"Bomber Memories"
August 12 & 13, 1998
August 12, 1998
Pam Ehinger Nassen (67)
Hey does any one remember lost lake out in West Richland, it was surrounded by tall trees out in the middle of nothing? We used to have some good parties there!! At least the ones I remember!! We went swimming and I got my folk's 66 SS Chevy stuck between first and revers. Lois Burnley and her cousin Pam and I had to walk about 1/2 mile or so to the main road and catch a ride into West Richland. Then I had to do the hardest thing for me to do... call Daddy to come and get us!! Oboy did I hear about that one for a long time to come.
Bomber's Rule
Pam Ehinger Nassen
Gregor Hanson (65)
Here's information on the prison camps which from the chronological dateline entry in a publication titled "The Long Road to Self-Government - the History of Richland, Washington 1943-1968!! This is an awesome year by year historical account of the making of the City of Richland with lots of pictures, year by year population count, Dupus Boomer cartoons (first cartoon depicting Richland life was published Nov 29, 1945), and dates that indicate when various stores, banks, and types of houses were built, churches started, schools opened, community club activities, photos of Atomic Frontier Days royalty, local government officials, etc. It is over 40 pages of information only a former Richlander would cherish. I just learned that Carmichael Jr. high was originally named Robert Gray Jr High!! April 28, 1943 - Housing construction began in Richland. dupont was prime contractor for both housing and plant construction, 4,000 homes completed by 1945. July 30, 1943 - First house occupied was a "B" house and was occupied by JC Lang - Coal, water, electric service, furniture, lawn mower, etc. all furnished.
Back to the prison camp item:
February 1944 - Columbia Camp on the Yakima River near the Horn Rapids Dam was established as a camp for Federal Prison Industries. The camp was closed in October 1947. As many as 250 prisoners from McNeill Island were housed in the camp and they cared for and harvested fruit from the orchards left when the project started.
During the four years of operation an excess of 5,669 tons of fruit was harvested.
Since many of us were Hi-Spot dance attendees the history on that is: December 21, 1945 - The Hi-Spot teenage club for Richland teenagers opened in the W-17 Women's Dorm under sponsorship of the Jaycees.
In recalling some of the early "landmarks" in Richland - glad that someone mentioned The Mart Cafeteria and Store - I remember the Green River lemon lime drink served there. Other early stores in Richland started in 1945 included Thrifty Drug, Binyon Optometrist, Mickey's Shoe Repair, Style Center, Pennywise Drug, etc.
However, I didn't find any entries in the publication about Johnny's Delicatessen where teens got their first taste of men's magazines, nor any rumors of the Sandman - alleged stalker of parked cars in secluded places and preying on the couples inside!!
Bomber Cheers!!
Gregor
Sonny Davis (62)
Really enjoy the memory jogging.... there hasn't been a name/place come up yet that I don't remember. Thanks for forwarding it all to me. I always anticipate reading the latest. I would especially like to add that I was extremely happy to hear from Big Frank Osgard. Who wudda thunk it! Alive and kicking after all these years. I would really like to hear from all you Bombers and Bomberettes who were affected, like I was, by Frank Osgard.
Thanks
Sonny Davis
Vera Smith Robbins (58)
Thanks for the info. I've been wondering how those great comments all came together for us to enjoy. I really wish Florida had a Spudnut Shop. That's the very first place I go when I get to Richland. The first morning I'm there at 7 am I HAVE to make a trip to the Spudnut Shop. You see just everyone there.
Another drive in that I haven't seen mentioned is ZIPs. By's Burgers and ZIPs were about the only 2 places to get juicy hamburgers where the juice would run down your arm! I can't wait to tour around and see how much Richland has grown since I left in 1968.
Vera
Veronica Yates Jones
(64)
It was Sky King (I think) that had the side-kick Ichabod Mudd (with 2 d's). It was my favorite show from the era. Remember one show where the daughter was kidnapped and left behind a clue. She had the time (and presence) to leave a blood mark on the wall calendar that had a picture of the mountains. The clue was that she was taken to the Red Mtn's. Of course, Sky King used his airplane to get to the mountains and rescue her and send the bad guys to the pokey. How's that for a memory!
