Nestled between the Darby City Park and the local library sits the house of Evelin Matteson, better known today as the Darby Pioneer Memorial Museum. The museum was established in 1957 by Phyllis Twogood and is run by local volunteers. One of these volunteers, Gracie Knowles, also happens to be a local historian.

The building was built by Evelin Matteson in 1886 after he moved to Darby with his late wife’s family, leaving three children with his sister and brother-in-law. The family built two separate rooms which were connected by a dog trot, a sort of bridge enclosed with vines to keep butter cool. It was one trait that distinguished families from the south, because the dog trots were mostly used in the southern part of the United States.

After his children grew up, Evelin’s son Curt Matteson and his wife moved into the house to take care of Evelin until 1956. The next year, Phyllis Twogood bought the building and transferred the old museum to the building. The former museum used to be above the old library on the corner of Main St. and Turner.

The Darby Pioneer Memorial Museum hosts many different exhibits donated from many members of the community. The walls are lined with pictures and newspaper articles and the small three-room library is pleasantly crowded with different articles of historic significance, from a replica of a pioneer kitchen and parlor, to a 1906 map of the United States featuring the Louisiana Purchase.

Two pictures that Grace Knowles talked about especially were the Civilian Conservation Corp and the picture of the three presidents assassinated before J.F. Kennedy. The Civilian Conservation Corp, or CCC, was a nationwide program that President Franklin D. Roosevelt created during the Great Depression of the 1930’s to create new jobs. “The camp sat where Trapper Creek Job Corp is today,” said Gracie Knowles. “The program put unemployed youths to work all over the country…reproducing colonial furniture, building outdoor stoves, and stabilizing ruins in New Mexico and Arizona.”

The program in Darby created “campgrounds, trails, built lookouts, and built Darby City Park,” says Knowles. The CCC dictated that the men had to be ages eighteen to twenty-five, unemployed, and unmarried. One man from New Jersey that Knowles spoke to “sent about twenty-five dollars back to his parents and family and kept five dollars to be used at the camp canteen or for personal use.”

The museum also has displays of two items from the 100th Anniversary of Lewis and Clark, pictures from the Apple Boom in 1910 to 1920, ledgers from various stores, WWII Russian stamps, school books, and a LIFE magazine depicting a story about the Mann Gulch Fire.

Darby Pioneer Memorial Museum is open from 1 to 5 p.m. daily, and its historians are always willing to share a story with an interested soul.

First Friday in the ‘Root

No one can say there’s nothing to do anymore on the first Friday of the month. Hamilton has joined the ranks of cities and towns across the nation and is now hosting its own First Friday. It joins Stevensville which has held a First Friday every month for the last 10 years.

“We are hoping to draw people downtown,” said Mike Barrett, owner of Picturesque on South Second Street in Hamilton. “Stevensville has done a great job and we hope to learn from them. With us having the event in Hamilton too, people can make a night of it and go to both if they choose.”

Hamilton will be busy this Friday night. There are drawings at some of the stores. Other stores are featuring special sales and promotions. One of the more unique offerings will be at Me & Mom where a local seamstress is offering hand-made clothing for American Girl and Barbie Dolls. Robbins features a sale on Vera Bradley.

Art abounds this Friday night. There are Steve Wilson prints at Picturesque, western art by Tabitha Banner at Second Street Market, Katrina Ruhmland at Mountain Music, henna art by Firefly Emporium at Between the Worlds and HDR prints on metal by Rick Landry.

Music is in the air also. EmbroidMe has James Morris Pearson of Darby performing. Cyndy Hull, formerly of the Kent Curtis Band, will be performing at Mountain Music.

In Stevensville, it’s Stars, Guitars and Cars! The south end of Stevensville will be the scene of hot rods, old cars and music. The cars will be on display at the old Community Market parking lot. Be sure to vote for your favorite. Between 6 and 6:30 p.m., there will be a parade of cars through town. Fuzzy dice will be swaying to the tunes as the cars ‘cruise the drag’ in Stevensville. In addition, Stevensville Napa is hosting a customer appreciation barbecue at 4 p.m.

