Steve Russell, founder of the Custer Museum, stands in front of a sign from the Custer depot. / Photos by Oliver Lazenby
By Oliver Lazenby
After 44 years of collecting local artifacts, lifelong Custer resident Steve Russell, 68, opened a free one-room museum to share his collection and Custer’s past.
The museum opened earlier this month at the corner of Main Street and Custer School Road and features displays dedicated to Native American life, artifacts, school and home life for Custer settlers, and early
Custer industry.
Russell is pleased with how many people have visited since the grand opening on September 1.
Photos from the Whatcom Museum show early Custer industry.
“I think I had about 60 people on the first two days,” he said. “That’s pretty good for Custer.”
Museum highlights include desks from the Custer school, an oxen yoke, a blank check from the Custer State Bank and an old sign from the Custer depot, which was torn down in the 1930s. That sign came from the former home of Frank Brunson, an early Custer resident born in 1886.
Before opening the museum, Russell had a private museum at his house. When he sold the house, he put much of his collection in a storage unit.
“I just thought, this stuff is not doing anyone any good being boxed away,” he said. When an opportunity arose to buy the old post office building in downtown Custer, Russell immediately knew what he wanted to do. “I’m retired now so this gives me a project.”
Historic Custer photos from the Whatcom Museum, depicting logging and shingle mill operations in Custer and early Custer buildings, complete the museum. Russell got help from Whatcom Museum curator Jeff Jewell, as well as the Center for Pacific Northwest Studies at Western Washington University, on the photographs and other historical information.
Russell’s passion for history isn’t limited to Custer, and his museum has some pieces that are not specific to the town, including a 22-pound iron used in a laundry business and a glass bottle collection.
Russell hopes that more Custer history will turn up now that the museum is open, especially old yearbooks and items from the Custer school.
Steve Russell’s new museum includes some non-Custer history.
“I think the older folks are going to come in with some nice stuff,” Russell said.
With a storage unit still filled with memorabilia, Russell plans to eventually switch pieces out to keep his museum fresh.
The Custer Museum is open from noon to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday.
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