Sisters Country Historical Society formed

Jean Nave, President of the Sisters country Historical Society, displays ancient artifacts uneartheed at Black Butte Ranch. photo by Conrad Weiler

The Black Butte Ranch Historical Society has grown to become the Sisters country Historical Society.

"We wanted to expand community involvement in our group and have more local area people with an interest in history come together," said President Jean Nave. "The recent "History of Central Oregon" presentation at Sisters COCC's Lunch and Learn program had 48 people sign up from Black Butte Ranch, Camp Sherman and the Sisters area. Our new group will now represent the whole area."

Besides Nave, the group's board includes LaVerne Blatt, Secretary, historical writer John Hayes and Camp Sherman's Erhard Dortmund, a historian and journalist, who will be added to the board at their next meeting.

"Our first project is to help the Friends of the Sisters Library preserve the old library building (circa 1939) and help in moving it to the new Sisters Library location. To that end we are donating $1,000 for this project and are seeking more grant monies for the move," said Nave.

"Secondly, we would like to partner with Sisters Schools and work with third and fourth grade students to bring our local history alive for the children. The close proximity of the elementary school and Sisters Library makes this a natural."

The Historical Society currently has over 5,000 old photographs representing local area history.

"Our group would like to continue collecting these artifacts and preserving them for future generations," said Nave. "An historical reference library for storage would be a valuable asset for the Sisters area."

The group hopes to secure an equipment grant that will allow digitizing the old photographs and preserving them into the future.

The Sisters Country Historical Society is a 501.C3 nonprofit corporation. For more information call 595-2547.