There must have been some magic in that Christmas snow as Frosty the Snowman came to life one day and the next day and the next! He led the children through the streets of town right to the Wedsworth Library. He said let’s run, have some fun, and read some books before I melt away. He probably didn’t melt this year!
Wedsworth Library will be celebrating Winnie the Pooh’s January birthday. This day was created to celebrate the birth of A. A. Milne in 1882. He was an author of children’s story books, and created Winnie the Pooh and his friends. Have some fun today. Celebrate Winnie the Pooh Day by reading some storybooks about the adventures of Winnie and his friends. Don’t read them alone. Read them with a child.
Remember Book Discussion members, it’s time to pick up your book to read, please stop in and pick it up for the Book Discussion on Monday, February 13th at 5:00. Our book for February is Where the Crawdads Sing. If you have never attended a session of the book discussion, you are welcome to pick up a copy and join us. We welcome everyone, even drop-ins.
The New Year always brings a chance to examine the year in review. At this time Wedsworth Library would like to take the opportunity to thank the community for its support. The outstanding community support has made possible our ability to upgrade a bit and continue to provide the quality services you demand. You are Making Our Dreams Come True.
And as January 13th is ‘Make Your Dream Come True Day’ it gives you the opportunity to do something to realize your goals and dreams. Whatever your dreams are, they usually don’t come true without some effort on your part. Now is the perfect opportunity to do something about it, anything, to move in the direction of achieving your dreams.
We also have a wonderful well of volunteers that help in so many positions, whether it is the book sale, story hour, Friends of the Library, or the library board members that all volunteer their time to ensure the future of the library. Please thank all volunteers. No organization can survive without them.
Now that the clutter has cleared from the holidays, please take a look around and make sure there are not any books, or DVD’s lying around that belong in the Library. We have a few lost books that are probably hiding under the bed or in the folds of the couch. Or in that bookbag! Here’s a great time to clean up the clutter and get those items back to their snuggly little nest.
We might not be able to warm up the outside, but how about we warm up the ol’ brain cells for Trivia Day? How many lodgepole pine seeds does it take to weigh a pound? How long can a moose keep its head under water? How many grasshoppers can a whooping crane eat in a single hour? John Melcher’s book Watering Hole is about what subject?
Here are a few more Montana trivia bits and questions for you to solve. Henry Plummer was the ‘outlaw’ sheriff of which Montana town? Virginia City, Last Chance Gulch, Nevada City, or Bannack
What year was Henry Plummer elected as sheriff? 1889, 1884, 1886, 1863
How many ‘outlaws’ did the Vigilantes hang in January and February of 1864? 30, 26, 18, 22
Long John Franck and Erastus Yeager did what? Supplied the Vigilantes with names of other supposed gang members; Actively participated in the lynching of ‘outlaws’ as members of the Vigilantes; Robbed a stage coach and were lynched by the Vigilantes; Spoke out against the Vigilantes in editorials to the local newspaper
Who was the original owner of the Anaconda Mining Co? Marcus Daly, Alexander Toole, Henry Plummer, Johnathan Swift
What company did Anaconda merge with in 1899 to become the Amalgamated Copper Mining Co.? Standard Shipping, Union Pacific Railroad, Standard Oil Company, Pullman Associates
168 men were killed in a Butte mine fire in which year? 1917, 1916, 1921, 1906
Who owned the Copper King Mansion? William Clark, John D Rockefeller, Marcus Daly, Henry Plummer
Who found the first gold at Last Chance Gulch? The Three Alabamans, Joe Mazurak, Shorty Kilkenbah, The Four Georgians
Name the trading company that first established a post at what was to become Ft. Benton. The American Fur Co., Western Fur Co., American Trading Co., Bevus and Butthead Inc.
A Jesuit priest opened a mission in what valley in 1841? The Missoula Valley, The Mission Valley, The Bitterroot Valley, The Jocko Valley
Name one of the two founders of Missoula.
Stop in and see us sometime. We would love to see you. Remember we are always receiving new movies and books for your entertainment. Hope to see you soon.
Did you think I wasa gonna leave ya a hangin? MONTANA TRIVIA ANSWERS: It takes 94,000 lodgepole pine seeds to weigh a pound. A moose can keep its head under water for 3 Minutes. A whooping crane can eat 800 grasshoppers in a single hour? John Melcher’s book Watering Hole is about Montana Bars.
Henry Plummer was the ‘outlaw’ sheriff of Bannack. Some research suggests that Henry Plummer (originally spelled Plumer) was not an outlaw at all, but an unfortunate victim of overzealous Vigilantes. It is speculated that one reason for fingering Plummer as the ‘ringleader’ of a now questionable gang of outlaws is that Plummer spoke out against the Vigilantes and in favor of trials and due process.
Henry Plummer was elected in 1863 and hanged in 1864. He was ill at the time of his death and would have eventually died of T.B. if he hadn’t been lynched.
The Vigilantes hung 22’outlaws’ in January and February of 1864. Some of the ‘outlaws’ who were hanged were guilty simply of speaking out against the Vigilantes. This was enough to prove the suspect guilty of being involved in criminal activity.
Long John Franck and Erastus Yeager supplied the Vigilantes with names of other supposed gang members. The method of encouragement used by the Vigilantes was to tie a noose about their necks and string it tight enough to scare them into naming names.
Marcus Daly was the original owner of the Anaconda Mining Co. Anaconda merged with Standard Oil Company in 1899 to become the Amalgamated Copper Mining Co. By 1910, it changed its name to Anaconda Copper Mining Co. This company was such a powerful force in Montana politics and life that until the 1950’s, it owned EVERY newspaper in the state.
168 men were killed in a Butte mine fire in 1917. This is still considered to be the worst mining accident in American history.
William Clark owned the Copper King Mansion. A self-made millionaire, the mansion cost a whopping quarter million to build in the 1880’s.
The Four Georgians found the first gold at Last Chance Gulch.
The American Fur Co. first established a post at what was to become Ft. Benton. It was first named Ft. Lewis, but the name was later changed in honor of a senator from Missouri.
A Jesuit priest opened a mission in the Bitterroot Valley in 1841. The mission was developed near present day Stevensville.
Missoula was first settled by Higgins and Worden in 1860 and the first mayor, Frank Woody was elected on April 19, 1883.
Detective Dashiell Hammett used Butte as his role model in the story ‘Poisonville’. Charlie Russell created about 4,000 works of art, ranging from sketches, drawings, and paintings to sculpture.
The tiny town of Basin, south of Helena, with a population 300 is home of the prestigious Montana Artists Refuge. Charlie Russell was referring to the artist Edgar S. Paxon when he said, “His brush told stories that people like to read”.
Clyde Park was named after Clydesdale horses that were being raised there. A pronghorn can cover 20 feet in a single running stride. A typical large pair of elk antlers weighs 40 pounds. It is sunny in Montana 51 percent of the time compared to 81 percent in Arizona and 23 percent in Alaska. (We musta used up our sunny days this year). Flathead Lake has frozen over seven times in the last 50 years. Wonder if it has frozen this year?