Where credit is due

Dear Editor,

Thanks for publishing histories of area museums in Carbon County. I'm looking forward to the rest of the series.

Although I appreciate the article concerning founding of the Saratoga Historical & Cultural Assn. and Saratoga Museum, the piece gave me WAY MORE credit than I deserve. Yes, I was one of the founding members, but played only a modest part–mostly with newspaper articles, editorials and donated advertising–in establishing the organization and museum.

The real credit has to go to folks like Elva Evans, first SH&CA president and initial museum director, along with noted  researcher, historian and author, the late Gay Day Alcorn Clark. In addition to leadership from the board of directors, support came from former Saratoga Mayor and Carbon County Commissioner Art Zeiger, as well as businessman Mike Glode, civic leader Gertrude Herold, Old Baldy Club Manager Don Gilman and banker George McIlvaine, just to name a few.

The first board of directors consisted of Elva Evans, president; Robert D. Randall, vice-president; Deborah Chastain, secretary; Mimi Gilman, treasurer; Dan Simmons, Dorothy Rowland and Don Erickson.

In 1978, the Saratoga Historical & Cultural Assn., Inc., Fine Arts Council Committee, with the help of historian Elva Evans, published a small book highlighting local businesses, clubs, organizations and institutions, which noted, "The SH&CA officially came into being on May 21, 1975, when the Articles of Incorporation were signed by twenty-seven members ...

"Purpose of the ... (organization) ... is to preserve, protect, and display local historical items, artifacts, and art items for educational purposes in a museum, and to present cultural activities of an education nature ... "

An article in the June 21, 1979 issue of The Saratoga Sun reported that $30,000 was raised by the group to pay for moving the Saratoga & Encampment railroad depot (see accompanying photo) from the east end of Bridge Street near the sawmill to across from the airport to houses the museum's extensive collection and displays. In the first two weeks of the fund drive, the "Do Not Hump" committee raised $13,500 from 68 members and businesses, according to an article in the Sun.

Thanks for granting space for another local history lesson.

R. Richard (Dick) Perue, just ONE of the founders of the SH&CA & Saratoga Museum.