Valley Drug, Ace Home and Ranch, Stevensville Hardware and Napa are all hosting ‘Christmas in July’ sales, so get a jump on next Christmas with sales up to 75% off. Red Willow, Beaded Pony, Windsor Antiques and many other stores are open late so ‘cruise’ on in and see what they have to offer. For the young ones and the young at heart, the Bitterroot Model Railroaders have the trains running in the basement of the Valley Drug building. The various restaurants in Stevensville are open late and offer food from Mexican to Italian to burgers and pizza.

To cap the night off, join your friends and neighbors in the parking lot of the old Community Market for some dancing to music by the New-Matics from 6 to 9 p.m.

So make the most of this First Friday. Hamilton and Stevensville are doing their best to give you a good time.

Youth center logo design contest

Calling all artists between the ages of 13 to 18. A.ll A.bout Y.outh, a new community youth center located within Movies & More at 304 Main Street in Stevensville, is holding a logo contest. Design must be an original idea and design. It must not be copied in any fashion or be subject to copyright laws. The logo design should feature the A.ll A.bout Y.outh name and/or abbreviation A.A.Y.

The entry may be designed in any medium including the use of digital arts. The logo size must be no larger than 21"x27" or 27"x21" and no smaller than 20"x20". All logos must be drawn on and/or displayed on a 22"x28" white poster board. All entries must be submitted at Movies & More, 304 Main Street, Stevensville, no later than July 9. The winner will be determined by a community voting system. In the event of a tie the A.A.Y. staff will decide the final outcome. Community judging starts July 10 and ends July 23. The winners will be announced at 8 p.m. at the teen center within Movies & More, 304 Main Street, Stevensville, at the end of the First Friday festivities on August 6.

The first place winner of the A.A.Y. logo contest will receive $100 cash and a t-shirt featuring their winning logo. The second place winner will have their logo design featured as a mural on the youth center wall and receive a t-shirt featuring the winning logo.

The third place winner will receive a t-shirt featuring the winning logo. Entry forms and more information can be found at Movies & More, 304 Main, Stevensville.

Johnson wins Distinguished Young Pharmacist Award

The Montana Pharmacy Association Board of Directors has announced that Rory Johnson of Family Pharmacy in Stevensville has won the Distinguished Young Pharmacist Award. Rory’s award was announced at the Annual Business Meeting of the Montana Pharmacy Association in early June. At the ceremony Rory was commended for his many accomplishments by Lori Morin who presented him with the award. She stated, “ One co-worker reports the Rory is the most compassionate colleague they have ever worked with. He also works hard to provide exceptional patient care and meets regularly with local groups of independent pharmacists to discuss ways to enhance reimbursement procedures and to improve third party contacts and will decreasing costs.”

Rory graduated from the UM School of Pharmacy in 2006 and is a member of Kappa Psi Pharmaceutical Fraternity. He has helped develop an immunization program and has worked on protocols for initiating anti-coagulation programs. He also recently completed certified Diabetes training thought the U of M and is helping develop a comprehensive education program at his place of employment.

Rory is also active in his community. He coaches kids soccer and has participated as a counselor for Children’s Sports Camp at the YMCA and served as a Recreation Opportunities Director for Spring Meadow Resources, a program for developmentally disabled clients.

Youth program volunteers needed

South Valley Child and Family Center is looking for volunteers to help with the Suppertime Youth Volunteer Program. Four volunteers are needed who enjoy mentoring youth, like to cook and are available four hours a week on Monday or Tuesday evenings twice a month. A free community meal program begins in October and runs through April/May. Individuals, families or organizations that would like to help prepare, serve or sponsor meals for community families and those in need are also needed. Call Faylee at 363-3450 to volunteer or sponsor.