Remember home delivery of milk and bread? Some mornings just after I got up, I would go with my mom outside to the bread truck and pick some goodies for breakfast -- raisin bread or prune bread (yes, it was good).
I remember Muscles riding his bicycle around the Uptown--didn't know there were so many chrome accessories that could be put on one bike.
Anyone remember the blizzard during the winter of 48-49? My mom and I were out, but when we arrived home, we found that snow had blown in the windows and under the doors -- little ridges of snow! Must be how all the sand got in, too. My dad always talked about a flood in 48, too, but I don't remember that. After that the dike was built.
No one has mentioned the stock car races that were at the Benton County fair grounds. Had a driver Cassidy that had only one arm who was sorta the race folk hero.
My mom had friends that lived at Camp Hanford in the trailer park -- they were not mobile homes, but trailers. Most had no bathroom facilities, so there were bath houses that included washing machines on each block. People lived in the trailers that were smaller than our motor home!
Sorta sounds like we are a bunch of old folks sitting on the front swing--but very enjoyable.
Ronnie
Gary Twedt (62)
I've been following the fascinating recollections of our fellow alumni. Across the years and experiences, it seems that the same memories are first in our minds. I thought I was the only one who would remember the mosquito jeeps. I haven't seen any mention of the midnight drags at what is now Columbia Park or of "the Sandman". We lived in a "B" house at 903 Torbett until '57 when the folks bought at 3-bdrm "prefab" at 1427 Perkins. Anyone remember watching TV in the front window of Greer's Appliance in the early 50's? How 'bout the booming sounds of dynamite on the Columbia in the winter of '49 when the river froze over (before the dikes were built). Brother Richard (64) and I attended Sacajawea, Chief Jo and Col-Hi. I recently discovered a number of class photos from Sacajawea from '49-55, will share when I figure out how to operate this new scanner (see Jeannie Crigler, Elaine Wyss and Babbette Petty missing their baby teeth). Alan Coffman was the fastest rope climber at Pasport Plunge, toes were long enough he could walk up the rope, gripping it between his toes. Ya, I got the wammies from the skeleton in the museum at Sacajawea Park too (got over it, being a cop for 31 yrs). We're getting older, but being able to share memories with everyone is really great.
John Coons (63)
1. Tell the guy who wrote about the bomb that everyone knows that they were B-29s, not B-52s. (Thanks Alan, Chuck, et.al.)
2. Here are some more memories:
.Having coal, bread, & milk delivered to your home.
.Day care at the big nursery school at Lee & Jadwin
.Catching tadpoles, frogs, & fish at Welsian Pond.
.The Riding Academy
.C.C. Anderson’s, where you could x-ray your feet to make sure your shoes fit properly and have change sent down from the cashier's office though a vacuum tube.
.The Passport Plunge: We climbed up a rope in the middle of the pool to get to a platform attached to the ceiling, then jumped off into the water. Later, I helped tear it down and salvage the wood as a church money making project.
.Patrol Boys & Girls
.Grade school lunches (Hamburger gravy over mashed potatoes, carrot stick, & milk)
.Friday the 13th horror movies
.Drawings for live Easter bunnies
.Sleding down Carmichael Hill
.The Tri-City Braves .The Ski Bus
.Hi-Spot
.Floating down the Yakima River
.Jumping off the rail road bridge
.Jump-Off-Joe
.Submarine Races
.State Basketball Tournaments
.The Camlin Hotel
.Drag races at Columbia Park
.Atomic Burgers at the Atomic Lanes included a fried egg.
.Bateman Island
.Third Island
.The Lagoon
."Suntan Turnover Time" on KORD
Maren Smyth (64)
COONS -- YOU were the guy who said they were B-52's! Is this fun or what?
