A lifetime of history

Walter Sprague
Art and Culture Reporter
 
After 23 years of service to the Weston County Museum District, Bobbie Jo Tysdal has retired. On June 28, Tysdal was honored at a party  at Pinnacle Bank for her years of faithful service. From 1 to 3 p.m., a few dozen people came in and out, had cake, cookies and lemonade and visited with Tysdal. While she had wanted to retire without any big to-do, her family had different ideas. They let her know about the party after it was all planned. In the end, Tysdal said she was happy to have the celebration and she thanked all the people who came out for it.
She also said that she appreciates all the support and community spirit the district has had over her two-plus decades. 
“I did not know when I was helping to get petitions signed to form a museum district,” Tysdal said, “that just one year after the formation of the district, in 1996, I would be working at the Anna Miller Museum as curator, or that I would become the district director in 2001.”
The district was the first of its kind in Wyoming. After becoming director, Tysdal realized quickly that the proper legal paperwork had yet to be submitted to the state. This lapse threatened the special district’s status with the state. Working closely with the state auditor’s office and the county clerk at the time, Paulette Thompson, everything was put in order. 
“I am not a person who uses the word ‘I’ a lot. I like ‘we,’” she said, “We have maintained our special district status ever since.”
Tysdal went on to say that all
the IRS and secretary of state requirements to maintain tax-exempt status for the Friends Foundation are up to date.
When thinking back on what she is most proud of or which activities and acquisitions she is most fond of, the first thing that comes to Tysdal’s mind is the Red Onion Museum in Upton. Tysdal worked with the town council and mayors for almost 20 years for the museum to stay in City Hall at $10-a-year rent. The museum moved to its current location at 729 Birch St. in the spring 2014, according to intern Markie Whitney. 
“On Dec. 13, 2019, we had a public Christmas open house to burn the mortgage,” Tysdal said. “We paid off the building four years early.”
One of Tysdal’s favorite displays at the Red Onion is a homestead map given to the museum by the city of Gillette. Maggie Makousky, the coordinator for the Red Onion Museum, said that all the locations of the homesteads are marked out, showing all the names of the homesteaders.
“We’ve attached pictures of all the homesteaders we could find,” Makousky said.
Along with the Red Onion, the Anna Miller Museum has seen many improvements to the structures. These include new electrical, computer and lighting systems, as well as security systems. Much of the improvements to the grounds ensure that the facilities are attractive and handicap accessible. Plexiglas has been installed on several outbuildings to protect them from vandals, yet giving a good view of the displays. Tysdal said that she had had many conferences with architects and board members over the years. Together, they have successfully expanded the museum. Some of these expansions include the acquisition of the stone building, the caboose and jail cell, the schoolhouse, the Jenny Cabin upgrades, and the Novak/Miller cabin. She is also pleased with the addition of the living quarters at the Anna Miller, showing what furniture used to look like and how well made the pieces are.
Tysdal oversaw many of the events that have taken place during her years. From Living History Days for kindergartners through fifth graders to the Candlelight Christmas program, from Harvest, Haunts and History, to the Night at the Museum in the summer, Tysdal said that she is glad the community had many occasions to participate in seeing history come alive.
One of the most moving experiences she was involved with was when she helped a family from Michigan. They had an uncle who had died in a Japanese prisoner of war camp. Tysdal helped with the disinterment of their uncle so the family could rebury his remains in Michigan. 
“I worked with the city, the rec board and travel commission to put up markers on some local historical people,” Tysdal said. 
Other work, especially when Bob Hartley was working, involved helping locals and others look for graves of their loved ones.
Tysdal said she is especially grateful for all the donors and others who have participated in fund-raising events for the district. The list of generous people is so big that she feels she could never adequately thank everyone fairly, she said. But she is proud of the communities of Weston County for how supportive they have been and said she wanted to make sure that everyone is appreciated.
Surrounded by family, all her children and grandchildren living in Weston County, Tysdal is looking forward to life as mom and grandmother now.