WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:08.000 music 00:00:08.000 --> 00:00:12.000 Currently we are standing in the archive room at the Brunk House. 00:00:12.000 --> 00:00:16.000 As an anthropology student at Western Oregon University I'm doing an internship here. 00:00:16.000 --> 00:00:23.000 One of my duties is to take these artifacts out of the display cases 00:00:23.000 --> 00:00:27.000 and photograph them and create catalog cards for their records. 00:00:27.000 --> 00:00:30.000 It's important to catalog these artifacts 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:35.000 so that the Polk County Historical Society knows what items they have in their inventory. 00:00:35.000 --> 00:00:40.000 The cataloging is when you photograph an item 00:00:40.000 --> 00:00:43.000 and then you have a card that's attributed to the item. 00:00:43.000 --> 00:00:48.000 And you detail various aspects of the item such as the condition it's in, 00:00:48.000 --> 00:00:51.000 where it was obtained from, 00:00:51.000 --> 00:00:54.000 who gave the item to the museum. 00:00:54.000 --> 00:00:60.000 And then this is put in an archive so the museum knows what it has in it's inventory. 00:01:00.000 --> 00:01:03.000 Right now we are in the process of digitalizing everything. 00:01:03.000 --> 00:01:07.000 Whereas once we did everything by hand, we are now doing it digitally. 00:01:07.000 --> 00:01:13.000 This case right here contains a lot of jewelry and shaving equipment. 00:01:13.000 --> 00:01:18.000 Back here we have silverware. 00:01:18.000 --> 00:01:20.000 There's a gun and handcuffs. 00:01:20.000 --> 00:01:25.000 Lots of medals and ribbons from fair contests. 00:01:25.000 --> 00:01:29.000 Looking around this room as we can see there's a lot of history. 00:01:29.000 --> 00:01:33.000 I think it's important that the younger generation be aware of our history. 00:01:33.000 --> 00:01:38.000 Anthropology looks at culture and history of peoples 00:01:38.000 --> 00:01:41.000 and the Brunk House adequately captures that. 00:01:41.000 --> 00:01:44.000 Western offers a museum studies class. 00:01:44.000 --> 00:01:47.000 Which shows you the ropes of museum operation. 00:01:47.000 --> 00:01:51.000 Doing my internship here has allowed me to apply what I've learned in museum studies class 00:01:51.000 --> 00:01:54.000 and a hands-on experience. 00:01:54.000 --> 00:01:58.000 The Brunk House is very convenient for me as an intern because not only is it close to the school 00:01:58.000 --> 00:01:63.000 but I just live a couple miles up the road. So very convenient. 00:02:03.000 --> 00:02:12.000 music 00:02:12.000 --> 00:02:16.000 Brunk House is located on Highway 22 00:02:16.000 --> 00:02:18.000 on the north side of the road 00:02:18.000 --> 00:02:24.000 between the junctions of Highway 51 that goes to Independence 00:02:24.000 --> 00:02:28.000 and the junction of Oak Grove Road. 00:02:28.000 --> 00:02:34.000 The building was constructed in 1861. 00:02:34.000 --> 00:02:40.000 It's a Classic Revival structure. 00:02:40.000 --> 00:02:48.000 Which made it very desirable for inclusion on the National Registry of Historic Homes. 00:02:48.000 --> 00:02:55.000 The structure itself is a board and bat construction. 00:02:55.000 --> 00:02:57.000 There's no framework. 00:02:57.000 --> 00:02:60.000 That means all two floors 00:03:00.000 --> 00:03:06.000 were constructed of vertical two by 12 clear fur. 00:03:06.000 --> 00:03:13.000 Then battened over between the joints with other fur. 00:03:13.000 --> 00:03:18.000 And then when the second floor was added 00:03:18.000 --> 00:03:24.000 Ledger boards went around and the floor was constructed on top of that. 00:03:24.000 --> 00:03:28.000 I'm standing in one of the upstairs bedrooms 00:03:28.000 --> 00:03:32.000 which there were six in this building. 00:03:32.000 --> 00:03:37.000 Including a parlor, and a very very large country kitchen. 00:03:37.000 --> 00:03:43.000 Now you may notice I left out bathroom facilities. That's because they were outdoors 00:03:43.000 --> 00:03:45.000 in the form of an out-house. 00:03:45.000 --> 00:03:49.000 At Brunk House we provide tours to the public. 