Walla Walla Wiffle Redux is both a love letter to a small town America and a heart-wrenchingly honest time capsule that spans 16 years in its depiction of the sweetness, light, and melancholy that comes with growing up, growing older, and learning what it means to carry on a tradition and how to say goodbye to it, whether you want to or not.

Presented by Robert Sickels.

William Tye is an assistant conductor working for Dorsey Baker's Walla Walla & Columbia River Railroad. Tye will be discussing his job working on the locomotives, including how these narrow-gauge steam engines operated and how they were configured (have you ever heard of a platform of dogs being used in place of a cowcatcher?). He will also give some history on the local railroad, how it was brilliantly financed by Dr. Baker, and what it took to bring the railroad to Walla Walla. He'll also describe how the track itself was constructed and explain exactly what "Rawhide Railroad" refers to, clearing up some myths and legends surrounding Dr. Baker's famous enterprise.

During their visit, guests can see one of the locomotives William Tye would have operated. The Blue Mountain is the last existing narrow-gauge engine from Dorsey Baker's WW&CRR. If the weather permits, William Tye will show visitors the train's components and describe the missing pieces that would have allowed the train to operate.

The marvelous Gary Lentz will be portraying William Tye.

Diana May will portray Mary Penrose.

Herbert Niccolls, Jr. was the youngest inmate ever incarcerated at the Washington State Penitentiary. He was born into a troubled family, witnessed his father kill a neighbor lady, caused problems in foster homes, and was sentenced to the Idaho State Industrial School. When his grandmother gained custody, she often beat him and deprived him of food "because of his sins.”

At age 12, the boy ran away from her home wearing ragged overalls and a stolen gun. Cold and hungry that night, he broke into a local store to steal cigarettes, gum, and cash. When the local sheriff discovered his hiding place behind a cabinet and called him out, his blindly-aimed shot killed the beloved lawman almost instantly.

What followed was a drama that would gain national attention, including a campaign supported by Father Flanagan of Boys Town, who declared, “There’s no such thing as a bad boy.” His story included years in the penitentiary, a diploma from Walla Walla High School, and an eventual career as an accounting executive for Twentieth Century Fox.

The aging Mr. Niccolls will be portrayed by Chuck Hindman.

Richard Bogle was born in Jamaica in 1835 where his parents were slaves. When he was 12 years old, he stowed away on a ship to New York during an anti-slavery campaign, and traveled to Oregon with a wagon train at age 16. When he was 22, he opened a restaurant and barbershop in Deadwood, California, where he also did some gold mining. On January 1, 1863, the day the Emancipation Proclamation was signed by President Lincoln, Bogle married America Waldo. The couple moved to Walla Walla, where he started a barbershop on Main Street, making him the first black businessman in Walla Walla on “proprietor of the tonsorial parlors at No.3 Second Street.” They had eight children and owned a 200-acre farm near Dixie.

Walla Walla was a segregated city when the Bogles arrived. African Americans could not get rooms at a hotel or eat in public dining rooms. Mr. Bogle often allowed African Americans who were temporarily in town to live in the rear of his shop, where they could keep warm and cook an occasional meal. Mrs. Bogle was said to be “a lady of estimable character, noted for her deeds of charity to the poor and suffering.”

He was a co-founder of the Walla Walla Savings and Loan Association.

Richard Bogle is portrayed by Earl Gooding Jr. 

Do you know what a train looks like? Do you know what a train has always looked like? If you’re like most people your mental picture of an ‘old-fashioned train’ of any era is a hulking, all-black locomotive with all the polish of a rolling cinder. But was it always like that?

Explore the arc of aesthetics and technology that shaped, warped, and fine-tuned our image of a model train. We’ll also speculate on what our own dear #4 Blue Mountain Locomotive would have looked like in the early years of its career.

Presented by James Temple.

Not too long ago, horses were replaced by “speed wagons”, motorized vehicles. Fort Walla Walla Museum is excited to recognize that history with the American Truck Historical Society, which will host its annual truck show.

Come out for the day and see locally owned, vintage trucks, pickup trucks, vintage cars, and “old iron” on display. Meet the owners and enjoy stories about their vehicles and equipment. The Annual Truck Show includes the Blue Mountain Chapter members’ vehicles and equipment, which reflects the road transportation history, and the connection with the region.

The Blue Mountain Chapter of the ATHS organizes and runs the truck show. Forty to fifty vehicles, including farm trucks, pickups, and semis, are expected to be on display, along with small engines, tractors, and other transportation items.

Incorporated in 1971, the American Truck Historical Society preserves the history of trucks, the trucking industry, and its pioneers. An annual convention has been held each year since 1972, with a public antique truck show added in 1980. If you are interested, have stories to share, or enjoy seeing and “feeling” old trucks and cars, we look forward to meeting you!

