Ethel Beck Hill remembers games, dances and oyster suppers
Ball teams; baseball and basketball teams were a part of the entertainment in the early 1900s. So were dances and oyster suppers. I suppose the oysters were brought in by the barrel-full by trail, but this is just my guess. Does anyone have knowledge about bringing the food from the coast to Columbia Basin towns and cities? Read on.
Wilson Creek history
The Rev. David H. Crawford compiled and published a history of families in and surrounding Wilson Creek titled, "Family Memories of Wilson Creek Area." The book was printed in 1978, which was the 75th anniversary of the town. David's son, John Crawford, has given permission for those memories to be a part of this column.
Today we present a remembrance of Ethel Beck Hill and begin the story of Adam and Emma Helmke Hirschel by Rosa Hirschel Knopp and Clara Hirschel Mordhorst:
From Ethel Beck Hill:
Ethel Beck Hill was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John H. Beck, residents of Krupp from July 1902 to April 1917.
The most vivid recollections I have of Wilson Creek are the times we people of Krupp followed our ball teams--community baseball and high school basketball teams--there to play the Wilson Creek teams. They were great games.
We so enjoyed the entertainment after the games, such as dances, after which we had oyster suppers and other fine foods.
Lunch with the Troops
Just 11 days until the next Lunch with the Troops event, not counting today. The luncheon will take place at the Porterhouse Steakhouse in Moses Lake on June 21 from noon to 1 p.m.
We are asking everyone to arrive right on time, so we can begin without anyone missing the fun. Porterhouse Steakhouse Managers Sam and Cale offer a fantastic buffet lunch for $10 which includes the tip and a non-alcoholic beverage.
We are offering one Buck Knife and one Wenger, Genuine Swiss Army Knife, in a raffle to benefit Operation Warm Heart, a fund operated by unit First Sergeants to assist airmen and airwomen in need.
Stanley Rauch representing Desert Falls Delivery will be sponsoring the Buck Knife this month and Mike O'Halloran representing Russell Construction Company is sponsoring the Wenger Swiss Army Knife.
In July, Mike O'Halloran and his wife, Becky, will be sponsoring the Buck Knife in their names and the American Legion Post 209. Also in July, Eric Van Woert will sponsor the Swiss Army Knife in the name of the Olde World Trading Company.
Terri and Garry Ottmar will sponsor the Wenger in their names in August, and in September they will sponsor the Buck Knife in the name of Ottmar Construction.
Randy Graham of RSC Equipment Rental said the business wants to sponsor one, maybe more knifes. This leaves six or seven more knives needing sponsors. Contact me for details.
Becky Hill, Manager of the Moses Lake American Legion Post 209, conducts the raffle, so we are in compliance with Washington State laws and regulations. Raffle tickets will be sold during the luncheon with the knives as a prize. The drawing will take place at the end of the event.
Come join the fun and bring a friend or two. You will find the visit with the troops invigorating and heartwarming.
People wanting to attend the June 21 luncheon are asked to call me at: Home: 762-5158 or Cell: 750-0541. Or the Porterhouse Steakhouse at: 766-0308. We won't turn anyone away, but we need to have an approximate head count.
Adam and Emma Helmke Hirschel by Rosa Hirschel Knopp and Clara Hirschel Mordhorst
Adam Hirschel, whose father, Henry Hirschel, was a Civil War veteran, was born in Illinois in 1860. Note from Dennis: The Civil War started in 1861 the last shot fired was in 1865, so while Henry may have been living in an area where there may have been Civil War battles, he could not have been a veteran of the war, unless his birth year is incorrect.
With his wife Emma Helmke and family of six children, Rosa, Harry, Ben, Elmer, Clara, and Ida, came to Washington from Jackson, Minnesota on an emigrant train, arriving in the town of Wilson Creek. October 18, 1901.
M.E. Hay, Commissioner of lands known as the Big Bend Land Company, later to become Governor of Washington State, persuaded a group of thirteen families to sell their holdings in Minnesota and come by train to the Big Bend area. The name Big Bend came from the curve of the Columbia River.
The doctor had advised a change of climate for mother, so father searching for a home with a warmer climate looked to this area. With an adventurous and pioneering nature he came out to investigate the possibilities with a group of interested men the previous June.
He bought the north one half of section 35. There were no buildings on this bunch grass and sagebrush land, so a tent was pitched by the side of the Big Bend Land Company Office in town for shelter for the family until father could provide better housing.
Father and his brother, Erhardt, built a barn for the stock, three cows, two horses, and a colt, on the land, which was eight miles north of town. The barn was partitioned, with canvas, blankets and robes, from the animal section, which provided the living quarters for the family until the house could be built. Household facilities were set up: beds, stove, etc.
One frosty morning, I remember Grandma, Margaretha Hirschel, placing a cushion on the oven door of the Home Comfort Range and sitting on it to get her back warm. We kids crowded around as near as possible to absorb some of the heat.
The fuel consisted of sagebrush gathered from the land and lumber scraps from the buildings. Mother fried homemade bread for breakfast, which we thought was delicious.
We moved into the house the middle of November. It felt so good to be secure from the elements and wild animals. At night the coyotes crept close, barking with yelps as if protesting the invasion of their territory. The frightened dogs would creep under the beds and needed stern persuasion to bring them out. We kids shared their fright.
Father cleared the land and planted grain which grew well on the new ground. Mother had wonderful gardens the first few years, while her health permitted.
The rural area became settled and school was a necessity. In 1903 father walked from house to house soliciting signers to organize a school district. A neighbor, Jim Harris, furnished one horse and father the other, and with this team drove to Waterville, the county seat at that time.
They obtained per mission to establish the school district. They hired Miss Young to teach that winter for three months in my Uncle Henry Hirschel's shack. He furnished housing for the school each season until he moved his family to Latah, Washington.
E-mail from Cheryl
Facts from the past gleaned from the Moses Lake Herald, Columbia Basin Herald and The Neppel Record by Cheryl (Driggs) Elkins:
From the Columbia Basin Herald on June 30, 1964:
We have covered CBH articles about Friendship Day in 1963, but today we jump forward to information about Friendship Day 1964. Read on.
Larson's turn, but mayor isn't conceding horseshoe match.
Moses Lake Mayor Harold Stadshaug pointed out it was time for the base to win again, but that he wasn't conceding defeat in the upcoming July 4 Friendship Day horseshoe pitching contest at Moses Lake State Park.
When the mayor and Col. Clyde Owen, commander of Larson's Combat Support Group, got together yesterday for picture taking both emphasized neither had had any horseshoe pitching practice this season.
In fact, Stadshaug went so far as to say he hadn't tossed horseshoes since he was a kid.
Col. Owen couldn't match that, as he was on the losing end of a 21-13 score to last year's mayor, John Dietzen.
After winning two years in a row, Dietzen retired as mayor. That brought this quip from Col. Owen.
"Deitzen didn't run for mayor again because he wanted to quit while he was ahead."
More about the upcoming horseshoe match next week.