"Bomber Memories"
November 1 - 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6, 1998
November 1 - 2, 1998
Over the years, I've done quite a bit of traveling. I've lived in quite a few places across this country, both as a kid growing up and later as an adult, plying my trade as an engineer. But Richland was always special, and is the only place I kept coming back to -- five different times amounting to 14 years in all, from the time my parents moved there in 1949 to our last stay from 1989 to 1995. There were many reasons for coming back, but one of the most important is that we wanted our kids to experience the magic of Richland. And now we even have some of our grand kids in Richland, one of which just graduated from RHS in '98.
Our kids went to schools in Massachusetts, California, and Oregon, but none compare to Richland. But it's not just the teachers (though they are very good) ? rather it's the whole Richland environment, which many Richlanders have described in these pages better than I ever could.
I've always thought one of the reasons Richland was so special is that whatever class distinctions there were between rich/poor, managerial/scientist/techs/craft ? and more recently those between the races and sexes ? they s imply weren't as pronounced as in other places we had lived. It seems that all were more-or-less equally important in the Hanford scheme of things, and the kids ? especially the "new kids on the block" benefited.
I attended Col High only two years (51 and 52) so I was one of the "new kids on the block." Moreover, we belonged to the construction contingent that lived in North and West Richland. Later my brother and parents settled in Kennewick. So the bulk of my years living in Richland, itself, came after military service (USAF) and college (WSU).
Maybe I missed it, but I haven't seen any extensive memories of life in North Richland, so I thought I'd offer a few observations, because in many ways North Richland was pretty special too.
When I lived there, in the late '40s and early '50s, North Richland was mostly a big trailer camp for the construction workers. There was a canopy for each trailer, which was pretty essential since many weren't that weather tight. I remember climbing on top of one of the canopy's and it seemed that all I could see was other trailers ? very impressive. Each block contained a wash house, which I believe had washing machines in one half, and showers, toilets and sinks in the other, very much like on a military base. On a warm summer night, the lights of the wishes would attract the june bugs, many of which died in the sinks so that you had to scoop out the sinks in the morning to wash and shave.
The Army (Camp Hanford) built the original part of North Richland to the west during the war years. After the war was over, the Army left and the construction camps in the Hanford and White Bluffs area moved to North Richland for the construction efforts related to the so-called "cold war." The old Army Headquarters was turned into the site's Administration building, and, until a few years ago, was still standing and occupied by Battelle.
North Richland was a pretty self sufficient community with a drug store (Red Greens, I think), a grocery store, a movie theater (the North Star), and a Clothing Store (Herman's) where I worked after school. They also had a couple of really huge cafeterias, also called beer halls, where you could get breakfast in the morning and a meal with pitchers of beer in the evening. I seem to recall that the number of gallons of beer consumed each day was a classified military secret even in those days.
There was also a school (the John Ball Grade school) and a church. The pastor's name was, as I recall, Reverend Mensch. He was a young fellow (as were most Richlanders in those days) and he was a big friend to most of us kids. Mostly what I recall are great Christmas plays, and nice long ski trips (very romantic) to the Tollgate resort in Oregon.
Besides all the trailers, there were also a number of houses near the river that were for the construction supers, who were a little more permanent than the trailer folks. And for the really transient folk, there were the barracks. The men's barracks were open and accessible, but the women's barracks was surrounded by a tall chain link fence. For a brief time, I stayed with my dad in the barracks. Sleeping two on an army cot wasn't easy. Later I stayed with my brother's family in a 19' Schult trailer? I slept on the sofa? which was a big improvement over the army cot.
Somewhere in the barracks area was a teen recreation center called the Hi-Spot I believe it was located in the women's section because it seemed we had to go through a big gate in a chain link fence to get there. I think there was also a Hi-Spot for teens in downtown Richland in the old rec-hall (pool and bowling alley), that was later called the community center.
All the barracks area was all heated with steam. The steam pipes ran overhead and were somewhat unsightly. It would be one of the first things you saw on the left side of the road coming up the hill (just past the present day grad center) from Richland.
On the west side of North Richland, near the bus lot, was a park with green grass and trees, where some waited for the buses to get in from the area each evening. In the summer, the park also published a schedule of activities for everyone's enjoyment.
