Goodbye to the McCleary Museum?

Sept. 1, 2019

Avarice and fear have combined to force the McCleary Museum to probably leave their structure and thus evict and scatter the collection unless some creative solution is employed.

Donkey engine winches

Oct. 10, 2010.

Donated to the City as a display by former Mayor Ted Rakoski (1914-2001).

Ted was a very devoted civic volunteer, active in the VFW, McCleary Museum, city government, etc. One expression of his that I like to repeat as much as I can is, "that really burns my ass when ... [fill in the blank]." 

Donkey engines were steam contraptions that drug freshly cut timber with a cable once they were in log form to a central position where they could be stacked and transported. These engines usually rested on giant wooden sleds. Back in the early 20th century these sleds were constructed at the very place were Ted's winches are now on display.

In the background on the right is the kitchen where the bear stew is prepared every year for the Bear Festival. The original kitchen, which was much smaller, was replaced in the late 1980s-early 1990s. About the same time the locomotive "Dink" and the old horse-drawn fire engine were enclosed in a cage. Before that they were just out in the open.

McCleary Moonshine

July 29, 2011. Constructed by Bill Willis for the McCleary Museum, a display highlighting the important role of moonshine during Prohibition in the history of the town. Homemade booze and smuggled alcohol from Canada was a major part of the economy in McCleary.