Women's History Month 2017: Norma Dobler, Champion of Service

In 1980 a group of educators began agitating for national recognition of the historic contributions made by women. The handful of high school teachers noticed that their social studies textbooks devoted less than 3% of pages to women’s experiences and accomplishments. That year President Carter proclaimed the week of March 8^th – International Women’s Day – as Women’s History Week. By 1987, the movement had gained enough traction among legislators that the entirety of March was declared Women’s History Month. In every subsequent year our President has recognized March as a month to celebrate all that women have done and continue you do for America. In the spirit of Women’s History Month, throughout March we will be celebrating women who called Latah County home.  

Norma Dobler was a mother, wife, volunteer, politician, activist, and concerned citizen. She was not, by her own admonition, a “women’s libber.” (1) Yet when all of Dobler’s accomplishments and contributions to her community are added up, it is clear that regardless of labels she was a champion of equal rights, which is the core tenant of feminism.

LCHS Photo Collection

Norma Woodhouse graduated from the University of Idaho with a business degree in 1939, married Clifford Dobler in 1941, and spent much of that decade as a housewife. She dedicated herself to the activities of her three children, volunteering time to the 4-H Club and Campfire Girls and serving as the superintendent of Sunday school at the Methodist Church. She performed the duties of a faculty wife for her husband, who taught business law at UI.

In 1950 Norma Dobler joined a another group in Moscow, and that new affiliation would prove to be a turning point in her life. Along with six other women, Dobler set out to obtain a charter for a local League of Women Voters. The national organization is a successor to the women’s suffrage movement and was first organized in 1920, following the passage of the 19^th Amendment. Dobler was impressed by the League’s commitment to research and consensus building. (2) She and her fellow co-founders believed a local League could provide a venue for the exploration of common concerns, such as school funding or government accountability. Within two years the charter for League of Women Voters of Moscow was awarded, and Dobler’s commitments grew.

League members were encouraged to attend the meetings of boards, commissions, and councils with handled public funds and made decisions that impacted voters and citizens. Dobler began attending Moscow School Board meetings regularly around 1960 as a citizen observer and invested parent. Her presence was noted and in 1963 she was encouraged to run for a seat on the board. She served for six years in that capacity. In an additional act of service to her fellow community members, her and Clifford produced an accurate map of school board precincts for the first time. (2)

From 1969 to 1972 Dobler was the president of the state’s League of Women Voters. Throughout Idaho League members were agitating for causes that some legislators deemed radical. In 1966 the League adopted a position in opposition to loyalty oaths, which the Young Republicans of Coeur d’Alene asserted was “of great assistance to the Communists in the spread of their seditious propaganda.” (2) Although League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan organization, membership provided Dobler with a background in politics. In 1972 former Latah County Commissioner and Democrat Donna Bray encouraged Dobler to run for a seat in the state’s House of Representatives. Her victory that November added one more title to Dobler’s resume – elected official. Upon her arrival in Boise she was greeted with skepticism, both for her affiliation with the “rabble-rousing” League of Women Voters and for her age. According to Dobler, a young Rep. “Butch” Otter even patted her on the head and told her she reminded him of his grandmother.

For 14 years Norma Dobler served her community as a Representative (’72-’76) and a Senator (’76-’86). During her terms, she gained respect as a Democrat willing to reach across the aisle and she often built bi-partisan coalitions to further the legislation important to her constituents.  The efficacy of her leadership is manifest in a list of accomplishments that is long and included the adoption of a state-wide kindergarten system (Idaho was the last state to adopt such a model), requiring the disclosure of campaign contributions by lobbyists, ensuring water quality, and preventing road building in wilderness areas. During Dobler’s final year she was also part of a bipartisan group of Senators urging their colleagues to adopt Martin Luther King, Jr. Day as an official state holiday. At that time Idaho was one of only a handful of states that had not done so. Although the Senate passed the 1986 bill, it was killed in the House of Representatives. MLK, Jr. Day was not recognized in Idaho until 1990.