At the north edge of town, near where we lived was a basketball hoop where I spent many an evening playing pickup basketball and shooting baskets until the sun disappeared and I could no longer see the hoop. That was the first time I began to appreciate sunsets over the desert. Who needed TV?
A lot of neat folks came out of North Richland. Some I remember are: Margie Casebier, Class of '52 Student Body President; Leon Stevens (51), a history and English teacher for many years in Pasco and Kennewick; Anita Lollar and Betty Jo Rupp whom I would drive to school in my dad's '41 Willys Americar; Gwen Moore; Don Forsythe; Jack and Dick Green; Junior Stoner; Doug and Diane Jonson; the McBees, Bill and CC; and many others.
Dick Epler
We lived in a B house on Thayer (1208, across the street from what then was the Pennywise Drug Store). Because of the capricious ways school boundaries were drawn in Richland, I only attended one half of 5th and all of 6th grade at Sacajawea. Then I had to go to Marcus Whitman for 7th and 8th grades. I was in the last, or the next to the last class, that went four years at Col-Hi.
Dick Pierard (52)
Marguerite Groff
Tompkins (54) ![]()
Before this is published Halloween will be over. However, I have a special memory about a great neighbor lady. In our neighborhood, in the 1500 block of McPherson, Marshall, and on the adjoining streets of VanGiesen and Torbett, we had lots of playmates - and many of them Class of '54. One of our pals, Glenn Olson (54), married Bev Edwards (56). His mom, Edith Olson, always gave us the most wonderful treats, generally big candy bars (nickel bars in those days). However, before she would give you one, you signed her book. We always figured it was so we wouldn't come back, but she later said that she just wanted the signatures to look at years later when we would be grown up and remember us as kids. Edith used to teach at Jefferson. Probably some of you had her - I don't remember what grade. She was a friend to all of us and if anyone needed mothering, she would mother you. She died earlier this year - nearly 90 years old, and had all her faculties up to the end. Other memories are just the happy, fun times, being with all my friends. Some of the kids in our neighborhood, included Sandra Sturgis George (54), Pat Mulligan Cassidy (53), George Mulligan (57), Bud Synoground (54), Larry Christenson (54), Janet Hetzel Jacobson (54), Donna Thompson Jackson (54), Pat Bellarts Blackburn (54), Bill Massey (54), my brothers, Phil (58) and Bill (61) Groff and sister Marilyn Groff Taylor (63). There were lots more, and I'm probably missing some important ones - they were all part of a wonderful youth.
Sounds like our neighborhood wasn't much different from all the other neighborhoods in town. The population here was very young. Lots of babies being born. Besides as long as the government was our landlord as soon as a Hanford worker retired he had to find a home outside Richland. Of course, once the houses were sold they stayed right here and many of the ones who had moved to Kennewick or Pasco, moved back to Richland.
I know one story about the old Village of Richland. The few businesses that were here were in what is our downtown area. I worked with a gal named Evelyn VanFossen. She graduated from Richland, I think at least 15 years ahead of me. Her husband's name was Ben (also a Richland graduate). Evelyn's dad ran a tavern in Richland. Her mom had died and she and her brothers were raised by her dad. He had warned her to never walk into the tavern. While still a young child, at home alone, a fire started in the house. She knew she couldn't put it out so she ran to the tavern to get dad. She also remembered that she was to never set her foot in the tavern, so she stood just outside of the door and every time it opened, she'd try to get her dad's attention. It took some doing to get his attention, but she obeyed him by not entering the tavern. If I remember correctly, the damage to her house was fairly extensive, but the house was saved. Evelyn died as a result of breast cancer several years ago while we were still working together. When we first moved to Richland in 1945, there were a lot of old Richland houses (called "tract" houses). I always thought it would be awesome to live in a "real" house. It was always funny when a group of us would be talking to kids from another town and mention living in a B, A, H, E, or F house. They would look at us like we were crazy. It took some explaining. I eventually lost track of letters of houses when the houses were built on Harris, Davis, etc. - in the Northeast corner of town. Where I grew up it was the north end of town - now I'm nearly in the same neighborhood and it seems more like the center of town. My how things have changed.
