To the editor:

I would like to congratulate Jim Kimpell on his appointment to the position as the director of the Fort Museum, and to the board for selecting such a knowledgeable person on historical things of the time period, depicted at this site.

It seems that the number of visitors to this great venue has been shrinking. I am sure that with the help of a group of dedicated people, Jim will bring the Fort back to being destination point for future visitors to Fort Dodge.m as well as a teaching tool, to educate or children the history of early life in Fort Dodge and the state of Iowa.

I first became aware of the fort, then under the direction of David Parker, when he asked me to make and donate candle lamps for the Fort. David then introduced me to a young person who wanted to learn tinsmithing. Since I learned the tinsmith trade (sheetmetal worker ) at the Colonial Furnace Co. and had many early tinsmith tools, I sold them to Jim Kimpell. He learned the craft and established a shop at the Fort to demonstrate tin work.

Even though I live in Clarion, I plan to join Jim K. when ever he needs me to demonstrate rope making using early vintage tools. And to aid Jim K. by talking and encouraging local people to volunteer their help to make this beautiful place a destination point again.

Jimmie O. Johnson

Clarion