Museum on the Move

A Tenino Depot Museum & South Thurston County Historical Society History

(PLEASE NOTE: VIDEO HAS NO SOUND)

It came to the attention of the City of Tenino in 1973 that Burlington Northern, who then had ownership of Tenino’s 1914 Northern Pacific Depot, would have to be torn down or moved from their right of way.  The Depot, which was made of Tenino Sandstone was Tenino’s third depot and was built to coincide with the construction of the Point Defiance cutoff.  The cutoff would divert much of Tenino’s rail traffic away from the historic Prairie Line that originally brought the railroad to Tenino.  The Northern Pacific sent all it’s passenger trains down the new line.  The Tenino Depot was closed around 1961 and spent many years boarded up and collecting graffiti.

The City Council asked Burlington Northern for the Old Depot and they acquiesced with the condition that it be moved within six months of a formal transfer.  From that point the clock was ticking.

Photo Credit: The Daily Olympian July 26^th, 1973

It was decided that the Depot would make an ideal museum.  There had been a resurgence of interest in Tenino’s unique history, and Mayor Ken Hedden decide to mine for more.  He paid a visit to the State Capital Museum and Director Ken Hopkins and Dave McKendry who jumped into action to help find as many historical artifacts and data as possible about Tenino.  Internes were tasked with taping interviews with pioneer residents, historic photos and documents were located to become part of the new Museum’s Collection.  The Jay Evan’s film Tenino: Boomtown of the Old Northwest was a result of this project.  Howard Spear of Olympia, who used to be a Tenino Railway Agent offered to donate antique railway equipment. 

It was the City Council that appointed a Museum Board, headed by George Keithahan, a world traveler who once worked for the secret service and had a museum of his own.  Other Board members were Art Dwelley, publisher of the Thurston County Independent, Lloyd Axtelle, Dora Major, and Edna McArthur. 

The new Museum Board had two major issues to decide: The location that the Museum should go, and where to get funding. 

There were arguments against moving it to the park.  Some felt that the location wasn’t open and bright enough to avoid burglary. 

 Burlington Northern wanted the museum moved by November, and Walt Scheel who helped construct the Depot in 1914 was on hand to help.  Much debate went into considering the best way to move it. 

According to the minutes of the first Tenino Museum Board meeting, it was intended that a Historical Society would grow out of the Board.  The Articles of Incorporation for the South Thurston County Historical Society were witnessed on October 30^th 1973 and filed by Edna McArthur.

Efforts to move the Depot by Burlington Northern’s deadline never reached fruition undoubtably for lack of capital.  In 1974 fundraising efforts to move the Depot and set it up as a museum really took off fully supported by the community.  In April two Museum benefits took place a “Candyland Dog & Pony Circus” performance sponsored by the Tenino Junior High School, and a square benefit dance at Dreamland sponsored by local square dance groups. 

Also in 1974, the South Thurston County Historical Society (STCHS) elected their first president Dave Nicandri along with Edna McArthur, secretary; and Dora Major, treasurer.  Lloyd Axtelle was named at large board member.  One of the first acts of STCHS was to donate $800 to the Museum Fund.  Another unique fundraiser to raise funds for the museum was to sell blocks from the Museum building itself.  This included 13 keystone blocks at $50 each, 50 ring-stones at $25, and about a thousand miscellaneous stones at $5 each.  Owners received a certificate for their support and mythical ownership of said stones.

One of the biggest events before the Museum’s move was Tenino becoming a Bicentennial Community; the 4^th in the State of Washington.  A ceremony took place in June of 1974 which included selling the Museum Blocks, a showing of Jay Evan’s Tenino Film, introduction of the song “Tenino” by Andrew Jackson, as well as prayers, speeches, flag raisings, displays, and ball games.  The moving of the Museum had become an official Bicentennial project. 

Another interesting organization existed in Tenino in the 1970’s called the Tenino Wooden Money Society. In 1974 Ken Hedden was the president.  The Society did a new issue of Wooden Money that year to benefit the Tenino Museum Fund. 

With the Burlington Northern deadline come and gone, other funding sources had to be found.  A $5,000 grant from the Washington State American Revolution Bicentennial Committee, a $35,000 grant from the National Park Service and more than $20,000 in private contributions (mostly by way of community fundraising efforts) finally raised enough money to move the Depot. 

After receiving many bids to move the Museum, the Tenino City Council settled on Shaughnessy and Company.  The feat of moving the 322-ton structure with 18” thick walls, all in one piece, was by rolling it on dollies pulled by a truck built specially to move large structures. The dollies require 150 pounds of air pressure are equipped with breaks and hydraulic jacks and cost in the neighborhood of $12,000 each. 

The move happened Saturday, September 30^th as part of the Labor Day Festivities, renamed Depot Days in honor of the big move.  The Minnetonka, the first Steam Engine to roar into Tenino in 1872 was on display for the weekend. 

And while Walt Scheel didn’t ultimately have a hand in the moving of the museum, he was present on the day to watch it happen, along with half the town.  He had a few reservations about whether the Depot could be moved without some cracks to the masonry. 

Moving the Museum was only half the battle.  The next would be to set it up as a museum.    The Historical Society was formed for this purpose.  While the City of Tenino owns the museum, it was suggested that the management would be by the newly formed Historical Society who would work closely with the city. 

The STCHS society met as a board met twice a month at City Hall to conduct business, and the general meeting with a program and refreshments was once a month at the Quarry House. 

While the City owned the building, it was the responsibility of the Historical Society to get it Museum ready.  That included a new roof, restoring the walls and ceilings.  A basic layout was decided upon for exhibits which did not in those days include the quarries, but rather focused on Wooden Money, Geology, Logging, Homesteading and Native Americans

In 1978 collection of artifacts had begun and the Historical Society had to learn how to Catalog items.  By 1979 it was finally time to start work parties to clean the museum, arrange artifacts, and organize storage. 

Museum Board:

1973

Acting Chariman, Mayor Ken Hedden

Those who attended the first meeting of the Historical Society:  Dora Major, Lloyd Axtelle, George Keithahn, Edna McArthur (early secretary), Art & Eileen Dwelley, Dave Nicanrdi, Colleen Kirchmeier, Karen Charter, Elaine Heuer, Carole Hendricks, Frances Ruggieri, Stanley Sands, Frances Anderson, David Hansen, Ken & Sally Hopkins, Ken Hedden & Fred Gentry (present as City Attorney).  Bernadine Dafoe was also instrumental.

Acting Chairman, George Keithahn

1974 Permanent Officers Named

1974-1976 First President: Dave Nicandri

1976-1977 Dean Wilson

1977 Art Dwelley

1979-1981 Fran Moellman

1981-1982  Neil Corcoran

In 1982 Mayor Knight formed a new Museum Board per ordinance #267 for the purpose of establishing a Public Museum and Museum fund. This board would function with the Historical Society.  Groups that needed to communicate to make the Museum a success were the Historical Society, Museum Board, and the City Council. There was a need to better understand the current regulations, review those regulations to possibly alleviate, or simplify some elements that cause confusion and dissention.  Some members of the new board were also members of the Historical Society. This board was eventually disbanded.

1983 Jake Scott

In 1984 the Wooden Money Society was rolled into the Historical Society. 

The Tenino Depot Museum is now a partnership. The South Thurston County Historical Society manages the contents of the museum and some upkeep. The City of Tenino owns the Museum complex and is responsible for the buildings, utilities, internet, and major maintenance.