In an interview many years after she left the Idaho Senate, Dobler remarked that her proudest accomplishment was the creation of a displaced homemakers fund. Although she lived a happy, “traditional” married life, she was keenly aware of the hardships faced by women after a divorce. The displaced homemakers fund, which was sustained by the fees collected by courts to process divorce filings, allowed women to attend one of Idaho’s vocational schools and learn a trade to support themselves and their family. (3)

Even after her retirement from the legislature, Norma Dobler was not content to rest on her laurels. From 1987 to 1996 she served on the Idaho State Board of Tax Appeals, hearing cases in the ten northernmost counties. Dobler also acted as a representative for the American Association of Retired People at the state and national levels. She was a faithful member of the League of Women Voters until her death in 1998.

A few months before her passing, a profile of Norma Dobler was published in the local newspaper. The piece opens with the line “If an election were held today to choose one of Latah County’s most respected women, Norma Woodhouse Dobler would likely win hands down.” (3). Her commitment to service made her a remarkable woman.

At the same time, her record of volunteerism is representative of the role that women everywhere play in their communities. In several interviews Dobler insisted that she was just a housewife and mother before she got into politics. Yet we know that she was volunteering and a school board member and a community activist. Although those roles did not come with a paycheck, she was contributing important work to her family and to her town. Women’s work is too often unpaid and therefore undervalued. It goes unaccounted for in our economy. That is just one reason why Women’s History Month is so important. When we neglect to take the time to look at the accomplishments that cannot be easily quantified in textbooks, we neglect the experiences of wide swaths of our population. Women’s contributions to American history, politics, culture, and the economy are undeniable.

(1) "Idaho Senator, Grandmother Norma Dobler," Palouse Empire News: A Weekly Supplement to the Idahoan, April 24-25, 1982.

(2) "League of Women Voters: National Group Celebrates 75 Years of Political Stands," Moscow-Pullman Daily News, September 23-24, 1995.

(3) "Retirement Not an Issue for Dobler," Moscow-Pullman Daily News, February 1-2, 1997.

An Impending Crisis and a Major Achievement

During August and September of 1916 the major themes impacting the country did not change.  If anything, they became more sharply defined. Labor unrest continued. Prohibition and the temperance movement continued to be on people’s minds.  A national election was only months away. The United States still had troops on the southwestern border and continued to prepare for its eventual entry into the war in Europe.

 Labor Unrest

  The railroad brotherhoods began demanding an eight-hour workday in 1915.  In mid-June of 1916 they declared a strike deadline for contract with an eight-hour day of September 4, 1916.  The brotherhoods vote overwhelmingly to strike and indicate their willingness to accept federal mediation.    When these negotiations quickly resulted in a stalemate, President Wilson offered to meet with the trainmen and the railroads” before a strike was called. 
     A series of meetings then began between Wilson and the brotherhoods and the railroads. The railroads agreed to ”the basic principle of an eight-hour day” but continued to be concerned about the payment of overtime. As negotiations continued the railroads insisted on a settlement worked out by the Interstate Commerce Commission or by arbitration.  At that time the Interstate Commerce Commission had no power to regulate railway wages. The brotherhoods rejected both and urged a strike to force the railroads to “yield to their demands’”
    .  The brotherhoods were willing to settle for an eight-hour day.  The four major railroads refused to accept an eight-hour day and insisted on sending the whole matter to arbitration.  The president made an appeal “to keep the railroads running not only in the country’s interest, but in order to meet the entire world’s demands.” 
    In response to the possible developing consensus between the railroads and the brotherhoods the president met with leaders of congress to request that congress pass legislation “directing the Interstate Commerce Commission to investigate railroad wages and hours.”   When the president met again with both sides the railroads “ declared their intention of demanding arbitration and ignoring the eight hour proposal.”  Wilson then said, “ If negotiations fail the president intends to ask congress to pass a law . . .. Which averts all strikes and lockouts one year pending an investigation.” 
The next day the president addressed a joint session of congress

“in which he reviewed the strike situation.’” He recommended “an enlargement  . . .of the interstate commerce commission . . . and the establishment of the 8 hour day for all railway employees operating trains interstate . . . for congressional approval for an interstate commerce commission investigation for proposed freight rate increase . . . for an amendment to the federal law providing mediation  . . . making a full public inquiry compulsory before a strike or lockout . . . (for) legislation empowering the president . . .taking control of rolling stock necessary for military use and drafting train crews  . .  into the military  service." 