This is the perfect event for families. There will be live music, food, fun, and all manner of fine vehicles.

Fort Walla Walla Museum's Living Historians bring history to life, portraying real people from Walla Walla's past.

Brattain will speak of his work—for which he won a Nobel Prize—and reminisce on his time as a student and later a professor at Whitman College.

Walter H. Brattain is portrayed by John Jamison.

Come with us on a steam-powered living history performance at our museum. The reenactment embodies the legendary Henri Villard “The Comet,” a pioneering railroad financier. Prepare to be mesmerized as Villard brings to life the incredible tale of immense accomplishment - the building of investments required for the construction of the Northwest, known as The Oregon Railroad and Navigation Company. Listen in when Villard recounts the moment when his dream became a reality, linking East to West with steel tracks and steamboats. Don't miss the chance to experience the thrill of Henri Villard's vision and immerse yourself in the captivating railroad history that shaped the Northwest.

After the performance, visitors can explore our museum's historic locomotive exhibit about The Blue Mountain, locomotive #4. This exhibit will leave you in awe as you bear witness to the magnificence of historic locomotives that powered the growth of our nation, transporting goods and people across vast distances.

Villard is portrayed by retired Whitman College faculty member Clark Colahan.

Fort Walla Walla Museum brings back a favorite Living History character, turn-of-the-century madam Josephine Wolfe, the famed Walla Walla brothel owner and philanthropist.

In 1859, Wolfe, a 23-year-old German woman established one of Walla Walla’s first and longest-running brothels at 11 W. Alder Ave. With miners and speculators pouring through town, there was no shortage of clientele.

“Dutch Jo” lived in her business parlor, where she remained until her death in 1909. Described as charming and capable, she also had a reputation as a ruthless businesswoman.

She insisted that her women sex workers have proper health care. The women kept half their earnings, and the other half went to the house. Wolfe contributed generously to local charitable causes, and she provided a place for sick and injured firefighters to recuperate. She was known to have purchased cemetery plots at Mountain View Cemetery in Walla Walla for both firefighters and prostitutes, that they might have decent burials when they died.

Her business did well. City records show she paid county taxes in 1908 of $11,464. There are no photographs or portraits of Wolfe available, for her will stipulated destruction of all such images.

Dan Clark, one of the originators of the Living History’s successful presentations, breathes life into Walla Walla’s first Mayor, E.B. Whitman. He’s played this favorite character for many a season. You won’t want to miss his polished delivery to get a sense of Walla Walla’s interesting history as the oldest city in Washington state.

French-Canadian priest John Baptiste Abraham Brouillet, a Québécois, came to the Walla Walla Valley in September 1847, just a few weeks before the incident at Whitman Mission. He established his own mission about 25 miles south of the Whitmans shortly after he arrived. Although Father Brouillet and Marcus Whitman had some disagreements when Catholic priests first came to the valley, they nevertheless developed a friendship.

Brouillet was on his way to Whitman Mission to verify a rumor of a terrible occurrence and found the Whitmans’ bodies, along with eleven others, killed on the scene. A handful of Indian warriors responsible for the slayings were still present. When he arrived, Joseph Stanfield, a Métis, was preparing the bodies for burial, and Brouillet helped inter them. Brouillet also helped arrange the release of 60 captives taken at the Mission.

Father Brouillet went on to become a pioneer figure in Walla Walla’s Catholic institutions, purchasing the land for St. Vincent’s Academy in 1863 and founding Saint Patrick’s School for boys in 1865. He also founded Des La Salles school for boys, which later became Desales High School.

Father Brouillet is portrayed by ski instructor, woodworker, and retired teacher, Jeannot Poirot.

Have you been wondering how Walla Walla River Basin will meet our water needs without a decent snowpack, with negligible rainfall this summer, and soaring temperatures? Even in a good year, our water supply is over appropriated.

Come learn about the Walla Walla Watershed Strategy, a collaborative effort to meet the Basin’s growing water needs and improve overall watershed health for our rivers, fish, farms and people.

Judith Johnson, a member of the Basin Advisory Council will provide background information, explain the WW Water 2050 Plan and its strategies for the equitable sharing of water, and inform you on ways you can make a difference.

Judith has been involved in water issues for 25 years, and co-founded Kooskooskie Commons, a non-profit which works on stream restoration and water quality monitoring, in addition to promoting better understanding and appreciation of natural resources within the Basin.

In this class, you will explore time-honored preservation techniques like canning, fermentation, and drying. Learn good safety practices for home preservation. You will be able to take home a jar of soon-to-be homemade sauerkraut.

This class will take place over two Sundays in a row, Sunday, July 26 & August 2, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. both days.

Instructor Kristin Fry is a teacher and office manager with a lifelong interest in heritage skills and Northwest history. She learned to can and preserve from her mom and grandma, without whom this class would probably not be happening!