Emma #102: January 1936
Bob's job, another move for the newlyweds, poor Dusty, the Grants Pass Post Office; Ruth's memoirs
In the November 1935 entry I speculated about Tahoma Lodge, to which Ruth and Bob had moved. I recently found another “memoir letter” from Ruth, written about their time in Grants Pass, which provides some additional information about this and other things. I’ll share a few excerpts from it here and along the way.
From Ruth’s memoir letter:
The year we spent in Oregon had many ups and downs. One day Bob came home from school with the news that we were to move—to another bus route—with Tahoma Lodge on the Rogue River being at the end of the line. This was owned by Rainbow Gibson, who had a resort next door. He was a brother of Hoot Gibson, the movie star, and there were often celebrities there who came for the salmon fishing. I do not remember ever seeing them.
Rainbow Gibson apparently owned the We-Ask-U Inn that I mentioned in the November entry. He died in 1938 at age 49 of a heart attack.
Although the house was in a beautiful setting, it was not very comfortable. The rooms were large and drafty. The bathtub was sunken into the floor. I never did figure out the reason, but I had to stand on my head to clean it. The porch looked out over the river, and I remember eating there watching the rocky river.
By this time, the folks had given up the little chicken ranch and moved to a house down the road a few miles from us. We spent a good bit of time there, since the house was much more comfortable.
Emma’s Journal
Wed 1. New Years. We went over to Ruths today to eat dinner. We took a chicken. In the afternoon we went to Medford to have Bob’s suit fitted.
Thu 2. The folks staid here all night. Bob had to teach today. Ruth, Dad & I went to town. Got the box of books Stella sent by freight. Bob went into choir practice alone as Ruth was not well.
Fri 3. We went over to Ruths. Bob & Ruth came over here to stay until they get their well fixed. Vanderveer bought the next place and turned off their water. Wouldn’t let them have water from there. We brought Dusty over here today & he ran away & disappeared. Poor Dusty! He must have got “salmoned” which goes even harder with a pup than a grown-up dog. Ruth feels pretty bad about him.
Salmon poisoning in dogs can occur when they eat raw fish or salamander that is infected with a parasitic flatworm carrying a bacterial infection.
Sat 4. We have had a hard day today. Ruth & I washed. Dusty was so sick that he had to be killed. Bob & Ruth went to Medford to get Bob’s suit. It was not ready for them.
From Ruth’s memoir letter:
We had acquired a German Shepherd dog, “Dusty,”—who was a very lovable pet. He used to sit up in the front seat of the little Model T Ford—top down—with his head to the wind. A fun picture. Although we had heard of dogs being “salmoned,” we were careful, we thought, to keep him confined during the dangerous time. But one day it became clear that he had been poisoned. The salmon come up river to spawn—and then die and their bodies float to the shore, where animals can eat them and become mad. I suppose one of the hardest things Bob had to do is to tie Dusty to the barn door and shoot him with a borrowed rifle. He no longer knew us, and in fact snarled at us and would have attacked and bitten us. There is no cure.
Sun 5. Dad took his place as SS Supt this AM. We all went in to church & SS. Gertie came with us for the day. Dad, Ruth & Gertie went in to church. I wanted to stay at home.
Mon 6. This is a warm sunny day. We were surprised to have Miss Hogue and Dorothy stop today. They were here just a short time. Bob brought the bus over last night and started from here this AM. I got a lovely letter from Mrs. Johnson today. We have not heard from Geralds for a long while—a month or 6 weeks. We are quite undecided as to what we will do in the future. Dad wants to go back to Iowa. Poor Bob came home with the word that his job would be over at the end of this semester. They & we feel pretty bad.
From Ruth’s memoir letter:
Shortly after Christmas, at the end of the first semester, Bob came home with the news that he had lost his job at the high school. What a blow! We had been married on the strength of that job. Now what?
Tue 7. This has been a long hard day. Nothing has been done about the water so Bob & Ruth are here. They probably will be here now till they find out what they will do. They sent a letter to Mr. Burke today. He may have something for them. We were happy to get a letter from Katharine containing $5 and saying her salary is to be raised.
Wed 8. The day was long & lovely. In the evening we four went in to the choir party. Rev. Coan informed the choir regarding Bob’s offer from the Baptist church. They will try to get more money for him. These days are especially hard knowing Bob is to quit his job so soon. It has been rainy & disagreeable.
Thu 9. We were at home all day and evening. Bob & Ruth went in to a school play in the evening. Bob had to drive the bus.
Fri 10. At last we had a letter from Gerald today. Each of them wrote a little. We also got a letter about the cow, which means we may get the money for her soon—$25. Bob & Ruth are hoping for good news from Rev. Burke today. We are all on edge about this job.
In October 1935, we learned that their cow had tested positive for Bangs’ disease, and needed to be surrendered and killed. There was compensation provided by a government program.
