Volunteer Spotlight--Milt and JaNae Friedli

PETEETNEET VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT

Milt and JaNae Friedli

            The Peteetneet Museum and Cultural Arts Center feels very fortunate to have Milt and Janae Friedli as two of our outstanding volunteers.  This couple has  shared their efforts in many areas in the community over the last few years.

            Milt was born and raised in Logan, Utah. His father died when he was eight years old. He was the third child of Carl and Elizabeth Friedli. He had two brothers and one sister. He went to Harlan, Montana and lived with his aunt and uncle and worked on their farm.

            He went back to Logan and was injured in a motorcycle accident and went to the hospital. He met JaNae who worked at the hospital. They had their first date in November and were married nine weeks later in January of 1960. They recently celebrated their 55^th wedding anniversary  as "newlyweds.”  They have one daughter, Teresa, and three sons; Dart, Greg, and Alan. They have 12 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

Milt has worked on ranches in Harlan and Dillon, Montana; Smithfield and Logan, Utah. He has worked on construction of many buildings at Utah State University as well as helping build many churches in Idaho and Utah. He has also operated a crane, worked in the Desert Cheese factory making cheese for the LDS Church welfare program. Before coming to Payson he was sexton in the Clarkston, Utah Cemetery.

JaNae was born in Logan and was the first child of Ralph and Ethel Greene of Smithfield. She has three brothers and one sister.  She worked in the hospitals in Logan and Dillon, Montana. She has also worked in the lunch program in the Cache County School District. She has served as a Pink Lady in both the Logan and Mountain View Hospitals. While living in Clarkston, she helped with the Martin Harris Pageant.

She is a member of the DUP in  the Wagon Wheel Camp. She likes to do genealogy, knit, crochet camp, read, and enjoy life. She loves associating with family and friends

The Friedli's moved to Payson in 1999 and they started volunteering at Peteetneet. Milt worked on the grounds and helped with the maintenance work at Peteetneet. He did so well in this capacity, he was hired part time by Payson City. Even though he works part time, he also volunteers many hours a month helping in other area of the Peteetneet. He enjoys his association with the other people who work with him, and he says he couldn't do it without the help of the other volunteers.

JaNae serves as a volunteer Tour Guide every Tuesday morning at the Peteetneet.  She also fills in where ever else she is needed during the week.

JaNae and Milt have volunteered for Payson Scottish Days, the Salmon Supper, and the Cancer Society's "Walk for Life" committee.   Both of them have serve on the Board of Trustees of People Preserving Peteetneet and are members of the Payson Historical Society.

The Friedli's feel the pride and satisfaction that comes from serving Payson and the Peteetneet in this capacity. Milt said he appreciates the help and support of the many volunteers. He enjoys his job maintaining the grounds and the building. As well as volunteering in other capacities.

The People Preserving Peteetneet and the Peteetneet Museum are very proud of the Friedli's and appreciate both of them very much.  It is volunteers like Mile and JaNae that  makes the museum.

Peteetneet Volunteer Spotlight--Sharon Hardy

PETEETNEET VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT
    SHARON HARDY

    The Peteetneet Museum feels very fortunate to have a number of our Volunteer Tour Guides that are not natives of Payson but they have adopted Payson and put down their roots in the area.  One such volunteer is Sharon Hardy.
    Sharon grew up in Idaho Falls, Idaho.  She met and married Clifford “Kipp” Hardy.  At the time, Kip a native of Perry, New York  was stationed with the Air Force in Idaho.  They later lived in New Jersey where he was stationed and then Laredo, Texas.  After his military service, they moved to his hometown in New York.
    In 1973, they sold their home in New York and moved to Utah where Kip had accepted a new job with Brigham Young University in Provo.  They did not know where they to live in the valley so they decided to rent for a while.  They ended up renting in Payson and loved the town and the area so much they chose to make their home here.  They felt it was a great place to raise a family.
     Sharon and Kip are the parents of five children.  They have three boys and two girls.  All of their children attended at least one year at the Peteetneet School.  Today, the family is scattered over the country except for one who lives in Santaquin.  They have twelve grandchildren.  They are happy and grateful for cars, planes, telephones and the internet because they are able to keep in contact with all of them.
    She worked at Behling Insurance in Payson for twenty-seven years.  After retiring, she became a volunteer at Peteetneet, She have been a volunteer for over two years.  She enjoys the visitors who come to the museum.  Sharon said that volunteering at Peteetneet is one of the highlights of her week.  She believes the Peteetneet building is so beautiful and she is glad it has been preserved.
    Before volunteering at the museum, she had not taken the opportunity to visit.  Since coming to visit she was truly amazed at the quality and variety of displays that are here.  She said the room honoring those who have served our country is one of the best displays.  She really likes the Victorian Room where mini-rooms of a home on the late 1800s and early 1900s are located.  She loves the Western Room with the displays of western art and artifacts.  Then there is the Fashion Room with women’s clothing from the 1850s to the 1990s.  That is a very special room.  In fact, each room in the building has something to offer to those that visit the building.
    Sharon encourages everyone to take the time and come and see the beautiful, restored Peteetneet building and the wonders that it holds.