VERONICA -- OK, I'll buy Sky King, but where did Jet Jackson come in??? Maybe he was on one episode of Sky King?
KORD ... and I tell people to this day when they ask where Richland is, I recite the KORD signoff"...where the Columbia, the Snake and the Yakima form their 'highway to the sea'".
...and YES, Richland WAS different from any other town in the WORLD...
Mary Collins Burbage
(63)
It is so much fun sharing all these memories with former Richlanders. I had forgotten so much. I have been sharing some of these stories with my co-workers and they think I am making them up. Were our formative years so different from everyone else's?
Does anyone remember lining up at CC Andersons to see Santa Claus? I remember Bozo the Clown always being there. Or the old canoe that was in front of Lewis and Clark that we were told was left there by Lewis and Clark?
I remember Ida Mecham. We used to count how many times she straightened her bra strap in an hour.
My husband and I were in Richland in May. I took him up to the Spudnut Shop and made a true believer out of him. We were with a group of 20 people from Olympia and every time I see any of them, they want to talk about the Spudnut Shop. It was neat to see that one thing from my childhood had not changed - the best doughnuts anywhere!!!
Mary Collins Burbage
Carolyn Karns Keck (65)
Hi, does any one remember the milk trucks and the bakery trucks that came around early every morning? Pasco plug was the greatest. But most of all the bon fires we use to have and got out of hand some times. My parents came out in the 40s and then later all came out in 46. My bother John Karns went to school here can't remember what the school was call then but he was 13 years older then me. The uptown was my favorite place to spend time. Use to live in "B" house on the corner of Hains and G Way so got to watch every one cruseing. Lots of fun to grow up there .
Thanks for all the memories.
Carolyn Keck (use to be Carolyn Karns)
Lois Clayton Colton
(72)
I am enjoying reading about historic Richland. My father and mother moved there in 1949. My father, Aubrey Clayton taught Science and Math at Carmichael, and north of town in the huts, and night school at Col-Hi.
Lois
Joe Largé (68)
My recollection of muscles was this skinny blond guy with sort-of weepy, puppy dog eyes that was friends with EVERYBODY! He rode around on this old "40's" or so vintage bicycle with rear view mirrors on it. The Richland police would allow him to help direct traffic at some special events. I remember he had mentioned that he had always wanted to become a "Submarine" captain. He and I were going to run away and have our own submarine. Eventually he moved away to Los Angeles(?) I think. Last I had heard was that he had gotten into trouble for trying to direct traffic in a busy Los Angeles intersection.
The Spudnut Shop, my brother Dennis used to work there, when he was a kid. Wasn't it "Ernie" that owned the Spudnut shop? Anyway, while washing a huge bunch of dishes, he cut his hand really bad on some knives that were in the dish water. They were "REALLY SHARP". Had to have some stitches. I guess Ernie was the one that took him over to Kadlec for that one. The reason it was called the "Spudnut" shop, rather than "Donut" is that "Ernie" used potato batter in making his donuts, rather than wheat flour. In any case, they sure were GOOD!
I also used to swim at the PasPort plunge. I remember it was HUGE (of course, as a little kid, anything was huge.) And yes, I do remember it to being Olympic-sized. I seem to remember that it was not the "standard(?)" 12 feet deep, but like 15 feet or something of that nature.
Anybody remember the old "Columbians" Drum and Bugle Corps? A few of us Richandites belonged to the Corps. We practiced at the bowl in Pasco. Sometimes in the Sears parking lot. Started out at the old park with the railroad train in Pasco. I used to be a member back in about 1960. I played 1 valve bugle. We went to VFW Nationals in Las Vegas, NV about 1962 and won 5th. Our chief rivals were the "Thunderbirds" and later, "Shamrocks" from that stiff nosed town called "Seattle". It was some blood-feuds between us and the "T-Birds". One time, one of our members had even took his Crystal knobbed canes and placed a good sized dent in one of their brand-new contra basses. The "Columbians" got 5th in Nationals over there, the "Thunderbirds" came in 7th!