Sat 11. It is a lovely warm Saturday morning. Dad got up about 8, I about 9, & Bob & Ruth at 10. It took all day to get a very little done. Bob & Ruth drove over to their home for some things in the kitchen.
Sun 12. We all went in to church & SS this AM. Came home for a chicken dinner. Back again in the evening. Bob sang for the Christian Endeavor at Christian church.
Mon 13. Another hard day for Bob. The word is out about his job. Dad and I went to the SS board meeting at the parsonage. Bob & Ruth went to the show. It has been raining hard for several days. The river is high. Got the letter from Charlie sending us $100. It made Dad pretty happy. I do not feel at all well these days.
The Rogue is designated as a National Wild and Scenic River. It begins west of Grants Pass. It’s a very popular site for rafting.
Tue 14. Ruth got a lovely breakfast this morning. Bob started up in his bus. Three more days after this!
Wed 15. We went to town early this evening. Called Burke. I stayed at Gerties & had my hair cut. Dad had his cut too.
Thu 16. Bob has just two days more. We went to town this PM. Had to get some cow papers fixed up. Sold 12 more chickens. Played Rook awhile at night.
Fri 17. It is sunny & nice today.
Sat 18. Bob went for a hike. We, Ruth & I drove over past Fruitdale after him in the evening.
Fruitdale is a community in the Grants Pass area—it looks like Bob took a nice long cross-country hike, perhaps to shake off the stress of his job loss.
Sun 19. Church—morning & night, also SS.
Mon 20. We went to town to look for a house for Bob & Ruth. Bob & Ruth went to a pot-luck supper in the evening. I stayed at Gertie’s.
Tue 21. Robert hiked in after his $20 Ford. Brought it home with him. Mr. & Mrs. Coan were here in the PM. So was Mrs. Manning & her son. Wanted to rent Bob a studio.
Wed 22. We went in to the WFMS today. Stayed at Gerties for supper. Stayed for choir practice. House was rented.
Thu 23. Ruth & Robert went to town to look at Mrs. Peterson’s house.
Fri 24. Dad took the cow to be bred today. Bob & Ruth spent the day at Tahoma Lodge packing. We drove in to Grants Pass in the evening to look at the house.
Sat 25. Ruth & Robert went hiking. Dad & I went to Rogue River to shop. I have been writing letters—Katharine, Gerald, Mrs. Hogue, John & Florence, Mrs. Paronaguan. Time for supper.
Sun 26. SS, Church—morning & night. The Balous came after Stewart’s things today. Got them out of the wet basement.
Mon 27. We went to town today—Ruth, Robert & I to look at houses to rent. We did not decide on one. Robert & Ruth gave Roberta Borland a lesson.
Tue 28. A lovely sunshiny day. Dad & Robert went to town to look at a house.
Wed 29. We all went in to choir practice this evening. We went early to look at Ruth & Roberts new house. Bob bought a stove & will put in hot water coils tomorrow.
From Ruth’s memoir letter:
We rented a little house in town for eight dollars a month—and kept on with the church job—and Bob got a few voice students. And then we delighted to find that workmen were needed at the new Post Office that was being built. He got a job, hauling concrete up the ramps in a wheelbarrow. The pay of one dollar a day was the standard wage, and it was a godsend to us.
The inspector, or man in charge of the new P.O. was a Mr. Graff, who had come for the duration of the construction with his daughter who was about our age. We had some pleasant times. One was when they invited us to their house for a fresh salmon dinner. He was a real fisherman—and the river was very famous for salmon in that area. This was of course the first fresh salmon we had ever tasted, which bore no relation to the canned variety we had been raised on.
The Grants Pass Post Office, built in 1935-6, was one of a large number of New Deal projects that were funded across the country by the government between 1933 and 1943 to provide employment for large numbers of workers.
This article summarizes the range of projects that took place in Oregon, and includes an extensive description of the historic context of the Public Works Administration (PWA), the Works Progress Administration (WPA) and other New Deal programs. In addition to the building itself, two large murals were painted in the Post Office in 1938 as part of these programs.
Thu 30. Bob & Ruth started to move today. Moved their piano, bed, dishes, etc. They will go in to stay tomorrow. It will be lonely here.
Fri 31. Ruth & Bob & I went to town today. I helped clean up her house and we made some drapes for her living room and got most of the curtains up. It is going to be a cozy & comfortable little home. Dad came in for supper and we all went to hear Mr. Burke’s address. Ruth played for them (Russel & Bob) to sing. We left our car in town and came out in the Ford so Robert could haul some wood over for Dad. We took Elmer in behind Shasta and did we make quite a procession? Got my first book from the Library on my “Short Story” course. It is “Writing the Short Story” by Esenwein. Must return it by Feb 26.
Emma enjoyed writing; in the files are a few short pieces she wrote in later years. The book she mentions here was first published in 1908. Esenwein was an American editor, lecturer and writer. You can read the book online here.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this installment of Emma’s journals. See you next week for February 1936.