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IT WAS THE YEAR 1924 The Greatest Generation was in its last year and it brought Jimmy Carter, Henry Mancini, Marlon Brando, George HW Bush, and Lauren Bacall who became popular worldwide figures. Jimmy was the first president using his nick-name in an official capacity. He fostered the image of being a ‘Peanut Farmer” as it contrasted him from the Washington elite. Henry Mancini was a composer and is best remembered for the “Pink Panther” of 1963. Marlon Brando worked in the entertainment field also, starring in “On the Waterfront”, “The Godfather” and “The Streetcar Named Desire”. Lovely Lauren Bacall is remembered for those torrid love scenes with Humphrey Bogart. We remember President George HW Bush who had a determination to make the United States “a kinder and gentler nation” in the face of a dramatically changing world. The year 1924 also brought Arlene Harwood who arrived screaming on the kitchen table of a wheat farm in the Palouse hills. |
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ARLENE REMEMBERS Alexander Graham Bell gave us the telephone, and co-founded the American Telephone and Telegraph Company in 1885. The telephone was the lifeblood of country living as it kept the community connected and emergencies controlled. This is the kind of telephone we had when I was a young girl. It hung on the kitchen wall, out of reach, so I was never first to answer when our special ring of ‘a long and two shorts’ sounded. We were on a party line-each family had their own ring. To make a call you lifted the receiver and a voice said, “Number Please”, then when you gave the number this voice connected you to the home you were calling. Naturally, many times our line would be busy as there were several talkative ones who “hogged the line”. Of course we knew when the phone rang just who was getting called and which one would have the juiciest gossip, and just how to lift the receiver so we would not be detected. |
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THE MARINE CORPS Life changed dramatically Dec. 8th, 1941, my 17th birthday. In the assembly we listened to President Roosevelt declare war on Japan. 3 days later war was declared on Germany and all young men that I knew joined the Marine Corps and were soon headed to the Pacific. Wartime!! We followed the news, we rolled bandages, we participated in war bond drives, the patriotism was electrifying. There were no new cars, tires were rationed, no nylons for the ladies, rations on meats, eggs, dairy, fruits. 2 lbs. of sugar per person per month. Government trucks delivered bricks of cheese to each community. Coffee was voluntarily rationed and sent to England, France, and to Italy where it was restricted to as little as 11 oz. per month. College social life was minimal with a lack of men on campus. This Marine nutcracker was hand-carved by Lothar Junghänel at the request of George Wagner, a Marine during World War II. |
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THE WALL CAME DOWN November 9, 1989 was an important day for the future nutcracker museum, since tearing down the Berlin Wall led to the freedom of the makers to create their own designs all without Russian control. Instead of just a few military or king types, many nutcracker designs emerged from the Erzgebirge. Our collection grew with exciting contemporary designs, so along with antiques and mechanical specimens, it was a divergent and colorful collection that was donated to the museum. We visited the Erzgebirge two times while it was under Russian control. Everything was drab, farmer style foods of meat and potatoes, no nutcrackers at all to be seen in stores. We were arrested three times as police put American cash into their pockets. This nutcracker was created by Wettengl of Germany and displays a small, certified piece of the actual Berlin Wall. |
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COVID Believe it or not, Covid proved to be a huge blessing in disguise for the Nutcracker Lady. The museum remodel ended in April, 2020. Thousands of nutcrackers had been moved to the lower level in tray after tray and sat on the floor awaiting their own special spot. At that time, by governmental decree, the door was closed. While most buildings were vacant for the months of April, May and days more, the museum hummed with excitement as the Nutcracker Lady created fascinating displays. Now when you enter the museum you will see all of those nutcrackers arranged in many different ways—maybe by design, material or how they work, Or when they were made or where they are from. There is something of interest for every age and little ones will find a case with Mickey and his friends!! This Covid inspired nutcracker was created by Christian Steinbach. Since Covid affected everyone, he wished for great sales. |
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Arlene
Wagner, The Nutcracker
Lady |
Monday - Saturday 11-5pm
Sunday - 11-4:30pm
We suggest visitors arrive at least 30 minutes before closing.
"To foster and encourage the interest of the general public of the importance of nuts in the diets of humans throughout history and in the evolution of the nutcracker. No other tool or collectible has shown such a wide diversity of material and design as the implements used to crack the hard shell of a nut".
Nutcracker
Museum