Newsletter From the Curator

          We are getting increasing numbers of visitors to the Museum this winter with many days having 30 or more.  Tour groups make this part of their itinerary also, with a group of 45 from Mesa a few weeks ago.  We are getting many compliments along with the visits with the comment that they did not expect the great quality of our exhibits in so small a Museum. It is very gratifying to those who work here and support the Museum.
Skipper, of Ferribest Construction, has put in a divider wall getting ready for the new Mohave Indian exhibit which is being developed.  He also arranged for work in the Audio-Visual room with Buxton Drywall. Mike Buxton generously subtracted $900 from the cost of the work as a donation to the Museum.  Many thanks go to these people for their help both physically and monetarily.  Also in this category is Sam Nichols and his company’s installation of additional exhibit lights and additional needed wall outlets. We are grateful for their support.
          Don Noel has been very busy working on the” Start of Havasu” exhibit with Judy Whelan---it is almost done and it is a beautiful production.  He has also been in on the planning of the Mohave Indian exhibit which we need to complete by this summer to fulfill our agreement with the State Historical Society and their $2,000 grant for it.  Without all this generous support, we would not have a Museum!
 
Ruth Brydon, Curator
 

VOLUNTEER HIGHLIGHTS

               Dian Gibson,  has been a member of he Historical Society Board of Directors for 2 years and is involved with the Queen’s Tea as a lady of the court and fund raising committee.  She also participates at the annual Christmas tree party by donating a decorated Christmas Tree to raffle.
              Dian was born in Ballinger, TX but grew up in Southern CA.  She majored in art in school and was always drawing or painting something.  Her love of art had to wait for quite a while during which time she tended to her profession in the corporate world.  After spending 45 years as a professional secretary and executive assistant to several presidents and CEO’s in the aerospace industry, she and her husband Dale retired to Lake Havasu in 2002.  They first came to Lake Havasu in 1964 and their love affair with “The River” never ceased.  It was their dream to spend as much time in Havasu as possible and, hopefully, retire here and that dream came true.
              She says “Havasu provides a breath-taking backdrop for inspiration in creating my artwork of watercolor paintings, photography, and my most creative medium—gourd carving and painting.”   She is a member of the Havasu Art Guild and her artwork can be seen at the Lake Havasu Museum of History as well as several galleries in Havasu and two galleries in Sedona, AZ.
              Dian and Dale have a grown daughter and son-in-law and two grandchildren living in Chandler, AZ.
              Thank you, Dian, for your dedication to our Museum and the community.
              Dennis Miller,  has been a docent for our museum for two years.  He was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, and served with the U. S. Navy Submarine Service from 1964 to 1967.  He has a BA degree in Education from Oakland University in Rochester MI.;  MA degree in History  from New Mexico Highlands University in Las Vegas NM; and a Doctor of Chiropractic from Logan Chiropractic College in Chesterfield MO. He retired from his chiropractic practice in  Monument,  Colorado, three years ago and moved to Lake Havasu City. 
              He married his wife, Marie in 1968.  They lived on the same street about 2 blocks apart in Detroit.  They have a daughter and two sons and four granddaughters.  His whole family moved to LHC about 3 to 4 years ago, including his 91 year old mother.
              Besides being a docent  at the museum on Friday’s,  Dennis is a volunteer with the U. S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and C.E.R.T. (Citizens Emergency Response Team) here in LHC.
              Thank you, Dennis, for your dedication to our Museum and the community.
 

2008  QUEEN’S HIGH TEA

             Seventy-five ladies and gents enjoyed High Tea at the Martini Bay-London Bridge Resort Sunday Afternoon, February 24th with “Queen” Marge Snyder, “Lord Mayor” Dean  Barlow, “Beefeater” Ed Wignall, “Bell ringer” Mike Riddle and the “Queen’s Court”, including Dian Gibson, Bev Neadle, Nancy Valenti, Lorrie Riddle, and Phyllis Wagner.  Soloist Vanessa Lieson , pianist Susan Doyle and Magician Corky Smith entertained.  A style show was given by Pauline’s Fashions.  Hat winners were chosen by the Queen and Lord Mayor.  This was the 12th year for the event. 
 

INVENTORY OF
HISTORIC CEMETERIES
             The Arizona Legacy Project, part of the Arizona Centennial, is making a Comprehensive Survey of Pioneer Cemeteries. Mike Riddle is coordinating the La Paz and Mohave County portion and needs some help.  If interested his e-mail  is     Rockrat@npgcable. com.  Further information can be found at: WWW.Az.HistCemeteries.org.  Their objective is to document the cemetery not its “occupants”.  It will require both field work and computer work.

IN MEMORY GIFTS:
 
For Don and Ruth Mills from Delbert and Dorothy Campbell
For Jerry Holt from Delbert and Dorothy Campbell
For Betty Humphrey from Delbert and Dorothy Campbell
For Gerald L. Groat, MD from Bob and Judy Whelan
For Roy Echeverria from Bob and Judy Whelan
 
Thank You for supporting the Museum of  History.