JOYCE — A trip back in time might be just the cure for a wet winter day.
Joyce Museum at 50883 state Highway 112, just a couple of buildings down from the Joyce General Store, houses both railroad and West End memorabilia.
It offers photographs and artifacts of Port Crescent, Gettysburg, Disque, Twin, Piedmont, Fort Hayden at Tongue Point, Lake Crescent, Sol Duc and Joyce.
One of the historic aspects of the museum is the building itself, said Margaret Owens, the museum curator.
Built about 1915, it is considered to be the last remaining log depot from the Milwaukee Line.
“The building was originally constructed as a station when the railroad came out this way from Port Angeles,” Owens said.
“It was set up to handle both passenger and cargo loads.”
It is built of Alaska yellow cedar and was once a gift shop owned by Mary Pfaff-Pierce, who now is the Joyce Museum Association president.
It was converted into a museum about 10 years ago with donations from residents and from Pfaff-Pierce’s family estate.
Pfaff-Pierce put together the displays and informational signs that appear alongside the logging equipment, photos of local residents and newspapers from as far back as the late 1800s.
“Some of those old newspapers are wonderful, and it is so fascinating to see those old stories,” Pfaff-Pierce said.
In 2007, the museum added the Gossett Annex next door.
The building houses a 1950s Republic truck, which once was used to haul hay in Forks.
“It really was one of the first trucks of that type,” Owens said.
“We also had someone who donated a 1898 buggy, which shares the annex with the Republic.”
Historic tales
At the museum, visitors can learn about how Joyce residents fought a successful battle in 1957 to prevent the installation of a massive naval ammunitions depot that would have stretched from Crescent Bay to just past the Elwha River.
Other tidbits for visitors include how Joyce was almost named “Joe Town” and the tale of the unsuccessful bid of the once-booming Port Crescent to become Clallam County’s seat of government in the early 20th century.
“There is so much we have here,” Owens said.
“A lot of locals don’t even know that we have such a high quality museum.”
Owens said it is the perfect activity for a rainy day.
“When the weather outside is frightful, it is delightful inside the museum,” she said.
“It is always warm and cozy, and we have tons of wonderful things here.
“It is something that kids can enjoy, right along with their parents.
“We even have fossils that are hands-on and all sorts of hands-on activities for kids.”
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Reporter Paige Dickerson can be reached at 360-417-3535 or at paige.dickerson@peninsuladailynews.com.