Yay!!!! CIAO for Now!
Joe Largé
Evelyn Meyer Crowder
(46)
This is in response to Eva Clark Perry (49), requesting info re: anyone having any furniture from the "old" days. When Eva was a freshman I was a senior along with Paul Crowder whom I married. I do remember her and we just looked her up in an old annual. My parents were issued furniture in 1944 and it has been to South Carolina where they worked in the 50's at the Savannah River Project and then to Arizona where they retired and where Mom still resides. The dining room table, ladderback chairs and buffet with hutch are now in our son's home. The desk and some chest of drawers have vanished. Paul and I have the desk chair -- it was called a Windsor-style chair. We also have a flip-top table. Was interesting reading Eva's letter. I am not aware of anyone in the class of '46 that we knew well that is on E-Mail. Bernie Simpson of the '46 class gets mail via his daughter. Wish more were on e-mail.
On another note: My husband, (Paul J. Crowder, Jr. '46) is also a Bomber. I do not know about Eva's husband, but think you were not even born when Paul lived there (1003 Williams in an "F" House). Think Steven's Drive has been changed also, but the house is still there. I lived at 1318 Goethals in an A house while in high school and later in an "H" on Barth. There was no UPtown. We are going up to Richland for reunion next month (40s Club) and if no one has let you know what kind of houses those are in front of Sacajawea pic, I will find out. Can understand your confusion. E-mail is so fast, I sometimes forget if I've answered a letter or not.
Evelyn M. Crowder
Gary Bush (66)
Yes, I do remember:
By's Burgers
Ray's Market out at the Y (still there but new ownership)
Highland Ranch Market in Kennewick
Atomic Frontier Days
"Muscles" (had his special bicycle)
Wild Bill's (now a Mexican Restaurant after 3 previous restaurants failed there)
Flumes
I do remember going to the dances at Howard Amon (RIVERSIDE) Park during the "Frontier Days".
I also remember going with the family to the Passport Plunge - the big, indoor pool which used to be near the old airport.
August 13, 1998
Ray Stein (64)
With all the interest on this site about Richland's history, I thought I would share an old newspaper. My mother kept the Tuesday, August 14th, 1945 issue of the Villager. The headline screams in 4" letters "PEACE!", and below that it says, "OUR BOMB CLINCHED IT!". There are several interesting articles with quotes from people at Ganzel's Barber Shop. But I think one of the articles sums up how most of our parents felt at that time. I'll quote it word for word below:
"It's Peace"
"It's Peace," was heard first by village housewives who had done their housework with one ear listening to the radio since Friday morning when announcement was first made of the Japs peace feelers.
"It's Peace," they screamed to anxiously awaiting husbands as soon as jammed switchboards permitted their calls to go through.
"It's Peace," shouted the men to others in the office, warehouses, plants, stores and streets.
The four-and-one-half long years of war were over at last. Sons, brothers and fathers - some of them - would be coming home now. Villagers exulted! The slaughter was stopped. Villagers were thankful!
A bomb made in Hanford helped clinch the victory. Villagers were proud!
As the lights went on all over the world the villagers joined with the rest of the world in one joyous, surging song - "IT'S PEACE!"
These are not my words, but taken verbatim from the Villager. I added () letters that seemed to be left out.
I suppose these newspapers are available in archives, but if anyone wants a copy of this let me know.
Take care,
Ray Stein
Gary Behymer (64)
Certainly fears and feelings that we ourselves would not be able to express unless have lived through it. The above equates to my answer to why we had to drop 'the bomb' or any bomb to end a war.
