H. Earl Clack Museum nearing opening day in new building

by Ila McClenahan

Foundation board member

Havre and the Hi-Line's very own H. Earl Clack Memorial Museum will soon be taking up a new permanent residence at No. 2 Fifth Ave. in Havre. The building was previously known as the Griggs Printing building and before that as Anderson Wholesale. The journey to the museum's new location has had its ups and downs with some twists and turns along the way. Today the consensus of board members and community leaders is "Full speed ahead!"

The members of the Museum and H. Earl and Margaret Turner Clack Memorial Museum Foundation boards are hopeful that the renovation and remodeling will be completed this winter. In early spring items from the current museum in the Havre Holiday Mall will be reassembled in the new museum "home."

In 1964, the museum opened at the Great Northern Fairgrounds. The old Faber school, a homestead shack, a Great Northern caboose and a remarkable display of farming implements are still on display there.

The next move was to the former U.S post office, where it was known as the Havre Heritage Center. The Holiday Village Mall with the Wahkpa Chu'gn Buffalo Jump nearby became the next stop. The museum moved an additional two times to different spaces within the mall.

Throughout the history of this local treasure, board members have continued to dream and labor for a permanent facility. When they heard of the possibility of the Griggs Printing facility becoming available, board members were very interested. A purchase price was agreed on and board members as well as interested community members caught the vision of all the possibilities that the building could offer. With its huge square footage and three floors, it allowed most of the items that had been in storage at various locations to be consolidated.

When Griggs Printing closed, it enabled professionals and volunteers to proceed with the needed remodeling.

Foundation Chair Elaine Morse and Museum Chair Lela Patera both agree that there is still a huge amount of work to be done before the doors can be opened to the public. An inspection for public use must be completed before items can start being moved from the mall location to the new one. When the move is complete the doors will be opened. A still to be determined amount for admission will be requested from museum visitors.

After the opening, work will continue on new displays. There will also be "temporary" rotating displays. These will enable the museum board to highlight a variety of artifacts from the collection.

The volunteer work has been done by an amazing array of individuals from board members, professionals, companies as well as MSU-Northern plumbing students under the direction of Thomas Cline. A great deal of the plumbing has been under the direction of board member and master plumber Loren Schlotfeldt. The local Lion's Club members have volunteered and will soon be utilized for assembling the handicap ramp, as well as other projects.

Donations of artifacts are very much appreciated but the board chairman asks that the public hold these until time and financial donations make it possible to exhibit them properly. Due to space constraints and security, not all artifacts will be on permanent display. The museum board determines this according the criteria in their by-laws.

A very special room will be designated as the "Clack Room" honoring H. Earl and Margaret Turner Clack, founders of the museum. Mr, and Mrs. Clack continue to make a difference in our community to this very day. Planned exhibits will highlight Mr. Clack's business influence and will also include a baby grand piano donated by the Clack family, a doll collection and well as an awesome display of Mrs. Clack's clothing.

The foundation board is actively pursuing grants and fundraisers. They are grateful for the grant through the Newfields Program via Bear Paw Development Corp.that provided for the lead-based paint and asbestos abatement. A private donor gift recently provided a handicap accessible ramp.

Community members and anyone with Hi-Line connections can become a Friend of the Clack Museum with a $25 or more a year donation to: H. Earl Clack Foundation, P.O. Box 1496, Havre, MT 59501.

These are exciting times for the H. Earl Clack Museum and our community. The best is yet to come. "Full speed ahead!"