Good for the Gander and all those Geese

I received a note last week from Walla Walla Union-Bulletin reporter Sheila Hagar asking a number of us in the non-profit field for instances and stories about how we are turning bad times into coping experiences. That's not too tough for Fort Walla Walla Museum, as we tend to look at things in their historical perspective. We, as a community, have always ... always ... managed to cope with economic down turns. There's a wonderful story from the Great Depression about the head of the local YMCA accepting 'bindlestiffs' (we'd call them homeless today) in to sleep on the floor of the Y's gym. We look to see that our neighbors are alright, do what we can for ourselves, and do what we must until things turn around again. That's a comforting thought: this too shall pass. The general values the community shares will see us through these tough straits, too.

Our on-going building project is an example of doing the right thing for the community. While we are still actively seeking support for portions of the project that remain unfunded (call 509.525.7703 if you'd like to help), we did accumulate enough to make a good start on our new Entrance Building. Now that we're underway, you can see the benefits. The other day I counted 14 construction workers busily earning their next paychecks. There are plumbers, electricians, concrete workers, excavators, equipment operators and other people associated with the building trades.

That's a nice thing to see. Most of the guys are likely to have families and you can be sure those folks appreciate the income, too. The merchants where they shop are happy to have customers and the taxes generated from all that money passing through the community helps support our police and fire fighters, parks, government, and more. I understand each dollar turns over about eight times before it 'disappears' into the system.

Not bad for your friendly, neighborhood not-for-profit heritage museum, si? Today's pics feature the construction gang at work. One of the images shows a stack of lumber that means we'll be going distinctly vertical very soon. Another shows the black pipes coming up from the ground ... that's where the new restrooms will be. By the way, there will be another outdoor-access restroom for Fort Walla Walla Park users during hours when the museum is closed to visitation.