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The lleppnff Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon, Thursday, August 28,
o
Wo and rorfr of Juanita Cartnichacl is inspirational
by Justine Weatherford
Early (his month we re
ceived a letter from William
"Ole" Mitchell of Daly City,
Calif., requesting a atory
bout his favorite teacher,
"Who, he writes, "did so much
to Improve the lives of so
many county youngsters."
He suggested a rather
difficult assignment, because
that teacher, Juanita Leathers
Carmichael, very modestly
doesn't like to talk too much
bout her years of work In this
county of her birth, and
because, she Insists, she is not
photogenic. Now that school is
about to begin again, readers
might be interested In some
facts we have managed to
glean about this outstanding
teacher.
Juanita is the youngest of
the ten children of Heatha
Belle Hilton Leathers and
Nicholas Hanson Leathers
who migrated from Kentuc ky
to Hardman, Oregon, In 1882,
arriving there In March after
traveling by train as far as
Arlington. Juanita attended
school at Hardman until the
family moved to Vancouver,
Wash., In 1923, where Juanita
was graduated from high
school with honors in 1924.
Thinking buck on her early
years at Hardman, this natur
al musician recalls that she
began playing piano profess
ionally (for $5 a night) when
he was nine years old. She
played for dances at Hard
man, Condon, Fossil and
Mayville. When her small
arms gave out, her trombone
playing brother, Owen, would
take her place at the piano
until she was rested and could
ontinue. They also played at
he horse races at Umg Creek
each summer for ftjur consec
utive years.
While she was at Vancouver
High, Juanita went to beauty
school at night so that she
would tie able to earn a living
after her graduation. She then
worked in a beauty shop near
the army barracks for three
months, mainly marcelling
hair which had been dry
shampooed with cornmeal.
She disliked this work so much
that she determined to pre
pare for something else. Her
mother's brother was a teach
er, and her mother encour
aged her youngest child to
prepare for teaching.
So with $35 of her earnings
in hand, Juanita departed for
Monmouth, Oregon, to enter
Oregon Normal School. Dur
ing her years there she earned
her way by playing piano
accompaniment for the silent
films at the Monmouth Theat
er and for rhythmic classes at
the normal school. She com
pleted teaching requirements
there with the class of 1926,
again graduating with honors.
She came back to Morrow
County to take her first
teaching position at the Pleas
ant Point School on Little
Butter Creek, She boarded in
the Frank Swaggart home and
walked two miles to and from
the little school whose door
opened toward the unkempt,
early day cemetery. Teachers
then cleaned their building
and nearby privies; carried
water they had pre-pumped
into the building for drinking
and the washing of faces and
hands; chopped wood; built
and maintained the fire, and
taught as many as eight
different grade levels. Juanita
Ron
McDonaldi
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GOOD RIG
1975 Vi
Less Than 4,800 Miles
Ij&OOOOOOOO
only had seven grades her
first year, but managed with
eight the next year. Times
were good in 1926, and she
rated generous wages--$120
per month,
She remembers the children
of the Swaggart, Cunningham,
Daly, Cunha, Poff and Mitch
ell families she taught at
Pleasant Point. She now
laughs over some rather
unusual experiences during
those two years. At the
mention of the name William
Mitchell she recalled a Christ
mas program when young
William was in the second
grade.
In his role he needed to
present an orange to another
child. The larger than expect
ed orange became wedged In
his trouser pocket and at the
moment of presentation he
could not, In spite of much
twisting and squirming and
hard struggling, get it out of
the pocket.
Miss Leathers finally res
cued him, while viewers
tittered with laughter, by
telling him to Just go on with
his part.
"One day at recess when
first graders, James Mitchell
and Rose Cunningham were
sitting on the 2 x 6 planked,
front walk , a large rattlesnake
rattled beneath the walk. Two
eighth grade boys, Merle
Swaggart and Bill Cunning
ham, alerted me and said they
would help kill it. So after
involving the rest of my pupils
in a playground game, the
boys and I killed the big
rattler with the school axe and
shovel."
Juanita treasures the hand
bell she rang with a pump-like
action at that school, along
with an older handbell used by
her husband's father, John
Carmichael, when he taught
school.
In 1928 Miss Leathers went
back to college at Monmouth
for two additional years and
took many class hours in
music before accepting a
position in Heppner School in
1930. Times were not so good
then, and she was started at
$95 per month for teaching 40
fifth graders and also teaching
music to grades five through
twelve. Of course, the special
music responsibility meant
many special programs such
as annual operettas, Christ
mas programs. May Day
events and others; however,
because of her many hours of
additional work she received
additional money-flS per
year.
