Water In Brewing

The Water In Brewing exhibit opened at the Brews & BBQ event earlier this year.  However I thought I would take a few moments to explain the exhibit globally and how it was made.

This exhibit was born out of a brainstorming meeting that was held with community members at the 1912 Center in order to focus the LCHS programming for the Water|Ways exhibit in December and January.  This exhibit looks at the differences in water in Latah County as they pertain to brewing beer.

The first step in creating this exhibit was collecting samples from across Latah County.  I collected samples from the following lotions:



After collecting the samples in clean canning jars I analyzed them using a home chemical identification kit.  The samples were analyzed for Calcium, Alkalinity, Sulfate, Chloride and Kolback Residual Alkalinity.  Using these five factors I was able to determine the best types of beer that could be made with this particular water sample. 

The samples and information were presented at the Brews and BBQ event earlier this year and will be on display around the county in various places later this summer.

Water In Brewing installed at the Latah County Historical Society Brews and BBQ event April 9, 2016.

Zachary Wnek
Museum Curator
Latah County Historical Society

2014 Troy Old Timers' Day

Today we at the Latah County Historical Society would like to fill you in on a little event happening in Troy TOMORROW July 12, 2014.   This event is the Troy Old Timers' Day.  This event is free to attend, however has some costs involved for food and some activities.  To begin talking about this event let's take a look at the events that are planned.

The event begins with an all you can eat pancake feed for only $5.  This event is sponsored by the Troy Lions Club.  I would suggest eating a light dinner tonight so that you can take advantage of this great deal.  The pancake feed starts at 6 AM, so be early and be hungry.

A pancake feed in Moscow, ID, circa 1950, courtesy of the Latah County Historical Society, 01-11-110.

After everybody is full of pancakes the next natural thing to do is go for a run to help eliminate the calorie overload.  The Boy Scouts are sponsoring a 5K fun run along the Latah Trail beginning at 8 AM.

C.S. (Hec) Edmundson, 1908 AAU National Champion, courtesy of the Latah County Historical Society, Edmundson.C.01.

Once you have ran, it is time to sit back and enjoy a parade down Main Street of Troy.  The parade will have coffee and doughnuts available to replace all those calories you lost while running at the Troy Lutheran Church.

After the parade it is time to sit down for a good, old fashioned buffalo burger.  Buffalo burger sales will start at 11am as will the Snake River Six, a live band.  Live music will continue throughout lunch with Chanda Knaptik performing at 12:15 and Carla Miles performing at 1:15.  The music and lunch is sponsored by the Troy Lions Club.

There is a 3 on 3 basketball tournament beginning at 11 AM hosted by Lori Smith and the Troy Recreation Department.  If basketball isn't your sport there is also a 4 on 4 volleyball tournament beginning at 11:30 AM hosted by the Troy High School Volleyball team.

The Troy High School boys basketball team from 1917, courtesy of the Latah County Historical Society, 15-06-003.

The highlight of the afternoon (At least I think so) is the buffalo chip toss.  At high noon there will be a buffalo chip tossing contest so I encourage everyone to chuck their chips and see who can get their pioneer fire starter the furthest.
 

Debi and Mike Kealey, buffalo ranching near Troy in the 1980s, courtesy of the Latah County Historical Society, 25-02-463.

Well these are simply the morning and early afternoon activities.  The entire event goes until 8 PM.  For a full list of activities, events and vendors I encourage you to go to their website here: http://www.troylionsclub.org/troy_day.htm .  I hope everybody has a great time out in Troy this weekend, be sure to stay hydrated as the forecast claims it will be close to 100 degrees out there.

  - Zach Wnek
Museum Curator
Latah County Historical Society

Happy Independence Day!

Independence Day has always been cause for celebration in Latah County; these have taken many different forms, however most of the early Independence Day celebrations were either parades or parties.  In this post I would like to take you on a journey through time and space as we discover some of Latah County's Independence Day celebrations in the early 20th Century.

To begin our journey we will travel to Kendrick in 1904, only 14 years after it had been incorporated (1890) and 15 years after the city was founded (1889).  At this stop there are pictures of the Independence Day parade in Kendrick.  As you look at these photos notice Lady Liberty on the float underneath the American flag.  In the lower photo see if you can count the number of American flags on display.  Keep in mind that these photos were taken in 1904 before the Kendrick fire of the same year.

A fourth of July parade float in 1904 in Kendrick, ID., Latah County Historical Society photo 10-08-007.

A fourth of July parade float in 1904 in Kendrick, ID., Latah County Historical Society photo 10-08-008.

Now travel north to the city of Potlatch, where the Independence Day celebration was a crowded affair on July 4th, 1914.  By this time the Potlatch Lumber Company was well established and their workforce was enjoying a hard-earned day off.  Luckily for Potlatch, Independence Day happened to be on a Saturday in 1914, so the loss of labor was probably minimal.  

The fourth of July celebration in the streets of Potlatch, ID in 1914, Latah County Historical Society photo 12-02-003.

Moving from the city of Potlatch southeast across the Palouse to Troy.  We enter Troy on Saturday July 4th, 1925.  The photograph below shows an Independence Day parade down Main St. in Troy.  A close inspection of the first photo offers a view of the Pocket Billiards store and, if you look closely you can see the Lutheran Church at the end of Main St.  Take a moment to examine the interesting mix of transportation available, vehicles, horses and pedestrians appear to be harmoniously sharing the street.

The fourth of July parade in Troy, ID in 1925, Latah County Historical Society photo 15-08-020.

Jumping ahead three years to 1928, the Independence Day parade in Troy looks a bit different.  In this image is Troy's Main Street again, however the buildings appear to be made out of brick instead of wood.  Transportation in Troy has changed in three short years, with no horses in sight.

The fourth of July parade in Troy, ID in 1928, Latah County Historical Society photo 15-02-11.

 Now, it is time to leave Troy in order to travel back in time approximately 30 years to Lenville, Idaho.  In 1889 Lenville built a school, which operated until 1946.  For independence Day in 1889 or 1900 the school threw a party.  The teacher "Uncle Charlie," stands near the doorway holding a small bell.  The students and their families came to the school for a fantastic photograph.

Fourth of July celebration at the schoolhouse in Lenville, ID, Latah County Historical Society photo 06-06-025.

I am exhausted by all of this traveling through time and space.  Thank you for coming on this journey with me and we at the historical society wish you a very happy and safe Independence Day this year.

 - Zachary Wnek

Museum Curator

Latah County Historical Society

References:

Boone, Lalia Phipps, From A to Z in Latah County, Idaho: A Place Name Directory, (Lalia Phipps Boone, 1983), 57-58.

Latah County Historical Society Photograph Collection.

Otness, Lillian W., A Great Good Country: A guide to Historic Moscow and Latah County, Idaho. (Moscow: Latah County Historic Society, 1983), 115, 128-129, 149-150.