family

HERITAGE JOURNALS: STORIES COLLECTED BY 6TH GRADE STUDENTS OF JAQUI EICHER, 2002

Written by Shirley Johnson

“In 1835, Loda Wiska’s parents Ephraim (Buck) and Sara Jane Adams were living on the East Coast. Ephraim was thought to be a grandson of our second president, John Adams.
Sara was expecting their first child. They had a friend who frequently passed their house, transporting liquor on his wagon. He often stopped to visit and was there one day when they were trying to decide on a name for their new baby girl. Their friend said, ‘if you will let me name your baby, I will give you some land I own in Oregon.’ It was a huge tract of land and it seemed like a reasonable offer so they agreed to let him name her.

“The name offered was Load of Whiskey and the baby girl became Loda Wiska. Whatever became of the property is not known for sure but we do know that her parents owned a huge ranch along the Yamhill River south of McMinnville. Loda’s father brought sheep from the East Coast by boat around Cape Horn to Oregon. He also owned fine horses and wagons.
“Loda Wiska came to the Amity area of Oregon by wagon train in 1843 when she was eight years old. She was married twice and had eight children. When she was only 29 years old, while at home by her fireplace, writing a letter to her husband in the gold fields of California, her dress caught fire and she died from her burns. One of her twin daughters, Ella, also died in the fire. The other twin, Emma, survived the fire. Loda and her daughter were buried together in the Pioneer Masonic Cemetery West of McMinnville in 1864.

HERITAGE JOURNALS: STORIES COLLECTED BY 6TH GRADE STUDENTS OF JAQUI EICHER, 2002

Written by: Mike Allen

“My name is Mike Allen and I have been a resident of Salem, Oregon for over 30 years now. Growing up in a climate such as we have here (ie: icy, wet and cold), it is almost second nature for a person who drives a vehicle to almost master driving in these conditions. However, one thing a person can only learn with experience is never use cruise control when driving a pickup up a steep hill and around a bend.

“With the truck being so light in the rear, the truck rear tires will break free and the truck will spin and possibly flip, as mine did! This may seem to be a little story that seems to be of little or no interest to some (or all), but I will say that my sister and I are very lucky to be alive!

“Just be very safe when driving as you go through life, the life you save could very well be your own. “

HERITAGE JOURNALS: STORIES COLLECTED BY 6TH GRADE STUDENTS OF JAQUI EICHER, 2002

Written by: Connie Baillie

“I was born on a hop farm near Amity, Oregon. I went to Wheatland Grade School through the eighth grade and then to Amity High School. After graduating in 1945 I moved to Salem and got a job with the State of Oregon. There I met my husband to be, Charles Kerper who was employed with the State Tax Department. We raised four boys who have presented me with 10 grandchildren. I served as Den Mother for eight years and also as Room Mother. We did a lot of traveling all over the Northern states, back to where Charles was born in Pennsylvania. We also went to Washington D.C., twice to Yellowstone Park and to Disneyland with the boys. Charles passed away in 1972. I went back to the State Revenue Department and worked until 1989, seeing that my boys went to college. I married Glenn Baillie in 1984. We did some traveling to Nebraska, Wisconsin, California, Mexico and Canada.

“When he passed away in January, 2001 I sold my home and moved to The Springs at Sunnyview.”

HERITAGE JOURNALS: STORIES COLLECTED BY 6TH GRADE STUDENTS OF JAQUI EICHER, 2002

Written by Mrs. Wenger

“Bush School, 1939 – 1945

“I lived south of Salem about where Walling Sand and Gravel Company is located. We rode the school bus. We rode even farther south and up the hill where Morning Side School is. The homes and that hill were mansions, at least to a little girls’ eyes. I remember one girl who lived there. Her name was Norma Paulus.

“Bush School is located on Mission Street. That is for awhile yet. It will be torn down this (2002) year. This is sadness for me. I remember the playground where we climbed in a big tree’s roots, where we played dodgeball. We got so dirty because sometimes the ground was very wet.

“I remember Mr. Beck, our principal. he was a very kind man. I remember my first grade teacher, Miss Dimick. She taught me how to tell time while I waited for the bus to take me home. I remember my fourth grade teacher who believed in ‘good health habits’. she said we should brush out teeth three times a day. she did. Also, every morning we had to raise our hand, handkerchief in hand, to show we carried one.

“I recently went back to Bush School with my daughter and grandson. Ryan wanted a picture of me in front of the school. While we were there I noticed how close to the floor the drinking fountains were. I never noticed that during the years 1939 – 1945.

“This wonderful school that I remember so well was a happy place.”

HERITAGE JOURNALS: STORIES COLLECTED BY 6TH GRADE STUDENTS OF JAQUI EICHER, 2002

As told by: Edward E. Kahut

“There was a woodbox along the kitchen stove. Matches were kept on the warmer. I was almost 3 years old. I would crawl up there and get those matches, so the adults moved them. But one day i stood on the woodbox and saw one match which had fallen down in the crack between two pieces of metal. I worked and worked and dug it out with my little fingers.

“I went out to the barn with the match in hand. I was thinking about how the other kids took matches, stood them on the striker and flicked them. They would light and spin like fireworks. I got down to the barn thinking to see if they hay would burn. I stuck the match on the wood like I saw my brothers do. I put it on the hay right there. Then I saw the hay would burn. I blew on it to put it out but I saw that it was over my head. So I got scared and ran to the house and hid under the bed. I stayed under there for a long time.

“The barn was burning. They didn’t know where I was. They were scared I was in the barn. I don’t remember if I came out or if they found me under there. They didn’t know I did it. They asked me and I shook my head back and forth for weeks.

News article from March 30, 1933

Three Horses Burn to Death

Woodburn — A large barn on the Joe Kahut farm two miles southeast of Woodburn was completely destroyed by fire Saturday which was thought to have started from defective wiring. Three horses were burned to death and a fourth was badly burned but may recover. 

Tony Kahut, 14, bravely entered the burning structure and led a valuable bull to safety. Two silos, one full and the other about half full of silage, a large amount of hay and other feed, a number of farm implements and several sets of harness were also destroyed. The Woodburn fire department with the chemical truck was able to save the house and other adjoining buildings. The fire broke out about 2:30 o’clock in the afternoon shortly after Kahut left for town and there was no one at home but Mrs. Kahut and six children of which Tony was the eldest. 

The barn was built about 20 years ago and was 60×60 feet in size. Loose hay in large quantities in the lower part of the barn caused the blaze to burn rapidly, and it was impossible to save anything from the burning building. The loss is estimated at $2500, partially covered by insurance. 

Sixty nine years later, the truth comes out:

One day my dad and I were on a walk together. He asked me if I did it and I told him the truth. Maybe it was six months later but it seemed like years. It was too late to give me a spanking.”