Tying the (Historical) Knot

WAITSBURG - This weekend will mark the end of the well-received "Tying the Knot: 120 Years of Walla Walla Weddings" exhibit at Walla Walla's Kirkman House Museum. The exhibit features 12 decades of bridal gowns, artifacts and the stories of Walla Walla Valley residents - including several items from Waitsburg resident Joan Helm, a distant relative of Isabella and William Kirkman.

Helm (whose maiden name is Potts, which is where the Kirkman connection comes in) grew up on her family's farm near Lamont, Wash. The 50-year WSU graduate taught "all over" before she and husband Jim moved to Waitsburg in 1976 where Jim operated the local grocery store and Joan taught school in Prescott. The couple raised their two daughters, Judy and Jackie, here while Joan finished out her teaching career and Jim worked as head custodian for the Waitsburg School District until his retirement.

It wasn't until 2004 - in a bit of an ironic twist -- that Helm discovered her link to the Kirkman family. She began researching her ancestry in preparation for a trip to Ireland only to find those Irish roots led her right next door to Walla Walla. From the historical reference book "Sprague Lamont Edwall 1881-1981," Helm learned that her great-grandfather's sister was Isabella Potts, who later became Isabella Kirkman.

Isabella and her sister had emigrated from BalleyBay Ireland to San Francisco, which is where she fell in love with England-born William Kirkman. Isabella and William married in 1867 and eventually made their home in Walla Walla where they became pillars of the community.

On separate return visits to Europe, Isabella brought her brother George's (Helm's great-grandfather) sons, Robert and Tom, back to the United States where they stayed with the Kirkmans until they got settled. Tom remained in Walla Walla while Robert began farming in the Sprague area.

Helm's grandfather, Jack ( John) Potts, later joined his brothers and aunt in America where he followed Robert's footsteps and began homesteading in the Lamont/Sprague area. Jack later passed the homestead on to his son William (Helm's father). Joan Helm and her brother Jim grew up on that same farm which Jim operated until it was sold in 2007.

Helm's aunt was especially pleased to learn of the family connection with the Kirkman's. Her middle name is Isabelle, but she had never known its significance. Helm also shared her findings with former Kirkman House curator Kirsten Schober (now manager of Dayton's Liberty Theater). "The museum was very pleased to have that information. They hadn't known much about the Potts side of the family," said Helm.

Helm enjoys staying "a little bit involved" with the museum and is currently on the Planning Committee. She was also pleased to provide items for the current "Tying the Knot" display. Helm shared several items, including a handmade flower girl dress that she wore in 1946, the three-piece "going away suit" that she wore following her own wedding in 1966 and the hat her mother wore to her wedding. "There is also a very fun picture series that chronicles my grandmother from the time of her engagement until she had her first child with my grandfather," said Helm.

The exhibit includes over 30 gowns, trousseaus and wedding artifacts and includes three video stations. "There is an exhibit of a woman who was married in her softball uniform on the pitcher's mound during a ballgame and another wedding that took place at the beginning of the 2009 Cycle Oregon bicycle race," said Helm. "It's very, very interesting."

The museum, located at 214 N. Colville St. in Walla Walla, is open Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The "Tying the Knot" exhibit will run through Sunday, Sept.7.