Life changes come and communities evolve. We all live in the community, and over time, adjust our lives to what’s needed to make it a better place. It is exciting to know Musselshell School has been a vital part of this community for 100 years and that its mission is still not finished! It was a school for 90 years and is now a community center. But has it really changed all that much? Most schools are the center of the community; even without classes, Musselshell School has remained our center. So every event in 2013 is a celebration to the people who pushed to have the school built, to the laborers that used fine craftsmanship in their construction, to the loving care Musselshell School received from School District 9, and lastly, to those that still feel a bond to the community and those that work diligently to keep the doors open to benefit everyone. Make sure you attend an event in honor of such a special place. “Mark Your Calendar,” on the back of this newsletter, has a schedule of the earliest events planned. Watch the “Now & Then” for more scheduled events throughout 2013. It is said, “if these walls could talk,”—let’s do the talking for them! Attend an event. Take the opportunity to tell everyone of a special teacher, an extraordinary friend, a special family that lived here, or just how you loved (or hated) school. If it is impossible for you to attend in person, feel free to write your memories down and mail them to us. We would be thrilled to hear from you.

2013 Marks 100 years of Musselshell School Come join the Celebration!

Annual Meeting of Corporation to be held February 13. 2013

Friends of Musselshell School, Inc.

P.O. Box 14 Musselshell, MT 59059

2013—Vol. X Num.1

To:

Non-Profit

US Postage Paid

Musselshell, MT

Permit #14

CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED

MARK YOUR

CALENDAR For these upcoming events

being held at Musselshell School

Friends of Musselshell School, Inc

Annual Meeting

Wednesday, February 13, 2013 at 7 p.m.

FoMS regular monthly meeting

Wednesday, March 20 @ 7 p.m.

9th Annual Memorial Weekend Pig-nic

Sunday & Monday, May 26 & 27

100 Year Open House Celebration

Sunday, July 21

Hope to see you all there!

FRIENDS OF MUSSELSHELL SCHOOL,INC.

NOW & THEN Volume X Number 1 P.O. Box 14, Musselshell, MT 59059 February 2013

Friends of Musselshell School, Inc. will hold their annual meeting Wednesday, February 13,

2013 at 7 p.m. at the Musselshell School.

General business, 2012 financial statement, as well as, projections and fundraising ideas for

2013 will be discussed. An election for two positions on the Board of Directors will also be held.

Anyone wishing to run for a position on the Board of Directors may contact Adair at 947-5141 or

any board member.

Membership of the corporation is not required to participate in the activities of the school but is

required to hold a position on the board and to vote for board members at the annual meeting. If

your membership is not paid for 2013, we encourage you to do so as soon as possible.

Memberships will be taken prior to the meeting but payment in advance is appreciated.

Attendance to the meeting reflects your support of operating, maintaining and preserving the

Musselshell School as a vital part of the community.

Coffee and cookies will be served following the meeting. Show your Support with a

membership and/or donation

Check your address label to ensure your membership is up to date! Your address label (above) includes a series of numbers under your name. The first number is the year (or last year) of paid membership.

—$5.00 individual yearly membership

Membership ($5.00 per person) Total memberships_______$_________________ For other donations please specify: (circle preferences) General Donation (or ) Window Donation $_____________ Donation of $__________in memory of (or ) in honor of ________________________________

Send acknowledgement to: (Name, address, city, state and zip)

________________________________ ________________________________ ________________________________

Please enclose this form with your donation Make checks payable to: Friends of Musselshell School, Inc., P.O. Box 14, Musselshell MT 59059

Board members of Friends of Musselshell School, Inc. and Musselshell community members accept a $10,000 check from Lisa Perry, Community Affairs Manager for PPL Montana. Pictured (l to r) Adair Rademacher, Lisa Perry, Ken Eickhoff, Nan Rademacher,

Joanie Rettig, Carmoleda Giebel and Ray Giebel

In Memory of……

MEMORIAL CONTRIBUTIONS A formal acknowledgement that a gift has been given in the name of a loved one.

August 22, 2012 through December 31, 2012

Friends of Musselshell School, Inc. is honored by your memorial gift. On behalf of the board of

FoMS and the entire Musselshell community, we send our condolences and prayers to the families

and friends of those remembered below.

At a very informal, yet informative, gathering at Musselshell School on November 25, PPL Montana presented Friends of Musselshell School, Inc. a grant check in the amount of $10,000. Lisa Perry, PPL Montana’s Community Affairs Manager made the presentation. Friends of Musselshell School, Inc. was one of 14 recipients selected for a PPL Community Fund grant during the Fall funding cycle. The grant will be used to replace some of the windows on the second story of Musselshell School. PPL Montana created its Community Fund to further strengthen the partnership between PPL Montana and its communities. Under the direction of a statewide advisory board, PPL Montana has awarded $1.6 million since 2005. That money has helped nearly 250 Montana organizations that share PPL Montana’s commitment to education, environmental responsibility, and economic development.