  With the strike deadline five days away and no signs of an agreement in the near future preparations for a strike began in earnest.  The local railroads: the Northern Pacific, the Oregon-Washington Railroad and Navigation (OWR&N), and the Spokane and Inland began to make their own preparations.  Travelers were cancelling their reservations. Local agents were warned “against accepting certain classes of freight for delivery  . . . later than Saturday, September 2.”   The railroads continued to reject “every proposal” and the president continued,  “to persuade the trainmen to withdraw their strike order.” citation

    Four days before  the expected strike, state guard units were being moved to large cities in their home states.  In the nation’s capitol it was generally believed “ congress will pass the eight-hour day law.” The president was urging “quick action”. The brotherhoods however were “unable to give President Wilson any assurances.” The Santa Fe railroad said it had “46 train crews . . . stationed at division points ready to man passenger, mail and express trains.”
    On September 2, Congress passed the Adamson bill that allowed an eight-hour workday.  The brotherhoods indicated they would cancel the strike when the president signed the bill. Once the president signed the bill the brotherhoods called off the strike, the railroads lifted their embargoes, and” accepted the eight-hour law under protest”

    The establishment of an interstate eight-hour day did not end labor unrest in the country.  In New York City in late September there was the threat of a general strike.  The city responded saying it would guard the city with a force of 12,000 men. “Twenty thousand members of the Home Defense Guard are ready for duty if needed.”    When the strike actually occurred it was not as widespread as had been hoped. Some unions decided to wait and others refused to strike.

    IWW workers In Yakima who had been arrested for holding a demonstration demolished much of the jail.  The demonstration was to protest the escorting of three IWW’s to an eastbound train station. The mayor then called a meeting “to determine a policy to be pursued in dealing with other members of the organization.  Local members of the United Mine Workers have suspended work to consider whether to accept the operators wage offer 

The Military Position

    The changing military situation in Mexico and European war continued to be news.  Local men were still stationed with Pershing’s troops Arizona and Mexico.  In early August, O.R. Stillinger wrote home from Arizona describing the conditions there.    Later a description of what outpost duty at the border was printed  Five University of Idaho students were serving with the Pershing’s troop.  The Army said that these individuals “would be mustered out as soon as practical” so they could return for the beginning of the fall semester.  ” The commandant of the University cadet battalion was reassigned to a regiment stationed in Mexico.

In an editorial in the local paper it was stated that women would vote to re-elect Wilson  “because he has kept us out of war” and because “ we did not raise our boys to be soldiers”  The senate passed a 6 million dollar appropriations bill authorizing improvements at the navy yards in Baltimore, Norfolk, Boston Portsmouth, Charleston, New Orleans, and “in the Puget Sound”  At the end of August the German government admitted it fired at an American steamer.  The boat “ignored the submarine’s signals and refused to halt.”    In the negotiations between the U.S. and Mexico agreement was near. “American commissioners have agreed to give immediate consideration to the withdrawal of General Pershing’s troops if an arrangement can be made for ample border protection.”

Agricultural Life

    As the wheat and other agricultural product harvest approached there was both excitement and concern.   In early August “more than 100,000 bushels of wheat were sold “ in a single week. Orders for the necessary freight cars had been placed.   However, agriculture department forecasts for wheat, corn and oats were down from the previous year. There was talk of “the elimination of the nickel loaf of bread”   Wheat prices were currently more than a dollar a bushel and flour prices had increased proportionately.  By the middle of August when the harvest of local wheat began wheat buyers were purchasing all the wheat they could “at prices which range to $1 a bushel and better” Because of the potential for a railroad strike there was concern for sufficient cars to ship the grain.  Much of the grain was from the 1913 and 1914 crop ”which had been held . . . for an advance in price.  Before the local harvest began local wheat was selling for $1.10 to $1.12 bushel.  In early September, “The federal bureau of crops forecast barely enough spring wheat or home consumption.” Even with the railroad strike averted, there was a threatened shortage of railroad cars for transport of the grain.