Haircuts garner funds for pool

The Stevensville Community Foundation has reported in with a variety of fundraising events prompted by the financial drive to maintain the swimming pool at Lewis & Clark Park. A novel event took place on Western Heritage Day this year. The Kutting Edge, on the north side of town, moved its chairs outdoors and set up business with the entire staff beside the road for four hours Saturday afternoon. The proprietors, Vicki Chilcott and Jody Torrey, were assisted by Robi Brown, Donna Bays and Mindy Street. According to the crew, after 40 haircuts they lost track of the total, but customers lined up until six in the evening. While the price of a haircut was fixed, the return varied widely. Two haircuts brought in $100 apiece. All proceeds went to the pool fund and ran to four figures. Way to go!

Traffic delays on Stevi Airport Rd.

Traffic delays will continue through July 8 as the Ravalli County Road & Bridge Department makes improvements to the Stevensville Airport Road northwest of Stevensville, beginning west of Illinois Bench Road and continuing to the intersection with State Route 203. Traffic control and advance warning signs are posted. Roadway users should be prepared for traffic delays, up to thirty minutes or more, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Traffic control professionals are stationed to direct motorists through work zones.

The project includes shoulder construction, drainage improvements and pavement repair and is in preparation for resurfacing scheduled for late July. For more information contact the road department at 363-2733.

Obituaries

Vonnie May Furniss Bowen
June 24, 2010

On the evening of June 24th, our angel mother, grandmother, aunt, neighbor and friend was welcomed home by all her loved ones that had gone on before her. Her strong love for her family and associates kept her in this world, but she also looked forward with great anticipation for this joyous reunion with her husband and her loved ones. Even though she is gone, her legacy of love will ever be with us. Mother was one of the most loving, compassionate people in all that she said and did. In every situation she tried to emulate the Savior; striving to live as He would have her live. Her heart and home were always open to anyone who came through her door. There was always a good conversation, a good laugh, or a meal waiting for her guests. She had a wise listening ear. If she didn’t have the answer, she could lift your heart and give you the assurance that tomorrow would be a better day. We love you dearly and will miss your presence deeply.

Mother had the distinction of being the salutatorian for all the high schools in Teton Valley in Idaho. She went on to Ricks College for one year. She taught in a one-room school in Judkins, Idaho for a year and then taught in Chapin, Idaho with her friend Orrin Bates.

Later in Stevensville, Montana, she became a nurse’s aide in the Rest Home for many years until she got her LPN license and worked in St. Patrick’s Hospital until they moved to Payson, Utah.

She was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints all her life. She faithfully fulfilled all her callings which started at the age of 17 when she and Orrin Bates were co-presidents of the youth in Mutual. Her love of the scriptures was evident in her reading or listening to them most every day of her life. She served with Dad in the Provo Temple as a temple ordinance worker and they served a mission in the Johannesburg, South African Mission. Shortly after Dad’s death, she served a family history mission in Chicago, Illinois.

Survivors include: Her children: Nolan, Shelley, Idaho; Brent (Vicki) Prescott, Arizona; Clea (Lyle) Comte and Beverly (Ned) Rushton, Payson, Utah and Dean (Carolee) Evanston, Wyoming; 18 grandchildren and 33 great-grandchildren; a sister, Mary Ellen Struttman, Oregon;

two brothers, Oren (Eva) Furniss, Driggs, Idaho; Ted (Dorothy) Furniss, Rigby, Idaho; and many, many beloved nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Max Bowen and her son, Val Furniss Bowen and two sisters and three brothers.

Funeral services were held Tuesday, June 29, 2010 in the Payson 4th Ward, 681 East 500 North. Burial will be in the Bates Cemetary, Idaho on Wednesday. There will be a short ceremony at 10:00.

The family would like to express appreciation to Betsy, Sue, Paula for the gently and loving hospice care. Condolences may be sent to the family at: www.walkerfamilymortuary.com.

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