PPL Montana has 500 employees in Montana who generate and sell electricity. They operate coal-fired power plants at Colstrip and Billings, as well as 11 hydroelectric power plants along Rosebud Creek and the Missouri, Madison, Clark Fork and Flathead rivers. It has a combined generating capacity of about 1,200 megawatts and has offices in Billings, Butte and Helena. PPL EnergyPlus operates a trading floor in Butte that markets and sells power in the wholesale and retail energy market. PPL Montana and PPL EnergyPlus are subsidiaries of PPL Corporation (NYSE: PPL). More information about PPL Montana and its Community Fund is available on the company’s Web site at www.pplmontana.com.

Maureen Rademacher Jim & Bonnie Opie

Mike Turley, Sr. Ed & Dorothy Clifton

Jack Casey Gary & Julie Robinson

Ken & Rhea Eickhoff

Edythe (Turley) McCleary Chuck White

Shirley (Adolph) Clark

Marcia McCleary

Robert & Lynn (Hudson) Lowe

Una Belzer

Clint & Laura McMullin William McMullin

Laurie (Lar) Proulx Mary McDonald-Torre

John Turley Jr. Faye (McCleary) Turley

Pat & LeeAnne Murphy

Winifred (Walker) Sanderson Carla Pawlewicz

Faye (McCleary) Turley

Don Davis Faye (McCleary) Turley

Phyllis (Dunbar) Stanek Francis Holdbrook

Faye (McCleary) Turley

Madonna Desrocher Ken & Rhea Eickhoff

Jim Pinkerton Gary & Julie Robinson

Vernard Schmitt Louise Schmitt

Lafayette “L.E.” Poole Jay & Adair Rademacher

James Ross Children of Dorothy Meyers

Dorothy Meyers

Ken & Rhea Eickhoff

Ben & Michelle Meyer

Dennis & Nancy McCleary Mary Costello & Family

Jay & Colleen Meyer

Jay & Adair Rademacher

Louis F. Goffena Lynn & Joanie (Goffena) Rettig

Ann (Gonion) Goffena Lynn & Joanie (Goffena) Rettig

Pat Goffena Lynn & Joanie (Goffena) Rettig

Barbara (Bosen) Koenig Robert & Lynn (Hudson) Lowe

Cody (Cartwright) Meredith Margaret Reighard

Faye (McCleary) Turley

Joe & Lillian Ruff

Ken & Rhea Eickhoff

Dale & Marla Thompson

Dennis & Nancy McCleary

Bill & Deb Mackay

Jay & Adair Rademacher

William Colter Family

Una Belzer

Lilah Kicker

Stuart & Coleen Keller

Steve & Diana Scheidt

Vern & Coralie Tesch

Butch & Jody Treible

Jim & Patty Wilson

Louise Schmitt

Bob & Nancy Rademacher

Justin & Cassandra Schwend

Larry & Linda Schmitt

Randy Craig Kathleen Craig

Eugene Debs McConnell Vivian (McConnell )Flynn Earl Harvey McConnell

Leona Evelyn (McConnell) Brown Lucile Montana (McConnell )Moss

Connie McConnell

Terry Rettig Bill Rettig

Lynn & Joanie Rettig

Jack Belzer Larry Belzer

Una Belzer

Friends of Musselshell School, Inc.

Established June 6, 2003

Board of Directors

Adair Rademacher, President

Nan Rademacher, Vice-President

Stacy Cooke, Secretary

Ken Eickhoff, Treasurer

Greg Turley, Board Member

Joanie Rettig, Board Member

Tana Turley, Board Member

This newsletter is written, designed and edited by

Friends of Musselshell School, Inc.

Every effort has been made to ensure accuracy.

If anything has been omitted, misspelled,

misplaced, or listed incorrectly, we apologize.

Please contact FoMS with questions and corrections

&

Please keep us updated of any change of address.

Fall 2012—FoMS receives $10,000 from PPL Montana

New Year Begins with Grant Applications

At a grant planning meeting held in December, the board of FoMS positioned “window replacement” at the top of their list of priorities. Eight corporations are being investigated to see if our organization fits their grant qualifications. Applications will be made to five corporations that previously awarded grants to FoMS. One application has already been made. Two applications for the stair lift project and for new folding chairs will be made. The Theatre troupe will be submitting applications as well for monies to replace the stage curtains.

The Illustrious Musselshell Players moved to the chilly Yukon Territory to

perform for the audiences’ pleasure, “Girl of the Frozen North,” written by Eddie

Cope and Buster Cleary. On Saturday, September 22, 2012 a sit-down dinner

with the performance directly following was attended by 152 guests. On

Sunday, September 23, 2012 the cast entertained approximately 66 guests with

a matinee performance.

