Wintertime Musings

 Most of Benton County woke on December 26, 2021 to a scene similar to this one of Philomath in 1917 from the Benton County Historical Museum's collection of photographs.

 I'm sure the snow sent many to look for a warm coats, boots (like these moon boots from the 1970s),

mittens (such as these in OSU colors), and a warm hat.

 When on one's head, this knit hat's square corners looked like cat ears, earning it the name “pussyhat.”  It was made for the 2017 women's march on Washington.

Thus attired, one could venture out to play in the snow just as these young women did in 1919.

 or to build a snowman like Martha and Gilman Keasey did in 1949.

As for myself, I preferred to follow the 1900 example of Mary Cuthbart Leadbetter, stay in and read a book.  

By Martha Fraundorf, Volunteer for Benton County Historical Society, Philomath, Oregon

Jingle Bells

Jingle bells, jingle bells,
Jingle all the way.
Oh! what fun it is to ride
In a one-horse open sleigh. 

You’ll likely hear this song sometime this year.

Jingle bells are so-named because the small ball-bearing inside the bent metal sphere makes a jingling sound, especially when they are strung together as in the photograph below. 

The Benton County Historical Society’s not only has jingle bells in its collection but also has a one-horse sleigh on display in its Corvallis Museum. 

This sleigh from the 1860s is one of 26 which Reuben Kiger maintained in his livery stable for winter-time rentals. Sleighs moved quietly over the snow so having jingle bells attached to the moving horse was a way of letting people know it was approaching. 

The couple was riding in a one-horse open sleigh to Seaside (not over open fields) but still had a strap of jingle bells around the horse. I hope they were having fun. 

Seaside, Oregon, "Turnaround"
on Broadway St. at the Promenade

And I hope you have a happy holiday season. 

By Martha Fraundorf, Volunteer for Benton County Historical Society, Philomath, Oregon 

Odd Purses in the Museum Collection

 

The Benton County Historical Society's collection includes a large number of purses.  Some purses are beautiful beaded while others show fine tooled leather.  Many are utilitarian but of different sizes and shapes as fashions and use change over time.  But three of them struck me as peculiar.  They are made of unexpected materials.  Some I personally find a bit creepy.  What do you think?

Taiwanese butterfly cocoon purse

The first, purchased in Taiwan, is made of butterfly cocoons. This is, perhaps, a case of not wasting any materials.  Once the butterfly has hatched, it doesn't need the cocoon anymore and pieces the size used here would be available to coat the purse.

Alligator skin purse with feet

This second purse is made of alligator skin which has been used since the 1800s for purses, boots, and shoes.  Often these were luxury items.  This one from the 1930-1945 period would be a nice purse were it not for the attached two feet, complete with claws.  To me it looks like the alligator is trapped inside and is trying to crawl out!

Armadillo skin basket

This item from the 1960s is labelled a basket.   It is made of an armadillo skin.  The opening of the basket is the belly of the armadillo, the tail is the handle and its end is inserted in the armadillo's mouth. I don't imagine many people would forget someone carrying around what looks like an upside-down armadillo.

By Martha Fraundorf, Volunteer for Benton County Historical Society, Philomath, Oregon 

 

Oregon State University Academic History

The “College Town” exhibit at the Benton County Historical Society's Corvallis Museum has items related to Oregon State University's administration (typewriter, registrar's computer), student life and customs (dorm photo, quilt, Lady of the Fountain) and athletics (basketball, Rose Bowl items).  The academic side of  Oregon State University is represented by Peavy's ax, symbolizing the Forestry program, and many works by the Art Department faculty. As a former member of the Oregon State University faculty, I wish we had more objects relating to the academic programs to display.  I know, however, that it is difficult to find relevant objects because the nature of the academic mission is inherently internal—to foster change (learning) in the individual student. Most related items would be written documents that are not especially visually interesting. The sewing samples featured in the last post are a rare example of three-dimensional student work that has survived. In addition, at the time the historical society acquired the Horner collection, the university retained many items for its archives.

The museum does, however, have several photographs which illustrate the academic side of the university.  After the institution became the land grant school for the state of Oregon, it began offering courses in agriculture on a limited basis until the state gained control from the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1885 and the Hatch Act (establishing agricultural experiment stations) and the Second Morrill Act of 1890 provided additional federal funds. The first professor of agriculture was hired in 1883 and in 1888 the state approved hiring of a chemist, a botanist, and a horticulturalist. 

In this photograph from 1895, horticulture students were learning about pruning.

 In this photograph from 1903, students in a stock judging class were learning about desirable features in sheep.

The college also had a dairy lab “equipped with all the modern devices for testing milk and its products...”

In addition to the regular university courses, Oregon Agricultural College (as it was called at the time) offered short 6-week intensive classes for active farmers.  The students pictured here in the college's dairy lab in 1903 may have been enrolled in one of these classes.

In 1899, OAC began offering a course in bacteriology which focused on bacteriological diseases of plants and animals.  These offering were gradually expanded into the department of microbiology in the College of Agriculture. These photographs from the 1960s show students at work in microbiology labs.

Another course of study required by the terms of the Morrill Act for all land grant colleges is engineering. At first this was done by incorporating engineering concepts into mathematics courses. In 1889, OAC established the mechanical engineering program, the first on the west coast, and hired Grant Covell as the first professor of engineering. Electrical Engineering was added in 1897, and Civil Engineering in 1905, Chemical Engineering in 1917, Industrial Engineering in 1943, Nuclear Engineering in 1968, and Computer Science in 1974.  

These engineering students of the 1920s were working on a design problem that is written on the board. In this pre-computer age, they are using slide rules to make the necessary calculations. 

By Martha Fraundorf, Volunteer for Benton County Historical Society, Philomath, Oregon