The 9th annual Friends of the Museum campaign is underway with the goal of raising funds to continue the many remodeling and preservation projects at the Oneida Pioneer Museum. To become a Friend of the Museum, just mail your donation to the Museum at P.O. Box 79, Malad, ID 83252. 

The levels of membership commemorate the methods used by pioneers to reach the Malad Valley:

$25 – annual

$50 – handcart

$100 – covered wagon

$200 – stagecoach

$500+ - steam engine

The Museum is housed in the former R.B. Davis Drug Store, which was built in 1914. When the Davis family deeded the building to the Museum in 2012, it became the permanent home for hundreds of Oneida County artifacts.

The 110-year-old building needs constant upkeep and repair. Last year the outdoor stairwell was covered as a temporary solution to safety and appearance problems. The parapet at the top of the building needs repair work to ensure parts of it do not fall off the building. The upstairs remodeling project continues so that the former boarding rooms can be used for exhibits. Extension of the electrical lines in the building is needed so that the back room of the main floor and the upstairs will have lighting and outlets.  The exterior of the Museum needs foundation work and some painting.

Several projects are underway to preserve some of the collections housed in the Museum. The hundreds of books, journals, histories, pictures, yearbooks, and documents will be archived and digitized soon. The pioneer-era portrait collection is one of the best in the state, and the Museum has some portraits that need preservation work. The clothing and quilt preservation project is almost completed, but more donations mean that more dust covers and archival boxes can be purchased.

Some of these projects are partially funded by grants from Idaho Heritage Trust, Idaho State Historical Society, Rocky Mountain Power Foundation, AgWest, and the Idaho Community Foundation.  However, most grants require matching funds, and some projects end up costing more than the grant amount. Therefore, the Friends of the Museum are invaluable partners in preserving the history of Oneida County and ensuring that future generations have the opportunity to see pioneer life through the artifacts, archives, and displays at the Museum.

In preparation for the seasonal opening of the Museum, the local camp of the Daughters of Utah Pioneers will clean the main floor and mezzanine of the Museum to show appreciation for their using the Museum for their monthly meetings. The Museum will open on Saturday, May 25, for the summer visitor season with its annual bake sale.