Marguerite Groff Tompkins
Barbara Seslar
Brackenbush (60) ![]()
To Margaret Gilstrap O'Hara (74): I laughed when I read about your wire pulley system between your house and a friend's house. When I lived in Boring, Oregon, and must have been about 7 or 8 years old, my sister, Wanda (60), and I rigged one out of heavy string between our upstairs bedroom window and the neighbor's upstairs bedroom window. When our friends' Grandma noticed it, she tore it down! (Now I wonder where we got the idea? I don't remember how we got the string to the upstairs windows, either.)
Westside United Protestant Church had a group called 'Seekers'. Anyone ever a part of this group?
Memories that I have recalled that mean a lot to me are: walking around town freely and without worry; the wonderful friendly greetings of strangers and friends while shopping in the Uptown at Christmas times; Uncle Jimmy's Clubhouse; the army being here for a couple weeks in 63(?) -- Monica Thornton and I walked all the way from Benton City to Richland, in the rain, well, almost ALL the way, as an army chaplain picked us up on the old vantage highway and gave us a lift the rest of the way into Richland - Terry Davis' (65) mom had given us a lift out to BC. Hate to admit just how fun it seemed at the time and how dangerous doing something like that today would be!
Remember the old foundations left behind when they moved the "bus lot" just off of Wilson. These foundations use to fill with tumbleweeds, and we would walk along the top of the low foundations, turn our backs to the tumbleweeds, and let ourselves fall back on top of them! Wonder why that didn't hurt?
Finally, I recall climbing the huge tree down the street from us (on Marshall) next door to Donna Thompson's house. Really scary recalling just how very high we went... but never knew any of us to fall out of that tree!!!
Mary Eckert Leahy
To Cheryl Moran (66): Somewhere in my basement I have group pictures of our BlueBird or Camp Fire group. Those were some fun times. But Roganunda was the best. Of course we became too sophisticated to do that "stuff" once we left Jason Lee! Listening to the guys talk about all their fishing expeditions reminded me of the one time I went fishing. (Not something my dad did) I was friends with Karen Upchurch during our grade school days. Her dad took us somewhere that was stocked, fishing for Crappie? We used a piece of rind, I think. Anyway, I caught 24 of the little buggers on one piece of rind and took them home to mom (who hated fish). I left them in the back yard in a bucket - for a few days! After "curing" them in that Tri-City sun, mom and I buried them in the flower beds. Later we had the most beautiful roses mom had ever grown. What fun!!
Erin Owens Hyer
To Bob Mattson (64): Remember when they used to give you honest-to-goodness real Popcorn Balls in your TorT bag? Boy! Were those GOOD! Try this same trick now and you get thrown in jail with the "powli" throwing away the key! Dang, I miss some of those old good times!
Marilyln Peddicord Whitley (53): Your account of pre-AEC Richland has moved me greatly! Thanks for all your info. Growing up in AEC-era Richland, I was quite naive (and still am) on Richland's other life.
I remember as a boy scout, camping on the spot where the Columbia and Yakima rivers come together. The scout master showed us how to cut and gather asparagus. I took a shopping bag of it home. Mom cooked it up. Boy was it GOOD!
At camp, I remembered trying to make my first "stew". I didn't know you were supposed to add water! Fortunately, I had extra vegetables and meat for a second batch. So, I tried it again, with water this time. The scout master even ate a bit.
Joe Largé
November 3, 1998
Marilyn Peddicord
Whitley (53) ![]()
To Erin Owens Hyer (66): Yes indeed mother and dad were (are) friends of Marvin and Pearl Skeen. They were old Richland people. Marvin and mother graduated from the old H.S. In fact, Marvin still calls mother nearly every day now. Duane and Delsie were a little younger than Kassie and I so we were not very close. Marvin once worked for Grandpa Rose when he was quite a young fellow. After the AEC project began and all the families moved away - the post office at that time was serving 300 families - mother and dad were very careful to make new friends but keep close to their old ones too. So there were two sets of people that we visited with, played cards with and shared Sunday dinners with. The old crowd had gone to H.S. together, danced at the grange halls and grown up "on the land" The new crowd were the people who managed the businesses and "put the town together." It was quite an experience for my sister and myself.