Volunteer Spotlight--Iris and Raydon Madson

    PETEETNEET VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT
    IRIS AND RAYDON MADSON

    Each week the Peteetneet Museum likes to spotlight one of our great volunteers.  This week we would like to spotlight Iris and Raydon Madson.  Iris adds a spot of sunshine each Friday afternoon to the museum.  She always arrives with a smile on her face and brings a happy atmosphere into the building with her arrival.  Raydon is always there to support Iris when he is needed.
    Raydon was born and raised in Payson.  His family home stood where we find Taco Time today on 100 West.  He attended Peteetneet School from the second to the fifth grade so his attachment for Peteetneet is deeply ingrained in him.  His mother, Emma Tanner Madson also attended Peteetneet and was one of the first graduates in 1903.
    Raydon is a retired educator from Nebo School District.  He taught band, math, and science among other classes he had over the years.  When he retired, he was teaching at the Spanish Fork Middle School.  After retiring, one of his former principals, who was now the principal of Payson Junior High, asked him to come and be a teacher’s assistant with some of the programs at the school.  He felt that Raydon had a lot to offer to students of that school.  He remained there for a few more years.
    Raydon and Iris have always been very active in the LDS Church.  He served a mission to Sweden as a young man.  He has served in many positions including Bishop.  They have both
    Iris has always led a very active live in her church callings and working at Mountain View Hospital for a number of years.
Iris was born in Reno, Nevada but was raised in Salt Lake City.  She met Raydon while they were both students at Brigham Young University.  They moved to Payson in 1955 and have made their home here since that time.
    The Madsons are the parents of eleven children.  As Iris says, “They have a large posterity of children in their family.  They have over 40 grandchildren and a large number of great-grandchildren.”   As Iris would say, “There are so many that I have lost count but we love them all.
    Iris and Raydon  recently celebrated their 60th Wedding Anniversary and their birthdays.  Ten of  their eleven children attended the Peteetneet.  Their youngest attended the “new” Barnett Elementary School.  All of their children utilized the playground of the Peteetneet since it was so close to their home.
    When they both “finally retired” they were called to serve a mission to Sweden.  After they returned from their mission,  they found the Peteetneet Museum and Cultural Arts Center could be reserved for reunions and other types of activities.  Iris came to the museum to reserve a day for their family.  While she was there, she was asked it she would like to become a Tour Guide and she agreed to volunteer.  She has now been here almost seventeen years.  Raydon assists when his help is needed to help Iris cover for others who cannot make it that day.  They both volunteer because they both love serving others and do not seek the limelight for what they do.
    We can never thank Iris and Raydon for all they have done and are still doing for the Peteetneet.

