Pioneer Museum

Hello, Nelson Olmsted here. If you think cleaning out your attic is a big job, listen to today's story about Sai and Valletta Kuch. First a brief word from Pacific Power. Here's Clint Gruber. Welcome once again to Stories of Pacific Powerland, a presentation of Pacific Power and Light, the company that has been serving the electric needs of the region's homes, farms,

and industries through more than half a century of progress and growth. Now here's Nelson with another chapter from his storybook. Most of us cherish childhood memories of rummaging around in Grandma's attic or searching for treasures in Uncle George's storeroom. But two of us would think of making a career of it.

Sai and Willetta Kooch of Joseph Oregon have probably prowled most of the attic's cellar storerooms, barns and junk piles in Wallowa County. And the result is an astounding collection of memorabilia housed in their pioneer museum on the main street of Joseph.

Saikut says, I don't even remember how all this got started. A number of years ago we restored some old wagons and horse-drawn vehicles and then somehow we got the reputation of collectors. People started bringing us things they thought were junk.

Before long we had to rent a building to store it in. Well, what is one man's junk? Is another man's treasure? and will let a coach consider anything that recalled the history of the beautiful Willava Valley a treasure. In some of the historic family homes, for example, they salvaged prize pieces that were destined for the trash pile. It was typical that an acquaintance

in Joseph, Enterprise, Willava, or Lost Team would say, Si, they all folks are gone and the family wants to sell the place. Now you know mother, never threw anything away. There's a whole attic full of stuff nobody wants. You and the Mrs. Betta, come over and have a look."