By Shana Thornton
Today, August 26, is National Dog Day, and we here at the Customs House Museum & Cultural Center have some dogs to tell you about. Some are in the Customs House Museum’s Collections, and some are the pets of the museum staff.
Meet Our Top Dogs & Friends
Let’s start with the museum staff. It’s always fun to hear stories from one another about the escapades of our pets, and we’ve decided to share a few with you.
Ollie & Eric Shanley, Facilities Manager
Facilities Manager, Eric Shanley, and Ollie out and about. Photos Courtesy of Eric Shanley.
My girlfriend came to my door one day with this little dog in her arms. She said that he was just walking around in the street, and she was afraid he was going to get hit by a car. He had no collar, was full of fleas, skinny, and had matted fur. No one up and down my street knew anything about him, so although I wanted to keep him, I had to go through proper channels and give him to Animal Control. They said if no one claimed him in three days, I could have him. He’s been with me ever since, and he is the best little dog ever!
Gizmo, Chief, & Laura Cagaoan, Visitors Services Manager
Gizmo once was missing for two hours to the point that I posted on FB that he was missing. After searching the neighborhood, I went back in the house and found him just snoozing under one of the kid’s beds. Chief looks vicious but he is a big teddy bear.
Gizmo & Chief. Photos Courtesy of Laura Cagaoan.
Penny & Kathleen Silva, Education Associate
It’s really difficult to put everything your dog means to you in a little story. Our little Penny brings so much to our lives, our kid’s lives, and our grandkids too. Just this morning I was telling Penny how funny it is that at any point during the night if I move in bed, up she bounces thinking I’ll take her outside to patrol the deck and let her make sure there are no raccoons partying with the bird feeders, but in the morning when the alarm goes off she won’t move to save the world. I have to crawl over her.
Penny as a Mom, and Penny watching for squirrels. Photos Courtesy of Kathleen Silva.
We have a delightful seven-pound tyrant Yorkie, Penny, living with us. She brings toys to us and nudges and growls until we throw it for her, she nags at us to take her for a walk and doesn’t take “no” for an answer. Penny follows us around bouncing along and hitting our legs with her little nose until we sit on the couch so she can cuddle but we love her anyway! I love being the best part of her day when I see her through the window as I pull into the driveway and hear her scramble to the doorway to be the first one to tell me, “I’m glad you’re home!”
Ginny & Stephanie Stafford, Curator of Education
Ginny is completely my husband Chuck’s dog! She goes wherever he goes and mopes terribly if she doesn’t get to go with him. Ginny is a 10-year-old Yorkie, with a touch of Chihuahua. Her favorite things are to be outside chasing squirrels or corn cobs, or in the car on an outing with Chuck to Rural King, Lowe’s, Home Depot; anywhere a dog is allowed, she goes.
Above Left: Ginny out at Home Depot. Above Right: Ginny having an awesome time outside. Photos Courtesy of Chuck Stafford.
Zendaya & Myranda Harrison, Marketing & Communications Manager
I’ve never really considered myself a “dog person.” Not since I was five years old, anyway.
When I was little, I had a puppy named Penny. She was a lab, and I adored her. I remember how she would walk beside me, licking my hand, and how amazed I felt the first time I threw her a stick and she instantly knew to play fetch.
But one afternoon, while I was at the store with my dad—gone for no more than fifteen minutes—everything changed. When I returned, my grandmother told me that Penny had been hit by a car and killed. To make it worse, my five-year-old self had to face the sight of her on the side of the road. My mom believes that moment traumatized me, and honestly, I think she’s right. From then on, I distanced myself from dogs completely.
For years, I kept my distance. Even when my aunt got a dog that I was around often, I still didn’t consider myself a “dog person.” That didn’t start to shift until about ten years ago, little by little.
Then, two years ago, I met my boyfriend. Along with him came his dog, Zendaya (yes—that’s really her name). He told me how Zendaya had saved his life, how she became his constant companion, and how her unconditional love carried him through. It was clear from the start that he and Zendaya were a package deal. And since I already knew I had found the love of my life, I knew I needed to love Zendaya too.
Zendaya and Myranda share snuggles. Photo Courtesy of Myranda Harrison.
And I do. I can’t imagine my life without her now. She loves me as much as I love her, and somewhere along the way, she made me a dog person again. If you had told me ten years ago that I’d be proudly calling myself a dog mom, I would have laughed. But here I am—proof that sometimes, love changes everything.
Smoky & Kenny Hummer, Model Train Manager
This is my 8-month-old Velociraptor (Beagle) Smoky. One of my coworkers texted me about a guy selling beagles in the Rural King’s parking lot. So, my wife fell for her right away and named her Smoky, since we just got back from a trip from Gatlinburg. Smoky loves everyone (nobody buys a beagle for protection). She has a lot of energy and loves play. She keeps us on our toes.
Smoky is ready to go! Photo Courtesy of Kenny Hummer.
Maxwell, Izzy, & Shana Thornton, Managing Editor
Maxwell and Izzy love to hike, try to chase deer, and ride in the car. They think that they are stunt dogs. Maxwell, a three-year-old border collie and Australian shepherd, loves running, watches Paw Patrol, can jump really high, and herds and barks, clicks, talks like a boss. He even has a knack for opening doors. Izzy, a one-year-old feist terrier and Australian shepherd, is a gymnast and can catapult from chairs onto high tables in order to take snacks when no one is looking. She also has a thing for shoes and carries them from the closets to a new location (luckily, she doesn’t chew them, just moves them).
