The Grant County Historical Society is looking for volunteers. Of course, the society is always looking for volunteers, but we have a special project in mind this time. The history sign located near the Chamber of Commerce office is in need of a coat of paint.

The Columbia Basin Job Corps students have volunteered to paint the sign, but we will need to disassemble it and haul it to their paint shop. Plus, they will not be able to paint the sign until next winter.

Job Corps is under the U.S. Forest Service and paint many of their signs during the winter. The paint crew is well suited to do the painting. However, it is possible to paint the sign while it is standing, which would make the process much easier.

Brown paint on most of the wood, with white paint on the letters which are in the wood by use of a router used in woodworking. Expect this would be a two-day process, with the brown paint applied one day and the white another day.

Job Corps students would be glad to do this, but they don’t have the time or staff to accompany them to the worksite. We are looking for a volunteer or volunteers to accomplish the painting task. The society will pay for the paint.

Contact me at: 762-5158 or dclay@atnet.net.

Wait… Great news just received

The Job Corps students have been authorized to paint the sign near the chamber office.

Another Historical Society request: There are several historical signs around the county. We know where most are, but we would also like to know the condition of each, if each one needs repainting.

We are looking for all of them. If you know of one, please send the location along to me.

Wait… More great news just received

Was at a luncheon also attended by Sheriff Tom Jones. I asked if his deputies could stop at each sign, get the coordinates, provide a location description, take a photo and send them to me.

After all, the deputies cover every road in Grant County, so who is better suited to provide the location of each sign.

Thanks

Wow, both problems solved. Thanks in advance to the Job Corps students and the Grant County Sheriff’s office.

E-mail from Cheryl

Facts from the past gleaned from the Moses Lake Herald, Columbia Basin Herald and The Neppel Record by Cheryl (Driggs) Elkins:

From the Columbia Basin Herald on Oct. 21, 1949:

Yakima man joins Armstrong firm

Mr. and Mrs. William Armstrong announced this week that Leonard L. Faust, formerly of Yakima, had become a full partner in the Armstrong Paint & Glass Co. The firs name was changed to Armstrong & Faust as of Oct. 17.

Faust and Armstrong worked together in Yakima for four years, when both men were employed by the W.P. Fuller Paint & Glass Co. Faust was superintendent of the warehouse there at the time he resigned to move to Moses Lake. Mrs. Faust and their son, Dwight, are now living here.