Gratitude for Community

In late November, only a few fruits and vegetables are left on the vine, hanging to branches or hiding in the earth, those remaining survive by converting starch into nourishing sugar. It is their response to cold, and stress. Carrots and beets are at their very sweetest when they have been through an early frost. The best carrots I have ever eaten were harvested one winter from soft earth from under a blanket of snow.

To grow sweet with age is a trait worth nurturing in the autumn of our lives. In our winter years, the rewards of a life lived for others is returned in doubly sweet friendships.

Entiat Valley's dearest sweetheart, Virginia Cooper, passed away this week. To know her is to have loved her. She was kind, bright, faithful, of constant good humor and dedicated to the Entiat Community. Her poems are collected in various formats, a few of which are in booklets at the Entiat Albert Long Museum. They tell of her strong belief in God and his provision. She also wrote poems that reflect on the goodness of simple gestures and ordinary actions. I especially enjoyed reading this one, and it really made me think of Virginia.

Virginia Cooper

I Know Something About You

Wouldn't this old world be better

If the folks we meet would say

I know something good about you

And then treat us that way

Wouldn't it be fine and dandy

If each hand clasp warm and true

carried with it this assurance

I know something good about you

Wouldn't thing be more pleasant

if the good that's in us all

Were the only thing about us

That folks bothered to recall

Wouldn't life be lots more happy

If we'd praise the good we see

For there's such a lot of goodness

In the worst of you and me

Wouldn't it be nice to practice

This fine way of thinking too

You know something good about me

I know something good about you!!

by Virginia Cooper

In 2011. Virginia was interviewed about her life, and what she valued important to share. Her interview is linked here! ECHS now has a YouTube channel, much thanks to Mike Spohnholtz. You can search YouTube with the term, "Entiat Museum" to find other interviews of Entiat residents. Virginia reminisces about her years working at the restaurant her family owned in the old town of Entiat, and much more.

The High School Leadership class is inviting us senior citizens to a Thanksgiving Meal on Monday, November 24 at 11:00 AM. This is such a wonderful tradition to bring elders and young people together. I am 70 years old this year, and haven't attended in years past, but this year I will and hope to see many friendly faces there. Any who would like to attend the ECHS Board Meeting at the Council Chambers in the Entiat Library building at 1:00 PM after the luncheon are welcome!

As we express our thanks, may we show our gratitude by doing what we can to give back. We appreciate so very much the work of the many volunteers in the Entiat Community. I especially thank the Entiat Community Service Club and Food Bank who offer help and food to any who need it. Virginia was a loyal volunteer for many years with the ECSC. Volunteerism was a core part of who she was, as it is for many who find joy giving their time to good causes. In her interview, when asked who she considers important to our community, Virginia quickly recognizes the volunteer firefighters and EMT's. We are all so very thankful for them and for all of the other groups who help make our community strong.

The Entiat Community Historical Society is always open to new members and volunteers! We are a growing group, with big dreams and good work ethics. We are curious about local history and especially Entiat's unique story. As we learn we broaden our understanding of the people and events that have and are shaping this valley. We encourage hope for future generations. We meet the 4th Monday of every month at 1:00 PM . During the winter months we meet in the Council Chambers of the Entiat Library Building. Please feel welcome to attend a meeting and find out what is happening! The following are some of the accomplishments we are most proud of this year.

• This fall, a core group of our board members completed a yearlong training opportunity with the inaugural Volunteer Museum Learning Cohort, sponsored by the Washington State Historical Society. We gained practical knowledge and connection with WSHS and leaders in the museum field as well as volunteers from other small museums like ours. I will be serving this coming year on a Small Museum Council with WSHS. One purpose will be to offer feedback and advice on revised guidelines for the Heritage Capital Projects grant, to make the program more accessible to smaller and geographically diverse organizations.

• Last spring , with the City of Entiat's generous support, and the work of many volunteers, we acquired new signs on the freshly painted, and repaired Museum and Mercantile buildings.

• Our Tool Barn also purchased last spring, thanks to the City of Entiat, now houses much of the vintage tool and assorted related collections.

• Sturdy bookshelves made from salvaged lumber donated from the old Del Whitehall barn, now hold the volumes of books and notebooks full of stories waiting to be read.

• Summer 2025 at the Museum was so much fun! Great conversations were had every weekend. Visitors, young and old, came from near and far - all curious and interested in the little museum at the end of the park.

• Our visit with the wonderful Pat West Turner, author of Skiing Uphill gave us insight into a life lived bravely in spite of adversity or maybe because of it.

• We brought music to the park throughout the summer with performances by Quail Run Bluegrass, Neli and Flora Jane, and Mac Potts. The enjoyment of a summer day on the lawn of the museum listening to music is a sweet memory we will surely repeat!

• The Entiat Senior Class made a field trip visit to the museum this September. It was so wonderful to meet our local young adults, and encourage them to pursue learning. One member of the class will be doing his senior project with Mike as his mentor.

• We hosted a dedication of a special plaque recognizing the leadership, legacy and love Wayne and Peggy Long gave to the museum. They carried on the work begun by their father Albert Long, to discover, preserve the history of the Entiat Valley.

• We are learning about and have been successful in applying for grants. Recently we were awarded a Woods Family Music and Arts grant that will bring excellent opportunities for summer programming!

• in collaboration with Entiat Librarian Magi Clark, the ECHS hosted a speakers event called "Stories of Life in the Entiat Valley" at the museum. Because of the small size of the museum, we had to make the event limited seating. Al Shannon and Maxine Sage Phillips were our honored speakers. An audio recording and photographs will be turned into a media presentation we can share in the future. It was just lots of fun to hear Maxine's story of how a Chinese opera robe played a mysterious role in her life and how she used imagination to solve its existence in her life and in Entiat! Al told of his experience as a 10 year old watching the raging Entiat River take out bridge after bridge in the raging flood of May 28, 1948.

• As part of our efforts to grow , Angela Grille ECHS Treasurer and I attended an inspiring budget for non-profits workshop. The concepts and practices we learned about will surely help us immensely. We need to look ahead, make good plans and with our community's support accomplish exciting and challenging projects,

In next month's blog post, I will share the exciting goals for the coming year at the Albert Long Museum. Your feedback and ideas help us to make good decisions! We are very thankful for your financial donation of any amount.

Donate Here!

Your support means that Entiat's stories will be well cared for and shared with our community and visitors for generations! Thank you so very much!!

Old and New members are always very welcome to join the ECHS!

Our next meeting:

Monday, November 24 at 1:00 PM

Council Chambers in the Entiat Library Building.

following the Entiat HS Leadership Class

Thanksgiving Luncheon