A kiddie pool with gently floating ducks in Scottish Highlander costumes and a big sign over the door that says Happy 50 Years gave a clue that something was happening at Lonesome Heritage Farms at Wagon Wheel Gift and Gallery in Moiese. 

Painted French blue, the small pre-formed building has 50 years of history in Moiese, and that’s being celebrated. Customers were treated to cupcakes, and they could select a tiny Scottish Highland cow with a letter on its tummy; their letter rated a certain prize. 

The gallery was Bob Middlemist’s idea, Diane Breuer said. Breuer is Middlemist’s daughter, sister of Ross Middlemist, patriarch of the Middlemists who ranch at Dixon. Someone in Polson was selling preformed buildings, so Bob and his friends hauled the building from Polson and set it up. They named the business the Wagon Wheel Gift and Gallery.

 “I worked here for 46 years,” Diane said. “It was always kind of a family thing.”

Her children, as well as nieces and nephews, worked at the gallery.  

When Breuer was ready to sell, she found Hope and Sean Dibble, who had come up from Colorado with their family and run a ranch two and a half miles from the business on Crow Dam Road.

Hope thought they should celebrate 50 years in business as well as America’s 250-year anniversary. Diane agreed and came down to spend the day, greet customers and friends, and talk about old times.

Bison jerky was/is a best seller for both women. Breuer said she always felt the jerky was their calling card, drawing people into the shop.

With light from the east windows, the store is bright and inviting, stocked with paintings and photography, both originals and prints, essential oils, Hope’s handmade hats, jewelry, handmade knives, books, animal pelts, cards and toys. Visitors can also rent a pair of binoculars to take to the Bison Range and use them to scan the hills for wildlife, get a coffee, or purchase some beef sticks or summer sausage made by the Dibbles. 

“Everyone always says I have hippie cows, so I thought I should have some tie-dye t-shirts,” Dibble said, and they’re locally sourced, too.

Much of the jewelry is made by creative folks in the area. The jewelry was Diane’s favorite.

“The sapphire jewelry and the Vasa jewelry were always a big hit,” she said. 

Selecting jewelry to interest customers is “the most dangerous job I’ve ever had because you want it all … you also have to tell yourself no,” Hope said. “You also have to pick things someone else might like.” 

Both women agree the handmade knives are a magnet for young men. Gwynn Family Inlay knives from Hamilton, made from Damascus steel and more rustic knives with obsidian and jasper blades made by Bill Durflinger from Missoula are bait for knife lovers.

The ladies agree that visitors either are very interested in animal pelts and hides or think they should not be in the store.

After the last cupcake is consumed and the ducks are dried off, Breuer will head home to the ranch she and her husband Jack own west of Dixon. 

Hope will go home to the ranch where the Dibbles raise Shiloh shepherds, Scottish Highlander cattle, Scottish sheep, Icelandic sheep and Duroc/Mangalica pigs. 

Tomorrow will bring another person waiting for Hope to unlock the door and fix a coffee, a friend dropping by for a gift, tourists visiting, and Breuer will remember all the people she met and ice cream bars she sold.

    Diane Breuer, who worked at the Wagon Wheel Gift and Gallery for 46 years, looks at the handmade knives on display. (Berl Tiskus/Leader)