Typed letter from Nancy C. Russell to Mr. Dan R. Conway dated 3 June 1929; approves the redoing of Charles M. Russell's Great Falls home and even offers suggestions for further improvements.

June 3, 1929. Mr. Dan R. Conway, Charles M. Russell Memorial Committee, Great Falls, Mont. Dear Mr. Conway: Your letter of May 9 was received. You must know I am very much interested in any- thing and everything pertaining to the Russell Memorial and I appreciate very much your many lights on what has been done and is being done. The Sub-committee you tell me of is bound to be successful, as they are men who will work together and for one main object. I’m sure things will move along very rapidly under the renewed effort of that Committee. I know everyone will be happy when the glass cases are in the house and the collection of things are placed in those cases. I think some of the heavy Eastern subscribers to the fund are coming West this summer and it would be fine if they could see the little building intact and in a condition they could go and see what they had lent their money and support to. It is fine that Mr. Fousek has placed the care of the grounds in the Boulevard Department, as I believe th[at] was the dream from the beginning. They will take such an active and personal interest in the way it looks as it is really and truly the City. I cannot give you any advice or suggestions about the repairs on my/home ^old^, as when I left it was in perfect con- dition. The installing of a new furnace or repairing the old one will be entirely according to the wishes of the Committee. My understanding may be entirely wrong as to what was to have been done with the home. I naturally would think a nine-room house would be too large for any caretaker to want to live in unless they rented rooms or something of that kind. My under- standing was that the new garage building on the back of the lot was to have been put into shape, installing a bathroom and made most comfortable for the caretaker, who could live there at a very much less expense than trying to keep up the natural running expenses of the big house. I had in my heart of hearts hoped that the home would be moved off of the lot, possibly into a lot across the alley, where it would face the open park -1- Mr. Conway -2- June 3, 1929. or moved to some other section (which would not be so good) and continue to rent it unless they were going to make the art school, as Mr. Fligman had dreamed. Or, if it was not time for an art school, that home is so well built that partitions could be taken out and it could be made into a museum to house the many things that the city has no place to put, at the present time. I heard there are boxes of things packed away at the library and that Mr. Vaughn’s collection of rare and wonderful things are gradually being lost because of the lack of a place to put them. Wouldn’t it be better to use Charlie’s home for a museum to house those things, having the caretaker live in the garage apartment, which would cost no more to put in order for him than to install a hotwater plant in my house? But, here I am, Mr. Conway, far, far away suggesting things – but I can’t help it. I see that place so clearly all of the time and wouldoso [sic] love to have it the way you all want it and if these suggestions do not meet with the approval of the Committee and yourself, please consider they have not been given. I’m delighted that Fritz Roll has charge of the plant- ing and rearranging of things in the yard, as he worked for us and knows the ground plan of the things that are there. I hope when he digs up the violets and the lilys-of-the-valley bed to the East of the cabin that there will be enough to fill the space around the chimney and maybe I can have dozen of the lilys-of-the-valley pips just because Charlie, Mr. Trigg and I originally planted them in that bed. I can buy them by the hundreds but not those particular ones. I appreciate the news about the bird house and am delighted to know the squirrels are living in the house that Charlie built for them. So far as moving the apple tree, that I could not say one way or the other. It must not be left there if it is an objection or in the way of other things that are to beautify the place. An evergreen tree to the front would be much more appropriate than the apple tree and I think you are right about the children breaking the branches. They always made that tree a target. You can assure the Committee that I will do everything in my power to assist in putting in place all of Charlie’s effects. Joe de Yong will be in Wolf, Wyoming, where they can take up the matter of his coming to Great Falls when the time comes for installing. It would not be a great expense. I expect to be at Lake McDonald for the first of July and if I could be of any service in anylmanner[sic] whatsoever, please call me. Sincerely, NCR:ED

[Transcribed by Lauren B. Gerfen, 2012-11-29]

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