Avard Fairbanks Exhibit

PETEETNEET MUSEUM SPOTLIGHT EXHIBIT
AVARD FAIRBANKS EXHIBIT

The Peteetneet Museum feels very fortunate to have a small part of the works of Avard Fairbanks.  The pieces we have in our collection are only plaster casts and the original bronze pieces are located at other locations in the United States.  The John Fairbanks family was one of the important familes in the history of early Payson.  John was Avard’s grandfather. 
    Avard Tennyson Fairbanks. Born in Utah in 1897, was a prolific 20th century American sculptor. Three of his sculptures are in the United States Capitol and the state capitols in both Utah and Wyoming, as well as numerous other locations, also have his works. Possibly his most well-known artistic contribution was designing the ram symbol for Dodge.
    The pieces if the Avard T. Fairbanks Collection at Peteetneet includes the large stature of Spencer Penrose. He was the father of the copper industry in Utan. The bronze casting of this piece is at the Broadmore Hotel in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
    The buffalo plaster cast was originally presented to Payson High School.  The had originally called themselves the Farmers and then the Beet Diggers.  They became the Buffalos after Mr. Fairbanks presented themwith the model. They changed their mascot to the Payson Lions in 1928 in honor of the local Lion’s Club who was one of their supporters.
In 1929 a rising young sculptor with ties to Payson, Utah arrived at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor to head up the sculpture department. He needed a more reliable car than his 1928 Willys- Knight with its sleeve-valve motor that wouldn't start on cold winter mornings. But it was the Depression and he didn't have any more money than anyone else.
Flying Lady - Plymouth hood ornament
He reasoned he could design a radiator cap ornament in trade for a new automobile. Chrysler Corporation, in nearby Highland Park, was an up-and-coming auto maker, with innovative engineering and designs. Yet its radiator caps, with their little Viking wings, needed improvement. Avard Fairbanks was just the artist to replace themwith sculptural masterpieces.
    At  Chrysler  headquarters,  he  was  told  they  were  about  to  introduce  an  all-new Plymouth, the PA series, featuring Floating Power (which meant shock-absorbing engine mounts). "The Smoothness of an Eight with the Economy of a Four" was the advertising pitch. Could he symbolize that in a radiator cap ornament?  Fairbanks designed a little mermaid (of Norse mythology) coming up out of a swirling wave...then gave her the wings of an eagle. The mermaid was a hit: Floating Power, indeed! In return for his work on the little mermaid, Fairbanks was paid with a handsome, red 1932 Chrysler Royal Eight. Over the years these radiator caps have come to be known as "the Flying Lady." Only the Fairbanks family seems to know who she really is. Take a close look, the next time you see one; take a closer look at the point where her hips emerge from the swirling waves and where her tail disappears topside. Notice the little ridges that represent her fishy scales. She's a mermaid, all right!
    The 1931 Plymouth was a runaway success. It pushed Buick out ofthird place in national sales and thrust Chrysler Corporation into the Big Three of auto makers. Walter P. Chrysler may have thought its success had to do with his engineering features such as hydraulic brakes, free wheeling and Floating Power. But Avard Fairbanks, never averse to taking due credit, always said, "everyone just loved my little mermaid."
    There is a feature of the Little Mermaid on which almost everyone seems compelled to comment. It's not about the feathery pattern on her wings, nor her flowing wavy hair, nor her
graceful emergence out of the waves. It's about her healthy torso! Fairbanks reply spoke strongly in her defense: "She's a mermaid, and that's just how mermaids are!" Dispute that if you can.

    The "Little Mermaid on the waves"--as a symbol of floating power and Plymouth--soon got lost on the marketing people at Plymouth. A line drawing of the design appeared on each page of the sales brochures of the PA models, but the Fairbanks design was used only on the 1931 PA and 1932 PB Plymouths. The 1933 design, which was taller and slimmer, was the work of someone else. By 1934 Plymouth ornaments had become sailing ships. DeSoto got winged ladies of various designs until 1949.
FIRST   DODGE  RAM  LOGO
    Avard Fairbanks was influenced by the styles of the era in which he worked, most notably the Art Deco motifs popular during the 1920s and '30s. His work for the Chrysler Corporation was not over, however. As he recalled:
    One evening he got an urgent call from the engineers at Dodge Automobile Company asking him to meet them in ten minutes. They explained that they had 10,000 cars that needed hood ornaments and that they wanted something as attractive as the ornament on a Rolls Royce, but for the cheapest car! He took along my clay and an animal book by my friend William Hornaday and spent the next several days at their headquarters. They brought in food and a couch and he went to work.
    He suggested a mountain lion, a tiger, a jaguar and other animals. Finally he started modeling a mountain sheep. When the engineers read that the ramwas the "master of the trail and not afraid of even the wildest of animals" they became enthusiastic about the symbol. Walter P. Chrysler wasn't as convinced. ButheI explained that anyone seeing a ram, with its big horns, would think "dodge." He looked at Avard, looked at the model, scratched his head and said, "That's what I want - go ahead with it."
    This is the story as it appeared in Southwest Art magazine. The Fairbanks family recalls it slightly differently:

"For two weeks father worked on all sorts of models from mythology creatures to various powerful animals. Finally, he called the designers and Mr. Chrysler in to see three models of a Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, a ram. He proposed the charging one. They asked, "why a ram?" Father responded, "It is sure-footed; it's the King of the Trail; it won't be challenged by anything." They nodded their heads. Then father, with a bit ofcorny humor, added, "And if you were on the trail and saw that ram charging down on you, what would you think?-DODGE!" To which Walter Chrysler excitedly replied "THAT'S IT! THE RAM GOES ON THE DODGE!"

