St. John crab feed boosts plans for museum building

Residents of St. John and the surrounding area Saturday heaped their plates high with dungeness crab meat at the first-ever St. John crab feed served by the St. John Historical Society. Approximately 160 tickets were sold at $25 a plate.

“There is a whole lot of history in this town, and it should not be forgotten,” said St. John native Connie Robertson.

The fragrant crab meat came from five-pound cans which were purchased at the St. John grocery store, Webb’s Empire Foods.

The crowd packed the town’s community center and ate its way through more than 12 of the five-pound tins of crabmeat, according to Becky Dickerson, member of the Historical Society.

Salads, potatoes and beans were served with the crab meat. Rolls and cornbread were served on the tables.

“It’s a terrific idea,” said Colleen Dechenne, who has lived in the town since 1968. Participants could tie on a big plastic bib with “Crab” printed in giant red letters. Dechenne, fellow diner Eileen Schmidt and dozens of other diners were sporting the shiny bibs. Both women said they came out for the good food, but also to help get the museum up and running.

“It’s a community effort. I’m for it,” Dechenne said.

Dickerson said the society decided on a museum after discussing how much history there was in the area. The tipping point came when a building in downtown St. John, the former White Pharmacy, was deeded to the town.

Contents for the museum could include St. John family heirlooms like early kitchen hardware or historic farming equipment.

“I could see a display of

egg beaters and butter cranks,” Dickerson said.

The museum will be housed in the former pharmacy building in about a 30 X 60 foot space. The building was deeded to the town of St. John from the Dorothy White estate. Her husband, Glen White, was the long-time proprietor of the pharmacy.

In preparing for the museum, the first steps will be to tear the awning off the old building and chisel out the interior plaster. They also plan to replace the floor.

Later, Dickerson said, they will create shelves and counter space for the relics of the museum.

The society recently qualified for 501c3 status as a non-profit. The classification means donations to the project from individuals will be tax deductible.

Dickerson said while the classification means they can apply for public funding, they plan to raise funds from the private sector.