Your photos needed for CBH historical book due by Christmas

This is your chance, don't miss out. The first CBH picture book was a great success and has become a treasured keepsake for those who own the book. The CBH is now in the process of assembling the second edition, known as Volume Two, which will make the perfect companion for the first book.

The contact is Tera Redwine. She is working to gather the photos and the two of us will place them in the proper order.

This book is expected to be titled "The Columbia Basin; A photographic Perspective; Volume Two." If you missed the chance to get your family photos in the first one, here is your chance. Don't miss the opportunity this time.

We are looking for photos of, everything, such as Girl Scouts, school sports, church groups, construction, towns, etc., etc., etc. If you are not sure if your photo or photos are what we are looking for, let Tera have a look at them.

Contact Tera at the Herald at 765-4561 to have your photos included.

The Grant County Historical Society has compiled several volumes of Grant County history. The books are available for purchase at the Historical Society Museum gift shop in Ephrata.

I bought the series in 2009 and secured permission to relay some of the history through this column.

Memories of Grant County, compiled from taped interviews by the Grant County Historical Society.

Today we continue the story of Ephrata by Thelma Billngsley Nicks:

My grandfather Billingsley passed away in 1909. In 1918 Mary and Cate bought the home Cate is living in now, for grandmother Billingsley had moved out to live with them.

When I was a baby in 1908, my grandfather was not expected to live long, so that fall my folks went back to Texas to visit. They bought a large size trunk and packed it with their clothes. I am sure it must have been a hard trip for them with me being a baby. But train travel was the way to go in those days.

When my brother and I were young, mother would take us to visit her sister Ollie and her husband Ean Moore in Umapine, Oregon. They had two children.

They lived on a small farm and ran a store in Umapine. I do not believe there is any town by that name any more. It was close to Milton. I was always so fascinated with the candy they had in their store.

One kind I still remember which I thought was wonderful was a slab made to look like bacon. They would slice off slices of this candy made like some cocoanut candy is today or anyway it tasted like some of it does.

My father would rent or borrow a car from a garage and drive us to Adrian. We never owned a car in those early years. Then we would take the Northern Pacific Railroad and go to Walla Walla, where they would meet us with their team and buggy.

We would also take the train and go to Peck, Idaho to visit my grandfather Tweedy. He ran a little two story hotel. It was always a delight to go there also.

There were young half aunts and uncles I enjoyed being with. Grandfather had a cream station next to the hotel. He also had a broom ma?chine and made the finest brooms I have ever seen. I would give a lot to have one of his brooms now. Even with the vacuum cleaners.

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

Kiwanians plan roulette games

Muffin tins for "Sagebrush roulette" were being rounded up this week by members of the Kiwanis Club. The tins are to be used in the club's carnival concession at the Fourth of July Celebration.

Ken Chase heads the concession committee. He will be assisted by Wally Morris, Bernard Wassink, Nate Sherman and Howard Peterson.

Dennis note: OK, how does one play Sagebrush roulette?

150 enjoy outing of Junior Club

Swimming, wading, boating, waterskiing, picnicking and just resting were enjoyed Sunday by nearly 150 persons at the Cascade Valley home of Mr. and Mrs. William Herman. Members of Moses Lake's Junior Women's Club, their families and friends gathered at 2 p.m. for the potluck picnic. Wieners, ice cream and coffee were provided by club hostesses in addition to the members' own baskets. The picnic marked the end of the club's activities until fall.

Conservation District also seeking photos

In addition to the CBH book, the Moses Lake Conservation is seeking photos for an in-house project. Read on.

The Moses Lake Conservation District is looking for any pictures of conservation activities between 1945 and present day to be used in a presentation book. Especially pictures of the conservation nursery. Contact the person in charge at 509-750-9624.

Wilson Creek area 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 backtrack a bit and then continue the story of the Lane family by Ben Lane:

They never had any money, but were a happy family. They acquired a herd of cows, and supplied much of the town with milk for years. This was supposed to have sup?plemented Ben's income from the railroad, but in reality the cows were just more mouths to feed and the profit was small.

Wilson Creek was a railroad division point for many years. Even after it ceased to be such, the local freights would stop overnight; the crews would layover, many of them at Bob Ralph's home. Bob was in charge of the water tank and pump, which filled the thirsty locomotives.

The crews would meet and swap railroad stories in the early morning hours, at the depot. The plush passenger train was the "Oriental Limited." Often the boys of town would emerge from the old swimming hole west of town and stand naked, waving at the passengers.

Queen Marie of Rumania came thru on a special in 1927; the section men got a little overtime when all the switches were spiked. Ben Lane remarked that it was the only good thing European royalty had ever done for him.

The fast mail didn't even slow down, but picked up the mail on the fly, and heaved out a sack or two; often the newsboys would be seen gathering their papers up from all over the land?scape.

Then there were the dinkeys. During the depression, it shriveled to a one-car "galloping goose" that made a terrible roar. It was soon re?placed by a fairly good train, complete with a smoker, day coach, which was air-conditioned by ice in the hold and an observation car complete with rear porch.