Kenny Wright (63)
Have been following with interest all the remembrances of the "Atomic Town". A lot of memories started flooding back. When I was growing up I assumed all other kids grew up like we did: no slums, no old people, all new houses about the same, most all families were young college graduates (usually WASP's) who were doing their part for us baby boomers (on the 300 block of Craig Hill at one time there were 31 kids about the same age), no crime (as a kid I cant remember seeing a cop car cruising), and no one knew what their father did at work. I have a bit more of a perspective now. So I have succumbed. Does anyone remember these:
(1) the last 5-cent Coke machine in Richland that was in the hallway of old Police Station in Downtown Richland
(2) the Government would: with just a phone call come out and replace a broken window for free; in the winter when you ran out of coal they would come out and fill up the basement coal bin for free; on alternative years they could come out and paint the outside of the house, then the next the inside for free
(3) when the family would pack up and go to the drive-in you would leave the front and back doors open (with screen doors closed and of course unlocked) to air condition the house
(4) when mom would not let you go to the community swimming pool in the mid 50's because of the Polio scare
(5) on a slow Saturday night, ride inside the Laundromat dryers for a dime
(6) when a kid could go to the grocery store with a dime and buy 10 pieces of penny candy
(7) on Saturday afternoons for 11 cents you could see a couple of cartoons, a Buck Rogers serial, and then a full length Western at the Village Theater
(8) the bowling alley/bus station (where the Community Center is now) where a kid (you had to be 15) could get a part-time job as a pin setter
(9) on Tuesdays and Thursdays the Bakery van would drive up and down the streets delivering phoned in orders; ala the Milk man early in the morning
(10) water skiing behind a car on the West Richland irrigation canals (you had to remember where the signs were)
(11) the submarine races over looking the Columbia in North Richland
(12) the 4th of July fireworks at the Bomber Bowl where they would rope off 1/2 of the field and all of us would sit within yards of the rockets (would they let us do that now?)
(13) the Chamber of Commerce sign as you entered Kenniwick by the golf course warning "all negroes must be out of the city limits by sunset"
(14) before the lawns and trees were established, the residue inside the houses after a sand storm, or the tumbleweed forts we built after one of those storms
(15) the 1 1/2-lane bridge over the Columbia from Kennewick to Pasco, we would stop until we were sure no trucks were coming
(16) Rachel Carson (Silent Spring) told about the Eagles and DDT, she was about a decade too late for the "baby boomers" of "Atomic Town"; ever wonder why the sperm count and infertility rates are so low among us? It happened to the eagles etc., etc., etc. .........!
(17) the 15 cent burgers at By's
(18) when a kid needed money we would either go out along the roads and collect pop and beer bottles for a penny return or go house-to-house asking for clothes hangers and turn them in to the Richland Laundry and Dry Cleaners (which use to be just East of By's) and get a penny for each hanger
(19) in the Fall, before school and after sun rise, you could walk down to the Yakima River and hunt Canadian Geese and with your limit still get to first period on time
(20) hookie-bobb'in behind the Area Buses when it snowed
(21) on one of the hottest days of the summer chipping in enough money between your buddies to buy a block of ice and "sledding" down Carmichael Hill
(22) on a hot summer night when families would leave their front doors open to cool off, a couple of kids would go to the back of an "A" house (is that the 2-story duplex), crawl up on the backdoor roof, into the hallway window which was always open, then run down the stairs and out the front door screaming (
(23) the "Why Me Worry" philosophy seemed to fit
(24) after we were suppose to be in bed, getting up and listening to the old upright Philco to Wolfman Jack playing the real rock-and-roll which the TriCities didn't have
(25) the first working television picture in the TriCities at Rexall Drug store in Downtown Richland next door to the Richland Theater and across the street from CC Andersons ( a little kid could squeeze through the crowd to see a salt and pepper snow job with things moving and squeaking for audio)
Maren Smyth (64)
Response to Kenny's memories above:
(6) when jawbreakers were TWO for a penny.
(9) Our Darigold milkman's name was Jerry.
(12) We sat on a blanket on the hill.
(13) WHOA!! I don't remember THAT!!
(15) Only 1 1/2 lanes!! Explains my fear of bridges!
(20) Hookie-bobb'in behind ANYTHING... Ya think we all had a death wish?
