HAYDEN - Richard LeFrancis doesn't hang out at the dump.

But enough trips there, and a lifetime of collecting, has given the man his own museum - one he wants to share.

It's not waste, it's the Aviation and Armed Forces Museum, whichSHAWN GUST/Pressis now open in the old Hayden Lake Eagles Club off Wyoming Avenue, adjacent to SHAWN GUST/Press new Eagles building.

Posters, planes, plaques honoring the local Aviation Hall of Fame members, newspaper articles, even a statue bust of the local flying legend Pappy Boyington.

"It's a labor of love," said LeFrancis, who has put in hundreds of hours and $13,000 out of his own pocket getting the museum open. "It's one of those things I wanted to preserve, especially for children so they can see what happened."

What happened is a walk through of local aviation and military history, pieces LeFrancis has accumulated collecting the artifacts throughout his life, as well as spying some mint pieces at the dump on errands.

"I don't hang out there," he said.

The building is open by appointment only at this point, and the 63-year-old Coeur d'Alene resident wants to host field trips and regular old visits. Being an old Eagles haunt, the place has a kitchen and yard space, so any sort of special event can use it, too.

No price, just donations only.

A local theme definitely stands out, but be sure to check out the old newspaper clipping from the Honolulu newspaper reporting the Pearl Harbor attack.

LeFrancis has always had an affinity for flying, as well as local history, so the fit seemed perfect. He still has a ways to go before the museum is built out - not that museums are ever finished.

And word of mouth has produced more people wanting to donate than lucky finds at the dump, although that place hasn't yielded some rare treasures.

For more information, call 664-0437.