Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Siletz news / (Siletz, OR) 199?-current | View Entire Issue (April 1, 2000)
TRIBAL PROGRAM NEWS Walt’s Words of Wit and Wisdom by Walt Klamath A long time ago, well not really so long ago, Siletz was a booming town. There were three grocery stores in town: Art Bensell’s store, Nashif’s, and Bailer’s. At Bailer’s market, there was the post office and a hardware store. Bailer’s also had the Siletz Lockers. I don’t know when the post office moved out or when the hardware store closed. At that time on the Bensell side of the street was a café owned by D.B. McMullen. He used to buy eggs by the case from my mom in Logsden. He had a little gambling hall with two pinball machines. Mac used to sell chicken feed and cow feed; he also bought fern, chittum, blackberries, and foxglove in season. He had a good enterprise going. Next to Mac’s warehouse, TuTon Rilatos had a small gambling establishment with some pinball machines (never did any good there). Then as we continue through town, there was a garage but I can’t remember everything that had been there. I think George Berry and I believe Adolph Tronsin were there for a while. Bittier Bros, had a service station and a sports shop that was just a hole in the wall. Behind their shop was a sty that belonged to the old rodeo grounds. Then on to the high school. Yep, they had rodeos or any event there. I saw people on horses and wagons going by our home in Logsden that my uncle said were going to Siletz. Then there was a restaurant I believe was the Tyee lllahee, but I’m not sure. I went there a few times. Then on the corner was Jimmy Swartz’s big shop. He repaired cars that our people crumpled up along the road. My uncle had one that he tried to climb a bank with. It didn’t work out too well for him but worked out well for Jimmy. On the other side of the street, as I mentioned before, was Bailer’s market combination, then the hotel. It had a little restaurant and a pinball machine. I think one of the Miller boys ran that one. I hit the jackpot on that one and went right out the next day or so and made a down payment on a ’42 Nash, a pretty new car in 1947. Then a little later, Bittier Bros, built a service station and expanded the sports shop beside where the lockers are. I bought several guns there. I have some interesting stories about when that was being built, but I won’t go into them now. Amy, Maranda, Jean, and Marci Garrett Elders Program Director Named by Marci Garrett Kris Whitehead and her daughter, Kateri, dance the jingle dance at Taft High School in Lincoln City. They joined other Siletz Tribal dancers (including members of the Butler family on pages__and__ ) in a performance during the Antique Week/Lincoln Days celebration in Lincoln City in February. Ah yes, this was a town. A lot of industry, all forest-connected one way or another, took place. There were a lot of sawmills in the area. I’ve worked in most of them at one time or another. In those days, age was not a barrier if one could do the job that was required. Most of us in high school were pretty big characters. I was working for Monroe Lumber Co. when I was 17. There must have been 10 or 12 mills between Siletz and Nashville. Laborers were hard to find; it was almost impossible to get fired no matter how much one tried. There was always a job waiting. One time I was making big money - 85 cents an hour, wow! This was between my junior and senior years. One time McMullen held a big feed down on the Brasfield place I think it was a rabbit barbecue or something. Anyway, a lot of teen-agers and others were there, so I guess it was a success. I don’t eat rabbit but was there for the fun. I don’t know if there is any connection or not, but for a long time there was a shortage of stray cats around town. On March 9, I was offered and gratefully accepted the Elders Program Director position. I live in Siletz and am the granddaughter of Gladys Muschamp and the daughter-in-law of Jean Garrett. I’ve been working for the tribe since 1992 at the Siletz Clinic in a variety of positions. I currently am a part-time student at Eastern Oregon University. The university offers an extended program that I’ve been working on for two years now and within the next year and a half, I’ll receive my bachelor’s of business administration/ psychology degree. When I first read the job description, I knew that I wanted to apply. I saw the job as a great opportunity to get to know our tribal elders better and serve them to the best of my ability. My first day on the job was at the elders monthly meeting - what a great experience! I didn’t know work could be so much fun. I know a lot of you have ideas for your program and I would like to hear them. Please contact me at 1-800-922-1399 or 541-444-2532, ext. 261. Attention Elders - Upcoming Events Elders monthly meeting April 15,2000,2 p.m., Chinook Winds Transportation provided from each area. Call your area representative or Marci for more information. Elders Gathering - “Circle of Wisdom” May 2-3, 2000, Chinook Winds Call your area representative or Marci for more information. Lapwai Idaho Trip May 25-27, 2000 Call your area representative or Marci for more information. 7