During those years Juanita
did much to build up the level
of music in the schools; she
encouraged participation in
outside contests where the
Heppner band won honors
several times. Other school
districts tried to hire her away
from Morrow County, but she
loyally remained here.
In 1937 Miss Leathers marr
ied C. C. "Judge" Carmichael,
a Lexington wheat rancher.
She taught in Lexington for
four years and was the
Lexington district clerk for
nine years before returning to
Heppner Elementary. When
Juanita retired in Heppner in
1970 where she was then
teaching seventh grade lan
guage arts, it was 44 years
since her first teaching at
Pleasant Point.
Juanita can recall many
amusing incidents about her
pupils. One year when they
had been drilling diligently to
676-9921
Inc.
GOOD PRICE
ton 4x4
Pickup
If
Jvessffa Ltcf&trs Cormlchatl
An early linn's photograph of Juanita Leathers when she
began teaching In the Heppner Schools.
prepare a Christmas operetta.
Matt Kenny, who had a
leading part and who was
really tired out after the final
rehearsal, said "After I go
home and milk the chickens
and feed the cows, I'll try to be
back for the program to
night." Of course he made the
performance and everyone
was pleased with the
program.
She recalls when seventh
r
Senior
By Jontine Weatherford
Last week seniors of Mor
.row County enjoyed attending
the County Fair on passes
provided for them. " They
missed getting together for
their dinner meetings in
Heppner and lone. The chief
cook for these mealsites.
Eleanor Gonty, enjoyed her
holiday by traveling into the
Bend area with husband Ed.
They had several good visits
with long-time friends and
saw lots of mountain scenery.
Assistant cook Marilyn
Bergstrom spent much of the
week working with the fair.
She entered many exhibits in
the needlework and foods
divisions, and as usual her
exhibits were the winners of
many blue and red ribbons.
Next week the usual senior
programs will resume along a
regular schedule. Seniors who
wish to have blood pressure
checked should come to the
Neighborhood Center the aft
ernoon of Wednesday, Sept. 3,
when County Nurse Pat
Wright will check them. They
should also be planning ahead
to have flu vaccine shots in
Heppner the next Wednesday
afternoon, Sept. 10, between 1
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iVGL& JUkVCl F"e View Screen Firebrick Lined
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1
1
grader, Jim Barratt, was
absent a couple of days and his
mother, Cy, had to write a,
note concerning his absence.'
Never-before-absent Jim took'
the note to the school prin-
cipal, Bill Poulson.
As a joke Cy had deliber
ately misspelled every word in
her note. The shocked prin
cipal carried the note to Miss
Leathers who was amused by I
Cy's humor. '
Citizens
4
J
and 4 p m. at the center. In
lone, flu shots will be given on
Wednesday afternoon, Sept.
17. at the mealsite between 2
and 4 p m. On Friday. Sept. 12,
the Social Security represent
ative will be in Heppner to
help answer questions during
the morning at the Heppner
Neighborhood Center.
, Menus for the senior dinners
next week are: at Heppner,
Tuesday. Sept. 2. lasagna.
buttered corn, tossed salad,
cheese sticks, carrot sticks,
pickled beets, oatmeal muff
ins with jelly and strawberry
cream deluxe.
On Wednesday, Sept. 3, at
lone and Heppner-apple '
juice, swiss steak and gravy,
mashed potatoes, orange and
cheese jello salad, hot rolls
and jelly, and peanut butter
pie.
Eight residents of the hos
pital nursing home especially
enjoyed the Rodeo Parade. As
the result of the cooperative
efforts of Pat Brindle. the
Neighborhood Center direc
tor, Truman Messenger,
chairman of the senior citizen
transportation committee,
Edna Struthers, Anna
Schwarzin, Bonnie Arrington,
Linda Bond, the Englert Car
Convenience of
up to 14 Hours
The Blaze King
You Can Imagine the
Money You Can Save
HOW CAN THE BLAZE KING DO THIS?
The Blaze King is Airtight Energy-
11
eppner
As is usual in Heppner, the
word of Mrs. Barratt's poor
spelling was the subject of lots
of good-natured kidding for
sometime. Long after that
incident, Cy grinned at the
very mention of spelling.
, At this month's five-class
reunion of 1930's Heppner
High graduates, Juanita Car
michael was especially popu
lar. Most of these men and
women had been In her class
or had her for school music.
They were delighted to see her
looking so well and were so
pleased to have her lead them
in a few songs.
This fine woman has, as
William "Ole" Mitchell
writes, influenced many per
son's lives most favorably.
She and Judge continue to live
in their home on Heppner's
Gilmore Street. Juanita
enjoys gardening, golfing and
playing weekly bridge games.
Being ambitious and needing
to keep her lively mind really
busy, she has now, after
several years of careful
research, almost completed
work on the history of her
family from 1726 to date. She
also has four compositions for
piano to her credit.
