The materials used in the construction of The Charles A. Weyerhaeuser Memorial Museum were well considered and reflect aspects of area history and local resources.
When you visit the museum, you’ll notice wood everywhere, from wood car siding and columns around the courtyard windows to wood ceiling beams to wood floors in the exhibit and research rooms to a fully paneled library. This is to honor the museum’s namesake, Charles A. Weyerhaeuser, who, along with Richard Drew Musser, managed the operations of the Pine Tree Lumber Company in Little Falls from 1890-1920.
The slate floors in the hallway speak to the slate found at the Little Falls Dam. The hall floor was originally supposed to be vinyl-asbestos tile but the material was upgraded during the building process.
The yellow brick used in the building’s chimneys and two fireplaces were manufactured at the local brickyards west of town. They were salvaged from St. Adalbert’s Church. Pat Burns, local bricklayer, laid the brick. Architect Foster Dunwiddie required him to make a sample of the brickwork prior to starting because he wanted to make sure the mortar was properly scribed. He wanted “beaded” joints that were found in old brickwork, not concave joints. In order to provide beaded joints, Pat had to make a special tool for the job.
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Celebrating the 40th anniversary of The Charles A. Weyerhaeuser Memorial Museum.