Maxwell & Izzy are always eager to hike. Photos Courtesy of Shana Thornton.
Squamies & Andrew Ross, Contributing Writer & Events Associate
This is Squamies!! She enjoys riding the wind, backyard baseball, creek walks, and the sound of her own voice.
Bottom left: Sith Lord Squamies. Bottom right: The Creation of Squamies. Photos Courtesy of Andrew Ross.
Gunner & Terri Jordan, Curator of Exhibits
Sir Gunner Jordan was the first dog chosen by my son (14 years ago). His father was a champion Border Collie in Scotland. Since the beginning, Gunner has taken his duties and lineage very seriously. Each morning he continues to faithfully herd his people to the door and bark loudly to alert us that there is someone walking past our house. Recently, he has started using his age to pretend that he no longer can keep track of treat time – demanding the 8pm treat at 5:30 and 7:00, and of course at 8.
Photos Courtesy of Terri Jordan.
Glock, Ruger, & Stacy Mobley, Events Manager
Photo Courtesy of Stacy Mobley.
This is Glock (left) and Ruger (right). They are brothers from the same liter. They were the only two Blue Merle coats in the bunch. Twins if you will, but they have completely different personalities. Ruger is the sweet, loving, gentle one and Glock is the wild child. They go nowhere without each other. We just bought five acres so were hoping to get a couple cows for them to herd in the near future, however I may have cuddled them into lap dogs by now!
Dogs in the Customs House Museum’s Collections
The Customs House Museum is a collecting museum, and within our 22,000 artifacts and artworks, we have some top dogs.
Bounder Right. Leslie Shiels, Oil. Donated to the Customs House Museum & Cultural Center by Leslie Shiels.
Nettie & Nora
Nora Witzel (1875-1968) was a photographer who captured many important images of historic Clarksville places, as well as significant moments in Clarksville history, like the flood of 1927. Nora was also quite fond of her dogs – Nettie was one of them (below, center) – and photographed her dogs and those of her friends and relatives.
Top left: Log House with Dog, Dick. From a photo album given to Katherine (Kate) Englehardt, Nora’s cousin as a Christmas present in 1905. Center: Nettie. Nora’s dog. Right: Theodore Rectanus sitting in chair on porch wearing bowler hat with two dogs in his lap; Nora Witzel’s uncle and dogs; Rectanus worked as an optometrist in Kentucky. All photographs by Nora Witzel. Courtesy of the Customs House Museum’s Collection.
Distie & The Murphys
Identified in picture are David A. Murphy, Jenny M. Murphy (wife) and Distie (dog). Verso reads “Poet Laureate of Ohio/ Supervised construction C’ville Post Office”. By MacCormac, photographer. Courtesy of the Customs House Museum’s Collection. Gift of Mrs. Georgie Hodgson Miller.
Best Friends
Below left: Photograph; soldier in World War I uniform in front of house with dog; Larnie L. Lisenbee: written in pencil on reverse “98”, circa. 1918. Courtesy of the Customs House Museum’s Collection.
Above right: Tintype, circa. 1860-1870, between two pieces of glass in copper frame enclosed in one half of a wooden ‘Union case’; Young boy and his dog; dog lying on chair, boy with pinked cheeks is standing next to chair; boy is wearing a large, brimmed hat and a jacket with raglan sleeves and belt. Gift of Hazel Goodlett. Courtesy of the Customs House Museum’s Collection.
Dogs in Current Customs House Museum Exhibitions
We have a few dogs in artworks that are featured in current Customs House Museum’s exhibitions. Visit the museum and see them in person.
Jackson
Jackson. David Redmond, Watercolor, 2013.
Laundry Day. David Redmond, Watercolor, 2013. Both paintings on Loan from the Redmond Family.
You can see Jackson in David Redmond’s paintings currently on view in Legends Bank Presents A Dream Deferred: Hanley, Redmond, & Lott exhibition, which is a joint retrospective showcasing the work of three artists—Dan Hanley, David Redmond, and Frank Lott—and their unwavering dedication to the pursuit of painting, while highlighting each man’s creative evolution over the course of five decades. The exhibition is on view through October 19, on the lower level of the museum in the Kimbrough Gallery.
Jorgie
Jorgie’s Reverie is featured in Arline Mann’s exhibition, The Forever House. The exhibition encompasses interiors, still life, and landscapes of the world that is the Elder House by Arline Mann, an award-winning watercolorist and the current resident of Elder House. Mann’s paintings are displayed among historic photographs of Elder House and Elder Mountain, with text relating the history of both. The Forever House exhibition is on view through October 26 in the Jostens Gallery.
Jorgie’s Reverie. Arline Mann, Watercolor over graphite, 2019.
Dog Scavenger Hunt at the Huff ‘n’ Puff Express
The kids who visit the museum often get to participate in scavenger hunts, one of which is located at the Huff ‘n’ Puff Express Model Trains. The Model Train Manager, Kenny Hummer, currently has a doggy scavenger hunt going. See how many dogs you can find around the model train set. Two examples pictured below:
Stay tuned for National Cat Day, October 29, when you’ll have an opportunity to meet Customs House Museum cats.
References:
Lenora Witzel by VisitClarksville
Shana Thornton is the Managing Editor of Second & Commerce, the Customs House Museum & Cultural Center’s arts, history, and culture magazine. She is an author and publisher, Founder of the Clarksville-Montgomery County African American Legacy Trail, and the Montgomery County Deputy Historian.