Header

WCGS GRANT MONEY AWARDED

September 11th, 2018 | Posted by Teresa Smick in Uncategorized - (0 Comments)

Each year Whitman County Genealogical Society reviews Pullman High School Senior
Projects with the help of Kellie Glaze, PHS counselor, to find any projects which relate to family
history, genealogy, or history in general. If there are any such projects, WCGS then considers
awarding grant money to the senior to help with expenses associated with the project. This year
WCGS selected Evelyn Aguilar to receive $200 for her welding project. Following is Evelyn’s
description of her project along with several pictures. Congratulations, Evelyn!

MARCHING LUMBERJACKS MEMORIAL

My senior project was a welded piece as a memorial to Humboldt State University Marching
Lumberjack alumni who have passed on. The Marching Lumberjacks are the university=s marching
band and the school’s mascot is the Lumberjack. I plan to present the Memorial to the band at the
50th Reunion this November (2018).

The symbolism in my piece has special meaning throughout. The log represents the tree that
a lumberjack would cut down. The axe and hard hat placement signifies the end of the work day or
the completion of a task. The boots, along with the hardhat, are part of the uniform. The boots in my
piece are my actual boots that I have worn for all four years of metal shop, as well as in gigs with the
Marching Lumberjacks. Their placement is similar to that of the Fallen Soldier in the Armed Forces.

The last remaining item on my piece may not make any sense at first glance. Why is there a
rubber duckie? What does this have to do with a marching band or lumberjacks? The Marching
Lumberjacks end each gig by playing the song “Rubber Duckie” on their way out. This is called
ADucking Out@ by the band. By including the rubber duckie in this piece it represents those who have
ADucked Out@ and marched on to their next gig.

As I finish collecting the names of those who have passed, name plates will be added to the
front plaque area.

This piece is important to me because the Lumberjacks are my Afamily@. My parents met in
the band and I have been raised in the band. I even did my first gig at 5 days old. Once you have
become a member of the Marching Lumberjacks, even after you=ve graduated or moved on, you are
still a member. You are family. The Marching Lumberjacks have been a major influence on the
person that I have grown into today.

Dorothy Sevier Matson Scholarship

April 28th, 2018 | Posted by Teresa Smick in Scholarship - (0 Comments)

Dorothy Sevier Matson during World War II

Each spring Whitman County Genealogical Society awards a scholarship to a graduating senior from Pullman who has met the application requirements for this award. The applicant must write a 1-2 page essay saying why family history or local history is of importance to him/her. The money for this scholarship is given in memory of Dorothy Sevier Matson (1920-2002). She was a lifetime resident of Pullman who graduated from Pullman High School. The first award was given in 2010. The current scholarship amount is $500 and will be awarded on June 5th at the annual awards night at Pullman High School. WCGS also awards grant money in the amount of $200 to one or more seniors whose project emphasizes genealogy or history in some way. We are pleased to be able to honor our friend and longtime WCGS member in this way who was so generous with her time, talent and treasure.

Dorothy Sevier Matson

April 28th, 2018 | Posted by Teresa Smick in Pullman | Veterans - (0 Comments)

Dorothy was a lifetime resident of Pullman, being born 27 January 1920 to Henry Sevier and Almira Lakin Sevier, the youngest of 6 siblings and 4 half-siblings. She graduated from Pullman High School and attended beautician school in Spokane. She then returned to Pullman to work until she joined the WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service). While in the Navy, she was stationed in Washington, DC during World War II where she worked with decoding. Following the war, she returned to Pullman and worked at Washington State College (now University) in the mailing department until she retired. She married George Matson 7 January 1955 and he passed away 23 February 1982.

Dorothy had a thirst for knowledge about the past and the people of this area, particularly things relating to Whitman County genealogy and history, with an emphasis on Pullman. She was a cornerstone member of Whitman County Genealogical Society, a lifetime member, and the researcher, who for years single-handedly responded to all of the people who wrote to WCGS asking for help in finding out more information about their Whitman County families. She collected information on people of the area and clipped thousands of newspaper articles, mostly obituaries, but also anniversary celebrations, marriages, reunions and more. She pasted these articles on index cards and several members of WCGS entered every name from these cards into a computer database. WCGS then published three volumes of indexes to these cards entitled “Whitman County Washington Families, An Every Name Index to the Newspaper and Resource Collections of Dorothy Sevier Matson, Vols. I, II and III.” These three indexes (volumes) total over 650 pages of just names! The original cards are stored at the WCGS library and are regularly used by WCGS researchers and others visiting the library. In 2000, Dorothy donated her entire library and all of her research files to WCGS.

Prior to her death on 18 August 2002, Dorothy made a substantial gift to Whitman County Genealogical Society in memory of her brother, Dale Sevier. Dorothy’s dream had always been to write a history of Pullman. Although she was not able to realize that dream in her lifetime, she knew that Whitman County Genealogical Society would carry on her legacy of helping others who were researching their Whitman County roots. She also knew that WCGS would help keep alive the history and records of the Palouse and share it with others, through publications, research, etc.

WCGS felt the best way to remember Dorothy was to create an endowed fund to honor her. WCGS selected Inland Northwest Community Foundation (INWCF) to handle this fund. It was established in September 2009. The WCGS Endowment Fund and Dorothy were featured in the 2010 INWCF Calendar and Annual Report on the month of July.

With the annual distributable income from the endowment fund, WCGS created a scholarship in memory of Dorothy. The Dorothy Sevier Matson Scholarship was awarded for the first time in June 2010.

WCGS is very pleased to be able to honor Dorothy in this way and feels this scholarship is a perfect tribute to her love of the region’s history and genealogy and her support of education. One of Dorothy’s favorite phrases was: “…for my own amazement.” We think Dorothy would be very amazed, pleased and humbled to have this wonderful tribute to her.

Friends of Lone Pine Cemetery

December 23rd, 2017 | Posted by Teresa Smick in Cemeteries - (0 Comments)

Friends of Lone Pine Cemetery. The Lone Pine Cemetery is located near Tekoa. The earliest date of birth on a stone is 1809 and the earliest date of death on a stone is 1883. No burials have been permitted since 1953. The Friends of Lone Pine Cemetery are a group of dedicated volunteers intent on cleaning up the cemetery to make it accessible to descendants and visitors. If you know of someone who is buried in the cemetery and would like more information, contact Jim Savitz. Names of people buried at this cemetery can be found at http://www.interment.net/data/us/wa/whitman/lonepine/lone_pine.htm. Read more about their efforts at http://www.lonepinecemetery.com/.

My Family Veteran Anecdotes

December 23rd, 2017 | Posted by Teresa Smick in Veterans - (0 Comments)

By Judy Standar McMurray

Uncle Carl Reisenauer, born 1899, was drafted into the army for WWI. He trained at Washington State College in Pullman and spent some time on a cot in Bohler gym during the 1918 flu epidemic! He was discharged in Dec. 1918. He was drafted again at about age 44 into World War II and had stateside duty. He often commented about serving in two world wars.

My brother, Tim Standar, was in the army during the Viet Nam era. He was so proud when he brought his sharp shooter award home. The family, not so much. We could imagine him in the top of a palm tree over there. Not to worry. At a meeting, the group was asked if anybody could type. He raised his hand and spent the rest of the service in an office in Germany!