Illa Dee Talcott is pictured below with a recent donation to the Powder River Historical Museum - a wood carving by Ed Gring. The museum is currently on the lookout for other carvings by Gring, who once resided in Powder River County, in order to document his finely made work.
By Illa Dee Talcott
The Powder River Historical Society has recently received a gift of a carving done by Ed Gring, a former resident of our County. Mrs. Jackie Watkins of Washington inherited the carving from her great aunt Gertrude Wells. Mrs. Wells evidently got the carving from her sister, Mavie Davis, who claimed to be a rancher living near Mr. Gring on Powder River. In 1989, she contacted the Historical Society asking if the society could appraise the carving as she wanted to sell it. Eventually she gave the carving to Gertrude Wells.
The Historical Society has recently found more history of Mr. Ed Gring via a letter from his sister, Mrs. Elsie Coons, sent to Mr. Mac McCurdy in about 1970.
Currently the new carving will be on display along with a carving on loan from the Elmer Watters family.
We would like to honor Mr. Gring's work with a special celebration in the future. At this time Illa Dee Talcott would like to document the carvings that are still in the hands of Powder River families; with pictures and stories about the carvings to be on display during the celebration.
You may reach her at the Museum or at her home phone, 406-436-2352.
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