Marilyn Peddicord Whitley
TO: Dick Epler (52): Dick I remember those olden days in North Richland. Thanks for the memories. I also went to John Ball, Chief Jo and Col Hi. Wonderful years. My father was caretaker of the park you are referring to.
Gloria Falls Evans
I hate it when I'm stupid. Always have. One time I was 'Stupid Cubed'. For you non-math types, that's 'stupid X stupid X stupid'. (Now that's stupid! Explain a mathematical reference to a non-math type with another mathematical reference!!) Anyway, it was winter and there was snow on the ground. We were at our 'winter with snow on the ground' place sliding down Carmichael Hill. Yes, I said sliding, not sledding. I think I've gone down Carmichael Hill on every apparatus where my body weight would overcome friction, but I don't recall going down on a sled. This particular day we were using a large piece of cardboard. Worked really well. Then in an overwhelming flash of stupidity I decided to go down the hill on my back - with my feet uphill. In those days nobody took down the Pony League fence like they do now. So I'm going to go down the hill on a piece of cardboard, on my back (stupid), with my feet uphill (stupid squared), with a four foot chain link fence in my path (stupid cubed). Since I was looking up I couldn't see the fence, but I hit the sucker pretty hard. I then had a brief moment of sanity and decided to go home. I walked home with my ears resting comfortably on my shoulders. I hate it when I'm stupid.
Denny Damschen
Someone brought up Girl Scout camps..... I cannot remember where the "old" one was, but I do remember going to KINGS LAKE... it was fairly new the first time I went.... and I don't know if it was in Washington or Idaho, probably Washington. My parents went one year... Dad was the handy man and bus driver. I went a few times and the last time was as a CIT (Counselor In Training) about 1960. It was almost a private lake.. a place was way across the lake, but nothing else. I figure it was man made.... there were big ole logs on the bottom.... we swam off a huge yellow life raft.... and there was some kind of dock.. I remember feeling panic when we had to do 'life saving' techniques and I imagined all sorts of "stuff" about the bottom of the lake. It was a neat place, but then I think any camp we went to as kids was thoroughly enjoyed!
Ann McCue Hewett
It is great reading about all memories. Although many memories are years before I was born, it is still great to hear those street names, Marshall, Williams, Penny Wise.
I used to live on the 1300 block of McPherson, and attended Spalding, then Chief Jo, and later RHS.
My step-dad owned the mom and pops electronic store known as Saunders Electronics. Many people came in just to talk, not always to buy things. I also remember playing in the empty lot next to his store. Today, it is the home of Seattle First (Or what ever bank it is now).
Jim Moran
November 4, 1998
Someone had mentioned the school buses for "away games" Oh, they were so much fun and I wonder how many times we sang" 99 bottles of beer on the wall"? Also someone mentioned the Christmas Caroling. I remember when they had a hay wagon, and we would all pile on there and go through town serenading the community. It was great fun.
Different ones have mentioned the church camp. But I remember the Girl Scout Camp at Lake Rimrock, up out of Naches. I went there for many years. Our GS troop was #9 and we used to meet in the old house that still is sitting on the corner of George Washington Way and Fitch. I don't know if is being used or not anymore. Scouting was a lot of fun in those days and I believe I have noticed an increase in interest in it again.
I was thinking the other day about my dad (he died in '83) but how many of you remember whenever our Dads left the house they wore a hat? It wasn't a ball cap, or like that, but it was a dress hat. My dad always looked so distinguished. Also I remember how we used to dress for church. You always wore your "Sunday Best" and the women even wore hats most of the time.
Those days in the 1950s bring back a lot of good memories like our Christmas tree forts in January and playing cowboys and Indians, which was politically correct then.
Tom Hemphill
I appreciate all the responses to my inquiry about CUP. My mother and dad were not religious and it is a wonder to me that they took us kids to church. As it turned out, my parent's decision to send us kids to camp was perhaps the most important choice they made while raising us. For me it was the seed of the beginning of finding out what life is all about. Thanks Jim for the secular review. I had forgotten the campfire songs and the cafeteria details. (In the boy scouts we called the red cool-aid "bug juice"... to shake up the new scouts. We told them it was made from crushed beetles.)
