In 2017, I was impersonating Mary Borst and volunteering at the Borst Home, which is 165 years old, and the pioneer school that had been built to make this area a wonderful opportunity for local people and visitors to see a glimpse of their past.
About 200 school children could learn as they visited, and sometimes a chaperone would say he went through when he was in third grade.
Mary’s parents, James and Emiline Roundtree, started the first church in the area, so some Friends of the Borst Museum got permits and started building a pioneer church. They asked for donations, and the first one came from a 104-year-old woman, Shirley Nelsen. Businesses, churches and people from all walks of life gave from $5 to $9,000 when they donated the material and labor.
These people’s generosity is on a plaque in the church. Recently, signs have been placed by each building for the public to read.
One element of this huge endeavor is not given much credit.
The United Way of Lewis County accounted for each donation and each bill during the years from 2017 until July 29, 2025. They provided encouragement, ideas and made this noble project come true.
Debbie Campbell and Linda Lee were the ones who could be counted on in all ways from the first idea until their retirement. Currently, Annie Oien, Chris Judd and Jen Scharber work for United Way of Lewis County and facilitate so many wonderful things for the community.
Some of United Way’s great endeavors are covered in The Chronicle to readers’ delight, but this project that I was privileged to take part in has not received the credit that is due.
My great appreciation to United Way of Lewis County through this letter is the only way I can let others know about the many ways this organization helps so many in our area.
Jean Bluhm
Lewis County
