Wow! 100 entries! Thank you all for following along in my quest to explore this fascinating piece of family history and the various side trips I take along the way. Love, Linda
Fri 1. We have fooled around doing several things today. We all went in to church in the evening. Robert went to a school party. Rev & Mrs. Harris called this afternoon. Robert & Ruth will move to Tahoma Lodge. We may move with in with them.
After all the work Bob and Ruth put into their little house, it looks like Bob’s job situation is shifting and they will no longer have the school-provided home at the end of the bus route. I had to do a lot of digging to figure out what Tahoma Lodge referred to. The short version is that it was a property on the Rogue River that was apparently converted from a private vacation home to a summer resort that highlighted fishing. In various places it was also called Tahoma Park and Tahoma Ranch. Since this would have been the off-season, I am guessing that there were cabins available, perhaps involving some responsibilities for caretaking and maintenance. I’ve put a little more detail at the end of this entry, because it turned out to be quite a curiosity trail.
Sat 2. We all went to look at Tahoma Lodge. Mr. Woodlow took Ruth & Robert then we all went over. It will be an interesting place to live. Will move next week. Ann Hammerstown is also moving to Klamath.
Sun 3. We went to church this morning. After dinner we went to Jerome Prairie for SS. We then came home. Mr. & Mrs. Kilgore, Mr. & Mrs. Frazier called. Mrs. Frazier wants the SB & the QE to go in together.
Mon 4. We went to town today.
Tue 5. Dad spent the greater part of the day at Tahoma Ranch. Ruth went in to take her driver’s exam. She got her license and came home with Bob. She & Bob & Woodwards went in to the church. She played.
Wed 6. Missionary Society met in town today. We took our dinner in and staid at Gerties until choir practice and then came home. Rev. Coan asked me to speak at the church Sunday night to give a report on missions. Mrs. Isham will help too.
Thu 7. Dad worked over at Tahoma Ranch today. I staid home with Ruth. She is not feeling well. We got 13 eggs. We went over to see a place near Tahoma R. It is a lovely place to live. Bob, Ruth, Gertie & I went. We may get it.
Fri 8. Have spent the day on the road. We went to see the place we are going to live. It is about two miles from Ruth. Think we will get it for $14 per month—all furnished and with a fresh cow. I staid in at Gerties between trips home. Gertie went to the Hogue place with us.
Sat 9. This is a lovely sunny morning. We went to town. Paid for the chickens. We bought some groceries. Sold 50 chickens for $50. Will sell some more old hens. Bob bought Elmer today.
In the post about Ruth & Bob’s wedding, Ruth mentions that Bob bought a “pretty old” Model T for $15. I am pretty sure this car was named Elmer. Here’s an interesting feature about a 1920 Ford Model, which was probably pretty close to Elmer’s vintage. Among other things, the article mentions that “…in lieu of a fuel gauge, a wooden ruler is used to measure the level of gasoline in the ten-gallon tank located beneath the driver's seat”.
Sun 10. Went to church & SS. Daddy did not go. Geo. & Pearl came after a load of furniture. Mr. & Mrs. Smith were here. Mr. & Mrs. Isham stopped a minute. Got a dozen eggs today. I am to speak at the church tonight.
Mon 11. Daddy went over to the “new” place to fix up the chicken house. Ruth, Robert & I loaded up the chickens and took them over in the evening. Robert had no school today. We are back moving. Ruth & Robert to Tahoma Lodge, Tell & I to a place 3.7 miles further on today. They moved their piano today.
Tue 12. We stayed at the Hogue place last night. We were so tired. They did not hear from Miss Hogue as they expected to today. We went to Gerties for dinner. Then out to Rainbow Ranch to finish our packing. Sold our old hens yesterday to Mrs. Smith— Got $17 for them. Brought 176 white ones over here.
I think the Hogue place is how they refer to the place they are moving to.