As schools begin here next
week Tuesday, perhaps a little
of the story of the life and
work of dedicated teacher
Juanita Leathers Carmichael,
who loved teaching and loved
her hundreds of students, may
prove inspirational to some
pupils and some teachers.
Wash and the City of Heppner,
arrangements were worked
out for five wheelchair
patients to attend the parade.
Roy Wheelhouse, Clyde Cox,
Esther Peterson. LaUna
Crowell and Cleo Van Winkle
traveled by bus and Merle
Boyce. Elmer Byland and
Hazel Vaughn went in the
Brindle car.
The green and white Quintra
Bus had become very dirty
and dusty while parked at the
county shop area, so Bonnie
and Linda, CETA workers at
the Neighborhood Center,
worked hard at washing it and
cleaning it carefully, after the
Englert Car Wash had gener
ously donated its facilities.
Pat Brindle made arrange
ments with Edna Struthers
and Anna Schwarzin of the
hospital staff to move the
nursing home residents. Tru
man Messenger, who has
given countless hours of work
on the senior bus and who
served as the driver last
Saturday, happily parked the
bus in a special space marked
off by the city authorities
beside the hotel so that the
special passengers could take
their places in the front row
near the center of parade
excitement along Main Street.
A wonderful time was had by
all.
z5L
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Enjoy the
a Stove
Of Wood
Irrigon Hem
Fnna Rost Wihon
Mr. and Mrs. Orville Buch
anan of Irrigon have returned
from a visit with their son,
Wayne Buchanan, and family,
In Kenai. Alaska, and have an
exciting story to tell about
their 6-year-old grandson,
Russel, who caught a 50-pound
King salmon.
The Buchanans also enjoyed
digging for razor clams. They
said they were much larger
than any they had seen before.
They each dug their limit of 60
the 2 days they dug.
Wayne Buchanan Is em
ployed by an oil company in
Kenai.
There were 16 boys and
girls, ages 9 to 12, who
attended the Assembly of God
Boys and Girls Camp at
. Meadowwood Springs from
the Irrigon Assembly of God.
They were accompanied by
Pastor and Mrs. Allen Gor
danier and Mrs. Earlene
Lathrop. There was a total of
208 campers from churches of
the surrounding area, accor
ding to Pastor Gordanier.
Mr. and Mrs. Ponteleis
Vrontakis of Salem were
weekend visitors of her par
ents. Mr. and Mrs. Harvey
Warner. Their son, Michael,
had spent the wek with his
grandparents and returned
home with his parerUs and
brother. Jeffrey.
Karyl Stephens of Portland,
the daughter of Mr. and Mrs.
Joe Stephens, was an over
night guest of her grandmoth
er. Mary Stephens, on Thurs
day and Friday.
Chester Wilson of Irrigon
and his daughter and son-in-law.
Grace and Chuck Bartlett
of Lynnwood, Wash., are
among the hopeful archery
hunters in the Tollgate area
this week.
Police were called to the
home of Donna Driver after
her sister, Beverley Tejeda,
had entered the home and
found a person, obviously a
man, dressed in a green dress
with a wig on and make-up on
his face. Mrs. Tejeda
screamed and left. When she
returned with her uncle. Bill
Ahalt, the man had left.
Miss Driver was away
working at the time, but had
left her doors unlocked. The
moral to this story is "lock
your doors!"
iB4taipiK insAla mmi
BamiCKlftiwnal-
Tji
. 5 , - -
Biblo School donates to Hhmry
i U r I . tmi 1
John Maas of the Hope and
valby Lutheran Churches
presents Heppner City Lib
rarian Bethel Heinrich with a
check for $71 for improve
ments on the children's lib
rary. The money was earned
through donations collected
during vacation Bible school.
"The children themselves de
cided where they wanted the
money to go," said Reverend
Maas.
Mrs. Heinrich said that it
would probably take about
$4,000 to bring the children's
lib rary up to par. Profits from
the book sale held this week at
r
Storting
Sept. 2
OUR IMF HOUnSWILL "BET
Monday Friday
8-5
Saturday 8-12 Noon
LQorror County
PSGrain Growers,
Main Office
Lots of
KENNINGTON
and AKKUVV Shirts
Casual Shoes
Gym Clothes
Shorts
the library will also go
towards upgrading the child
ren's library. This year we're
making a special effort to put
it (proceeds from the sale)
into the children's library,"
added Mrs. Heinrich.
"Unfortunately, our budget
is the same from year to year,
but books are going sly high."
A golf benefit is also
scheduled in Heppner to fund
a microfilm reader for the
library. "It(a microfilm
reader) is something we need
desperately, especially with
so many people now research
ing their family histories."
989-8221