With the snow blowing and the winter wind howling, the talented cast had

no trouble convincing the audience of the treacherous living conditions of the

territory, or the evil that men do. There was a moment when the cast had

finally gone to the dogs—literally! They were wrapped in frankfurters and

thrown to the sled dogs! Yet in the end, good triumphed over evil, when

Hyacinth, played by Annie Shirley, finally came to her senses!

Saturday’s sit-down dinner, themed in the 1890’s era, began with a frozen

iceberg blue slush. An apple slaw enhanced with a light glaze was the first

course. The main course was a basted quarter chicken, rice pilaf and Yukon

ranch beans. Dessert was homemade custard style basil ice cream with a

crusted mountain peak top. With much anticipation the guests withdrew to

t h e

auditorium after dinner was served.

Friends of Musselshell School, Inc. is

pleased to host this entertaining event. It

is the largest fundraiser of the year for the

organization. This year’s production

generated $3395.46. All proceeds go to

operate Musselshell School as a

community center.

This event could not be accomplished

without the help of the faithful cast, who

give much of their time, money and talents

to entertain us.

All performances were produced by

special arrangement with Pioneer Drama

Service, Englewood, Co.

We thank all who attended and hope to see you again for the next production.

Heroes sometimes travel long distances. Senecaville, Ohio is a long way to come to repair a chimney, but that is

how far Leroy Coblentz traveled to arrive in Musselshell on October 4, 2012. Leroy had been here before. He,

and his brother, Elmo, with a team of volunteers built the chimney from the roof up six years prior. It was about

the same time of year and so was the weather. Waiting for warmer temperatures and the ice to thaw off the roof

made work begin later in the mornings. The first day Leroy had the necessary bricks cut out to enable the sides

to tie into one another. The next day mortar was mixed and carried up all the stairs to begin laying brick. The

next day more brick was laid but the temperatures were too cold for the mortar and so the chimney was wrapped

with insulation for the night. The weather cooperated the next day and more workers arrived to speed up pro-

gress. Before dark, once again, the Musselshell School had a chimney that looked like new.

FRIENDS OF MUSSELSHELL SCHOOL, INC. 2012 FINANCIAL STATEMENT*

Year ended December 31, 2012

BEGINNING NET ASSETS January 1, 2012 $86,278.85

RECEIPTS DISBURSEMENTS Contributions 15037.21 General Maintenance 9132.30 Investment returns + 1367.21 Office + 2916.88 Fundraisers + 8068.45 Fundraisers + 1591.90 Grants and restricted donations +26558.00 Special Projects + 900.00 Total Revenues 51,030.87 Total Expenses 14,541.08 Excess of receipts over disbursements +36,489.79 Total ending balances $122,768.64

___

COLLECTIVE NET ASSETS

Valley Credit Union (Roundup) 21452.67

Mass Mutual +55265.92

Checkbook balance (December 31, 2011) +46050.05_________________________________________________

Total ending balances $122,768.64

*Anyone may request a detailed financial statement by writing to:

Friends of Musselshell School, Inc., P.O. Box 14, Musselshell, MT 59059

Leroy Coblentz comes to the rescue!

This chimney

was rebuilt from the roof up on Oct. 16, 2006.

Lightning struck the chimney,

damaging part of the top and one side on August

4, 2011.

To enable the sides to tie back into one another, Leroy notched the

north and south sides and removed debris. He then began the task of

laying brick; a skill he has mastered since a young age.

Like new!

Leroy Coblentz proudly

shows off the repaired

chimney on Oct. 6, 2012.

The Royal Canadian Mountie (Lynn Rettig) tries his best to charm the distinguished actress (Kim Zimmerman).

Highlight of the 2012 Year: Musselshell Players perform, Girl of the Frozen North

The Illustrious Musselshell Players: (back L-R) Kim Zimmerman. Annie Shirley, Joanie Rettig, Sherie Milburn, Dean Carpenter, & Nan Rademacher. (front L-R) Lynn Rettig, Ken Eickhoff, & Dalen Keeney.

1913-2013

School History of

Memorial Plaques grace stairway

STUDENT DESKS

FOR SALE

$25.00 (or best offer)

If you are interested in having a small part

of Musselshell School for yourself, your

children, or grandchildren please contact

any board member to purchase a vintage

desk.

During the chimney repair, Leroy Coblentz spotted this special artifact while getting ready to set this brick. Engraved in the brick, obviously before it was fired, is “Nov 5 1920” and a partial name is legible on the lower right. “M Jop……..”. This brick must have been purchased when the addition was added to the school.

