out of a dark-hole of

despair.

3

Benn Portrait: continued on page 4

In LovingMemory

The Women of

Grays Harbor History

are seeking volunteers that would

like to research, write or portray

women of Grays Harbor during

special programs.

If you are interested call:

(360) 533-1976

Pioneer merchant George Wolff

asked that his fellow capitalists to

look beyond their personal

accumulation of wealth and proposed

that they consider the need for

things of taste and sophistication that

once the Huns were defeated and the

Great War in Europe was over, would

benefit the local people and

accordingly lift up Aberdeen as a

place of culture. The proposal was

that a “Pioneer Building” be erected

for the exhibition of “good” paintings,

sculptures and artifacts relating to

and honoring the pioneers who had

settled the area.

Immediately a number of Aberdeen’s

leading citizens pledged donations of

money and materials to the cause.

Thomas Benn Dyer, Sam Benn’s

nephew and a talented artist, offered

a number of his local paintings as a

free gift to Aberdeen. One of these

dipicts Samuel Benn’s cabin near the

Wishkah River and can today be seen

at the Aberdeen Museum of History.

The first of the pioneer portraits was

a 33½ wide by 45½ high (framed,

43½ by 55½) inch three-quarter

length oil painting of Samuel Benn

seated in an armchair next to a small

table. To create the portrait, Benn’s

children commissioned a talented

photographer and oil artist from

Portland, Oregon named E.W.

Moore. Moore had painted the

official portraits of most of Oregon’s

governors and at one time operated

the city’s largest art gallery. He had

arrived in Hoquiam at the start of the

year (1918), residing with his brother

O.B. Moore, before moving to the

Weatherwax-Douglas building

adjoining the Electric Building on

Heron Street where he opened a

photo studio and portrait gallery.

After several sittings over that spring,

the painting was declared completed

and taken to Davie’s Art Shop for

framing and exhibition. It was hailed

by Benn’s friends and fellow pioneers

to be a faithful likeness of the 85

year-old founder of Aberdeen that

would be enjoyed by future

generations.

On May 28, 1919 the portrait was

officially presented to the Aberdeen

Cty council by the Benn family (none

of whom were in attendance) and

accepted by Mayor Roy Sargent

noting that Benn, in addition to

founding Aberdeen, was in the

assembly of trustees when the city

was incorporated, and “always had

been ready with his purse and lands

to help in the building of the town.”

It is notable that the also marked the

51st anniversary of Sam Benn’s

arrival at the muddy, timbered realm

where he would build a city. Having

swapped his property in Melborne for

the acreage here in 1866, Benn

traveled down the Chehalis River to

its confluence with the Wishkah. He

tromped ashore through sticky muck

and pitched a canvas tent in the area

of present day K and State Streets,

and began the task of building a cabin

and farm in preparation for the arrival

of his growing family. It would be

another 15 years before his ranch

land was platted and a city began

taking form.

After presentation of the Benn

portrait E.W. Moore toured the

country studying the finer arts before

returning to Portland in 1921. “The

War to End All Wars” came to a

close only to be followed by a second

one twenty years later. The plans for

the pioneer gallery building faded and

it would be over 60 years before the

city had an official site to exhibit

pioneer artifacts. And one city hall

was replaced by another and

generations of city leaders passed in

Benn Portrait: Continued from page 1

Leonard Airhart

James M. Stewart

Richard Brower

Frieda Hendrickson

Dave Johnson

Eva Jean Shamby

Genevieve Jones

Ruth Swanson

Margaret Murdach

4

a blur through the chambers – but

the portrait always maintained its

place its place at the seat of

Aberdeen city government.

Earlier this year the assembly

chambers were renovated and

Benn’s lively eyes and full beard

now greet the public from the

hallway, fittingly near a showcase of

historic artifacts relating to the city’s

past. The $500 oil painting gifted by

his children is a priceless tribute to

the pioneering founder, builder and

chief promoter of this fair city.

Benn Portrait: continued from page 3

Think Of Me

Gift Shop

Visit the

The Boys of Company “B”

Ted T. Reynvaan

Memories of the menof

“B” Company

11th Infantry Battalion

USMCR

Aberdeen, WA

Schafer State ParkPete Reid & Barbara Seal Ogle

History of the Schafer Family

and Park named after them.

Now Available!

