Ooops

If I mentioned the Spruce Goose in the post on McMinnville, the least I could do is actually show a picture of it. I think it's interesting that this shot shows a reproduction of the world's first wooden airplane (the Wright Flyer partially visible to the left), plus a WWI Spad fighter plane, next to the ultimate in wooden prop-driven airplanes. The Goose here is the real one, built and (briefly) flown by Howard Hughes, not a reproduction.

How about that! Two blog posts in ONE day!

Yes, It's Been A While...

I am sure that my two whole followers have died of boredom by now, waiting for me to resume my fascinating posts of the small towns of dryland Eastern Washington. So, it's time to post again, and maybe resurrect them from the dead.

I have to apologize, though...some of the towns in the next few posts aren't exactly small, and none of them could ever be classified as dry. But it's my blog, and I will do whatever I want. Despite what my two readers might say.

These pictures, and the ones that follow in my next couple of posts (assuming I get off my lazy rear end and actually do them) were taken on a spring break trip my wife and I took down through Central Oregon and on to the Oregon Coast. First up--McMinnville.

McMinnville, population 32,400, is the county seat of Yamhill County, OR. It was named by its founder, William T. Newby, for his hometown of McMinnville, TN (coincidentally, also the county seat and largest city, albeit only 13,242).

McMinnville is known for two things...a UFO sighting in 1950, and the Evergreen Aviation Museum, home to the Spruce Goose, the world's largest wooden airplane and with the largest wingspan of any plane ever built. There is an annual UFO festival here, rivaled only by the one in Roswell. Somehow I get the impression the McMinnville festival isn't too serious, serving mostly as an excuse to drink a lot. I could be wrong.

While in McMinnville we stayed at the Hotel Oregon on Evans Street. This is highly recommended--should you ever find yourself near McMinnville, do stop in and if possible stay the night. I can truly say it was one of the most enjoyable hotel stays of my life. If you insist on a nice bathroom right in your room, and amenities such as a TV or refrigerator, stay somewhere else. But, if you like quirky decor and hundred-year old architecture and don't mind going down the hall for a potty break or a shower, this is the hotel for you.

Interior of the Hotel Oregon. The halls (and rooms) are full of murals and interesting artwork. The house shown above, alas, is NOT the grand hotel, but rather a county government building.













Poster advertising one of the UFO festivals. As you can see, it doesn't look too serious.

Dayton

Columbia County Courthouse

Last weekend I went up to Dayton for the town's annual car show. I was expecting maybe a couple dozen cars, something pretty small, but was pleasantly surprised by the hundred+ cars there.

Dayton was platted by Jesse and Elizabeth Dayton on November 23, 1871 and was officially incorporated about ten years later. According to Wikepedia, Dayton boasts the oldest train depot in Washington (1881) and the oldest continually-used courthouse (1887). Dayton is the county seat of Columbia County. The population is about 2600 as of the 2000 census. Several years ago the Jolly Green Giant company had a canning plant in Dayton; there is still a "hill carving" of the Green Giant just outside of town.

Aside from all the beautiful classic cars, I was also treated to drag racing down the main street of Dayton. Several community members raced those little razor scooters down the street--dressed in drag.

Lumber Store

Drag Race. They were going pretty fast! I think the lady in orange won overall. "She" also won the beauty pageant after the races.

Cool car interior.

Image of the Green Giant. 1000 years from now, scientists will be trying to figure out the meaning of the Giant, and will attach all kinds of incorrect interpretations to it.

Return to Bickleton

Windmill at the Carousel Museum

I took a trip back to Bickleton a couple of weeks ago, because the Carousel Museum was open and the carousel itself was supposed to be operating for the only time all year. Unfortunately I got there a little bit too early--the carousel is set up at the rodeo grounds but the horses are stored in the museum--and they hadn't been moved yet. That was to take place later in the afternoon, but I couldn't stick around that long. But the museum was very nice, and I did get to see the town in the summer rather than the dead of winter. The town was also getting ready for its 99th annual rodeo, but that was to take place on Saturday and I was heading to Seattle that day, so alas, I missed it. I also missed the annual Combine Demolition Derby in Lind, WA which is another quirky little event I wanted to see. Next year, I guess.

Horses with feet wrapped for protection, ready for the trip to the carousel site.

Bickleton Church

To and From

Here are some pictures on my way to and from Kahlotus:













Farm

Star School--the only one-room schoolhouse left in Washington State











Lower Monumental Dam--Snake River. 810 Megawatts. Completion of the dam flooded the Marmes Rockshelter, which at the time had the oldest known human remains in the United States (about 10,000 years old).

Kahlotus

Kahlotus is a very small town (pop. 214 at the 2000 Census) located in Franklin County, Washington. According to Wikepedia, Kahlotus is an Indian word for "hole in the ground." I, however, am doubtful. I think this is an example of someone getting into Wikepedia and changing things for a joke.

Kahlotus has seen more populous times--when I was in high school, more than 30 years ago, its population was 365. One for every day of the year, as my high school history teacher used to joke. When I was a sophomore, I was the equipment manager for the freshman basketball team. We traveled to Kahlotus for a game, and I swear all 365 people were in attendance, crammed into their tiny gym. Kahlotus won by four points. It was our only loss of the year. Our coach (the same one who made the lame joke about the population) got kicked out with four seconds left, protesting something I can't even remember.
Sometime in the late 70's the town spruced itself up by putting up frontier town-like facades on all the main street buildings. 30+ years later, the facades are still there but could use some more sprucing. Hopefully better times will return; it's really kind of a pleasant, if isolated, place for a little town.

Memorial Day 2009

This is the Henri Chapelle cemetery in Belgium. There are 7992 American soldiers buried here. As Memorial Day winds down, don't forget what the holiday is for.