Virginia City: Where History Lives!
Today's meeting began with Curt Belts leading us in the Pledge of Allegiance. After a microphone snafu (fortunately we found the wireless mic!) Jim Clark provided a wonderful invocation, asking that we give thanks and conduct our business with the highest ethical standards.
Chris Warden introduced his special guests, wife Lori and son Finley. Chris later thanked Lori for her terrific support during his term as President of Missoula Sunrise Rotary. Sergeant at Arms David Bardwick introduced visiting Rotarian Jim Hutcheson (Missoula Noon club) and guests Brenna White (daughter and guest of Peg Novotny), Trevor Lewis (guest of Margot Belden) and John Wells (guest of Ellie Hill).
David then shared some humor with sayings that were "out of the mouths of babes." Adele Gibbs had shared these stories with David, but wasn't sure she wanted to take credit following the lack of laughter/applause.but it was early in the morning!
Chris Warden announced that today's theme was Montana history. He shared a copy of the text book "Montana: Stories of the Land" that the Montana History Foundation (of which Chris is a Board member) partnered with the Montana History Society to create. The first 4 or 5 chapters are all about Native Americans, and 13,000 copies have been provided to all 7th grade students in Montana!
Arnie Didier then shared news about Carol Williams. Carol had a fall last week and dislocated her ankle and broke three bones. She had surgery on Friday and is home now. Please send your good wishes Carol's way!
Chris Warden announced that our Anniversary Dinner will be held Wednesday, June 24th at 5:30. Chris, Susan Cramer and Arnie Didier have been working on a new format for this year's celebration. Details aren't yet finalized, but it will not be a formal sit-down dinner, and will more likely be a more casual get-together at a member's home (perhaps a barbeque and program). A signup sheet was again circulated. Please mark this date on your calendar, and stay tuned for more details! Remember, there will be no regular morning meeting that day.
Chris Warden announced that the GSE Team from Africa is experiencing visa issues so their visit is postponed. No housing or job shadows will be needed in June. We are hopeful the team will be able to visit Missoula at a later date.
Al Jensen announced that the outing with the Youth Homes to the Burchenal Ranch is scheduled for June 20th. This will include a barbeque, fishing, viewing the trumpeter swans, and a wagon ride. Adults are just $5 and children are free. Rotarians and family members are welcome!
Justin Metcalf reminded us that our highway cleanup is set for this Saturday, May 30th. We'll meet at the Press Box between 7am and 7:45am (come at 7 if you want to have breakfast). Justin said Rusty Lockner will be reporting back to the club on what is found during the cleanup. As an aside to that, Jim Clark shared a funny story about a special find a few years back during highway cleanup. Jim found a detention slip from a student at Big Sky High School. Jim took it to the dean who assigned the detention who then followed up with the student. Imagine what that student felt when he heard that the Superintendent of Schools found the detention slip during highway cleanup!
Paul Williamson provided the Rotary Minute, playing an interview he had with documentarian Penny LeGate about the eradication of polio. She said we are down to the "final four" (Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nigeria and India) and that with help from the Gates Foundation grant there is renewed interest and money being put toward this effort. She said that with the work of Rotary International and the World Health Organization perhaps polio will be gone in 3 to 5 years. Thank you Paul for your incredible efforts with the Rotary Minute!
Chris Warden then introduced our speaker, Shelley Chauvet Von Stein. Shelley is a native of Big Sandy, Montana, who worked for nine years in sales with Merck. She "retired" to the creative side and works as a movie producer. Previously she produced "Path to Eden" with Tom Brokaw, targeted to out-of-state landowners coming to Montana, with a message about good land stewardship. A year ago the Montana History Foundation approached Shelley about producing a piece about Virginia City.
Shelley showed the film which she produced: "Virginia City: Where History Lives." This was a great look into the past, present and future of Virginia City as well as Nevada City.
The movie told us that gold was discovered in 1863 in Alder Gulch and soon Virginia City and Nevada City were thriving communities. More than 30,000 miners lived in the area, a diverse population including Jewish and Chinese people. Virginia City became a major hub and was the first commercial banking center and first transportation hub in Montana. The first Montana newspaper also started in Virginia City, which was Montana's first territorial capital. Of course, the movie explained, that "bad" people followed the good and a period of lawlessness ensued. From this the vigilante movement was born.
When the Northern Pacific Railroad scouted its route in the 1870s, Virginia City was left out and the people began moving away. The population dropped to about 75 and it was practically a ghost town.
In 1944, Charlie Bovey (a then-Montana Representative) visited Virginia City with his wife. History lovers, they were concerned that the town, the best surviving example of Montana's early history, might slowly die. Bovey bought many old buildings in Virginia City and started its restoration. The buildings which stand today in Virginia City are original. Bovey also bought buildings from various other mining camps from other areas of Montana, moved them to, and recreated the town of neighboring Nevada City.
The film showed that a trip to Virginia City is a "trip back in time" through fully furnished and restored buildings. In fact, there is a store with 300 pairs of shoes, new and still in their boxes! When Charlie Bovey died, the State of Montana stepped in and bought 250 buildings in Virginia and Nevada Cities. These restored and recreated cities are now an incredible example of western mining culture and the pioneer movement.
Work is being done to upgrade the foundations of the existing buildings in the preservation-minded community of Virginia City. With a mix of state and private ownership, the area allows for much recreation and history with tours, shops, food, hotels. And, the Alder Gulch Short Line is a 1920 steam locomotive which runs between Virginia and Nevada Cities.
On summer weekends, volunteers present living history interpreters "utilizing all five senses, including sounds of the past." There is also hands-on history camp for children who work in a "living classroom." Additionally, the Virginia City Players and the Brewery Follies provide fun and entertainment.
The movie showed that the communities of Virginia and Nevada Cities are a perfect example of "active historic preservation."
Following the movie, Shelley said that 20,000 volunteer hours were given last year in Virginia City alone. This is a great resource for all of us and is a "national treasure right around the corner." She said the movie will be shown on PBS June 26th or 27th-check your guide. Shelley closed by encouraging us to go visit!
We then closed the meeting with a recitation of the Four Way Test.