Around the Valley: With Karen Huwe

WALLA WALLA - The Kirkman House on North Colville Street in Walla Walla was built between 1879 and 1889. William and Isabelle Kirkman moved into the house with their four surviving children, William Henry, Fanny Ann, Myrtle Belle, and Leslie Gilmore.

Around 1919, Mrs. Kirkman gave the house to Whitman College, and the college used the house as a dormitory. The college sold the house in the 1920s, and owners turned it into an apartment building. In the 1970s, The Historic Architectural Development Corporation (HAD) included restoring the Victorian house to its work in Walla Walla, and by 1989, nearly all the rooms were restored.

Waitsburg resident Joan Helm's grandfather was the nephew of Isabella. His Irish aunt met and married William Kirkman after she moved to San Francisco. Helm assists at the Kirkman House Museum, including at the Sheep to Shawl event on Saturday, October 7.

On the sunny fall day, visitors enjoyed demonstrations on how sheared wool is carded, dyed, spun into yarn, and then woven, knitted, or crocheted. Helm, her daughter Jackie, and her friend Deanne Johnson demonstrated knitting in front of the museum.

Jessica Duncan displayed an assortment of the yarn processed at her custom fiber mill at Nine Tree Farm. After Jessica and her husband, Jim, settled on their property outside of Dixie, they fell in love with sheep, specifically Finnsheep and Gotland sheep that provide the wool.

There were also animals at this family event, including two six-week-old lambs, Prince and Dixie. Their owner, from Dixie, let kids pet the lambs, answered questions, and gave spinning wheel demonstrations.

In addition to the lambs, there were two well-behaved miniature horses, eighteen-year-old Callie and sixteen-year-old Mylie. Lori Conall, founder of "Little Equine Angels" from Richland, said the diminutive horses were not rideable but could pull a cart up to ten times their weight. Conall offers a safe place for a child to experience personal growth and self-discovery. Equine encounters provide a non-traditional and effective method to help children observe and develop effective relationship skills.

Kids at Saturday's event were able to lead the horses over an obstacle course, and Callie shook their hands if they rubbed her leg and said, "Shake."

Other activities for children included decorating russet potatoes to look like Mr. Potato Head.

Attendees were able to enter a drawing to win a beautiful shawl, hand-knitted with 100% Merino wool from Italy. The drawing will be held on December 9, 2023, at the Victorian Christmas Open House. The annual holiday event will offer Living History performances, music, carolers, and good cheer. The museum will highlight festive colors and traditional Victoria-era décor.

The Kirkman House rooms were open for viewing, including the Adam West room, where you can enter the Bat Cave. There are Victorian dresses on display and a piano that came "around the horn" for Fanny's eighth birthday in 1881.

In the parlor, music was provided by Fiddl'n Ranger and Friends from the Tri-Cities. Waitsburg musician Kate Hockersmith was a guest guitar player, joining Reade Obern (fiddle), Kathy Caldwell (fiddle), Dan Caldwell (guitar), and Jim Sapp (banjo), who entertained guests from noon to one.

The Sheep to Shawl is an annual event at the Kirkman House Museum, and this was the first time that Allen and I, with our grandson Elijah, have attended. It was time well spent.

The Museum's other events are the Museum Murder, Victorian Tea, Victorian Christmas, and Kids First program. Check out their website to learn more, kirkmanhousemuseum.org.

A side note: The Fiddl'n Ranger & Friends, a Bluegrass club, has weekly jams in Kennewick. Their annual Bluegrass Festival is held on the second Saturday in June.  Mark your calendar to attend their free event held at Sacajawea State Park on June 8, 2024. The event runs from 3-9 pm.  You can also check them out on Facebook.