Wed 13. Daddy brought me over to Ruths today to help her a little. Daddy brought another trailer load from the Ranch. Mrs. Stewart washed & went to town. Found out on returning at 7 PM that their son was here to move them. She & Neva worked all night. I did her ironing. Worked till late.
Thu 14. The Stewarts left about 9 AM. They left a lot of stuff to be loaded up on a truck which will come Sunday or Monday. Am over at Ruths now. Came with Neva Ballew & mother. We plan to go into town to Burks’ meeting tonight.
Fri 15. We went over to Ruths today. I stayed to help here while Dad went over to Rainbow Ranch. Bob & Ruth came over here to stay all night. We were in at the meeting at the church after Choir practice.
Sat 16. Dad & I took Ruth & Bob home and we went over to R. Ranch. Guess it has been sold. We went to see about the Electric stove. The Copco Co. will get it Monday. We had a lot of things to see to in town. Dad came on home. Bob brought me over later in “Elmer”.
The California and Oregon Power Company (COPCO) served southern Oregon and northern California. It was merged into Pacific Power and Light (now Pacificorp) in 1961. Their Volt Annual was designed to attract investors and highlighted the “scenic wonders” of the area. They also hosted a series of newsreels that captured a lot of the region’s history from the mid-1920s to some time in the mid ‘30s.
Sun 17. We went after Bob & Ruth to go to town. Went to SS & church. Mrs. Ballew & Neva staid here till we got home from church. The day was quite long. Went in again at night to hear the Dist. Supt. Hall. Afterward we heard Burke preach and pushed a car—& came home.
Mon 18. Today we got a letter from “The Stewarts”. They are at 940 Cooper, Palo Alto Cal. We worked in the basement today. Got 2 doz eggs. Bob & Ruth came over for dinner this evening.
Tue 19. Dad went over to Ruth’s to cut wood but it began to rain so he came home. Brought Ruth with him. Mrs. Ballew & Neva were here to take some fruit from Mr. Stewart’s boxes & put it with Miss H’s. Bob came over and staid for supper.
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Wed 20. We went to Ruths for supper and then in to choir practice. Dad went to town today. Had the tank welded so now we have hot water.
Thu 21. It has rained this evening & my clothes did not dry. The chickens got out so after washing I cleaned the chicken house—rather started it for Dad came home to help. We put new straw on the floor. Dad was over cutting wood. Berne wrote that they might be down Thanksgiving time.
Fri 22. Have written Bernes. We will be glad to have them come down for T.giving.
Sat 23. Dad has been cutting wood today. Bob & Ruth were over for dinner. We all went in to town to shop and to choir practice. The choir is to give Vesper service at 4 PM tomorrow.
Sun 24. We all went in to SS & church. The Ishams came out for dinner today. We came in their car and let Bob have ours. We had dinner—did dishes and it was time to go in to the vesper service. Bob sang “Elijah.” He did it wonderfully well. Ruth & Gertie played beautifully together. Got 30 eggs today.
Elijah is an oratorio composed by Felix Mendelssohn depicting events in the life of the prophet Elijah as told in the Old Testament. Robert loved this work, and his obituary says that “during a singing career that continued into the 1980s, he sang the lead role in Elijah so often that one of his colleagues called him ‘Lije’.” Free scores of the work are available in the Choral Public Domain Library. Here is a lovely video of rehearsals and performance excerpts of Elijah conducted by the legendary Robert Shaw. I’ve bookmarked it at the point where baritone Thomas Hampson sings a solo excerpt in the role of Elijah.
Mon 25. It is rather cloudy this morning. Dad went over to Ruths to cut wood. Bob & Ruth brought a load over in Elmer & staid for supper.
Tue 26. Dad & I went to Ruths. Dad staid to cut wood & Ruth & I went in to town for some chicken feed & groceries. Sold $2.29 worth of eggs. Went to Gerties. She promised to come out tomorrow. Dad & I came home & then went back for supper & the meeting of the “Girls Missionary Guild” at Ruths.