Carol Wiley Wooley (63)
Thanks for forwarding the messages from the alumni. I have laughed so hard at some of the memories... I am fortunate to have some home movies that my Dad took of my birthday parties. I have put them on video and I pull them out every now and then and look that those familiar faces that I knew from Kindergarten [Spalding] through graduation. Tammy [Bond], Susie [Rohrbacker], Judy [Fisher], Emajean [Stone], April... We were such hams in front of the camera.! I talk to my kids about home milk delivery they are amazed... and better yet, walking to Densow's to have a REAL coke and look at magazines. As I have met people from other parts of the country, I am sure we lived a very unique life growing up in Richland.. I haven't been home in a long time, but after reading some of the memories, I think it's about time to make the trip!.......
Carol
Vera Smith Robbins (58)
I really didn't think I had any interesting memories to share with anyone until today while reading recent stories from others. My Poppy moved my mom and I to Richland in 1944.
He had gotten a prefab on Potter (1210 or 1208) can't remember the address. Anyway, Pop was on graveyard and it was early evening when we arrived at the house. Mom dumped the sand off the mattress, spread a sheet on it for my Pop to lay down and get some sleep before having to go out to the area. Then Mom and I went to grocery store to "stock up". When we finished we started home. HOWEVER, there were NO street signs and Mom couldn't remember where we lived. Also, all the prefabs looked alike in that area and she couldn't remember the little number that was at the base of the house. We drove up and down the dirt roads trying to find our house. She said it was something like 2 or 3 hours! It was getting closer and closer to the time she needed to wake Pop up for work. Needless to say, she finally found it, but she was almost in tears by then. Can you imagine all the houses looking alike, no street signs and it's dark!
Carol Converse Maurer (64)
This was great reading about all those long ago places that were so popular back when. Nobody mentioned the movie house downtown. I remember going there and seeing a movie for 10 cents. You'd get the news and a cartoon before the movies started.
Carol Converse Maurer
Kenneth Finley (64)
Someone mentioned Jump Off Joe in one of the journies through Richland memories and I was reminded of an attempt to be poetic as we vacationed through the Tri-City area on the way to Sun Valley. I thought some might enjoy this free verse memory.
Vacationing Past Childhood Mystery
Touring in the shadow of Badger Mountain, one can well imagine the inspiration of some ancient naming pioneer -
Although, I can't recall such a four legged creature calling it home.
Off to the left, across fields of grain nearing harvest and those furrowed new to strut future rippened head,
Rises Jump Off Joe like some giant ocean swell against the horizon.
Ah, now there's the mystery!
Who was this Joe fella anyway?
And was Joe (Jo) ever a fella - we never thought to ask in those days?
What drove Joe to jump if any jumping Jo did?
I never thought to probe such now tantalizing mystery.
Content was I, amid baseball games, desert exploration, and quests to hook the big one,
To let truth and mystery play behind the more riveting distractions of my youth.
Terrance K. Liechty (64)
I remember a swimming area by the river near Kennewick that was outside not a park but like artificial beach. It was down by the old highway and I can't remember the name of it but it was, for a while the "in" place.
The owner of the Spudnut shop was Barlo Ghirado, Gail Ghirado's (65) father.
I worked at C.C. Anderson's for awhile. I did my share of cleaning that old building. It was one of the originals. I used to like the western wear area because it always smelled good. (Leather I guess) They also had a store in Pendleton and when we went to the Round up we would go in there and they had an even bigger western dept. that smelled excellent.
I still have a sticker on a box from KORD 910, Pasco Washington.
Terry Liechty
Gloria Falls Evans (58)
I was one of the Bombers that lived in N . Richland in those trailers it was a lot of fun we did have the bathhouses and there was a playground on every other corner. We had a grocery, a pharmacy, a firehouse, a theater, a post office and also a beautiful park that my father took care of. There was also a trailer retail supply, and yes they were called trailers at that time. We moved in when the flood took over previously had lived in Bunch Finnigans in Kennewick and got run out of there and ended in the Kennewick High School grounds for three days.
Gloria Falls Evans ~ Spokane Wa.
THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES
