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The Historical Society is a "Qualifying Nonprofit Cultural
Organization" for the Oregon Cultural Trust Tax Credit. Visit the
OCT website to learn more.
Organization" for the Oregon Cultural Trust Tax Credit. Visit the
OCT website to learn more.
CC HISTORICAL SOCIETY
BOARD MEMBERS
(click on names to contact)
President:
Terry Holtzapple
Vice-President:
Jerry Brummer
Secretary:
Shirley McCullough
Treasurer:
Keith Snyder
Directors:
Reita Evans
Ron Johnson
Sandy Carpenter
Bill Weberg
Lucy Woodward
Executive Director:
Gordon Gillespie
Assistant Director:
Steve Lent
Work
Home
BOARD MEMBERS
(click on names to contact)
President:
Terry Holtzapple
Vice-President:
Jerry Brummer
Secretary:
Shirley McCullough
Treasurer:
Keith Snyder
Directors:
Reita Evans
Ron Johnson
Sandy Carpenter
Bill Weberg
Lucy Woodward
Executive Director:
Gordon Gillespie
Assistant Director:
Steve Lent
Work
Home
The Crook County Historical Society was chartered in 1969 with Gale Ontko as
first President.
In 1971 Alta Bowman and her daughters Jean Clark and Elaine Broten donated
the Bowman Building to Crook County to be used as a museum under the
condition that if the building ceases to be used as a museum the building reverts
back to the Bowman family.
The Historical Society assumed the responsibility of operating the A. R. Bowman
Memorial Museum through a contractual agreement with Crook County. For the
first five years from 1971 to 1976 the majority of the work was done by
volunteers, although there was some help from federal work programs for part-
time receptionists. The county paid the utilities. All the funds for furnishings and
equipment came from generous donations, fund-raisers, and memorials.
One of the first projects was building a staircase to the second floor. Prior to
1971, the only access to the second floor was by way of a wooden staircase on
the east end of the building. The second floor had been used for dentists' offices
and business offices.
Originally, the display cases were bought by individuals or families, with each
case used to display historical items from the person or family who bought the
case. Several individuals paid for extra cases. As time went on, the Society was
able to install additional cases.
For many years, interested people had been donating historical items in
anticipation of a place in which to display them. These items were stored on the
third floor of the courthouse. These things, with the articles donated, or loaned
by individuals, gave the museum a good representation of Crook County
pioneer history.
Also, in 1959, in celebration of Oregon's 100th birthday, a log cabin which had
belonged to the Jasper Wright family, was moved from Upper Ochoco Creek to
Pioneer Park to be used as a museum. This Pioneer Historical Museum is owned
by the City of Prineville, but maintained by the Historical Society and the Parks
and Recreation Department.
By 1976, the Historical Society was having difficulty meeting the operating
expenses of the museum. The Historical Society decided to ask for a county-
wide election to establish a Historical Fund, under the provisions of ORS 358.160-
358.230. The voters approved a continuing tax levy of $10,500.
By 1988, museum expenses had outstripped revenue. Voters were asked to
approved an increase in the tax levy to $41,500. Again in 1998 with new
challenges and rising expenses the Historical Society again asked voters to
approve an increase in tax support. The four year 6 cents per thousand levy
passed in November 1998 securing the museum’s funding through June 2003.
Oregon law provides that this Historical Fund be operated by a historical society,
and also provides that the Historical Fund Tax Levy can be used for historical
preservation purpose. Our Historical Society has chosen to use the Tax Levy for
the operation, maintenance and improvement of the Bowman Museum up to this
time. Funds from the tax levy cover museum staff salaries, utilities, insurance,
repair and maintenance, and capital outlay, such as the 1992 addition to the
museum.
About 1980, the Society was offered some old ranch equipment and a 1907
Studebaker Phaeton, which were of great interest, but there was no place to
display them. So the Society established a Ranchers' Memorial Building Fund.
In 1987 the Society constructed a building on property donated by Crook
County, at the fairgrounds. The building was deeded to Crook County and is
operated by the Society in the same manner as the Bowman Museum.
In 1969, when the Crook County Historical Society was chartered, there was
almost no recorded history of Prineville or Crook County, although Prineville and
Crook County bear a number of distinctions, such as Prineville being the first
settlement in the vast area of Central Oregon, Post being the geographic center
of Oregon, the City of Prineville Railway being the only municipally-owned and
operated railway in the United States, and others.
Through the efforts of our Society, we have a museum that is favorably known
throughout the northwest and beyond. In 1996 the Historical Society and
museum hosted the Smithsonian traveling exhibit “Barn Again”, the first time a
Smithsonian exhibit was offered in Central Oregon. In 1997 the museum won
national recognition by being awarded a General Operating Support grant from
the Institute of Museum Services. Only 19% (202) of the 1061 applicants were
awarded this national honor. This award is considered by museums and
museum professional as representing the highest in institutional achievement.