    Avard left his models at Dodge headquarters for a fewmonths. When he returned he was surprised to see an assembly plant lot full of new Dodges with rams on their hoods. He immediately sought an audience with K. T. Keller (President of Dodge Division) who explained that in his absence, they had to move ahead so their own designer modified the ram ornament for production. They had tilted the head down a bit more and pulled the horns away from the head, a suggestion Avard had made but thought would be too costly  for production. In fact, it was an expensive item but so beautiful that new Dodge owners were constantly troubled with thefts of their rams. Thousands had to be produced as replacements.
Avard reminded Mr. Keller that copyright laws do apply to sculpture and artistic designs and Mr. Keller very quickly offered to pay himwith another newcar. But with the big redChrysler already at home, he asked instead for a royalty on the design. They finally settled on a check for the full retail price for a top-of-the line Dodge Eight: $1,400. For that amount (rather paltry by today's standards), Dodge got one of the most enduring corporate symbols in American history.
    The Dodge Ramwas not to be the last radiator ornament Fairbanks designed. His work is also found on the 1933 Hudson Essex Terraplane. The hot performance car of 1933 (it won the Pike's Peak Hill Climb and set records on the sands of Daytona Beach), the Terraplane was given an ornament ofthe Griffin, the mythological lion with an eagle head and wings. (Its wing pattern is a close match to Plymouth's winged mermaid.) This time he signed the ornament and took an Essex Eight in payment.
    Many of the sculptures on Temple Square in Salt Lake City are by Fairbanks, including the Three Witnesses Monument.
    The Fairbank’s home was located between 100 North and 200 North on Payson Main Street.  It was dismantled a few years ago and rebuilt at THIS IS THE PLACE STATE PARK in Salt Lake City.

Volunteer Spotlight--Dona Brian

PETEETNEET VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT
    DONA BRIAN

    The Peteetneet Museum has been very blessed to have some of the most wonderful Tour Guides of any facility in the country.  This week, we would like to spotlight Dona Brian.  She is one of those volunteers that always seems to go the extra mile no matter what the task might be.  This very knowledgeable lady can be found each Monday morning waiting to take you on a very informative tour of the building.
    Dona has been a volunteer at Peteetneet for almost twelve years.  She has served as President of the Peteetneet Arts Council for a number of times and was recently elected to that position once again after the last president moved from the area.  Her terms of service have not been consecutive even thought she has now served for six years and is now beginning another two year term.  The Arts Council knows when they have a very dedicated, capable person in this important position.
    Dona feels the time she has been involved at Peteetneet as a Volunteer and member of the Arts Council has been very enjoyable.  She feels that her involvement with the people has been great and it has given her the opportunity to share her time and talents with the many great people she has met and associated while being involved at the museum.
    Dona was married to her husband, E. Dean Brian, for 50 years before he passed away suddenly in 2003.  They are the parents of one daughter and four sons.  She enjoys spending time with them and her nineteen grandchildren and fourteen great-grandchildren.  All but one of her children lives\ close by with the exception one son who lives in Alaska.
    Dona and her husband operated a very successful State Farm Insurance agency in Springville for more that forty years.
    She has enjoyed using her talents in writing and management when promoting the annual quilt shows and train shows.  She feels the each year the quilt shows become better than the previous that have been held.  She feels the talents shared by all of the organizations and participants have been outstanding.  Each year, the visitors to the quilt shows always comment that some of the best shows they have seen are at the Peteetneet.
    She noted that we have more out of town visitors than local visitors to the show.  The local people do not know what they are missing.  Many who attend the shows are amazed at the majestic beauty of the Peteetneet building.
    The Arts Council spends many hours planning the quilt show and all the art exhibits that appear each month in the Art Gallery.  The exhibits are well-planned in advance and it is the greatest desire of the Peteetneet Arts Council to make all their events worthwhile for all who attend.
    Dona stated she is very happy to be able to show visitors through the museum and see all the wonderful  exhibits we have to share.  The museum is always so clean and orderly and everyone that visits is amazed at the extent of the variety of articles  on display here.  He biggest concern is that many people do not take the time to take advantage of al that the museum has to offer.  The building is always a beehive of activity, with so many people giving of their time and talents in selfless service.
    Dona has a second home in Torrey, Utah where she loves to escape with family and friends for some time of rest and recuperation to enjoy the beauties of nature and the great outdoors.  She feels her life has been extremely blessed with an abundance of things that matter most and she wants to enjoy every minute of it.
    The volunteers at Peteetneet all share a bond of common interest and dedication to preserving our heritage.  They enjoy sharing the varied displays and programs at the Peteetneet Museum and Cultural Arts Center.  The volunteers all agree that “The Peteetneet is one of Payson’s best kept secrets.” Let’s let everyone know and let the secret out.