What’s Happening at Ferry County Historical Society
Last September, we learned that we had been awarded a USDA-RUS-RBDG grant. We received $40,500, which is intended for contract preservation work on the Slagle House Museum and Barn, the reconstruction of the rock retaining wall, and an architect to design our new museum building. This is a reimbursement grant that requires us to spend first and be reimbursed later.
We have received our first check for the completed work. We had been asked not to disclose the award to anyone, as there was to be an official announcement. This got caught up in the first Government shutdown. Plans have
changed, and we can now share our good news.
The relocation of the Kauffman Cabin is moving closer to happening. Price proposals were received from building moving contractors across the State, and at our January Board meeting, a contractor was selected. AMR – Advanced Moving & Rigging from Kennewick was selected. Due to our snowless winter, plans are underway to move the Cabin in mid-February. Costs for this move are being covered by an anonymous donation given specifically for this move, grant funds, and other donations.
Museum Hours in 2026
The Whitaker-Fletcher Museum will be open Friday through Monday from 10:00 to 2:00 from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
The Husky Car and Truck Museum will be open on Saturdays and Sundays from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
The Ansorge Hotel in Curlew and the Slagle House Museum in Republic will be open June 13 and 27, July 11 and 25, and August 8 and 22. Special group showings can always be arranged by contacting the board people at any individual museum. Special rules may apply.
All of the museums are exploring ways to combine advertising. We are also combining exhibits at the conservation fair and the county fair.
Membership Renewal Reminder
We would like to thank all our members for promptly paying their annual membership renewals. For those of you who have yet to return your letters, we would also appreciate hearing from you.
December Gathering
The Ferry County Historical Society held its December meeting at the home of Nancy Morris. Seven board members were present for the meeting. Joe Giampetrie, the local State Park Ranger, was present and gave a report on what was happening at Curlew State Park.
Spouses and Friends were also invited. Guests were treated to Nancy’s clam chowder. Board members brought bread, drinks, and dessert.
Annual Meeting Scheduled
Ferry County Historical Society will hold its Annual Meeting and Member Appreciation Evening on March 24, 2026, at the Republic Brewing Company in Republic. Social Hour will begin at 5:00 p.m., followed by the regular meeting at 5:30 p.m. Drinks will be available for purchase, and light snacks will be provided.
Members and the public are invited to hear what is happening at FCHS. Ansorge Hotel and Husky Car and Truck Museum plan to have representatives present to provide an update on the current status of their museums.
I Remember … by the Lembcke Family as told to Nancy Morris
Lembcke Brothers Sawmill
The fully steam-powered sawmill is the only one in Washington State. The sawmill has a long history in Ferry County, relocating to Danville along the Kettle River in 1902. In 1915, it was purchased by Henry Lembcke and his partner, Abraham Frei, for $ 3,500.00. The mill made another move in 1929, this time aided by modern technology: a 1928 Model A truck. Lembcke set the mill on a site east of Curlew, harvesting timber from his own land to supply the mill and furnish ties for the booming railroad industry. Henry sold the mill to his sons, Richard and John, in 1950, and they continued operation until 1963. Henry’s sons were well-trained to take over the operation. Both had worked in the mill alongside their brother Robert since they were age 10 or 11.
Operating the mill was a family affair. Richards’ wife, Gladys, tallied boards as they came off the edger. Fred Robinson, Glady’s brother, manned the trimmer. In the 1950’s, the mill supported 4 families who all lived on site. Gladys liked to catch up on her needlework whenever there was a break.
In 2007, the Lembcke family donated the mill to the Husky Car and Truck Museum. Volunteers dismantled and moved the mill one last time, then reconstructed it on its current site at the museum. Most of the machinery was purchased in 1916, including the massive 150-horsepower Atlas with its 9-foot flywheel. The exhibit is a selfguided interpretive tour with many pictures, explanations, original ledgers, and time books kept by Henry Lembcke. The family is excited to share this rich history with the public.
The Aeneas Creek Fire
On July 29, 1934, a hay hand on the Schnieder Ranch, Aeneas Creek, knocked the ashes out of his pipe on a rock alongside the hay field. With a few minutes, a fire started, spreading quickly across the fields into the forest. It burned 21,000 Acres north to Day Creek and over the Deer Creek Summit.
On that day, Henry Lembcke was on a trip to Danville. His children were staying cool by playing in the mill pond. They noticed a black cloud approaching from the mountains and assumed it was a rain cloud. By the time they realized it was a cloud of smoke, help had arrived to evacuate them. John Lembcke, who was eight at the time, recalls riding in the back of a Model T Ford. He was told to stay under a blanket and keep his eyes closed. He often regretted not peeking out to see what was happening,
After three days, Henry returned to the mill to see if there was anything worth salvaging. To his amazement, the mill was untouched. The fire had jumped the draw in which it stood. The only thing burned was the outhouse.