Wed 27. Dad has gone to cut wood this AM. I am getting the house ready for Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow. We did not go in to the Thanksgiving service so Gertie came out with Bob on the bus. Tubby staid with Ruth & Joan & Gertie with me.
Thu 28. Bernes arrived about noon. We did not have dinner until 2 PM. We had a nice turkey that John brought. We also had pumpkin pie, mashed potato, sweet potato, corn, cranberry & apple salad, etc. Bob & Ruth staid all night too. We had a nice evening. John’s family went in before dark.
For Christmas in 1990, my great-aunt Katharine (Emma and Tell’s oldest daughter) gave everyone in the family a cookbook of favorite family recipes she had written out in calligraphy (more on this in a future installment!) It included this recipe for cranberry and apple sauce that she had gotten from her mother. It is a Thanksgiving “must have” for our whole family—we call it the “family cranberry.” Here’s some I made last week! The tradition is to use an old metal meat grinder, and although I have the one pictured here, I confess to having switched to my Cuisinart a few years ago.
Fri 29. No school! Bernes left about 8 AM. Daddy & Bob went over to the Lodge to cut wood etc. Ruth is here. Got a letter about the table Wed from Mrs. McCumber. We went to town to choir practice tonite.
Sat 30. Bob & Ruth were here for dinner. Bob hauled wood. Dad cut some. Bob went to town. Brought Art Dial, [ ] Green & Royce Coan for dinner. Ruth & I shopped in Rogue River. Bob worked on his car till late. Brought Art Dial over to stay all night. Bob & Ruth were here over night.
Special Feature: Tahoma Lodge
I did a quick search on Tahoma Lodge and didn’t find much other than a couple of mentions in a local newspaper, but I started putting the pieces together and a little bit of a dramatic story emerged.
Feb. 1931: D.O. Frederick, manager of a local dairy & produce plant, is returning to Medford from Grants Pass to manage a plant there for the same company. He and Mrs. Frederick will keep their beautiful home “Tahoma Lodge” on the banks of the Rogue River.
July 1933: Buddy Frederick catches a 1.5 lb “summer steelhead” near Tahoma Lodge.
Sept. 1933: Mrs. Iva Frederick returns to the Medford Beauty Shop after spending the summer at Tahoma Lodge on the Rogue River.
Oct. 1933: Rotary club women and husbands are guests of Mr. & Mrs. D.O. Frederick at Tahoma Lodge, 1/2 mile north of the Weasku Inn on Old Pacific Highway.
Mar. 1934: Tahoma Park officially opens as a pleasure resort, 5 miles south of Grants Pass on the Pacific Highway. Iva Frederick, owner. Dining room, river beach for picnicking, and piers for fishing.
May 1934: Rotary luncheon hosted by Mrs. D.O. Frederick at Tahoma Lodge.
Jan. 1935: Iva Frederick divorces Delmar O. Frederick for cruel and inhumane treatment.
June 1935: Tahoma Park summer resort, operated by owner Mrs. Iva Frederick, known as “Freddie,” has placed new help in charge of the cabins, boats, and other camp facilities.
Sept. 1935: Tahoma Lodge, completely furnished, is available for rentals for house or weekend parties.
It was about two months after this that Ruth and Robert moved in there, and it sounds like they were doing some work on the property with help from Tell. I was unable to find any references to the property as a resort after 1935, although there are several establishments in the area that might have originally been part of it. I did find that the Weasku Inn, mentioned in one of the stories as 1/2 mile south of Tahoma Lodge and pictured below, is still in business—its web site says it was built in 1924 and was a vacation retreat for Clark Gable, Walt Disney and other Hollywood personalities. If Tahoma Lodge was anything like this, it would have been a lovely property!
I found Mr. Frederick in the 1940 census with another wife, and a record of Iva getting divorced for a second time in 1937. In the 1935 maps I shared in the previous installment, there is a large property on the river that shows “Ivy” Frederick as the owner. The last reference I found to Tahoma Lodge was in a 1945 newspaper, where various furnishings were listed for sale.
