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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 5, 2010)
12 community january 5 2010 Dog Salmon and Rutabagas continued from front page as he called it. Kytr said he had “sear- ing images” of driving through the Til- lamook Forest immediately after a forest fire, images which left a big impression. Kytr had also planted trees in the forest as an eighth grader. “I had a chance to meet people who had seen the Tillamook Forest before it burned for the first time in 1933, and I became really interested in what had happened in this area,” said Kytr. “I am deeply attached to this re- gion and I wanted to learn about the unwritten background of this wonderful area.” It was around this time that a Vernonia local, Dave Brunsman, with whom Kytr was acquainted, first intro- duced him to John and Kim Cunnick. “Brunsman told me there were some neat people I should meet,” remembers Kytr. “They were living out in Keasey, writing music and playing homemade instruments. The first time I went out to meet them, they weren’t home, but I just camped out overnight and woke up being greeted by their big dog, Dufus. John had to rescue me. And that was my introduction to John Cunnick.” Kytr remembers John Cunnick as, “... a striking and profound individ- ual-- a very interesting guy.” Cunnick grew up in Ohio, and had run away from home and headed west when he was a sophomore in high school. According to Kytr, Cunnick had lived in San Fran- cisco for a time, and worked for an un- derground newspaper in Seattle. When Kytr met him, he was playing old-time music from the twenties and thirties, “... music from the very first days of early recordings,” according to Kytr, and writ- ing his own songs as well. Unfortunately, Kytr’s relation- mountain. Cunnick’s truck slid off the road and down a very steep embank- ment in a sleet and snow storm. Appar- ently Cunnick survived the accident, but his body wasn’t found until five days later by friends who were searching for him. “John was sitting with his feet in a stream, his hands positioned as if he was playing a mandolin, with his favorite pick in his hand,” said Kytr. Vernonia and a close-knit community of friends were devastated by the loss. The Cunnick’s friend, Jim Bux- ton, helped Kim with the funeral ar- rangements, and Johns’ body lay in state on the Buxton’s front porch. Cunnick was buried on private property in Ke- and guitar and telling the stories, while accompanying Vernonia photographer Jen- elle Wiggins, who showed historical slides of old timber camps. “Jenelle was a big part of it,” says Kytr. “She and I were artists in residence in 1978 in Clatsop County, and we collected those sto- ries and documented the his- tory together.” Berge and Kytr continued to play together in various bands over the Members of the band Timberbound— Dave Berge, Kim Cunnick, years, eventually playing Hobe Kytr and Mark Loring. together at a monthly old- (Photo by Janelle Wiggins) time country dance in North Plains. It treated to stories from the early years was during this time that they from some of the other “silver-haired” met many of the musicians ladies in attendance. They called these who would appear on the Dog stories “dog salmon and rutabagas” sto- Salmon and Rutabagas CD. ries. Apparently, before any roads were Listening to the music put through the valley and the mill was Kytr and Berge have preserved built, money was scarce and contracts for is like taking a leap back in school teachers, postmasters and church time. The songs tell the story preachers were paid in salmon and veg- of the region when salmon ran etables. All the ladies had “dog salmon thick in the rivers and creeks and rutabagas” stories, and shared them John Cunnick’s funeral in Keasey. and the Oregon-American Mill with Kytr and Wiggins, making quite (Photo by Janelle Wiggins) was still in operation. The song an impression that day. The song fea- asey, in a hand-built cedar box, wearing Dead Kids Drop was written while Kytr tures “The Rutabaga Chorus”-- longtime his favorite pair of wing-tipped shoes, lived at Camp Keasey and is about an friends of Kytr’s from Keasey, Vernonia, his body wrapped in a quilt. Tony Hyde old, rotten trestle-- a place that would and Mist. Kytr dedicates that song to carved a cherry-wood banjo for the top naturally attract curious children. Roust- Janelle Wiggins, who lost a long battle of the casket and Kytr wore Cunnick’s about, Sveet Voodt, and Oregon-Ameri- with breast cancer over ten years ago. rubber boots. “It wasn’t a religious cer- can are about logging camp life and mill Kytr continues to play and per- emony, but it was profoundly spiritual,” operation, and feature the Keasey area form, although he has given up on mak- said Kytr. “Everyone came to honor as their inspiration. Old Hollow School ing it a career. He still plays the banjo, their friend, John, and was written by and his wife Gina accompanies him on say goodbye to their bal- John and Kim fiddle. He is one of the founding orga- ladeer-- their minstrel.” Cunnick, Spring nizers of the Fisher Poets Gathering, an Cunnick left be- Rain was written annual gathering in Astoria that has gar- hind a musical legacy at Kim Cunnick’s nered national attention and is held dur- that still survives in the cabin and Trees ing the last weekend in February. Today, region, including cop- was written for he works at “Salmon For All” in Astoria. ies of his songs, pub- John Cunnick af- Kytr felt it was important to turn lished in the Timber- ter his death. the original recording of the songs into a bound Songbook. Kytr, The title song, CD. “I didn’t want this project to die,” Berge and Kim Cunnick Dog Salmon and said Kytr. He printed a lot of copies of began playing music to- Rutabagas, has the CD himself, and would like to get gether around Oregon one of the more them out into the hands of people who and the Northwest as a interesting back- will appreciate the music. “I have lots string-band called Tim- ground stories. of other songs I want to get out there.” berbound, touring at one Kytr attended a time with famous folky birthday party You can get your own copy of Dog Salm- Timberbound Songbook cover Mike Seeger, and once in 1980 where he on and Rutabagas by contacting Hobe artwork by Tony Hyde. A young John Cunnick playing for Oregon Gov- was asked to play Kytr. Send $15 for the CD, plus $3 for at the Keasey Cabin. ernor Robert Straub. And John’s inspi- some songs for Lesta Weed Garner, who shipping to: 5253 SE Ash St., Astoria, ship with John Cunnick was to be short- ration appears throughout Kytr’s music. was the daughter and granddaughter of OR 97103. You can also reach Hobe lived. That next winter, John Cunnick Kytr continued to gather ma- the first two pioneer families in the Ne- by email at kytrfam@charter.net or by tragically died in an auto accident on terial for what he called “Songs of the halem Valley. While at the party with his phone at 503-325-0278. Highway 47 on his way back from Mist Northwest,” performing them on banjo friend, photographer Wiggins, Kytr was d an ! y t tili here u r ou r bills y y Pa ellula c s t o We ck no ba w tte rie s aga s COMPUTER & INTERNET SERVICES Phone (503) 429.2617 Kitchen Countertops Fax (503) 429.0941 Fireplace & Furniture ABSOLUTE@AGALIS.NET Tubs & Vanities www.absolutemarbleandgraniteinc.net •Computer Servicing • Upgrades & Repairs • Office Supplies • Media Transfers • Ink and Toner Refills 503.429.TECH • New & Used Computers in stock • Cell Phone Service & Accessories • Color Copies & Printing Available • Internet Services • Notary Services 866 Bridge Street, Vernonia