HELP FROM OTHERS

    From the very beginning Webster's main interest was starting a museum, and she hoped the $15,000 would be used for that purpose. The rest of the group believed the money should be spread around, and the most popular idea was a technology center. Unlike many groups who started a center from scratch and ran into problems, the Weippe team understood that there were four barriers to overcome: adequate open hours, lack of staff, security issues, and maintenance. They chose the Clearwater County Public Library, which was housed in a small building just off of the main street. While Webster did not agree to this, some funds were allotted for a computer for Webster's Heritage House. Josh Hutchins, a local high school student, assembled the computer for $700 in parts, and it has helped Webster run her fledgling operation, which is open for a few hours every Wednesday afternoon. The walls are lined with reproductions of historic photographs with annotations about the individuals pictured. When someone from Weippe comes in, Webster quizzes him or her about people they recognize. "My major thing is to collect history and tell it." She was planning visits to eighth grade classes at the time of my visit. As a long-time volunteer Webster said, "What I really gained from the MIRA training was the ability to ask for help from others."