As early as 1882 or 1883 there was a small settlement at

“The Crossing,” (later known as Musselshell) but there

was no school until 1886.

There would be three different school buildings at dif-

ferent locations before a 2-story brick building would be

built. Newspaper accounts reflect much controversy be-

tween 1911 and 1913 about legal paperwork, site selec-

tion, and construction of 3 school houses within District

23. But in spite of all the difficulties classes continued.

Progress was rapid after an initial meeting on August 16,

1912, when 21 of 22

residents that were pre-

sent voted to begin the

process of building a

new school. Within a

week a site was chosen

and on September 5 an

election was held for the

issue of bonds to erect a

new school. Of the

forty-nine votes, 39 were

for bonds. The Trib-

une records Glessner,

chairman of the board,

to say, “It is now the

motion of the board of

trustees to proceed to sell the bonds and build a school

house that will be a credit to the entire community. No

one thing comes more early touching the lives of a com-

munity then a good schoolhouse and it is a credit to the

people that they carried the proposition by so large a

vote.” The cement foundation was completed by contrac-

tor (John H.) Grant as reported on May 8, 1913. The

sturdy two-story building, constructed with Brandenburg

Bros. Brick and reinforced on the inside with Handel

Bros. brick, was completed by October 1913. It had

bathroom facilities, including showers in the basement

that the community was encouraged to use, a grand main

entrance, and a 2nd floor with 2 classrooms on each floor.

Sometime in 1919 bonds were sold for an addition to

the original structure. Anton Jenson, from Lavina, was

secured as building contractor in 1920. Students moved

back into the school in January 1921; even though some

of the rooms were not yet finished. During that construc-

tion period classes were held at the First Congregational

Church, Handel Hall and other buildings around town.

Newspaper accounts give praises from the faculty about

being back in the schoolhouse. But, Musselshell School

did not have 4-year ac-

creditation, which

forced students to go

elsewhere to complete

their high school educa-

tion. Professor L.C.

Howard of Rosebud

was secured as principal

for the 1921-22 school

year. He, with the

board of trustees, went

on a recruiting cam-

paign in an effort to

gain accreditation. By

the spring of 1923 Mus-

selshell School had 5

proud graduates. No upper classes were offered from

1924-26 because of a drop in enrollment. After that time

there were regular graduating classes until the high school

were discontinued in 1968.

In 1975 (grades 1-6) totaled about 30 students; by 1999

there were 7. Deciding the community would not grow

enough to support a school, School District 9 placed Mus-

selshell School in “non-operating status.” The District

officially closed the school and gifted the entire facility to

Friends of Musselshell School, Inc on June 29, 2003. For

ten years, the organization has proudly operated the entire

facility as a community center.

Friends of Musselshell School, Inc. makes an

effort to document how much the school is used

throughout the year. A chart is kept requesting all

users to fill in the number of guests, and the hours spent for their event. The data is not exact

because sometimes it is necessary to average and/or estimate numbers. This information is vital for

documenting how much the building is used, especially when applying for grants.

While not exact, the numbers are quite impressive for such a small community. In 2012. the

building was used approximately 217 days, approximately 2271 people walked through the doors;

giving a total of 10,465 hours of use for the school’s amenities.

The building was used weekly, or monthly by some groups. The facility was invaluable in June and

again in July to the groups that came and pulled salt cedar, and completed restoration work for 2011

flood victims. It was also a godsend during the Delphia Fire. The building was used for several

training classes and funeral luncheons, a birthday party, and two elections to name a few events. In

between, there were FoMS’s fundraisers, and regular cleaning and work on the building. We often wonder what we would do without a place like Musselshell School.

Where does the time go?

Worth the Wait! With help from Badge West Awards there

are Memorial Plaques adorning the main hall.

In 2006, it was decided at a FoMS board meeting that some kind of

plaque should be made to honor memorials that were given to the

organization. Commercial plaques were not large enough to display the

names we had, or anticipated. Adair Rademacher purchased lumber and

began fabricating two large plaques. They were finally finished in May of

2012. After getting expert advice about style and coloring from Badge

West Awards in Billings, they began making plates. Between 1998, when

FoMS began, through September 2012, there are a total of 290 names.

Even though names are not duplicated, the first plaques filled quickly.

Now do we take time to build more, or contract someone to custom make

extra large plaques? Shortly thereafter, while cleaning upstairs, several

desk tops were found—”wouldn’t there make great memorial plaques,”

Nan Rademacher said. And so the used, engraved desk tops have been

repurposed for a dignified existence on the main stair wall. It is sad to

see our friends and families names on the plaques; however, it is honor

to place them there for all to see.

“PUBLIC SCHOOL BUILDING, MUSSELSHELL” Microfilm picture taken from May 1915 Tribune. Building finished October 1913.

Life in Musselshell…