In November of 1989 the local VFW offered to give the historical society their building. Although it was a generous offer, the board knew that the building would require much repair, if not replacement soon. The same year, Guy and Margaret Raether purchased the old feed store building on the opposite side of the street. The Raether’s property also contained a historic cabin which they offered to donate to the museum. All the Society had to do was figure out how to move it across the street to the VFW lot. Julie Littlefield offered to fund the move and Bill Bailey took charge of the restoration.
Concerns about the physical state of the former VFW building eventually led to a decision to tear it down and construct a new museum in its place. After a flurry of fundraising and much hard work from several volunteers, the new museum was completed and attached to the historic cabin. The new Hotchkiss-Crawford Historical Society Museum had its grand opening on May 6, 2005
Several noteworthy people have been instrumental in operational and fundraising efforts over the years. There have been thirteen different presidents since the formation of the group. Some, like Elaine Henderson and Chuck Farmer, served several consecutive years and contributed much to the museum through their expertise of historical knowledge concerning the valley.
In addition to the extensive Native American artifact collection, several historic photographs, household items, period clothing and other artifacts fill every corner of the museum. The reference library is stacked with photo albums, yearbooks, oral history transcripts and countless historical documents. The adjacent cabin is fully furnished with period artifacts. Experiencing the cabin alone will transport you back to another time. There is even an extensive herbarium detailing local plant specimens. A surprisingly sizable collection of books for sale on local histories is also available.
The rich historical perspective offered at the Hotchkiss-Crawford Historical Society Museum is an essential experience for anyone interested in learning more about the formative years of the North Fork Valley. Descendants of area pioneers can trace their genealogy here, with the help of knowledgeable volunteer staff, and the very roots of the valley itself can be found inside this little gem of a museum.
