Mary and Sam take in the sights of Oregon

This was a very enjoyable week. Mary and Sam were on the move the whole week and when they got back from their travels, Sam took off with Bill Cady to go fishing. All the places they traveled to brought back wonderful memories from my life being in those places. My boat I live on part time is near the Longview bridge. I caught my first salmon when I was 9 in Pacific City. Forty years ago, I attended a craft fair in Yachats and bought a piece of pottery. Just a couple of months ago I was near the ferry she talks of being only in service for two weeks at the time. Good stuff!

Thursday, May 27, 1948

Tried to sleep but couldn’t. Wyckoff came by and combed out my hair so I’m ready for Chapter. Very dark and cold out. Looks like rain. Aunt Vina called up, may come over June 4. It was windy and cold all day. Went with Betty Fishler to Belfair and went thru state test for TB. Then saw Mrs. Beck who wanted flower arrangements for 8th-grade grads, tonight. She and Mrs. Huffman came down to see my French lilac after I had brought up arrangements. One was red peony and white bridal wreath. The other pink and yellow tulips and blue iris. To Chapter and Job’s put on initiatory work. It was very good. We had a nice social evening later. It was very good. Stopped at Eunice’s and asked Jess about my speech in addendum. He says OK. To bed late.

Friday, May 28, 1948

It rained hard all night, so I really slept late. Cleaned house and threw out most of the flowers. Sam went to get trailer license. Put away Chapter dress. Put stakes by blue elderberry tree to save trucks ruining it. To the dentist and had my teeth cleaned. Then bought some play clothes at Francis Shop. Home and ordered cake from Crosswhite for June 5 O.E.S. card party. Made dinner and Aunt Mary and Uncle Louie came. We had a nice visit. Bud Bickle came down, so we decided where to put the rail fence. Sam mowed the lawn, and it looks very good. Just finished when the rains came again. Will try to go to bed early as I’m very tired. The lilacs are lovely now. Saw Squires today.

Saturday, May 29, 1948

This day was gray and gloomy, and we caught 10:45 boat to Seattle. Took flowers to cemetery where they were cutting the grass and not doing a very good job as it was so wet. Ate lunch and met Sam’s doctor who came in there. To see “Lady Windemere’s Fan” with Cornelia Otis Skinner and it was very good. Sam enjoyed it. On ferry to Manchester, I changed my clothes and then we drove to Ruby and Earl’s. Saw Fritz, Eva and Vina and Henry there. As they were all ready to go, we stayed only a few minutes. To Y-Not Lodge to Shrine Dinner Dance and oh what a good time we had! First a nice dinner then a program, then dancing! Ruby surely had a good time too. They played old-time dances and all the old pieces we ever heard. Home late and to bed. Very tired. A big day.

Sunday, May 30, 1948

We arose late and cleaned house before we left Belfair. Drove to Portland via Longview Bridge. We saw a lot of the flood area and it was very bad. In Portland we stayed at Multnomah Hotel. Out to see Eddie Stevens at the Veterans Hospital. He was glad to see us. Seemed in high spirits. Showed us all around the hospital and it was very interesting. We stayed there about an hour and then went back to hotel. I called Helen Stevens when I came in, to say “Hello.” She is very anxious too and will be glad when Eddie’s operation is over. To bed early and slept. Much noise during the night so I did not do too well.

Monday, May 31, 1948

Today we drove out as far as McMinnville to get breakfast and we surely got stung. It was the worst ever! We traveled as far south as Florence along acres of green fields. Very lovely. Wild iris all along the highway and scotch broom too. Near the ocean we saw many rhododendrons. It was a marvelous sight. Saw a deer out in a field. Stayed at The Paddock at Yachats and ate razor clams at the hotel. We hiked around on the beach and watched the men fish. Very lovely out tonight but not too warm. It is very quiet here and so new. Don’t think many have stayed here.

Tuesday, June 1, 1948

We ate breakfast at Yachats then rode along the ocean as far as South Bend, Washington, where we stayed at a motel. The weather was warm, and it was a nice ride. We ate our lunch on the sand at Pacific City. Such lovely sand there. It was so clean and warm! Dug out a lot of iris plants and am sure they will grow as I took great clumps of dirt. We saw acres of rhododendrons along the roads in some areas. It really was lovely. Rode on ferry just in operation two weeks when we crossed the Columbia River. We stopped where we may camp in fishing season. It looks so clean now. Not dirty like it was last August.

Wednesday, June 2, 1948

Arose late and ate breakfast at Raymond. Then went on to Aberdeen. Sam saw Mrs. Lunn there on some business and I went around town. Bought five very lovely cups and saucers. We arrived home at 3:30 and looked at flowers. Bill Cady called up and wanted Sam to go to Sekiu. So Sam went up to Belfair and when he came home decided to go. As soon as dinner was over Bill was here and, away they went. It is very warm, so we ate a light meal. Put away all my stuff and planted my iris. I surely hope they grow. A dead seal floated up on our beach. I hope it floats away or else must bury it. A letter from Mildred Robichau full of news. Bud Bickle made our rail fence, and it surely looks nice. Hope no one ever hits it as there is not too much gravel on the back side.

Thursday, June 3, 1948

A very cool morning and I washed clothes and went to the store. Then in the afternoon I dug weeds. First came Bill Bosch and his daughter and we had a nice visit. Then came Bud Bickle to see whether the fence was OK. Later came Fischers and Betty borrowed four books. We looked at the flowers too. Then Crosswhites came with a ticket on the oysters. Between this I sprayed Weed-i-cide on weeds and cleaned by clematis. Pressed white blouse for tomorrow in case I want to wear it. Told Bill Bosch to get my mail but a card of mine had gone to store with their mail then back to P.O. and got mislaid so what Helen Anderson wrote, I don’t know. Now I’m going out to weed the grapes, if I can. Very warm out after one o’clock. Very windy. The dead seal floated away.

■ Clydene Hostetler is a longtime Belfair resident, local historian, media archivist and documentary filmmaker of “Hidden in Plain Sight.” She has been researching Mary Theler’s life for the past 13 years. She can be emailed at [email protected]