Celebrating 125 years of history at the Burroughs’ Home: Honoring, remembering the countless volunteers who have maintained the home

The Burroughs family home was originally built in 1890.

It was a small and simple Queen Anne style home sitting on two blocks of the Original Town of Ritzville.

With the prosperity of the early 20th century, the house, located at 408 West Main, was remodeled into a much grandeur home in 1902 at which time electricity came to Ritzville.

Architect J. Flood Walker from California, who had just recently moved to Ritzville, designed the renovations.

The main floor was expanded to include a kitchen and office for the doctor, additional rooms were added to the second floor and a veranda and wrap around porch were added at a total cost of $4,000. It was exactly as you see it today.

After Dr. Burroughs died in 1925, Mrs. Julia Burroughs lived in the home with her sister, Alice Copp, until Alice died in 1933. Mrs. Burroughs then moved to Spokane and the house was given to Julia’s nephew, Earle Copp.

The house was rented to Paul Hitchcock and his wife, Josie. The arrangement was for Paul to paint the home and keep up the yard in exchange for rent. They lived there for two years. The house was never painted and the yard was not maintained.

The home then sat vacant for approximately 20 years.

Earle Copp donated the home to the City of Ritzville on July 26, 1962. The council accepted the donation and immediately leased the home to the Big Bend Historical Association, which transformed it into the Dr. Frank Burroughs Wheatland Museum.

The trustees of the newly formed economic development association were G. E. Bentz, Mrs. Karl Rosenoff, Mrs. Mary Pierce, George Fowler and Leonard Jansen. The purpose of the museum was to tell the story of wheat and to preserve the heritage of the area.

It was hoped that the museum would attract visitors coming to the northwest from areas where grain is not grown.

According to the guest book, which remains at the home, the museum started receiving visitors in October 1962 under the supervision of Gideon Bentz, Mary Pierce, Blanche Meyer and other dedicated volunteers.

By August 1964, it was no longer open on a regular basis.

When interest for the wheat museum waned, the chamber of commerce was given authority to operate the museum. Under the guidance of volunteer Bennie Jessie, the museum reopened in July 1970.

Many local individuals and organizations worked for two years to renovate the landmark. The Ho-N-Gro Club and Donnie Rambow worked on the landscaping. Members of the Beautification Study Committee of the Community Development Program helped clean the floors and walls and arrange the antiques.

The Eagles Auxiliary manned the museum on Mondays; the Luther League staffed the museum on Tuesdays. The Sunshine Grandmothers Club and the Legion Auxiliary worked on Wednesdays and Thursdays respectively.

Again according to guest books from the Burroughs Home, between May 1971 and November 1975, the museum was open on a regular basis. It was placed on the National Register for Historic Places in 1975.

Between 1976 and January 1981, it was open for special occasions only thanks to Nancy and Milt Sackmann who worked to save the home.

The Antique Annies began work in early 1981. Judy Gross, Sandy Wise, Mae Telecky, Flo Schwisow, Donna Galbreath, Ruth Gust, Sally Powers and others worked tirelessly repairing the interior of the home.

These dedicated women saved the house from the wrecking ball.

They weren’t the blue haired ladies you hear about but young women with families spending countless hours for the good of the community.

In 1984, the museum was renamed the National Wheat Museum. You can still find this name on some Washington State maps.

By July 1987, the house was once again open regular hours with donations continuing to pour in filling display cases in the home.

It became obvious that another location was going to be needed. Sally Powers contacted the management of Burlington Northern Sante Fe (BNSF) and after some discussion; Mayor John Miller accepted the deed to the depot from BNSF. The land still belongs to the railroad.

On Oct. 28, 1989, the Depot Museum opened with the displays from the Burroughs Home. The depot continues to hold a large collection of Ritzville memorabilia. The Burroughs stayed open while work resumed eventually returning it to its original glory.

The Antique Annies and Andies (as the men were called) seeded the lawn and installed an underground sprinkler system in June 1990.

The seed was donated by Jacklin Seed and spread by Donna Galbreath, Lois Gust, Mae Telecky and Sally Powers. Bruce Wilsey, Porter Muir, Gene Heinemann, Rudy Thaut, Grant Alspach and Gregg Wise installed the sprinkler system.

Over the years, hardworking volunteers such as Eleanor Heinemann, Mary Ann Phipps and Gaynel Gering also provided great ideas and amazing energy to keep the museum moving forward.

On May 16, 1995, the Burroughs’ Home received the State Historic Preservation Officer’s award for Outstanding Stewardship. It was awarded to the Annies and Andies at a ceremony at the Washington State Capitol.

In 1999 the home received yet another name change. The Frank R. Burroughs Home and Depot Museum was born. Thanks to Nancy Burke, the home was incorporated in 2000 and received its 501(c)(3) non-profit status in 2001.

The Antique Annies took the name of Ritzville Museum Volunteers sometime in 2005 when they merged with the Wagon Train Descendants Association.

The Ritzville Museum Volunteers have worked hard to keep the home maintained. It has received a new roof and a new coat of paint. Terry Jansen and her green thumb help to maintain the yard and gazebo.

The home remains open regular hours, Tuesday through Saturday, from Memorial Day to Labor Day. It is open anytime by appointment.

The current board is led by Joanne McCrady, president; Nancy Burke, vice president Burroughs; Deann Becker, vice president Depot; Dottie Telecky, secretary; Ann Olson, treasurer; Carol Becker, Gaynel Gering, Chris Clinesmith and LR Keith board members.