Want to know Trenton's history? Ask Venna Buttars

By Katie Smedley

TRENTON -- Venna Buttars has been compiling photographs, histories and artifacts from the town of Trenton since she was 11 years old.

She is currently working on two books about Trenton. One is a family history about people from around town. The other she is going to call the Trenton Tidbits,which will be a history of Trenton containing family groups, old wedding pictures, and pictures of buildings before they were taken down.

Buttars is full of expressive stories originating from the older residents of Trenton. "My husband Lloyd's grandparents knew all sorts of things about Trenton," said Buttars. This began her interesting journey into the history of Trenton. As she told stories of her home town it was clear the passion she has for the work that she is doing.

Buttars has known her husband Lloyd since they both attended Lewiston Elementary school. They were married in 1964 and have raised their family in Trenton.

"We love the small town community," she said. "That is what has kept us in Trenton for so long." Buttars and her husband have deep family roots in the town.

One interesting story Buttars told was about the bottomless well which was discovered by Grandpa Whitney. The well was going to be used for irrigation but when dynamite was placed inside, it wouldn't explode. Since no one dared to go in the well the dynamite is still in there today, she said.

Buttars said she hopes to have her books published as soon as she has everything complied.

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