The A. R. Bowman Memorial Museum strives to offer new and interesting exhibits that are relevant to the Crook County community.
By Ramona McCallister, CO Reporter
New exhibits will be set up at Bowman Museum for one year, displaying a comprehensive history of the automobile and the history of the Crook County Rodders Club, including its trophies and charitable work.
The museum's community center, The Crook County History Center, offers permanent exhibits that tell Crook County's story — including local Native Americans, homesteaders, timber, ranching and farming history, as well as Les Schwab's story. In addition, this space offers a temporary home for informative traveling exhibits and other displays. A new exhibit from the Crook County Rodders will soon be open for visitors to enjoy, beginning Feb. 1.
"They have agreed to come in and build their own cases for this, and also write the copy (for the history)," museum Director Sandy Cohen said.
He added that the display will be in place for approximately one year, and it will have one display case that gives a comprehensive history of the automobile and another that depicts the history of the Crook County Rodders Club, including its trophies and charitable work.
Lynn Arnett, president of the Crook County Rodders Club, explained that the car club was established approximately 15 years ago. He emphasized that the Crook County Rodders is more than shining up cars and showing them off. "It's about what we have done in the community for 15 years," Arnett said.
The Crook County Rodders have raised and donated approximately $34,000 at various events, all of which has been used to better the local community and for national organizations that support military members and first responders and their families. "We like doing that," Arnett added.
Some of the projects the club supports include fundraisers for Stryder Doescher, a local child who had medical conditions including epilepsy, connective tissue disorder and congenital heart defects. The group raised money to help purchase a service dog for Doescher, as well as a van to help transport him, his wheelchair, dog and oxygen tank to doctor appointments. Crook County Rodders also supports 4VR RIP, a national organization dedicated to restoring unfinished classic vehicles left behind by servicemen and women and first responders who are killed or wounded in action.
"It's a great hobby for lots of us folks, but our club tries to do more with giving back to the community, so I think that's one of our advantages," Arnett said. Members of Crook County Rodders are building the display cases, working to finish them before the exhibit's opening. The exhibit will remain for approximately one year. In addition, the club will have a classic 1934 Hudson Terraplane in the display room at the Crook County History Center for one week, prior to the Cruise to the Center of Oregon car show in July.