1916 Politics and Presidential Election

  Politics was a concern especially because it was a presidential election year.  Charles Evans Hughes was the Republican candidate and Woodrow Wilson was seeking a second term.  Wilson planned a short nationwide campaign beginning in mid-September.  Hughes, however, began his nationwide campaign tour in August . It included a speech in Coeur d’Alene.  The local railroads offered a special train to take people to Spokane and the Coeur d’Alene, if 100 people would show an interest. The train was cancelled the following day when over 150 people indicated they would be going by car.  The paper reported that Hughes spoke to a large enthusiastic crowd 

    There were other candidates for office who were also of local interest.  Burton D. French of Moscow was the Prohibitionist candidate for congress and A. B. Clark was the Socialist party candidate. 

Terror in 1916

  Even in 1916 there were acts of terrorism.  In July there had been a bombing in San Francisco that killed nine people.  In Mid-August five people were arraigned for that bombing. The defense for Warren K. billing, charged with murder in the case, produced a witness with a strong resemblance to Billings.   He was convicted of murder for placing a bomb at the parade site and sentenced to life imprisonment. The defense requested a delay in sentencing and asked for a new trial after a new witness suggested that Billings was not the person who placed the bomb.

The Temperance Movement

    Idaho had passed a law prohibiting the sale of liquor in 1915.   Nevertheless temperance remained an issue of concern.  The State Anti-Saloon League was planning to have a convention of “drys” in Moscow and similar one in other parts of northern Idaho to have Idaho remain a dry state  The WCTU (Women’s Christian Temperance Union) was actively “ in support of the proposed constitutional amendment for state wide prohibition. ”  It planned to cooperate “with other local organizations [to] campaign for votes for a constitutional amendment to keep the state of Idaho dry forever” A prominent temperance speaker was scheduled to talk at the park on September 17.   Even before that lecture Dr. Howard H. Russell, the founder of the Anti-Saloon League spoke at the Methodist church.

Notice

If you made it this far you must be uniquely interested in the First World War.  We at LCHS are working on an exhibition and related article on the First World War and its effect on Latah County.  If you are interested in assisting in research for this exhibition (no experience necessary) do not hesitate to contact Zach Wnek, Museum Curator at 208-882-1004 or zwnek@latah.id.us .

Written and researched by Dr. David Pierce, PhD.

Information taken from the Daily Star Mirror Moscow, Idaho various dates August and September 1916.
Specific citations available upon request.

The Circus is Comming!!!

The circus was a very special event across American in the early 20th Century.  I was recently researching the circus and its effect on Latah County when I came across this wonderful circus route across the United States in 1912.  So I decided this was a great opportunity to map the route of the Sells-Floto Circus in 1912.  Below you will find the map.  Please note that the different colors represent different months.  Click on any pin to see the city and date that the circus was in town.  Enjoy!



Zachary Wnek
Museum Curator
Latah County Historical Society

Events Prior to and Including July 1916

As a build up to the Latah County Historical Society's World War One coverage we are taking a look at WW1 events and headlines across Latah County.  Look forward to these posts once per month to set the scene for life and news across Latah County 100 years ago.

Prior to and Including July 1916

The United States did not suddenly find itself involved in the Great War in Europe.  Nor was the impending war the only ongoing circumstance causing concern. There were other conditions and circumstances which would play a part in determining the response of the citizens of Latah County to unfolding events of the next year.  A possible shortage of food, labor unrest and violence, the battle over temperance, as well as the impending war were all of concern.

A war which ultimately involved most of Western Europe began in July of 1914.   From the beginning Americans had conflicting feeling regarding the war. Theodore Roosevelt and others were for “preparedness “and advocated for our intervention in the war.  However President Woodrow Wilson insisted that America remain neutral. As a result we initially declined to participate in the war and stated repeatedly that we desired to remain neutral and trade with both parties to the conflict. This became increasingly difficult over the next several years. Germany and the other Central Powers resented the supplies America sent to Great Britain and the other Allied Powers.  Germany attacked commercial and passenger ships with submarines. The sinking of the passenger ship, Lusitania, in May of 1915 caused more Americans to begin considering whether we should enter the war on the side of Great Britain and the Allies.

