22 Wednesday, September 23, 2020 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon MUSEUM: Visitors are asked to observe health guidelines Continued from page 1 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and other days by appoint- ment. Appointments can be arranged by calling the museum at 541-904-0585. Admission is free with dona- tions gladly accepted. Visitors are asked to wear masks and use hand sanitizer until the coronavirus threat has subsided. The museum is appropri- ately housed in the former George Wakefield bungalow, sporting a fresh coat of white paint with black trim, making it easy to spot right behind the statue of the outlaw horse. The owner of the house is Chris Boxwell, a local con- tractor, who offered the main floor of the house to the Three Sisters Historical Society to lease for their first perma- nent location. Boxwell made improvements to the house at his cost, which enhanced its suitability as a museum, and continues to be very support- ive of their efforts. The museum occupies two main exhibit rooms, a gift shop, an office, and probably the most fun bathroom (ADA) in Sisters, filled with antique treasures, including the origi- nal charter for the Sisters chapter of the International Order of Oddfellows. The two large rooms, one com- plete with a fireplace, will house frequently rotating displays. The initial exhibit in the fireplace room features Camp Polk Meadow from the time of the Native Americans who passed through it on their annual travels, to Civil War soldiers who named it for their home Oregon county, and the homesteads of the Hindman and Fryrear fami- lies. In the corner of the room is an old console radio with a recording of Warm Springs elder Wilson Wewa recount- ing the story of the origin of the local mountains. The room across the hall is devoted to the early set- tlers of 1890-1920. Before it was the Lazy Z Ranch, the Cobb family built the Cobb Wayside which provided ser- vices for travelers over the Santiam Wagon Road. Liquor seemed to be ever present in Sisters, as evidenced in pho- tos of original taverns and old bottles. A large photograph of early Sisters is labeled with the names of residents and businesses. Around on the walls are a collection of early photographs from that era, as well as old farm implements PHOTO COURTESY THREE SISTERS HISTORICAL SOCIETY Museum board member, Jan Hodgers, stands among photographs of her Sisters ancestors, members of the Hindman, Cobb, and Fryrear families. The photos were discovered in an old family trunk. and branding irons from Sisters farms and ranches. Since the popular Fireside Evenings have been post- poned until large gather- ings are again safe, a gift shop has been established as a fundraising effort for the museum. Local artists9 work, and vintage goods that have been donated, are currently available for purchase with a percentage of the sale price going to the museum. There is a lovely old round oak table and chairs in the shop to allow for a friendly chat with volunteers and visitors. Occasionally there are home- made muffins provided by volunteers. Earrings for sale feature vintage charms from old Cracker Jacks boxes. Bookshelves are loaded with books for sale having to do with Sisters and the greater Central Oregon region. Since the disbanding of the Friends Book Corner at the library, the museum is carry- ing on the tradition of accept- ing book donations and mak- ing them available for sale, with proceeds helping to fund the operation of the museum. When first established in 2017, the Three Sisters Historical Society stated as their vision,