Archive Record
Metadata
Catalog Number |
2015.25.7l |
Object Name |
Martha W. Van Dervort Interview |
Scope & Content |
Martha W. Van Dervort Name Martha W. Van Dervort Date and Place of Birth Father's Name, Date and Place of Birth and Occupation Mother's Maiden Name, Date and Place of Birth and Occupation If Born at Priest Lake Area Just Where Did Your Family Live Then If Born Outside of Area When Did You Come And Why Did Your Family Decide to Come Here. Describe Details of Your Trip Here My husband and I visited Priest Lake in 1937. We were impressed with the beautiful country, and the friendly people. In 1941 we moved to Priest Lake. Tell The Places You Lived Here We first lived in an old log cabin on Lamb Creek. Now where Crowns live. Then bought Van's Corner in 1942 Tell About Early Days Here - How Far to Nearest Town, How Long Did It Take To Get There ETC. Priest River was 30 miles. How long it took, depended on the weather. In, Winter, Spring and Fall, all depended on the times you got stuck and if you detoured by Squaw Valley. In the Summer depended on how thick the dust was. Any way you just checked that day off to going to town. What Wild Life Have You Seen Here In the Meadow (which is Now Owen Raines) I used to see Bear, lots of deer. Little fawns in the spring and coyotes. And all ways grouse on the way to Luby Bay. Did You Have Any Contacts With The Indians Who Camped At Sherwood Bay How Did You Heat Your Home With fuel oil stoves and wood stoves Do You Recall Any Fires, Hard Winters, or Any Other Facts of The Difficult Times Here At that time the winters were always severe. Lots of snow as much as 9 feet at times. And at times below zero. The coldest I can remember was 20 degrees below. Describe Any Details About Nordman You Can Remember, Coolin And Or Priest Lake Coolin Store was there but of course not as modern as now. A marina not as large as now. And a River Boat with Captain Elliot. He serviced the Lumber Camps up the Lake and little lake. Tell About Early Day Schools, Where Located, How Did You Get to School, Names of Teachers, Names of Class Mates, Other Details About the Schools Lamb Creek School, was a one room log cabin. Now the Priest Lake Library. At times we had trouble getting enough children to have a school. Only 8 families lived up there all year. Corinne Raine brought her children to school on a sled with horses in the winter. The Corner had two Cabins and one we had to reserve for a teacher each year. Not until Alice Allen moved to Priest Lake did we begin to have a real school and through her efforts, Priest Lake now has a real school. Some Information About Churches in The Area No churches. When he could a Priest would come out and have services in the old Lamb Creek Tavern. Which was back on the old road, back of the one now there. Then Mrs. Lula Schneider donated Land for the present Community Church, and she helped get it started. Cemeteries, Lone Graves, Indian Burial Grounds They are Indian Writings on some large Rocks in the Lake near where Linger Lodge was. What Were The Names of Post Offices in The Area - Where Located and How Did The Mail Get Here, How Often. Our post Office was Priest River; Mail was delivered 3 times a week. By truck or car. Some times weather so bad they had to skip a day. Describe Early Trips Uplake, What Kind of Boats, Who Did You Visit When we went up to the Little Lake we usually got a boat at Pearl Smiths Resort. As it was the last one and made the trip shorter. No on up there except the Forest Service Cabin and usually we saw no one. Were There Any Commercial Cruises None How Did Boats Take Part in The Logging Industry Boats took supplies to the Logging Camps located on the lake. Were You Involved in Logging, Mining, Commercial Business Commercial Business Describe Social Occasions and Entertainments of the Early Days Dances, Houseparties, ETC. People were very friendly and we visited each other places of business. And in the winter, we took turns. All closed and went to one place for a Sat. night of fun and dancing. That was each place received some winter business. Do You Recall Any Notable Figures or Famous People Traveling Through Any Recollection Early Telephone Systems, U.S. Forest Service, Look Outs State or Federal Agencies in the Area Our telephone System was located at the Cedars. Ella Thompson was the operator. You had so many rings for your No. and all the phones rang so every one knew just what was being said. Forest Service had Look Outs on all the high Mountains. Describe Specific Incidents, Tragic, Humorous, or Otherwise That Will Give a More Complete Account of Your Life My life at P. Lake was full of hard work and hardships also had a lot of fun and pleasure. Also sadness. But I survived and still Love it. Outline Your Later Life, When and Where Married and to Whom, Children Their Names and Addresses and Your Own Career What Relics or Pictures, Diaries, Maps, Letters Do You Have of Early Days Have pictures, but cannot send them now. I hope to be able to get them for you in June. Do You Have Any Tools, Pieces of Furniture of Articles Representing Early Days That You Would Consider Sharing With People Who Visit The Museum. This Can Include Articles of Clothing ETC. Do You Remember Any Early Hotels or Lodging Houses and Locations What Sawmills Do You Remember, Location and Who Owned Them Diamond Match had a mill on the River near the Dam. And Frank Sacks started a mill back by the Motel. He later sold to the Norlander Brothers. The next was Owen Raine at Lamb Creek. Any Other Items of Interest |
Collection |
PLM |