Submitted by Kim Roberts

The nonprofit International Mermaid Museum, soon to begin construction at Westport Winery Garden Resort, has received several special donations this summer.

Hoquiam librarian Mary Thornton contacted museum director Kim Roberts about some scrapbooks that had been donated to the library. Each scrapbook features handmade art from an organization called the Mermaids, which was active on Grays Harbor between World War I and the late 1970s. They were a chapter of the Military Order of the Cootiettes, a group of women who volunteered under the auspices of the Veteran’s of Foreign Wars. Their mission was to provide support and comfort to those who had served in the military.

Two of the scrapbooks have beaded covers. In one notation inside, the creator said it took her three months to make the cover.

Central Park resident and marine biologist Alan Rammer donated a pufferfish specimen. This rare piece of taxidermy will become part of the Melusine display. Some say the Starbucks logo evolved as a drawing of Melusine, a mythological European water sprite that was half woman and half fish.

The museum is asking for additional artifact donations. “We are looking for a variety of marine life that has been preserved through taxidermy,” said Roberts.

The museum would like to display all five species of Pacific salmon (king, silver, pink, sockeye and chum) as part of the Ceasq display, which will feature the Scottish mythological creature that is half woman and half salmon.

“We also need preserved king, Dungeness and spider crab for the Amphitrite story,” Roberts said.

The museum also is looking for a stuffed shark for the story of New Zealand’s Pania. “It can be any species of shark,” she said.

Other marine artifacts being sought include a dolphin, flounder or halibut, seal and lionfish. “We are working with National Marine Fisheries in finding some of these restricted items,” said Roberts.

“We need these marine life samples to help tell the story of both the mermaid and the creatures,” she added. “But we also need some supporting items to help us display certain artifacts, including a couple mannequins and a few locking glass cases.”

Mermaid movie posters, books, art, costumes and collectibles, as well as a ship’s bowsprit, also are among the items needed to outfit the museum.

The museum recently acquired a corner post topper of a carved wooden mermaid from a carousel that had been in Egypt during Napoleon’s invasion and colonization, between 1798 and 1801.

“A friend in Arizona told about this item at auction in Texas that an antique dealer from Poulsbo was buying,” said Roberts.”We were able to pick up this piece of history in Poulsbo a week later. Building this museum is indeed all about relationships.”

The museum’s mission is to educate visitors about ocean ecology, from seashore to sea floor, immersed in mermaid mythology.

Inquiries about artifact or financial donations may be emailed to info@mermaidmuseum.org or kim@westportwinery.com.

Courtesy photo Alan Rammer donated this pufferfish specimen from his collection of marine artifacts.

Courtesy photo This wooden corner post topper came from a carousel that was used in Egypt during Napoleon’s invasion and colonization between 1798 and 1801.