Winter 2012 - Fort Benton`s Museums

River & Plains
Vol. 23 No. 2
Chronicles
WINTER 2012
FORT BENTON, MONTANA
The Lippard Auditorium
Starting its 25th Year Serving Chouteau Co.
Auditorium
Atthebeginningofthe
MontanaAgricultureCenter
andMuseum,thefounders
statedthattheywantedspace
toholdlargegatheringsata
reasonablerentalfeeforthe
residentsofChouteauCounty.
After twenty-five years, that
The 40’x60’ addition constructed in 1992 doubled
the capacity of the auditorium. Bob Morgan’s murals
surely enhanced the beauty of the room.
spaceisstillanintegralpartof
the River and Plains Society.
Initially,theauditoriumseated
about 150 people; many events
were held with overflowing
numbersforpublicmeetings,
seminars, conventions and
receptions.Fundingwas
provided by a generous grant
fromC.W.Lippard.
Astimewenton,it
becameapparentthatthere
simplywasnotenoughspace.
WhentheHornadayBuffalo
Gallerywasbuiltin1992,
continued on page 2
Page 2
wedoubledthesizeofthe
auditoriumbyaddinga40ft.
by60ft.roomwithfundsfrom
bronzesales,andincreasedthe
sizeofthekitchenwiththehelp
ofGeneralMills.
TodaytheLippard
Auditorium seats over 300
peoplefordinner,andmore
forastageproduction.With
financial assistance from
WINTER 2012
The auditorium bar has served many occasions in the past 25 years, but
the back bar has been open for business since the 1880’s.
Pheasants Forever, we have
Monte Dolack posters to give
bothrectangularandround
the facility a very pleasant
tablesandenoughchairsforall interior. Such a facility has been
events.
neededinFortBenton.The
Agenerousdonor
LippardAuditoriumisused
camealongjustaswewere
quite frequently and has served
finishing the new addition and ChouteauCountyfor25years,
offeredtofundtheFortBenton staging events that could not
muralsthatwerepaintedby
have been held in Fort Benton
BobMorgan.Weaddedthe
had it not been available.
High Plains
Chronicles
The quarterly of the River and Plains
Society of Fort Benton, Montana
WINTER 2012 VOLUME 23 NO. 2
Editor: John G. Lepley
Box 262, 20th & Washington
Fort Benton, MT 59442
Chronicles are published for the
members and friends of the River
and Plains Society and the Montana
Agricultural Center. Others who
request a copy will recieve it free of
charge from the Board of Trustees of
the River and Plains Society.
Part of Ted Worrall’s collection of farm equipment manuals that was
given to the archives for use by researchers.
Page 3
WINTER 2012
Wintertime at the Museum
The Lippard Auditorium’s original room with the catering kitchen
behind. The walls are decorated with Monte Dolack posters of Montana.
The new Map Room is almost full of maps, charts and periodicals. It was
built in a former storage area since we were running out of room
in the archives.
Winter
Perhaps you may have
wonderedwhathappensatthe
museumsaftertheyareclosed
fortheseasoninlatefall.Here
isathumbnailsketchofwhat
goeson.
Thedrugstorein
HomesteadVillagespranga
leak,necessitatingreplacement
of the roof and a new floor. A
maproomwasconstructed
tohouseHank’scollectionof
maps and charts. Several trips
weremadetoHelena(thanks
to Scottie) to pick up the Scriver
bronzes. Pheasants Forever
financed a new sound system in
theLippardAuditorium.
The archives function
allwinterandseemtoget
busierandbusiereachyear.We
continued on page 4
WINTER 2012
Page 4
Drug Store Restoration
Center Happenings
The Drug Store in Homestead
Village got a face lift from Scott
Construction when a new roof and
floor were installed.
received an enormous collection
offarmequipmentbooksand
papers fromtheTedWorrall
familythatiscurrentlybeing
inventoried. Under Muncie’s
andBJ’sdirections,thewar
memorialprojectremainsa
workinprogress.Cataloging
newbooksandmaterialsis
ongoing.Thankstotwonew
volunteers (Dan VanVoast and
Janelle Olberding), we may get
Bridgeport Station
High School Testing
Farm Seminars
Cho. Co. Performing Arts
Programs
CountyExt.Workshop
4-Day Week School Forum
Performing Arts Consortium
Extension Service Seminar
Pheasants Forever Banquet
Fertilizer Program
LincolnDayDinner
TriangleAgWorkshop
somewhatcaughtupwiththe
backlog.Ifyouwouldenjoyan
in-depthlookatFortBenton
history,comejoinus...it’sa
greatsolutionforthewinter
blahs!
MAC
Montana's Museum of Agriculture
Home of the Smithsonian Buffalo
Museum
Center
Schwinden
Library
Offices
MONTANA AGRICULTURAL CENTER & MUSEUM
of the Northern Great Plains
20th and Washington, Box 262, Fort Benton, MT 59442
Address Correction Requested
Non-profit Organization
U.S. Postage
PAID
Permit No. 7
Fort Benton, MT