Orcas Voices from Orcas History

–-by Margie Doyle —

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Terri Vinson, left, and her grandmother Edrie Vinson, confer at the Orcas Historical Museum’s 2015 annual meeting. Photo courtesy Margot Shaw

Years of recorded oral history seemed to languish unnoticed at the Orcas Historical Museum, but then Edrie Vinson set her granddaughter Terri on the task and the result was viewed by the public last week as  “Orcas Voices Oral History” exhibit was unveiled.

The museum’s newest exhibit can be experienced throughout the summer at the unique, pioneer cabin compound  on North Beach Road, just south of the Eastsound Village Green. After the summer, the oral history will remain in the museum’s exhibits, with headphones and the listening kiosk available to all museum patrons.

The oral history project began over three decades ago, in the 80s and 90s, as Orcas Islanders taped interviews with Orcas pioneers. Those who volunteered their time included:

• Antoinette Botsford
• Margaret Philbrick
• Deb Madden
• Jim Ransom
• Marcia Spees

About three years ago Edrie Vinson, the museum’s volunteer archivist, connected with her granddaughter Terri Vinson, and asked how to make these audiotapes available to museum visitors. Terri then researched software and ultimately adapted a PowerPoint program and voilá — the  200-some tapes are now digitized and accessible at the touch of a screen.

The exhibit was proudly introduced last Friday, May 19, by new (as of Nov. 2016) Museum Director Brittney Maruska, and members of the Historical Society board at a reception.

Also at the museum is a “Pioneer Photo Booth,” where visitors can dress up in pioneer clothes and have their picture taken as if it were 100 years ago.

Coming up soon are the Museum’s Fourth of July Celebration (this year on Saturday, July 1) with hot dogs, beer and pies (“All-American” food, says Brittney) and the distinctive Harvey Family Logging Show.

During the months of July and August, Antoinette Botsford will regale islanders and visitors with “Spooky Tales” twice a week: on Wednesdays at 8 at the North Beach Museum, and on Fridays at 5 p.m. at the Crow Valley Museum. Antoinette is preparing some new stories to add to her “Spooky Tales” repertoire reviving the pioneer art of storytelling.

And save your treasured items for the “Auction on the Green” to take place on  Sept. 2.

Volunteers are always welcome at the Museum, as;

• Greeters
• Exhibit Crew
• Administrative  Help
• Lifesavers
• Spic ‘n Span Crew
• Grounds Crew
• White Glove crew

Just call the museum at 376-4849, or go to the website www.orcasmuseum.org

Memberships start at $20 for Seniors, $30 for Individuals and $40 for Family. Some of the benefits of membership are:

• free admission to Orcas, Lopez and San Juan Historical Museums
• subscription to the museum newsletter
• gift store discount at Orcas Historical Museums
• Invitations and discounts to museum events
• National Benefits and discounts to over 300 museums, sites and societies throughout the U.S.

To join, just come to the museum at 131 North Beach Road, call  376-4849 or email info@orcasmuseum.org

The Pioneer Museum hours in Eastsound are now Tues.-Sat. 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Sunday 12 – 3 p.m. Starting May 26, the Crow Valley School Museum will be open Friday and Saturday noon to 4 p.m.

[This story has been updated to reflect corrected spelling of Director Brittney Maruska’s name.]