May 31, 2025

Hello Members and Friends,

It has been a fairly busy month for the Historical Society – hard to believe that we are almost halfway through 2025!

Jakki and Tony Fryer, Frank Talarico and I went up to Phoenix Cemetery a few weeks ago and with some good sleuthing and our trusty Phoenix booklets were able to decipher seven of the wooden head markers in the cemetery. We are discussing markers that will go in along with the present markers. Jakki has a wooden marker in mind; I’m opting for the metal ones we have been using for Hazel Mary and William Walters. Either one will have to be cemented in. We plan to request another five or six picket cradles for graves from the Boundary Woodworkers. We looked at the IOOF Fence and believe that the supports Bob McTavish showed us will work to strengthen it. We want to have a clean up party – branches, etc. We’ll ask Jesse if he’ll trim the cemetery in the summer and we are hoping to have a painting party for some of the picket cradles and the IOOF fence – if you’d like to volunteer, just let me know.

This marker belongs to Alexander Dawson who was killed at the Rawhide Mine in Phoenix in 1907 at the age of 22.

We are looking forward to the potluck supper at Brown Creek Community Hall on Saturday, June 14th. 4:00 p.m. social – bring your own beverage; they’ll be coffee and lemonade available. 5:00 p.m. potluck supper and then we’ll view the historical pictures that the Brown Creek Community Society has accumulated. Please let me know if you plan to attend – would like to have some numbers to give to James Price. Please let me know by June 6th.

On Thursday, July 17th Les Johnson’s family will be having a Celebration of Life for Les at their home at 5395 – Hwy 41. That’s the road going down to the Carson/Danville border. Event will run from 4 pm to 8 pm. Hope you will attend – I need numbers for Lorraine so please let me know if you will be attending. We’ve sent a donation to the Liver Foundation in Les’ memory.

Have sent in our forms for Founders’ Day on July 19th – we’ll see how that works this year. Will be attending the Greenwood Car Show in August, Grand Forks & District Fall Fair on September 6th & 7th and the forms are ready to mail off for the Rock Creek Fair on July 13th & 14th. Busy summer ahead!

Ken Fehr and I headed up to Gladys’ cabin last Tuesday to cut the grass. The mower I’d stored in the outhouse was a little difficult to start but Ken used his knowledge and skills and had it going

in a few moments. It was so beautiful up there. All the forget-me-nots were out – Gladys would be so pleased.

Ken and I were expecting to see the Woodworkers that morning, but we missed them. They brought back the table after it was repaired. Such a lovely piece of history and big thanks to the Boundary Woodworkers for caring for it. Will be nice to be able to move it. Mickey Keller-Nadon gave them two pieces of stone that they placed in the entry way to the cabin. Looks great and will last a long time. Al’s bench came out into the sunshine.

We will be holding our Annual Picnic at Gladys’ cabin at Jewel Lake on August 10, 2025 – 11:00 – 2 p.m. We will be asking friends of Les Johnson to attend and remember and reminisce with us. We will place a plaque in Les’ memory on the bench and he and Al will share it. More information will be coming next month.

Received our property tax notice for the Jewel Lake property this week. They’ve gone up a bit; $257.35 this year compared to $204.70 last year. Thanks always to our friend and member Kay for helping with the taxes. One of these days we’ll see Gladys’ estate come through.

We are searching for a designer to help us finish off the reprint of Al Donnelly’s “Stories from Boundary Creek” – thanks to Jo Ann for giving us her copy. If we can have success with this un-dertaking, we will move on to Report #19. Wish us luck.

We had an interesting number of emails from a former member, Penny Meyer. She thought the Sidley Cemetery was gone but after further searching and a little help she found the grave markers. We will have to take a trip up there this summer.

Our next regular meeting is on Wednesday, June 18th – 1:00 pm at Grand Forks City Park – camping area. Park at the BMX parking area. No meeting in July – we resume in August.

In History,

Doreen Sorensen

Secretary