Don Kinsey Guides the Wool House tour

The wool house, it seems, was one of the biggest source of revenue for Sweet Grass County.  Almost all of the wool produced in Sweet Grass County was shipped through the wool house, which is located right next to the railroad line.  Many of the boys worked in this place during the summer, and when they did, they signed their name on the brick wall of the house.  It was amazing to see the names dating back to 1915 written neatly and proudly on the wall of the house.  Many of the reunion participants shared their experience of working in the wool house, and it was living history being told right before your eyes.  For a moment the names were speaking to you, and you wondered of all of the stories that they had to tell. 

Wayne Larson aka "SWEDE" and his brother Dean both worked in the wool house and have their names on the walls.  They remember their job of rolling 275 pound round burlap sacks full of wool onto rail cars.  Wayne and Dean said that the wool would come in on trucks- about 10 sacks per truck. They said that it took 2 men and a boy to roll those sacks around.  The wool would go out to a wool pool to be bidded on, and some of it went to the famous wool shirt and blanket maker Pendelton.  Pendelton had a deal with producers that they would give a discount on their finished product to any producer that would trade their wool in to them.  The producers were give a catalogue to order products from at a discount.  

Wayne Larson, far left,  and Dean Larson on the far right worked in the Old Wool House. (sister in the middle) Click on photo to see a larger version.

Their father, Arvid, was the Secretary and Treasurer of the Targhee sheep breed, and was the first one to bring the Targhee breed into Sweet Grass County.  "The Targhee met with a cool reception" they recall, as many people were skeptical of the breed.  Sweet Grass County sheep were predominantly Colombian and Ramboule at the time.  Yet Arvid must have been proud of having the National Grand Champion sheep for 4 years in a row for the finest fleece and fine staple, as told by his kids.  It took years to develop this breed of sheep.  Wayne and Dean remember that his dad used to go to DuBoise Idaho, where they say that the Dept. of Agriculture has a Research Station.  They used to sell their sheep as breeding stock, and sold their sheep all over the world, even Egypt.  Their ranch, which bordered the Gladston Lakes, was flood irritated and ideal for raising sheep. 

"Do they still use the wool house?", one of the crowd asked tour guide Don Kinsey.  

Don informed us that the wool house still ships about 80,000 pounds of wool as of last year.  This is a dramatic decrease in wool production as compared to the peak production of 2.5 million pounds.  During this time, Sweet Grass County Wool House exported more pounds of wool than any other place in the world. 

The Wool House Today

Today, the names of Larence Allstead and Doug Lair came up as being the biggest sheep and wool producers in Sweet Grass County- titles that are proudly held. Once upon a time, the various names of prestigious wool producers like the Jarrett's, Allstead's, Lavold's, Cramers, Johnson's, Bue's and Carney were the big shots!  They each prided themselves of their sheep, and would brag on who would have the biggest sheep, the most head of sheep, who the best sheepherder was and so forth.  

The old woolhouse used to be a place where Margaret Deegan "Viets" and sister Betty Monroe "Viets" father would bring wool and a product they called "Henbane" in 1942.  They used to pull up the broad leafed plant and bring it in whole to the wool house where it would be shipped from.  Supposedly they said that the plants were used to make medicine for veterans and servicemen in WWII.   

  
Margaret Deegan "Viets" (left) showed us where 
her husband signed his name to the wall pictured at the left. 
(Sister Betty Monroe "Viets" on right)

Amazing! You never know what memories are going to be conjoured up when going to a place of your past and being with friends.  This is what the SGHS All Class Reunion is all about.  Now I don't think that going to the wool house was a funky idea at all, but a great way to learn about a different generation and to hear their stories and bond and learn with people who have lived in Sweet Grass County in another era gone by.  It is nice to know the special feeling of friends getting together and sharing their stories, and I am glad that they shared them with me.