Museum expands Joshua Elmer display

The Odessa Historical Society met earlier this month to prepare for the opening of the museum on Labor Day weekend, Sunday and Monday, May 26 and May 27, from 1 to 3 pm.

The photo display in the main building has been expanded, thanks in part to David Nixon and the Odessa Trading Co., who donated the welding of the frames, and Landon Lobe, who donated the painting of them. The display was enlarged in order to show more of the Joshua Elmer photos that were in storage.

Joshua Elmer, born in 1867, homesteaded in 1903 in the Black Rock region of Grant County. By 1910, he was established as a commercial photographer. Building his cameras and maintaining glass-roofed studios in Krupp and on his farm, he soon achieved success in family portraiture, panoramic canvas-backed outdoor scenes and picture post cards.

He was a humble, self-effacing, soft-spoken man characterized by a long dark beard. He owned one of the very first high-wheeled autos of the area and ran an auto repair shop near his home.

A portion of his collections have been destroyed by fire, however, many cherished Elmer photographs record accurate histories of central Washingon families, as well as early Odessa. Elmer died in 1943 and is buried in the cemetery near Ruff, Washington.

A request from the Old Town Hall Renovation Committee for the Historical Society to serve as a parent financial entity was granted. This gives the committee the opportunity to apply for grants using the museum’s tax exempt status. The society also elected Joe Wolman and Scott and Sherie Heimbigner to serve three-year terms as directors. The museum will be open on Sundays from 1 to 3 through Deutsches Fest. Admission is by donation.

Annual membership drive postcards will be in the mail soon. Memberships are the primary source of support for the museum. All local citizens ae welcome to join the society which meets three times annually.