A hand collection owned by Merylan Lowrey of Tarkio is now on display at the Tarkio Resource Center, located at 11th and Walnut streets.
The hand collection began in 1949 when Merylan’s mother, Mary Hargus, received a hand item from her mother, Katie Thacker. After that first one, Mary continued to collect different hands, in the form of jewelry, pillows, statues, plaques, cards, etc. People who learned of Mary’s collection would give her hand gifts, including her nine brothers and sisters who lived all over the country. In total, the collection amounts to around 300 items. Merylan and her sister divided the collection among themselves and now Merylan’s half is on display for all to enjoy.