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Holden Portal Museum Collection
The museum has several notebooks with newspaper clippings.An article about Holden says, "The community ski lift, dances, bowling and movies make up the diversions of a Holden winter."
Chelan Valley Mirror, Feb 23, 1956
This article describes the record snow year of 1956. It lists the snow depths at Holden during the years when the mine was in operation.
1937-38 = 327"
1938-39 = 222"
1939-40 = 214"
1940-41 = 175"
1941-42 = 163"
1942-43 = 365"
1943-44 = 141"
1944-45 = 203"
1945-46 = 430"
1946-47 = 320"
1947-48 = 296"
1948-49 = 417"
1949-50 = 377"
1950-51 = 462"
1951-52 = 354"
1952-53 = 362"
1953-54 = 419"
1954-55 = 326"
1955-56 = 625"
There is a sign for "Holden Ski Club" on display in the museum.
The museum has several slide carousels. A museum volunteer showed me some skiing slides:
A museum volunteer said they have a film by Larry Penberthy on video. The film shows mine workers skiing in the late 1930s--with some good head-plants. I didn't get a chance to watch it during my visit.
- Photo of people waiting to ride a rope tow on a small hill at the far end of the miners' community of Winston (color slide).
- Photo of skiers on the ski hill with Bonanza Peak in the background, mid to late 1950s (color slide). Some brush is showing on the ski hill.
On display in the museum are copies of letters between Wesley Prieb and the Howe Sound Company regarding the status of Holden after the mine closed. The first letter from Prieb was dated June 7, 1957. He inquired as to the status of the property and mentioned that it might make a good location for a church retreat. The company replied that it was asking $100,000 for the property. Over a period of months, Prieb sent two more letters similar to the first. In May 1960, after Prieb's third letter, the company replied offering the property as a gift. Later that year Howe Sound Company deeded Holden to the Lutheran Bible Institute of Seattle.
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