MARY'S MEMOIRS

This week was really a fun week. Mary and Sam took their boat past Dewatto, camped for several days and went sole fishing.

Sunday, July 17, 1949

Today we ate early, and I washed clothes so we could go on our trip Monday. Cleaned house and put in fresh flowers. They surely look nice. Sam went to Belfair to empty garbage and got sidetracked so was gone most of the day. A very warm day and a light breeze. Leonard, his wife and mother-in-law stopped by and saw the flowers and the house. We had a nice visit. We wrote letters out on the lawn and pasted in my scrapbook. We had an early dinner, and it was very nice. Then in the evening Blanche and I went down to the Masonic Temple where Belfair’s officers practiced for the Oliver funeral. They did very well so we were all satisfied it would go off OK. While we were away my mother and John, Barbara and her husband came and looked at the flowers and went away. They had been at Landon’s for the weekend. We went to Shorts and saw their flowers too.

Monday, July 18, 1949

Today we got our boat all packed by 12:20 and started down the canal. I got Squires to dust the roses in the morning so we would keep our good foliage for the fair. Blanche got her paper from Bill Cady so she can go to Seattle on Tuesday. I called Evelyn Hyde and she and Bill will stay in the cabin while we are away. We started out with a light breeze but by the time we got to Little Flyblow it was so rough we had to go ashore. Mr. Lory saw our boat, said it was loose. Out in the boat again and battled the waves until we got to a fine point beyond Dewatto. There we made camp and ate a nice dinner. We read awhile and then called it a day. During the night we saw 4 coons. One was so close he growled. The other 3 were fighting over by the beach. Then a deer ran through in the middle of the night, so we did not get too much sleep. Quite cool out but the sun shone until about 8:30.

Tuesday, July 19, 1949

We did not get up very early so the sun was up as we ate breakfast. Afterward we packed our boat and started for Holly. We found 2 good places to camp. Arriving at Holly we found Katie home, so she insisted we eat. Then Vina came so we went to see her flowers and Maudie’s. Ate so many cherries I almost burst. Vina Pfundt and Mable and Winnie Green came down with Grandma as we were eating at Katie’s so Vina may not be able to come camping on account of her company. We went sole fishing after dinner, and I caught 9 rock cod and Sam 2. Cleaned them when we got home and wished I hadn’t caught any. They were so tough. Felt sick as I was cleaning the fish and later lost all my dinner. Took an Alka Seltzer and went to bed. In the early morning I was sick again but felt better when it was over. Surely wished I’d left the cherries alone. Very cool all day. Sun was out occasionally, but not hot like it was.

Wednesday, July 20, 1949

This morning I felt better but ate very sparingly. Kate, Sam, Pat and the Moores went out sole fishing. I lay down after breakfast and about noon went up to see Grandma. She is well and we sat and talked for a couple of hours. Very dark out again and cold. Such a day for a vacation. Sam and Kate, Pat and the Moore’s caught 112 sole and oh were they happy. We ate rock cod and clams at Katie’s then went to our camp at the wood yard. We made a nice camp and ate steamed clams before we went to bed. Very cool out and so quiet. A large day and I was very tired. Henry and Vina came about 3 o’clock so were very happy. We are now all set for a good trip. Vina caught 20 sole, high man, all told we took 64 sole. Everyone had a good time. We ate fried sole at Katie’s, salad carrots, and loganberry pie with ice cream. We nearly floundered. Then we all rode up to Grandma’s old place and I took honeysuckle bush and some myrtle. Vina, and I got off at camp and put on the clams to cook. Sam and Henry took Katie home, so we ate as soon as they returned. Very cloudy today but far warmer than yesterday. To bed early.

Thursday, July 21, 1949

Everyone awoke early and Henry made the fire. Then we dug clams after we had coffee and toast. 2 pails full. Back to camp and had a big breakfast. Very bright out and we are looking forward to a hot day. We went to Aunt Katie’s, and she took her boat, and we all went out to the sole beds. We took a location where we saw the telephone pole in the middle of the road at Herbert Hole and the telephone pole at Louie’s and the end of Albert’s cabins. Vina caught 20 sole, high man, all told we took 64 sole. Everyone had a good time. I lost my leader and hook and later caught the fish the second time so got my hook and leader back. We ate fried sole at Katie’s, salad, carrots, and loganberry pie with ice cream. We nearly foundered. Then we all rode up to Grandma’s old place and I took honeysuckle bush and some myrtle. Vina and I got off at camp and put on the clams to cook. Sam and Henry took Katie home, so we ate as soon as they returned. Very cloudy today but far warmer than yesterday. So, bed early.

Friday, July 22, 1949

We arose early and got our breakfast. Pancakes and bacon. Then Sam and Henry dug 2 pails of clams while Vina and I did the dishes and went for a hike. Up to Holly and called on Grandma. She gave me mountain ash trees which Uncle Henry helped me dig out. We took Joe and Katie down to our camp. Katie made a wonderful dish of spahetti and fried onions with potatoes for dinner with meatballs and coffee. We all enjoyed ourselves very much as we sat looking at the mountains. So, after dinner we sat around and had a wonderful time. It started to sprinkle so Sam and Henry put our tarp up over our sleeping bags. We took Katie home and picked quite a few cherries. Vina and Henry (Sam took home on a previous trip) so they had already gone. Joe took his gun and went over the hill and was home when we got there. We stayed until 9:15 and then went back to camp. To bed late after a cup of tea and some toast. Starting to rain.

Saturday, July 23, 1949

We got up early and Sam dug a pail of clams while I got breakfast. It had rained hard all night so everything was wet outside our tarp. Good thing we put all our wood inside and supplies. We left camp at 12:40 and arrived in Belfair at 7:15. We stopped three times as it blew so hard. Home and canned 21 quarts of cherries. They look so good! But oh, was I tired when I got to bed. Blanche was glad to see us, and Emmett was worrying about us getting home. Emmett said the county had bought the trucks and that someone had broken into the tavern, so Sam went up after dinner. We fried clams. When he came home, said the sheriff of both counties were there getting fingerprints, etc. To bed at 12:20 after the cherries were finished.

■ Clydene Hostetler was a longtime Belfair resident and historian. She now resides on a classic wooden boat on the Columbia River. She has been researching Mary Theler’s life for the past 17 years. She can be emailed at [email protected].