00:03:49.000 --> 00:03:52.000 So they can see the farmhouse as it is. 00:03:52.000 --> 00:03:56.000 And also we take care of the garden. 00:03:56.000 --> 00:03:62.000 I allow the people to come in the front door so they can see the architecture of the house as they enter. 00:04:02.000 --> 00:04:06.000 And we start in the parlor which is to the left as you enter. 00:04:06.000 --> 00:04:12.000 The parlor is, as parlors were in that age, used only for special occasions. 00:04:12.000 --> 00:04:20.000 And there have been one or two weddings and there have been some Sunday services there. 00:04:20.000 --> 00:04:24.000 Off of the parlor are several bedrooms that were used for guests 00:04:24.000 --> 00:04:30.000 who might have come from the coast if they were coming this direction to get supplies. 00:04:30.000 --> 00:04:33.000 Perhaps at Salem or Oregon City even. 00:04:33.000 --> 00:04:40.000 The parlor houses several original Brunk items and the most exciting thing there is the organ. 00:04:40.000 --> 00:04:43.000 Which came in 1870. 00:04:43.000 --> 00:04:46.000 Upstairs are two large rooms. 00:04:46.000 --> 00:04:50.000 One room which you feel was designated for the girls' bedroom. 00:04:50.000 --> 00:04:52.000 This is the only room that has a closet. 00:04:52.000 --> 00:04:56.000 So this is why we feel that it was designated for girls. 00:04:56.000 --> 00:04:59.000 And I would say that this is probably my favorite room in the house. 00:04:59.000 --> 00:04:65.000 From there we go to the boys' room which actually we use as a museum today. 00:05:05.000 --> 00:05:09.000 As we come down the stairs is the family living quarters. 00:05:09.000 --> 00:05:13.000 Since the house was only heated by fire places 00:05:13.000 --> 00:05:16.000 this is where the family spent most of their time probably. 00:05:16.000 --> 00:05:21.000 It has two rooms off of the living quarters. One is the master bedroom. 00:05:21.000 --> 00:05:25.000 And the other one was designated as the nursery. 00:05:25.000 --> 00:05:28.000 From there we go into the kitchen. 00:05:28.000 --> 00:05:31.000 It seats 14 for dinner. 00:05:31.000 --> 00:05:35.000 It has some original kitchen items from Claire and Thomas. 00:05:35.000 --> 00:05:40.000 And other items that were donated of that period about 1930. 00:05:40.000 --> 00:05:43.000 music 00:05:43.000 --> 00:05:46.000 The founder of Brunk House was Harrison Brunk. 00:05:46.000 --> 00:05:49.000 And his wife's name was Emily. 00:05:49.000 --> 00:05:52.000 He lived in the Midwest. 00:05:52.000 --> 00:05:58.000 And apparently he had heard a lot of people talking about how wonderful Oregon was. 00:05:58.000 --> 00:05:62.000 And he was a farmer and he really liked farming. 00:06:02.000 --> 00:06:07.000 And so the news was that Oregon had virgin farming land 00:06:07.000 --> 00:06:09.000 that had never been used before. 00:06:09.000 --> 00:06:12.000 And that's like magic to a farmer. 00:06:12.000 --> 00:06:19.000 They got here that year in 1849. 00:06:19.000 --> 00:06:23.000 And he eventually amassed 1100 acres. 00:06:23.000 --> 00:06:26.000 And 12 children. 00:06:26.000 --> 00:06:34.000 Having 12 children is a real interesting process. 00:06:34.000 --> 00:06:38.000 But in those days everyone had to help and they knew they had to help. 00:06:38.000 --> 00:06:41.000 They were out here alone practically. 00:06:41.000 --> 00:06:43.000 I doubt if they could see another house. 00:06:43.000 --> 00:06:48.000 I'm passionate about Brunk House and preserving the history here 00:06:48.000 --> 00:06:57.000 because the digital world does not smell, taste, touch, feel, 00:06:57.000 --> 00:06:62.000 or provide any kinds of hands-on interaction. 00:07:02.000 --> 00:07:06.000 And children of all ages can do that here. 00:07:06.000 --> 00:07:13.000 Brunk House has its own unique offerings of pioneer life, farm life, 00:07:13.000 --> 00:07:17.000 and traditional methods from the past. 00:07:17.000 --> 00:07:19.000 It enriches my life 00:07:19.000 --> 00:07:24.000 to live in a place that values the work of the farmer 00:07:24.000 --> 00:07:28.000 and the fact that they really care about feeding people. 00:07:28.000 --> 00:07:36.000 music