Join us Saturdays

from 1 to 4 p.m.

for INDOOR

"Pickin' in the Park"

musicians!

It's FREE, it's FUN and you may

feel like DANCIN'

QUARTERLY REPORT

Spring is teasing us, but it is now mid March and old man winter

recently laughed at us again and laid an 8" blanket over us. Gil just

didn't feel like shoveling and plowing so he left his shop closed and

worked on improving some inside displays and writing the newsletter.

By the time this is going to press, the weather will hopefully change and

it may once again look like spring.

In spite of the winter blahs we have had visitors from 22 States, five

countries and three Canadian provinces.

We have really enjoyed having the "Pickin' in the Park"

musicians every Saturday afternoon. Please come and

listen for free and bring your friends. You can sing-a-long,

whistle, and dance too.

Executive Board of Directors

Gil Mangels, President

Cathleen Wilde, VP

Mel Adams, VP

Joanne Mangels, Secretary

Gracia Normandeau Jones

Kendall Dupuis

Mike Maddy

Stan Cohen

Donna Maddux

Nancy Pray

Jeanne Windham

Advisory Board of Directors

Phyllis Fulkerson

Jim Pomajevich

June 23, 2008 Volume VII

A N o n - P r o f i t 5 0 1 ( c ) ( 3 ) C o r p o r a t i o n • 8 1 - 0 4 3 7 3 8 6

36094 Memory Lane Polson, MT 59860 406-883-6804 www.miracleofamericamuseum.org • info@miracleofamericamuseum.org

March 2009

QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER

One Hundred years of T's

One hundred years ago Ford's first Model T rolled off one of America's

first assembly lines. MOAM has over 10 T's from 1914 to 1927 and would

like to tell you about a couple of special ones Gil has been working on this

winter. For years, Gil has wanted to build a TT (the heavier frame ton

model) into a wrecker truck, using an old wrecker unit that was originally

used by Cline Motors, (where Polson True Value now stands). Recently

Disney - Pixar movies brought out a delightful animated family movie

called "Cars" featuring Tow Mater, (a wrecker tow truck) and Lightning

McQueen, a race car with an attitude.

Well, this inspired Gil to go all-out in restoring his wrecker truck, and to

dig out some accessory parts to build another period correct Model T

Ford Racer. This one is different than the one that is displayed on the

Can you help us save

resources?

Some folks have requested our

newsletter on-line

to save paper and

mailing cost. The

two advantages are

reduced postage

cost to us, AND

that you receive it

in COLOR! Also, it

wouldn't cost us 90

cents if you move and forget to tell us of

your address change. Please let us

know by email, with the subject "museum

newsletter" if you want to switch.

museum@cyberport.net

Story continued on page 2

MISCELLANEOUS DONATIONS

Dwight Baker

- two unique circa-19 teens truck axles

Terry Broston

- Several boxes of salesmen's samples

of household cleaning products and hardware store items

Howard Hudson

- HD Clock and various manuals and

brochures

Irene Mc Allister

- sheet music, "We Love Our Montana"

Nancy Peace

- sheet music, "Montana Plains" written by

Rubye Blevins (her real name was Patsy Montana) circa

1937, various school and ag books, butter churn and ice

cream maker (both hand crank), WWII canteen, a mess

kit that had been Jim's, and a pair of beaded fur lined

moccasins that she had bought in Alaska in 1950.

Neil Olson

- Parts to restore our 1915 Indian Motorcycle

Dave Marshall and Paul Bonelli

- Painting help

Harlan and Joel Olson

- A propane search light,

blacksmith/wheelwright heavy duty tyre shrinker,

miscellaneous antique oil cans etc.

A huge salute of thanks to our

Sustaining Members:

First Interstate Bank

Glacier Bank

Polson Bay Grocery

Larry & Judy Sagers

Bob Skans

Jim & Barbara Sohm

Whitefish Credit Union

Corporate Sustaining Memberships:

Moody's Markets

Family Memberships:

Rick Breckinridge

John & Toni Erkkila

Ron Marquardt

Mike Noble

Ken Soward

In a class all by itself was a wonderful grant of $1000

from Walmart towards our endowment fund. Walmart,

while not locally based sure donates a lot to Polson's

charitable organizations and we say THANK YOU for this

Big Check

Newsletter layout courtesy of

Carmine Mowbray of

antique car hauler. He narrowed the cowl 8" so it is a

single seater, moved the engine back 8" so it has a longer

hood and lowered it about 6". The tail section he made by

cutting the tops off of two Farmall M Tractor gas tanks and

putting them together to make a streamlined looking tail

reminiscent of the 1920's and early 30's. The engine is

capped off by a rare 16 valve "Roof" racing cylinder head

with four exhaust stacks coming out the left side. Lack of

funds to overhaul the engine means the racer won't run

this year, our "Mater" runs well enough to do a few

parades with "Lightning" in tow. "Cars" takes place in

Radiator Springs, along nostalgic Route 66. To avoid

confusion, our Mater is from Radiator Leaks, MT, along

Hwy 93. Children and adults alike, think the combo is

neat. Any resemblance of ours to Pixar's, however, is

strictly a figment of your imagination. See "Before" and

"After" pictures on our website, under "projects."

