This fall LCHS received the “wedding chest” that had
belonged to Caroline Woodhouse Watkins, wife of early Moscow doctor Wm.
Woodbury Watkins and grandmother of well known author Carol Ryrie Brink.
Caroline Woodhouse Watkins |
Dr. W. W. Watkins |
The chest was made for Caroline by her father John Vipond
Woodhouse in Wisconsin. It came to
Moscow with her in 1887. This chest
remained in the family eventually being with Tom and June Armour of Lewiston,
ID. Tom was the son of Caroline and
William Watkins daughter Winifred and her husband Will.
John V. Woodhouse, Caroline's father |
Mrs. Woodhouse, Caroline's mother |
I received a letter about twelve years ago at the historical
society from Mrs. Armour. She wanted us
to know that when the time came the family wanted the chest to be here and that
she had made arrangements for that to happen.
What a treasure!! I had looked
forward to this donation for all these years.
After I retired last June, Dulce had news from Mrs. Armour that she was
moving to the East Coast to be closer to her own son. Dulce graciously asked me to talk to Mrs.
Armour, who by the way is over 100 years old.
What a wonderful visit I had with this true lady whose personal history
is as fascinating as that of her locally famous in-laws. In her easy relaxed
way she told stories of “Gran, Carol and
Aunt Elsie”.
Caroline Watkins was the model for Carol Brink’s Newberry
Award winning book, Caddie Woodlawn as
well as the character of Ann Hawkins in the novel Buffalo Coat.
Caroline Woodhouse Watkins as an older woman |
Caddie Woodlawn’s wedding chest as Mrs. Armour called it is
now at home at LCHS. Stop by and visit
this marvelous piece of our history.
Following are some places in Moscow you might like to see
that are connected to the Watkins family.
Please remember, these are now private residences not open to the
public.
310 South Van Buren:
Home built by Henrietta Watkins Ryrie built after the death of her
husband Alexander Ryrie. These are Carol
Ryrie Brinks parents.
316 – 320 South Van Buren: Site of the original home of Dr.
and Mrs. Watkins. The original home is
now gone and has been replaced.
Watkins home - 320 S. Van Buren, Moscow |
315 South Polk: Home
where Mrs. Watkins and her daughter Elsie lived later on. Carol lived with her Gran and Aunt after the
death of her parents left her an orphan by age eight. Mrs. Watkins lived here until her death in
1940.
You might also enjoy visiting Old Block 7 of the Moscow
Cemetery to visit the graves of many members of the Watkins family (yes, Caddie
Woodlawn is buried in our own Moscow Cemetery) as well as other well known
local historic residents.
A word of Caution. Be
careful, you may become addicted to Latah County History.
Caddie Woodlawn and
Buffalo Coat and other Carol Ryrie
Brink books are available for sale at both the Latah County Historical Society
Annex and the McConnell Mansion Museum.
-- Ann Catt, happily retired former curator, LCHS
Thank you Ann, for sharing your knowledge with us all!
June Just Recently Passed away:
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http://lmtribune.com/obituaries/june-davidson-armour/article_f9a25382-e4f8-54be-b560-1119ee05a613.html
Dorothy June Davidson Armour Obituary 103 Years old
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http://lmtribune.com/obituaries/june-davidson-armour/article_f9a25382-e4f8-54be-b560-1119ee05a613.html
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