Caroline Lockhart’s desk donated to Lovell-Kane Area Museum

The Lovell-Kane Area Museum received a very special gift this week in the form of a desk used by legendary rancher Caroline Lockhart during her years living at her ranch in the Dryhead country just north of Barry’s Landing.

The desk was donated to the museum by Robyn Winland, whose grandfather Isaac Tippetts owned the ranch after Lockhart and whose father, Tuffy, had the desk at his home for years.

Isaac Tippetts and Sons bought the Lockhart Ranch in 1955, Winland said, and the desk was later moved to the home of Isaac’s son, Wilmer S. “Tuffy” Tippetts – Winland’s father -- in Lovell. The desk then went to the home of Robyn and Ralph Winland in 1987.

Winland said the desk was cleaned with Murphy’s Soap and English oil, and Winland recalled that her father had the desk varnished in the 1960s.

The desk was carried into the museum by grandsons Taylor and Cooper Winland after museum board president and manager Karen Spragg created a spot for the valuable piece of history.