Thanks to these folks and all our sustaining and

family members, we are able to preserve and

present history for all to appreciate. We cannot

accomplish this without your help.

We are saddened to report that Carla

Mapston has died. She and her husband, Don,

donated many useful items before their move

to Conroe, Texas a few years ago.

A GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING - FOR

GENERATIONS

Memorial Jerry Stolle

Silver Rock Pines

Homeowners

Memorial Walt & Phyllis Mangels -

Dr. Palmeiri

Memorial Fred Poloson -

Grace & Lyle Larson

Beautiful beaded Alaskan fur moccasins purchased by

Nancy Peace in 1950

Steve at

Missoula Pacific Steel

who has helped

us in the past by giving us roofing at cost recently

donated several hundred dollars of steel for restoring

our wrecker truck. Some of the steel for our rusted out

bed had to be specially formed. They did a very nice

job on that too.

Glacier National Park will be celebrating their

100

th

birthday next year. Gil has been busy doing

an article and taking photos of some of our park

collectibles to submit for inclusion in their

centennial book. We hope to be accepted

.

Souvenir of Glacier Park. Ladies button

hook and shoe horn patented 1917

Visit Area 51 Without

Leaving Town

Art Jacobson of Denver just sent us a framed

11 x 15 photo of our "Area 51" which he took and

used on our 2008 reception area calendar. He

entered the photo in a recent Roswell, NM art show

under the title "Mimicking Roswell at the MOAM". It

didn't win but in all fairness to the judges in

Roswell, I think that they may have been a little

jealous that someone else could have evidence of

extra terrestrials.

Another American Icon turns 100

For a particular map display Gil has

planned, he needs "glovebox"

maps for Alabama, CT, Hawaii, NH,

OK, RI, SC, TN and VT. Can you

help?

Ask any child . . .

Ask any child: "Who makes the best animated

movies?" and they will probably all tell you, "Pixar",

who coupled with Disney, have brought us some

delightful family movies over the last few years: "The

Incredibles," "Ratatouille," and "Cars" are Gil's

favorites. Director and screen writer, Brad Bird spent

part of his childhood in Polson and Kalispell.

Brad was kind enough to send a nice morale

booster letter to Gil, and he just donated a large box

of goodies including a talking doll "Edna". She was

fashion designer for the super hero family, the Parrs,

in the "Incredibles". Brad thoughtfully autographed

and sent several nice coffee table hardback books

on the making of a good family movie. They make

one appreciate the time and hard work that are

involved. His able assistant, Lori, has also spent

some of her valuable time over the phone with Gil.

Photo at right: Pixar's "Edna" doll from "The

Incredibles", a DVD and personal letter to Gil from

the studio's Brad Bird, who hails from Polson and

Kalispell.

Miracle of America Museum

36094 Memory Lane

Polson, MT 59860

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

Endowment To Sustain Miracle of America Legacy

We're not alone when asking for financial help and with the recession we feel

awkward. We are not asking that you take food or shoes from your family, but

we are heartened that the spirit of giving is alive in these challenging times. We

would like to share our concern and candidly ask for consideration.

Many people ask what's to become of this amazing collection when we get

old. Fact is we are old and are concerned about what is to become of it. If we

turned it over to the city or county, it would inevitably be sold and dispursed

forever - a loss to the community and its rich heritage.

After 24 years we now have only 10% of what we need for a sustaining

endowment. We have used all monies wisely with none going to us or any board

member. The endowment fund is inviolate and the interest it generates could

help hire someone to take charge when we are no longer able. We have

volunteered all our time whereas someone else will likely not be able to.

Our museum savings fund (different from endowment) was depleted last year

to match a generous gift to build our newest village building and restore a few

items that had been waiting a long time. Much of the labor and money to restore

items has come from earnings from Gil's welding and machine works, but there

has been a slowdown in paying jobs. We know there are people out there who

are not aware of this critical need. Why not call, write, or better yet, bring them

in and let their heart be their guide. If you would be willing to pledge or bequeath

just 5 or 10% of your estate to the MOAM what a blessing that would be

towards preserving the museum so that your posterity might enjoy it in the

future!

Gifts are tax-deductible.

Non-Profit

Postage Paid

Polson, MT

59860

Permit #89

"The Sunseekers", original sculpture by

Gil. In order for a flower to blossom and

reach its full beauty it seeks the sun. In

order for a person to do likewise, he

must seek the Son, Jesus Christ the Son

of God."

This whole

daylight savings

time change has

me so frazzled.

You did say

"Spring Ahead"

didn't you? -

original sculpture

by Gil