History has been a subject that runs deep in the Wet Mountain Valley and the Silver Cliff Museum is one of those places that is packed with an unbelievable amount of the region’s mining, agriculture, and military service history. Yet, tragedy struck last year when the Museum’s young local curator Shantell Squire unexpectedly passed away. Taking care of and maintaining the collection of historical artifacts and documents is a job that requires passion that Squire had in abundance.
After hearing about the need for someone to continue Squire’s stewardship of the Silver Cliff Museum local Scott Ruzanski offered to do what he could to continue maintaining the Valley’s history.
Last Saturday he was hosting guests at the museum along with his mother and former Tribune historical columnist Willdra Walker. “Our family goes all the way back to the beginning,” Scott stated as he pointed out a photograph from the late 1880’s of a young man named John Evans who had come to the region seeking a new future.
Other volunteers sharing local history were Marty Wolff, Mary Behrendt, and Martha Ann. The Silver Cliff Museum is open Friday-Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
– Jordan Hedberg