I remember the camps differently. I remember the fierce lightning storms... laying awake in the cabins at night listening to the noise of the storm. I remember the mountains, and climbing up them early in the morning with a Bible in hand, seeking some beautiful spot to sit and read and think about the One who made us all. I remember the counselors... their strong belief and the guidance they gave us kids. I remember walking the mile or two down the hot, dusty, sunlit dirt road across the small stream to some sort of store where we could buy ice cream or sodas. I remember the day we walked to the store, and when we all returned I came upon one of the lady counselors holding one of the girls who was crying. I remember several of the other standing around with tears on their faces. Curious, I asked what had happened, thinking some one got hurt or died. Seems that while walking back from the tiny forest store, one or two of the girls had come across Jesus... or a vision of Him. I never did know what they really saw... and I can't remember who the girls were.
Vernon Blanchette
To Denny Damschen (62): Yes, I agree. That was pretty Stupid!
About as stupid as the time my brother Dennis (62) was also sledding (not sliding) down the same hill. He had his head down and wasn't really paying attention to where he was going. He looked up just in time to smack himself on the same aforementioned fence post right on the eye! If he hadn't looked up, he probably would have split his thick skull!
Also, not to be excluded here for stupidity!: I used to enjoy playacting as if I was Superman. (How many of us would admit to actually doing something like this!...) Remember the old Army issue beds, the one with the metal head and foot ends (?) that had the metal uprights - all colored this sickly - looking reddish brown... I decided to tie a cape (the most common being local bathroom towel) around my neck. Carefully balancing on the end of my bed, reminiscent to the man on the table about to schuss down the hill on his way to win an Olympic medal and a Peppermint Patty, the man in a fine figure, I poised for the leap. I launched myself into the air and sailed gracefully across my bed. How callous of those government bed makers to make the beds far too short. I rammed my eye into one of those uprights and got a good black eye out of it.
This, my friend, is also STUPID!
November 5, 1998
I guess we're at the age where it's safe to tell about some of our more hair-brain, hair-raising escapades. (I hope!)
Winters when we had a lot of snow, one of our favorite - and very dangerous, things to do was to hook onto the bumper of a car going down Van Giesen and "skate" behind. The cars couldn't go very fast, but there was always the danger of them stopping.
We all drove out to Grosscup and out that way to go swimming in the irrigation canal (yuk!) We thought it was great. At that time (the late 40's and 50's) there really wasn't much out that way. That area was our "dingleweeds"!
Then there were the transformers over at Sacajawea Park. They were a real challenge to climb. I really can't remember who all was involved in all this. Bill Wilkins [51] was one and Jim Grow [51]. Anyone out there care to 'fess up?
Joan Eckert Sullens
Marilyn Peddicord
Whitley (53) ![]()
To Ron Hostetler (53): I started Lewis & Clark Fall 1940 - the first grade teacher was Mrs. Brown and the second grade teacher was Miss Carlson - she boarded with Grandma and Grandpa Rose in the house I've described before on Barth and Davenport. I don't remember the 3rd grade teacher. The forth grade one was a new person with the influx of people that grade is when we went in shifts and sat two in a desk.
Tommy Hemphill, I too remember all those Cowboy and Indians wars we used to have in the vacant lot between Jim and Doug's house and mine. I always wanted to be one of the Indians with my friends the Hawkin's boys.
Gary Eubanks
The Sandman almost got Gary and I one night - we were parked on a hill in case the 55 Chevy wouldn't start. Gary looked up and saw a guy with a sack over his head with holes cut out for eyes. He got the car started and we raced out of there and went to the high school where there was a wrestling match. We got the guys ( Dale O'Donnell, David Macy, etc.) and went back out to the bypass highway but we didn't see anyone. I think we reported it to the police, but no one found anything. Now the location is Sunset Memorial Cemetery.
