Spring Cleaning at the Sullivan Roadhouse Museum 2011
April brought several volunteers out to help box and store the interior Christmas displays. Wow, was there a bunch of treasures thanks to the generosity of folks from the community. Continued to remove what trees were thawed and misc lights/cords.
Started clearing out the Sullivans’ bedroom to prepare it for cleaning and rearranging. This project turned into weeks of work as we decided to not just clean and rearrange the bedroom but the entire museum.
Major renovations occurred…..White sheets were hung over the beams in the bedroom to lighten and hopefully keep some of the silt down (as Ma would have). Marie donated a double box spring, mattress, and bed frame so now the bed, has a solid structure. We attached the headboard and footboard from the Sullivan Roadhouse and raised the headboard for better display – what a prize.
Grace Kaspari dismantled the archeological display case, moved it, Janice cleaned (dusted) everything, and Lou Ann rearranged.
All the linens, bedding, clothing, etc. were taken to Delta laundry and washed 8 loads….
The Hollembaek display was painstakingly dismantled and moved (which was not an easy feat) by Mike Farrar and Lou Ann Fett to the bedroom. It took almost a week from start to finish. When we turned on the lights it just “glowed” and we all agreed the new location not only lights up a rather dark space but also showcases the display in a way that draws one in.
We continued cleaning and organizing the main salon, vacuuming walls, rafters and floors. Aired misc items. Assembled shelves to house heavy duty mining equipment – getting them off the floor. Organized the pieces in a fashion for easy viewing and maintenance.
The dining room was next and began on the kitchen. Finished up the main salon, with only a good mopping to complete the process. Cleaned and organized the storage closet. Stored yard sale items donated by Cathy McCollum and Jeannie Pinkelman. Kathy Trim introduced “treasures on loan” from the Delta Library. A vintage Alaska Tea Cup display depicting cups from Dawson City, Tok Lodge, Paxson Lodge, and Eskimo. Am guessing from the 1950’s part of the Pat Krebs estate. Another treasure from Andrea Richards were vintage table linens, handkerchiefs, and doilies that will be used to add color and also for events.
Thanks to everyone for their support and dedication to keeping this Alaskan treasure on the map – not to mentioned one of the top 10 museums to see in Alaska – per the June 2011 Alaska Magazine.
We feel a momentous accomplishment in the effort to clean the roadhouse and are so thankful for the help of the fans of the Sullivan Roadhouse. Funny how we enjoy our time there, like children playing house, discovering and uncovering relics from another lifetime, another life. Even with our eyes and nose irritated from disturbed “dust” we smile and know that Ma would be proud, and hopefully pleased that someone has taken the time to preserve a part of Alaska’s history and her life. We, like the caregivers before us, continue to treasure our past in hopes of instilling it’s value on a future generation.
Mike Farrar, Lou Ann Fett, Laurie Franks, Grace Kaspari, Christy Roden, Kathy Trim, Janice & Mark Weller and Matt
Thank you for coming to Delta Junction and visiting “An Alaskan Treasure that Beat the Odds!”
Text Courtesy Christy Roden