Jakob Etrheim never had the fortune of meeting the late LouIse Gervais, but through some research, he quickly learned what an impressive and committed woman she was.
This summer, Gervais’ pride and joy — the End-O-Line Railroad Park and Museum in Currie — is celebrating its 50th anniversary in the same year its home of Currie celebrated its sesquicentennial.
“When I started at End-O-Line Park in 2017 and started studying the history of the park, I would frequently read about this woman named Louise,” said Etrheim, former site coordinator for End-O-Line. “I soon learned that this incredible person was responsible for the spectacular park and museum that we have today. She had unfortunately passed away about four months prior to me starting at the park and I didn’t have the opportunity to meet her. In recent years, I also learned about a somewhat silent partner who was also integral in the development of the park. Dorothy Ruppert was a good friend to Louise and was a fellow 4-H-mother with the Currie Poco-A-Poco 4-H Club who helped start the park in 1972.”
See more in this week’s paper