Washington off to Olympia in 1949

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 Jan. 7, 1949:

Nat Washington off for Olympia

Nat Washington of Ephrata left for Olympia Thursday and will assume office as a Democratic state representative from the 13th District when the legislature convenes Monday. He will attend a legislative session of public utility district representatives today and tomorrow and Sunday will participate in a caucus of Democratic state legislators.

Lady Lions talk over youth plans

Suggestions for the youth improvement program were discussed Wednesday night when Lady Lions met at the housing project. Helen Goodrich was named the club's delegate to the coordinating council, with Nell Pearson as her alternate.

During the business meeting, Margery Dudley was named head of a special committee to discuss quiet and discipline in the theater with the theater management. Tentative plans were made for a St. Patrick's Day Dinner for husbands and guests of club members.

Myrtle Ferrin and Elouise Simmons were welcomed into the organization.

Kiwanis fetes Guenther

Floyd H. Guenther was honor guest at Kiwanis Club Monday night at the Oasis on the occasion of his last meeting with the group. He moved to Yakima Wednesday to become assistant manager of the Seattle-First National Bank's branch there.

"A Pioneer's Ballad"

Today we continue the first poem in Frank Lindblad's book, "A Pioneer's Ballad," with the title of "Go West."

By driver's orders, now please note,

Each prospect donned a slicker coat

In case of sudden showers.

It really was a clever trick

Since flying dust piled on so thick

That cleaning clothes took hours.

Five miles from town a rough homestead

By filing on it* could be had

For five years there residing.

A half a section railroad land,

With this, was farm at his command

When bringing home the tiding.

By fall old farm and crops were sold.

A sale disposed of things household,

Machin'ry, stock, and gadgets.

The coffee grinder, used each meal,

Our cradle old, and spinning wheel

Gave way for western magnets.

The family roster numbered ten:

Our Dad, with four potential men,

And Mother with four lasses.

At ages one to twenty-one

The need for space had duly come,

Hence trek to sage and grasses.

Some boxes, baskets, jars with lids

And four days food for hungry kids

Were stacked up at Kerkhoven,

With trunks of clothes and bedding, too,

For where we'd sleep nobody knew;

Such fears with hopes were woven.

The train pulled in 'neath autumn skies;

Why did our mother dry her eyes

While children were astounded?

A place was found for each so neat

Upon a springy cushioned seat;

Then "all aboard" was sounded.

*To get on a homestead it was necessary to make application and deposit the filling fee at the government land office.

Merry Christmas

From my family to yours: Wishing you the best Christmas ever.