Nancy Fellman Lysher
To Denny Damschen [62], Dennis and Joe Largé [68]: That fence at the bottom of Carmichael hill must have had it in for the Class of 62! I was sledding (a real sled - I don't remember whose it was) down the hill on my stomach with Billy Davidson (I think) on top of me and my brother, Gary [63] on top of him. This was about 56 or 57. The sled was one of those that was supposed to be steerable, but the combined weight of the three of us made that impossible. As we got to the bottom, I realized that we were headed for the fence, and that my nose with face attached was leading the charge. I yelled at Billy and my brother to roll off, but too late. I wound up with a diamond shaped scab on my face for a couple of weeks from the cyclone fencing. Billy and Gary thought that was real funny.
Oh well, it seemed like a good idea at the top of the hill.
Vince Bartram
Subject: Earn this boy a merit badge
Who were those twins in the "White Socks Class of '64", who dressed and kinda looked like these same McGuire (Patty, Laverne and Maxine) Sisters. They had the hair, the scarves, the sweaters, the whole enchilada. Their names rhymed, but I don't know jack about their ability to harmonize. I heard from Tony Sharpe, the Rhona Barrett of Hi-Spot that they were in Hollywood doing Doublemint Gum commercials.
Jimbeaux
Subject: JIM HAWKINS (60)
Tom Hemphill (62) mentions that Jim Hawkins (60) was kind, a real good guy and a great athlete. I would like to even expand on that. He was also generous, courageous and a supportive mentor. These special Bomber memories of mine go outside the boundaries of the Tri-Cities.
Somehow the "Hawk" showed up in my life at all the appropriate times. He first appeared, as an uninvited guest, on the basketball court in my backyard after my sophomore year. Apparently he was assigned to teach me the advanced chapters beyond Dawald’s book. There was an element of mental and physical courage required to get the Bombers to Seattle that included learning to shoot with a finger in your eye, rebound with a sharp pain in your kidneys and to run forever without a time-out. Although a few years older Jim, always seemed to always find time to periodically come by for one more lesson.
Jim House
I happened to be out last night as a huge, orange "harvest moon" rose over the mountains. It really reminded me of fall in Richland. There is something so wonderful about a moon so huge and full that it seems to be rising just for you. I remember looking forward to fall as a child just to see "that moon" rise. I'm sure it was like that in other places, but in my child's mind, it was something special just to Richland. I still think of those young years every time I see one.
To Joe Largé (68): We played "superman" at our house, too. I can see you've really grown up to be able to admit it!
Vickie (Andersen) Simmons
November 6, 1998
Almost everyone living in Richland in 1944 was not born in the Tri-Cities. Sometimes a father arrived without his family, found a good job and sent money for his wife and children to join him. Until reading the Alumni Sandstorm I thought Marilyn Peddicord Whitley was the only "native" in the Class of '53. Now I see Ron Hostetler was also born in the Tri-Cities. Is there any other classmate with that distinction?
Norma
Joan Eckert Sullens (51) spoke of hanging onto the bumpers of cars on snow days. In North Richland we called that "Hookey Bobbing" and there were times when so many of us grabbed the bumper the car couldn't move or we pulled it off course. Fun times
Steve Carson
TO Jim Hamilton (63): The twins that you are wondering about are Shairyl and Thairyl Austin. They are supposed to be in Hollywood making Doublemint gum commercials? They are the neatest girls.
Carol
To Jim Hamilton (63): Hambone - Perhaps the twins you are thinking of are Shairyl and Thairyl Austin from class of '64!
Gregor Hanson
I've been reading about that fence at the bottom of Carmichael hill. I've got a great dimple, actually it's a crease, on my left cheek (face, not elsewhere) from one of the posts. When I smile I can go right back to 1972. I think that's about the only time I've been knocked out for a couple of minutes. I think I had to wait 10 minutes before I went down again.
As for summertime diversion we lived on Agnes Street and one of the best places to go for us was the shelter belt. I think last time I was there they actually paved a path through it for jogging, walking, etc. Lots of tree forts and clothespin hydro races. Did anyone else use to to make hydros out of plywood and drag them behind your bikes? or did we just get more mosquito foggings than the rest of you - causing us to be strange children? I also remember, I hope correctly - I'm only 37, I should remember, right? - the popsicle man driving a 3-wheeled bike with a freezer box in front?? (mid to late 60's?) Ring any bells? (bad pun intended).
Tim Lippert