By 1916 America was already engaged in a limited war, but not with the Central powers.   On March 9, 1916 Pancho Villas with 500 soldiers crossed the border and attacked the town of Columbus, New Mexico, killing a number of soldiers and civilians.  President Wilson immediately sent General Pershing to capture Villas and bring him to justice.  The Army currently consisted of about 100,000 men, not nearly enough to fight Villas and prepare to join the Allied Powers in Europe.  

In early June congress passed the Defense Act of 1916.  This Act and its subsequent modifications substantially changed the composition and mission of America’s defense system. It brought the state militias into the national defense system as the National Guard.  In doing so it authorized an increase in guard training and size, and made the qualifications for officers in the National Guard and the regular Army identical.   

Moscow at one time had a militia company but it had been disbanded and some of its member had joined a unit in Lewiston By the end of June 1916 as a result of the request for troops to go to Mexica and the passage of the National Defense Act there was a “patriotic meeting” in Moscow to encourage enlistment in the National Guard. In the back of the same paper another article noted that National Guard troops from all parts of the United States were being sent to the Border..  “Congress is crowding army and navy legislation under a full head of steam”

By the 10th of July the Second Idaho Infantry had left Boise “to be taken to a border city of Arizona.  At the same time recruitment for another battalion for the regiment continued. Simultaneously it was being reported that recruiting for the second regiment had been suspended “because of diminishing funds for expense” but would be resumed by the War Department which was currently working “toward a draft, should that become necessary” On the same day President Wilson “declared that fighting results in hatred and ruins the opportunities for progress in trade and civilization.”  

With troops to be fed as well as the nation, the crop forecast which was released on July 11 was an additional source of concern.  The forecast for all major Idaho crops was lower that the final estimate for the same crops in 1915.

Fighting in Mexico and a possible food shortage were not the only concerns in Moscow at the time.   The Woman’s Temperance Christian Union planned to hold a meeting in the park to ask for a “constitutional amendment providing that the state remain dry and that liquor be abolished forever.”  The group planned to have its meeting in City Park but were determined to have their meeting regardless of the weather stating that if it were to rain the meeting would be held in the Methodist church.  The W.T. C. U.’s concern was that if interest in the amendment was small it might fail to pass in the general election.

The Daily Star Mirror continued to report on American activities related to the war in Europe. On July 18 it had a picture of Americans fighting for the Allies in France.  The next day it reported that a former UI student had been wounded while serving with Canadian Forces in France. And the following day it reported that the French government said in the event of war between the United States and any other country it would release any Americans from its army. And Senator Borah in a Senate speech urged that we enlarge our Navy. “If the United States is to enjoy the blessings of peace, we must convince the world that we are prepared for war.”

It was only mid-July but Burton L. French had already file for the U.S. House of Representatives.  He had served in the House five times previously and ran for the Senate in 1912.

Dudley Loomis, a Moscow resident with Company F of the Second Regiment which was at Nogales wrote home.

Kitchen Encounters with History

I love food history.  After all, it combines two of my most favorite things.  In college I took a course title "How the West Fed the U.S." and I was fascinated by the evolution of our country's food culture.  We read The Omnivores Dilemma and I quickly devoured (pun intended) every other Michael Pollen book I could get my hands on.  A few years ago I stumbled across an amazing British television program called Supersizers Go.  If you haven't seen it, I highly recommend it to anyone for a quick history lesson and a good laugh.  No matter your background, food has a way of binding us to one and other and to the people who came before us.  It can tell our story in a readily identifiable manner.

When I started working at LCHS three years ago, I told myself that I should explore the historic cookbooks in our archives.  I wanted to use these culinary primary sources to better understand my new home in Latah County.  But I got busy with other projects and the cookbooks were pushed to the back of my mind.  When our spring intern EmilieRae expressed an interest in them as well, I was reminded of the richness of our collection.  It was her blog post earlier this year that finally inspired me to move this idea from the "I should" column on my to-do list to the "I will" column.

I chose a relatively simple recipe to begin my adventure in historic baking.  I first came across this Washburn-Wilson item in my first year on the job when a researcher came in looking for a recipe she remembered her grandmother making from a seed company's promotional cookbook.  As you can see, the Dumas Seed Company of Moscow/Pullman (which purchased Washburn-Wilson Seed Co. in 1959) was eager to promote the use of its two new products, Precooked Pea Powder and Precooked Lentil Powder.

Like most promotional material, the cookbook is undated.  The nature of the food product, however, leads me to believe this would have been published in the 1960s.  The 1950s and '60s were decades marked by the arrival of new, technologically-minded foods on American dinner tables.  The latter decade was also flavored by a growing interest in vegetarian diets and the link between what we eat and our environment.  These trends were reflected in this new Dumas Seed Co. product, which was aimed directly at consumers, rather than farmers who might plant Dumas seeds.

While the cookbook offers a number of interesting savory recipes to highlight the versatility of Precooked Pea and Precooked Lentil Flours (Pigs in Blanket anyone?), I chose the Spice Drop Cookie because it looked tasty and straightforward.

I had a feeling that Dumas's Precooked Lentil Powder might not be available anymore, and it seems I'm right.  And while the Moscow Food Co-op has nearly every other sort of flour one might consider baking with, including garbanzo, there was no lentil flour available for purchase.  In the interest of staying true to the recipe, I decided to make my own flour using locally grown yellow lentils.

  

Making your own lentil flour will take a while, and it's a loud and dusty process.  I was working with uncooked, dry lentils, which I suppose isn't exactly what the recipe specified.  Perhaps you could could the lentils, dry them on a baking sheet, and then pop them in the food processor.  But I was too eager to get baking.  I added 2/3 of a cup of lentils to the processor and after about five minutes, I had 1/3 of a cup of finely ground lentil powder.  I sifted the lentil flour just to remove any of the larger bits.

The dough was quite a bit firmer than I expected.  With so little liquid and so much protein and gluten from the wheat and lentil flours, I shouldn't have been surprised.

The dough smelled delicious with cinnamon and nutmeg, and I was really hopeful that these little cookies would be amazing.  But there was no getting around the fact that they taste like a health cookie.  The lentil flavor was pretty strong and the cookies had a gritty quality that was hard to get past.

Although they weren't as scrumptious as I had hoped, I did have a lot of fun making the lentil cookies.  Despite the fact that the recipe was at least 50 years old, it still felt really timely.  In an age when people are experimenting with new types of flours and looking to make favorite snacks more healthful, it's important to remember that we aren't the first generation to do so.

If you're interested in trying out a recipe from this publication or from any of our historic cookbooks, please stop by our research office, the Centennial Annex!

Happy baking!
 --Dulce

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

The McConnell Mansion

McConnell Mansion

By: EmilieRae Smith

If you've ever driven down Adams Street, then you've most likely slowed down to admire the beautiful architecture of the McConnell mansion. It stands strong on the corner of Second and Adams Street, catching the eye of all passerbys. If you have never been on a tour of the mansion, or don't know much about the house, here's a quick history:

William McConnell, or sometimes known as Poker Bill because of his well-known gambling habits, moved to Moscow with his family in 1878 and ran the McConnell-Maguire department store on Main Street. The McConnell's moved into the mansion after it was built in 1886. William McConnell was also very involved in Idaho's politics. He was one of Idaho's first senators as well as being its third governor.[1]

After the McConnell's, the Adair family moved into the mansion in 1901. William Adair was a renowned doctor in the community whose services were in high demand. He specialized in “electro-therapies” and traveled to many other towns in Latah County providing medical care. He was the father of four daughters. One of his daughters, Ione, moved on to have a homestead in Northern Idaho and helped fight wildfires in the area. When the family lived in the Adams Street home , Mrs. Adair was known for her lavish garden parties, where people from all over town would gather and socialize. These garden parties captured the essence of the Victorian era.

Photo 01-05-175. c.1900.

Today, the McConnell mansion is a museum open to the public. People are welcome to tour on their own or if people want more insight, they can be taken through by a docent. The mansion is also available to rent for parties or weddings that are seeking a historical, classic theme.

The next time you have a day off or have a friend visiting from out of town, visit the McConnell Mansion for a brief look into Moscow's past.

The mansion is open Tuesday's through Saturday's from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm.

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[1]    Legendary Locals of Moscow. Latah County Historical Society.