The historic Peterson Rock Garden is getting restored one day at a time.
Several restoration projects and new additions have recently been made, including a memorial bench for Al and Sue Liebetrau.The two helped found the Central Oregon Collectors Club.
“Al started collecting rocks and minerals on their honeymoon night,” Al and Sue’s Friend Cece De Klerck said. “They have always been together. Always collecting, and it was incredible what they’ve done over their 60-some years that they were together.”
Al worked at Johns Hopkins University with degrees in math and statistics, and Sue taught English.
They both became well-known in the rock community locally and worldwide before passing away. To honor the Liebetraus, their estate gave the Peterson rock garden a bench in their memory.
“It was really emotional because Cece and I helped take care of Sue and Al for a long time, and to have that done was really special,” Marty Betch said. “All the people who know who you are now. Okay, really? I’ve told them all. I’ve taken pictures of it. I sent it to them. They’re just overwhelmed, okay? Because it really means a lot.”
The donation of more than nine thousand dollars helped fix the roof of the Rasmus Peterson farmhouse. Members of the rock club and volunteers come out to help restore the historic site.
“Seeing everything we’ve done, it’s just amazing,” said Assistant Manager for the Peterson Rock Garden Tanya Smith. “Everything everybody has done volunteer-wise is just amazing to see all this and to see the community and to see everybody come out for something they love.”
While the garden and museum still need some love, both those with the rock club and garden say this bench and donation are the momentum needed to restore the site to its glory days.
“They impacted Central Oregon with their rock staff, and now the rock club has given back, and Peterson Rock Garden has given back to them,” said Betch. “What a marriage. I mean it’s wonderful.”
To learn more about the history of the Petersen Rock Garden, check out Scott Elnes’ Little Did I know on the garden.
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