Page 2
Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, OR Wednesday, December 8, 2004
Life is tough (difficult to chew or comprehend) for
people like me, who interpret (translate) written and spo-
ken words literally (strictly).
In a store the other day I stood at a counter for quite
a while staring intently. A clerk finally asked if I needed
help, and I told her that I was simply following instruc-
tions on the sign. It read, “Watch Batteries.” Although I
watched them carefully, nothing happened.
In another location there was a sign that read,
“Buffalo Snacks.” As I have no buffalo, and didn’t even
know that they like snacks, I did not buy that product.
Later, I got into a bit of trouble because there were
signs that read, “Throw Pillows” and “Throw Rugs.”
When I did what the sign stated, the clerks became rather
upset, so I adjourned to another part of the store, where
the sign read, “Restroom.” After I rested for quite a
while, some other clerks made me leave because, they
said, my snoring was causing a disturbance.
Later, when I felt ill, my physician advised me to
drink a warm glass of milk after a hot bath. I couldn’t
even finish drinking the bath, let alone the glass of milk.
Also, his receptionist was not happy when I tried to re-
move an item from the waiting room. But when I came
in she said, “Please take a chair.”
Plus, she wasn’t pleased when I asked where the area
was for impatient people, based on the sign that read,
“Patient Registration.”
After that episode I got into trouble with a traffic cop
for driving too fast. He didn’t understand my reasoning
that I was only following the indication on a road sign
that read, “Speed Zone.” He also could not answer my
question about why other motorists were so angry, as
noted on the sign, “Cross Traffic Ahead.”
A few years ago there was an ad in a daily newspa-
per advertising a mobile home show, but the biggest part
of the ad read, “No Admission.” So I didn’t go.
And then there’s the Grass Pants car dealer who ad-
vertises “Free Hand Wash” with certain purchases. In the
first place, why not offer to wash both hands; and sec-
ondly, what’s the big deal about getting one hand clean?
For some reason this reminds me of being annoyed
at restaurant signs that read, “Mexican Cuisine.” Cuisine
is a French word. Are there restaurants with signs that
read, “French Comida”? This is all confusing to me.
What about people who say, “We’ve got a real prob-
lem”? Are there unreal problems?
Plus those who say, “I had my car stolen,” or “I had
my leg broken.” Why would anyone have that done?
Sounds like something to avoid, not have done.
So excuse me literally while I peruse my dictionary,
thesaurus, and modern dictionary of synonyms and anto-
nyms. I feel an alphabet attack approaching.
Energy Work & Intuitive
Counseling with Kay
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Chakra Balancing
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Past-Life Clearing
Grid Realignment
Workshops, Health Products
V.I.B.E. Machine
Photography
Art
Native American Dream Catchers
202 W. Lister (upstairs), C.J.
592-6431 Tues. & Thurs.
noon to 6 p.m.
or 592-6632 for Appointments
heartdancer@frontiernet.net
No charge for initial consultation
(Editor’s Note: Views and
commentary, including state-
ments made as fact, are strictly
those of the letter-writers.)
* * *
Typed, double-spaced let-
ters written solely to this news-
paper are considered for publi-
cation. Hand-written letters that
are double-spaced and legible
also can be considered. Cards of
thanks are not accepted as let-
ters.
* * *
Grimmett Schoolhouse
needs restoration
From Chris Duncan
Leppert
San Diego
I was pleased to read
of the interest by Fred
Krauss (Letter to the Edi-
tor/“I.V. News” Nov. 24)
in valley history, including
the historical value of the
schoolhouse that my great-
grandfather built, and that
Fred is planning more re-
search on the subject.
I also was born and
raised in Illinois Valley,
and Fred is not alone in his
interest in its history.
My great-grandparents
Grimmett, three of their
children, both grandmoth-
ers and grandfathers; my
mother, father and a passel
of other relations of vari-
ous stripes, including
Fred’s buddy, Charley Tre-
fethen (who knew better
because he was also a val-
ley history buff) are buried
in Laurel Cemetery in
Cave Junction.
Unfortunately I no
longer live in the beautiful
Illinois Valley, but I do get
to visit regularly. The only
Grimmett descendant cur-
rently living there is Steve
McMahan, a great-
grandson of Robert, who
moved to the valley only a
few years ago, and until he
receives a copy of this let-
ter, probably didn’t know
the family history.
I’ve been doing Fred’s
research for him. Mike,
Roland and Charley had it
half right.
Wi lli a m F ran kli n
Grimmett arrived on 160
acres on Sucker Creek, just
below today’s Grayback
Campground, in the 1890s
with his wife, Mary, and
family. They began farm-
ing and cattle-raising.
