POLK COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
PO Box 55, Monmouth, OR 97361 polkcountyhistoricalsociety.org

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Organizations Filed Purposes: The purpose for which the Polk County Historical Society is organized shall be to encourage the study, knowledge and understanding of the history of the State of Oregon and Polk County, Oregon; to collect, preserve, exhibit and interpret objects and publish information relating to the history of Polk County; to acquire, exhibit, and interpret the material culture of Polk County; and to build, operate and maintain a historical museum or museums in Polk County.

In 1999 the Polk County Historical Society moved the Polk County Museum from the Carnegie Library in Dallas, Oregon into a new 15,080-square-foot museum building in Rickreall, Oregon. Built mainly by volunteers with primarily local donations, the new Polk County Museum opened February 12, 2000. The Museum celebrates its 20th birthday this year. It welcomed 1,819 visitors in 2019. The Polk County Museum houses the largest and most important local history research collection in Polk County, Oregon. Its Library includes Oregon reference titles and county-related histories and genealogies. Subject pamphlet files provide both broad and deep coverage on hundreds of subjects. The separate Document Archive, includes manuscript and scrapbook collections, including the Polk County Archives in their original format. The CF Stevens Audio/Visual Archive includes the large Stafrin and Swenson photographic collections, as well as many smaller collections, which are all being catalogued, digitized, and printed for display and research use. Recorded, transcribed, and filmed interviews of local residents have been digitized and are available for reviewing and copying. Artifact collections support a wide array of interpretive displays, including basketry and stone tools crafted by indigenous Kallapuya. On-loan collections include antique vehicles, firearms, and brewery artifacts, hops being a significant agricultural industry in the county. Antique farm equipment, a lumber carrier, and a vintage fire truck are housed in our vehicle storage building, next to our shop which is used for artifact restoration and exhibit construction. All of this activity was supported in 2018 by an investment of 7,000 volunteer hours.

In 1975 the Society acquired a portion of the Harrison Brunk Century Farm, located on the Salem-Dallas Highway at Eola, Oregon. The 1861 house (the only remaining building from the pioneer settlement of Eola and the oldest two-story home in Polk County) features original and period furnishings as well as personal Brunk family artifacts. The Classic Revival Brunk House was completed and inhabited by members of the Brunk family, donation Land Claim immigrants of 1849. The farmstead was recognized as the Harrison Brunk Century Farm in 1959, and is on the National Register of Historic places. The pioneer farmstead includes outbuildings that have been restored and maintained for historical purposes. The Brunk Farmstead includes an Orchard House, Carriage House with tool room, Equipment Barn with a fully-equipped blacksmith shop, and the original granary. The grounds (maintained by Polk County Master Gardeners) include organic vegetable gardens which supply fresh produce for the local food bank. The grounds also include a grape arbor, an herb garden and an antique rose garden, along with original heritage fruit plantings. The grounds also include contemporary ADA compliant restrooms, parking, and picnicking and assembly areas suitable for groups up to 75 persons. in 2019, 4,278 volunteer hours were donated to maintain the property and buildings for educational visits from area schools and for serving as a workshop venue. In 2019 489 persons visited the Farmstead house museum.

Since 1959, The Polk County Historical Society (PCHS) has been committed to documenting, celebrating, and sharing the cultural legacy and contributions of Polk County, Oregon residents. In addition to maintaining an active, monthly schedule of public educational programs, the Society hosts an annual, free Family Day each spring at the Museum and has added a free Family Apple Fest held in conjunction with the already established apple cider making event held each fall. The Society also hosts a spring open house at the Brunk Farmstead, which includes the Salem Auto Clubs Council and their restored classic and vintages cars as a stop on their annual Blossom Poker) Run. During 2019 the Society provided 10 school group tours, especially focused on Oregon immigrant histories for fourth-grade students, 10 special tours for adult groups, and 6 traditional craft workshops. The Society activiely collaborates with a wide range of partners, including the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, the Dallas Area and Monmouth/Independence Chambers of Commerce, Polk County Fair, Salem Auto Clubs Council, the Heritage Center at Mission Mill, Civil War reenactors, Polk Master Gardeners, Mid-Winter AgFest, Kalapuya Weaving and Western Oregon University teacher training. In 2019 802 persons attended tours and events

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