Job Corps students volunteer during Pioneer Day
Columbia Basin Herald, July 12, 1977
Dennis L. Clay photo At the Grant County Museum in Ephrata. Front row, left to right: Jessica Gutierrez, museum director Pat Witham, Avianna Willis, museum employee Patty Thornton, Marrisa Gomez. Back row, left to right: David Phillips, Lela Kassem, Carlos Lehreke, Tyler Moser, Bradley Bowyer Jr., Johnathan Porter, Manuel Munoz III.
Pioneer Day at the Grant County Historical Society Museum, last Saturday, was attended by 10 students from the Columbia Basin Job Corps, see photo. There are 38 buildings or separate shops at the museum. A volunteer is needed in each or the individual building is left unopened. All of the buildings were open this year, with the help of the Job Corps students and other volunteers.
It was a great day, with the public and students enjoying themselves. Student Manuel Munoz III approached me at the beginning of the day asking about the blacksmith shop. He was directed to the appropriate spot. By the end of the day he had burned the initials of around 40 attendees into a square of wood.
Carlos Lehreke helped visitors discover the bullet holes in the old bank building, which became the Grant County Journal. Young visitors learned how to use a manual typewriter, under the direction of David Phillips.
Lela Kassem, a nursing student at Job Corps, presented medical items to visitors in the doctor’s office. She also discussed nursing with Garnet Wilson, who is now a retired Registered Nurse.
It was a great day, with the students wanting to come back next June. The young ladies want to dress up in period garb and the museum staff said they could.
The students were a great help on Pioneer Day. The museum staff and board of directors are thankful and anxious to have them back next year.