Museum Membership

The Aberdeen Museum is a community museum; becoming a member allows

you the opportunity to contribute your ideas as a member of the Friends of the

Museum. So claim your stake in Aberdeen and Grays Harbor history, share

your ideas on the its future growth; take your place as a front-line member in

selecting on new Programs and exhibitions.

Don’t forget this is your museum!

Life $150.00

Family 35.00

Single 20.00

Senior 15.00

Student 10.00

For additional information or Corporate membership call:

(360) 533-1976

Name________________________________________________

Address_______________________________________________

City________________________________State______________

Zip_________________Phone(0ptional)_____________________

Life_____Family_____Single_____Senior_____Student_____

Clip and mail to:

Friends of the Aberdeen Museum

P.O. Box 722

Aberdeen, WA 98520Timber TimesMagazine

Great articles by Timber

Historians and a great tool

for model builders of

historic logging equipment.

Harborite of the Year

The Friends of the Aberdeen Museum are excepting nominations for their

2013 Harborite of the Year award. Now is a good time to get involved in

museun activities and select a person or couple you feel has contributed or

helped in maintaining Aberdeen and Grays Harbor History. Write a short

short summary noting your reasons and mail them to:

Friends of the Aberdeen Museum,

P.O. Box 722,

Aberdeen, WA 98520

DEADLINE : JULY 17, 2013

5

The Aberdeen Museum of History, like most regional museums in the United States

continue to operate through the kindness of donations, membership dues, and volunteers.

Without the support of these dedicated donors and volunteers Aberdeen and Grays

Harbor history would become extinct. You have our deepest and sincere gratitude.

The City of Aberdeen

The Berken Family

Pat and Mary Hughes

Westport Winery

Katy and Evan Wong

Bettie Garbe

Leonard and Emily Airhart

Jerry and Teresa Hedwall

Nelma, Incorporated

Aberdeen Firefighters Assoc.

Martha Hill

Carmen Ainsworth

Cindy Lonn

LEB, Inc. Billy’s Bar and Grill

Aberdeen Lions Club

John and Dolores Erak

George and Suzanne Donovan

Marilyn Sturm

Rich and Bev Hall

Tom and Teresa Mayr

Al and Sharon Balin

Sam and Peggy Baretich

Margaret Murdach

Tony and Laurie Airhart

Ken and Jo Celle Strom

Senator and Mrs. Sid Synder

Bob and Margo Shortt

John Quigg

Mike and Arlene O’Connor

Stan and Bonnie Johannes

L. G. Isaacon

Miyoko Delanty

Bernadine Baggenstos

Joseph Kruft

Aileen Long

Helen Ecklund

Robert and Haldis Sholes

Thomas B. Brennen

Don and Carol Stubb

Charlene James

Doris Toy

Bob and Scooter Scherieble

Joan Turner

Virginia Turner

Frances Harmon

R.A. Durr

Jim and Antoinette Phipps

Jack and Betty Jo Bastin

Fred and Barbara Goheen

Robert Edwards

Ralph Lovelace

2012Fund Drive Donors

FRIENDS OF ABERDEEN MUSEUM

111 East Third Street

P.O. Box 722

Aberdeen, WA 98520

NON-PROFIT ORG.

U.S. Postage

PAID

Aberdeen WA 98520

Permit No. 93

“Where

Learning

Lasts a

Lifetime”

The

Aberdeen

Museum

of

History

6

Happenings continued from page 2

-

OverHauled

Museum Computers

We have been

or at least the museum’s computer

systems has. There is now enough

space on the server to store all the

museum’s archival information and

photographs plus room for future use.

All other office computers are being

updated or replaced, and soon there

will be a new computer kiosk

available for visitors to view the

museum’s entire collection of

photographs as well as select and

order copies. Once the kiosk is in

place the museum’s collection will be

availible on its website, similar to the

Jones Historical Photo Collection.

This August marks the 30th

anniversary of the well known

Harbor band “The Melvins.” They

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The Aberdeen Museum will host the program

Legacy of Washington’s WPA

Guest speaker Marjorie Barton, published author and historian,

brings to life the era of “The Great Depression,” and the beginning of

the Work Progress Administration; a program enacted by President

Franklin D. Roosevelt and Congress, creating jobs for citizens,

allowing them to maintain dignity while pulling themselves and our

country out of a dark hole of despair. Aprogram that future

generations a legacy of parks, sport complexes, buildings, bridges

and beautiful wall murals in government and educational institutions.

Mark your Calendars!