During the three and one half years I served on the Board of Directors of the Bitter Root Valley Historical Society, I often asked myself: Who are the Guardians of our Past? Who bears responsibility for ensuring that the history of the Bitter Root Valley is not forgotten? Over time I concluded that there were three principal groups of guardians comprised of you and me and our friends and neighbors.
The first group includes those with the hands-on task of preserving and presenting the history of the Bitter Root Valley. This group works at historic preservation sites including the Ravalli County Museum, Victor Heritage Museum, Darby Pioneer Museum, Stevensville Museum, St. Mary’s Mission, Daly Mansion, and the Como School. As volunteers or low paid part-time staff, they work tirelessly to preserve, exhibit, and interpret historic artifacts and archival material that tell the story of this place we call “Home.”
The second group includes individual and family Museum members; donors and charitable foundations; and local business sponsors that help provide the sustaining revenue for museum operations that are needed to assure preservation of our history for generations to come.
The third group consists of those family members who save family photos, letters, and artifacts that tell each generation something about those who preceded them. This group often makes their family history available for public access by donating copies or original materials that would otherwise be unknown. This group includes the descendants of
Valley settlers from Sula to Victor who published family histories and photos in Bitter Root Trails Volumes I, II, III and IV. Without publication, those stories would have eventually been lost to time.
I salute those of you currently dedicated to preserving our history and presenting it in a meaningful way, which in turn provides a learning platform for our youth and leaves a lasting legacy. I solicit the support of those others who wish to make a difference that will not just impact this lifetime, but will impact all time by ensuring that we don’t leave our history behind.
Whatever group you are in, I commend you for playing your part as a Guardian of our Past, a Guide to our Present and a Pathfinder to our Future. You provide the bridge between yesterday, today and tomorrow. Please consider investing some of your time, talent and/or financial support to ensure that we may continue to learn from the Past. Few investments will have a greater long-term impact on our community.
Dan Rothlisberger
Hamilton