There were six chil-
dren ranging in age from
about 6 to 16: William,
Sterling, Anna, Robert,
Leon and Grover; the latter
being my grandfather.
Land was cleared,
trees felled, logs honed,
and the farmhouse, barn
and outbuildings con-
Illinois Valley News
An Independent Weekly Newspaper Co-owned
and published by Robert R. (Bob) and Jan
Rodriguez
Bob Rodriguez, Editor El Jefe
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at 321 S. Redwood Hwy., Cave Junction, OR 97523
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structed. There being no
school anywhere near, they
built the schoolhouse.
And I want Fred
Krauss to know that it does
have windows. On pages
74 and 75 of “Golden Days
and Pioneer Ways,” by
Ruth Pfefferle, (Bulletin
Publishing Co., Grants
Pass, 1977) there is a pic-
ture of the school showing
it with windows.
Ruthie’s reference in-
cludes, “The furnishings at
that time were as primitive
as the log building. The
desks were hewed flat on
either side, with ordinary
benches to sit on. The chil-
dren sat in rows. Miss An-
nie Hatcher was the
teacher.”
In a quick search, I
find no further published
reference to the school-
house and will continue
searching. But in talking to
the last surviving Grim-
mett, (Evelyn Grimmett
Emmert, 92) daughter of
Robert, she remembers
spending time at the farm
in the late 1920s and early
‘30s. By that time it had
become quite a successful
boarding house operated
by Aunt Anna and Uncle
Ed Lind, providing meals
for the road-building crews
and the first “tourists”
traveling to the Caves
needing a place to stop
overnight before tackling
the arduous climb farther
up the mountain.
The teen-agers, Eve-
lyn; her sister, Mabel; and
their cousin, my mother
Elenora, all spent time dur-
ing summers helping with
the cooking, cleaning and
waiting tables.
I recall that my mother
often fondly remarked of
the fun times of her youth
with Aunt Anna and Uncle
Ed at the family home on
Sucker Creek. It was dur-
ing that period that the
schoolhouse was indeed
used for storage, and some
of the windows perhaps
had been removed.
It was 1963, while
Doris Boyd was curator at
Kerbyville Museum under
auspices of the Josephine
County Historical Society,
that the I.V. Women’s
Club sponsored the project
to move the old school-
house to the museum to
preserve it.
The work was done
voluntarily by club mem-
bers and their husbands,
who carefully took it apart,
numbered the logs, and
reassembled it on the mu-
seum grounds, where it
now needs tender, loving
care.
Kerbyville Museum is
operating on a shoestring,
barely able to keep on the
electricity and heat. There
is a great deal of water
damage to the west side of
the school, where at least
half the logs need replac-
ing. The structure is unsafe
and needs to be taken apart
to successfully restore it.
The upper roof con-
structed to protect it needs
stabilizing, and the support
poles and cross-joints need
replacing. It is my under-
standing that Jack Heald
has donated some logs and
that Del Kauffman has
agreed to help, but much
more is needed.
We all are aware of the
many years of generous
giving by Fred Krauss and
the Krauss Family to note-
worthy valley causes,
much of it anonymously.
Given Fred’s love of col-
lecting valley history, now
would be a good time for
him to help preserve some
of it.
If he initiates a fund-
raiser from up there, I sus-
pect that some of us few
Grimmett descendants still
alive, and perhaps other
valley history benefactors,
might be willing to con-
tribute funds or material to
help the museum with this
cause. It’s a project that
Fred could be proud of and
would no doubt enjoy ac-
complishing.
I’ve discussed the
problem with Dennis
Strayer, museum board
president, and he estimates
roughly that with the rather
modest sum of $4,000 --
and volunteers to help get
the work done -- the resto-
ration could be completed
in a couple of days.
Strayer would be
happy to discuss the pro-
ject with Fred. Strayer can
be reached at 592-4076 or
592-4078.
And, of course, I’d
also like to hear from Fred.
I’m glad that he brought
this to my attention. Now,
let’s save this dear, old
piece of valley history.
(Continued on page 3)
Pain - Stress - Injuries
Deep massage - CranioSacral Therapy
Monday - Friday by appointment
Senior Discounts - Gift Di scounts
See holiday gift certificate on page 11
For those who help us all the year through,
we’d like to present a
‘Benefit Christmas Dinner’
Saturday, Dec. 18, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Full Turkey Dinner all-you-can-eat buffet
drink and dessert included $10.99
Please come and show your appreciation to our
Illinois Valley volunteer firefighters!
Merry Christmas from
Stevereno’s
Steve, Johnna & Staff