Retiree keeps busy volunteering at the local museum

When Margaret Stallkamp retired from her career at the Havre-Hill County Library, she started looking for some volunteer work.

She wanted something interesting and challenging.

Margaret has an interest in history and has been fascinated in Havre since she and her husband, Lloyd, arrived in town when he accepted a position at Montana State University-Northern. Before long, she found the perfect fit. She has volunteered for three years now at the H. Earl Clack Memorial Museum in Holiday Village Mall and has sometimes filled in as an employee.

"She is the best volunteer ever," said Judi Dritshulas, chair of the museum's board of directors. Dritshulas said she has been amazed by Margaret's devotion and loyalty to the museum and its work.

Margaret says she is impressed with the hours of volunteer work put in by Dritshulas and the board of directors, who spent all kinds of time working during a massive cleanup of the museum this winter.

Margaret's enthusiasm for the museum and for local history in general is obvious to visitors of the museum.

She admits she is not an expert in local history, but she is becoming one. She is fascinated by what she has learned from the two museum directors she has worked with.

She loves giving tours of the museum, she said, adding that she's not afraid to say, "I don't know. I'll find out for you."

She enjoys telling people of the major historical events that are explained by the items at the mall. And by the interesting tidbits that fascinate visitors - like the Fort Assinniboine display that shows liquor bottles that were used by soldiers at the late 19th century fort.

The bottles have rounded bottoms, she said, because officers felt that would make it difficult for soldiers to put them down while they played cards or other games. Thus, officers felt, the soldiers would stick with the less-intoxicating beer.

She said she knew very little about the dinosaurs when she started working at the mall, but soon found out that among younger visitors, dinosaurs are what the museum is all about.

She's fascinated by what young people know about dinosaurs. The museum holds an annual Dinosaur Christmas where kids are invited to play games and learn more about dinosaurs that once roamed the area that is now Hill County.

Margaret serves cookies in the form of dinosaurs.

She said that when she asks them what kind of cookie they want, she's likely to hear, "I want a brontosaurus."

"Point to the brontosaurus," she responds.

She enjoys meeting the various kinds of people who show up at the museum, Stallkamp added.

People who return to Havre for family reunions frequently stop by to learn more about area history.

Schools often bring classes to learn about local history. She loves hearing the questions students can come up with, she said.

Sometimes bicyclists who are traveling down U.S. Highway 2 as part of their cross-country tour stop at the museum while they are in town.

And then there are the solitary men who come in the museum, look around and sometimes ask questions.

"My wife is in Herberger's," they explain why they are in the museum.

(The Havre Daily News is highlighting people who volunteer in various capacities in honor of National Volunteer Week.)