We are in the process of cataloging on computer the thousands and thousands of
historical items and records in our files, and we expect to have our computer
system connected with other museums and libraries through the Internet. We
have been in a continuing process of upgrading our collection storage practices
to meeting professional museum standards; we have published a number of
books about our history; we have conducted many field trips to sites of historic
interest; we are visited each year by scores of school classes and thousands of
local and out of area visitors--our Society has added greatly to the knowledge
and appreciation of our heritage, and this is just the beginning---.
Membership is open to anyone who is interested in the history of Crook County
and who recognized the growing significance and importance of preserving our
past.
first President.
In 1971 Alta Bowman and her daughters Jean Clark and Elaine Broten donated
the Bowman Building to Crook County to be used as a museum under the
condition that if the building ceases to be used as a museum the building reverts
back to the Bowman family.
The Historical Society assumed the responsibility of operating the A. R. Bowman
Memorial Museum through a contractual agreement with Crook County. For the
first five years from 1971 to 1976 the majority of the work was done by
volunteers, although there was some help from federal work programs for part-
time receptionists. The county paid the utilities. All the funds for furnishings and
equipment came from generous donations, fund-raisers, and memorials.
One of the first projects was building a staircase to the second floor. Prior to
1971, the only access to the second floor was by way of a wooden staircase on
the east end of the building. The second floor had been used for dentists' offices
and business offices.
Originally, the display cases were bought by individuals or families, with each
case used to display historical items from the person or family who bought the
case. Several individuals paid for extra cases. As time went on, the Society was
able to install additional cases.
For many years, interested people had been donating historical items in
anticipation of a place in which to display them. These items were stored on the
third floor of the courthouse. These things, with the articles donated, or loaned
by individuals, gave the museum a good representation of Crook County
pioneer history.
Also, in 1959, in celebration of Oregon's 100th birthday, a log cabin which had
belonged to the Jasper Wright family, was moved from Upper Ochoco Creek to
Pioneer Park to be used as a museum. This Pioneer Historical Museum is owned
by the City of Prineville, but maintained by the Historical Society and the Parks
and Recreation Department.
By 1976, the Historical Society was having difficulty meeting the operating
expenses of the museum. The Historical Society decided to ask for a county-
wide election to establish a Historical Fund, under the provisions of ORS 358.160-
358.230. The voters approved a continuing tax levy of $10,500.
By 1988, museum expenses had outstripped revenue. Voters were asked to
approved an increase in the tax levy to $41,500. Again in 1998 with new
challenges and rising expenses the Historical Society again asked voters to
approve an increase in tax support. The four year 6 cents per thousand levy
passed in November 1998 securing the museum’s funding through June 2003.
Oregon law provides that this Historical Fund be operated by a historical society,
and also provides that the Historical Fund Tax Levy can be used for historical
preservation purpose. Our Historical Society has chosen to use the Tax Levy for
the operation, maintenance and improvement of the Bowman Museum up to this
time. Funds from the tax levy cover museum staff salaries, utilities, insurance,
repair and maintenance, and capital outlay, such as the 1992 addition to the
museum.
About 1980, the Society was offered some old ranch equipment and a 1907
Studebaker Phaeton, which were of great interest, but there was no place to
display them. So the Society established a Ranchers' Memorial Building Fund.
In 1987 the Society constructed a building on property donated by Crook
County, at the fairgrounds. The building was deeded to Crook County and is
operated by the Society in the same manner as the Bowman Museum.
In 1969, when the Crook County Historical Society was chartered, there was
almost no recorded history of Prineville or Crook County, although Prineville and
Crook County bear a number of distinctions, such as Prineville being the first
settlement in the vast area of Central Oregon, Post being the geographic center
of Oregon, the City of Prineville Railway being the only municipally-owned and
operated railway in the United States, and others.
Through the efforts of our Society, we have a museum that is favorably known
throughout the northwest and beyond. In 1996 the Historical Society and
museum hosted the Smithsonian traveling exhibit “Barn Again”, the first time a
Smithsonian exhibit was offered in Central Oregon. In 1997 the museum won
national recognition by being awarded a General Operating Support grant from
the Institute of Museum Services. Only 19% (202) of the 1061 applicants were
awarded this national honor. This award is considered by museums and
museum professional as representing the highest in institutional achievement.
We are in the process of cataloging on computer the thousands and thousands of
historical items and records in our files, and we expect to have our computer
system connected with other museums and libraries through the Internet. We
have been in a continuing process of upgrading our collection storage practices
to meeting professional museum standards; we have published a number of
books about our history; we have conducted many field trips to sites of historic
interest; we are visited each year by scores of school classes and thousands of
local and out of area visitors--our Society has added greatly to the knowledge
and appreciation of our heritage, and this is just the beginning---.
Membership is open to anyone who is interested in the history of Crook County
and who recognized the growing significance and importance of preserving our
past.
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A.R. Bowman Memorial Museum
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Crook County Historical Society
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