Archive Record
Metadata
Catalog Number |
2015.25.7f |
Object Name |
Paul Croy Interview |
Scope & Content |
Paul Croy Name Paul Croy Date and Place of Birth Hope, Idaho. June 13, 1905 Father's Name, Date and Place of Birth and Occupation Arthur H. Croy. Born in Little Hocking, Ohio 1873 (?) Railroad Engineer on Northern Pacific Mother's Maiden Name, Date and Place of Birth and Occupation Edna May Allbaugh. Born Galesburg, ILL. July, 1882 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 uncle, John Amblie, had a farm on Fox Creek near the "Halfway House" on the Eastside road. I spent summers there from 1915 'til the middle 20s. at which time I worked for the F.S. at the Benton R.S. and then at the Coolin R.S. as smoke chaser, packer, dispatcher. Was dispatcher at Coolin during 1931 Freeman Lake Fire. Tell The Places You Lived Here I built a houseboat on Priest Lake in 1927 and lived there summers until the first Daughter, Janet was beginning to walk then sold it; we loved the girl! Tell About Early Days Here - How Far to Nearest Town, How Long Did It Take To Get There ETC. I guess we called Coolin a town in those days, but if one went to Priest River, I think it was about 22 miles and depending on the road conditions, it took from an hour to 5 or 6 hours. There were times when the road was impassable for a car and then it was a long walk. When we first went to Amblie's ranch, we went on the stage. It was at Christmas, 1915, I believe and the stage was a horse-drawn sleigh that went to Coolin twice a week in the winter time. It stopped at the Prater Farm, called the "Halfway House" for the noon meal, and then on to Coolin. What Wild Life Have You Seen Here Deer, bear, (no elk in the early days), otter, marten, muskrat, beaver, mink, weasels, cougar, Caribou were rare, coyotes, bobcats, and I saw one timber wolf about Cavanaugh Bay in 1933. Old time trapper said they caught wolverine and Fishes. Did You Have Any Contacts With The Indians Who Camped At Sherwood Bay No How Did You Heat Your Home A wood stove Do You Recall Any Fires, Hard Winters, or Any Other Facts of The Difficult Times Here 1926 was the first bad fire year I experienced at Priest Lake. I was Dispatcher at the Coolin R.S. in 1931 during the Freeman Lake Fire which burned out 22 homes on the "Peninsular" are. It was, at the time, the fastest burning fire in F.S. history. I was 72 hours on the telephone switchboard without sleep. Describe Any Details About Nordman You Can Remember, Coolin And Or Priest Lake As in any pioneer area, the "Old Timers" gave a personality and atmosphere to the area. Look up these names-Jim Ward, F.S. Ranger-Sam Byars (SP)? Steamboatman Art Marston (Coolin's "Silent" Police Force) Cap Markham Tug boat operator; Leonard Paul Store operator--; Art Moore Marina; Pete Chase (Moonshiner) Bob White trapper; Cougar Gus Trapper-"Sourdough Sam" Rollins; (Last four on Little Pr. Lake.) Lou and Bill Whetsler Riverdrive bosses; Bert Winslow, Homestead on Reeder Cr. Joe Cyr first cabin mouth of Granite Creek. The Handys, Sherwood Operated a circus in India. Ryder Chronic "Ham" Radio. Ed Kramer carpenter. Dewey Hewitt- stage driver. Edith Brinkley mail stage 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 I knew very little about the schools. Flo Campbell was teacher at the Coolin School in 20s or early 30s. Eight grades in one room Some Information About Churches in The Area No church at Coolin in the 20s and 30s. Cemeteries, Lone Graves, Indian Burial Grounds I know of none. What Were The Names of Post Offices in The Area - Where Located and How Did The Mail Get Here, How Often. When I was in the area Coolin and Nordman were the only Post Offices I knew. Describe Early Trips Uplake, What Kind of Boats, Who Did You Visit When I first got a boat in the 20s it was a 14 foot steel KANTSJNKEM and I got a 5hp Johnson outboard. It was started with a rope around the flywheel. I ran the F.S. Firefly in late 20s and ealy 30s. Hauled the barge with freight to Beaver Creek. Sometimes stopped with mail on supplies if urgent or emergencies. Were There Any Commercial Cruises Sam Byars took tourists or groups up lake at times; often far overnight trips to his Hotel on the thoroughfare. On one trip a lady passenger steed at his elbow and asked question until Sam got short. At Twin Islands she inquired; Sam said, "Twin Islands". "Why are they called that?" "They are the same distance apart", said Sam. How Did Boats Take Part in The Logging Industry All the logging operations up lake, hauled, flumed, or used chutes to put the logs in the lake where they were boomed and towed with tugs to the river outlet where they were dumped from the booms and then the river drivers drove them to Priest River and so to Newport. Were You Involved in Logging, Mining, Commercial Business I worked a pack string (horses) to pack equipment and supplies to a tent camp on Lookout mountain for the Dalkena Logging company when they logged that area. I also worked on the riverdrives for three seasons on the Priest River. I built two log cabins for people during the depression years; also a boathouse. I ran a commissary for a C.C.C. camp at Kalispell Bay Describe Social Occasions and Entertainments of the Early Days Dances, Houseparties, ETC. Coolinites were not socialites but we did have our fun. Leonard Paul provided a dance hall above the store and it was the hub of activity especially in the summer seasons. Naives and summer visitors mingled to the music of the piano and fiddles and no introductions were necessary. Beach parties and boat trips up lake. Do You Recall Any Notable Figures or Famous People Traveling Through I guess Priest Lake was too far off the "beaten path" in those days and famous people didn't make much impression on the natives, anyway. There was an "armchair" fire expert or two out of W.D.C. but usually they made themselves unpopular during bad fires. I remember one official who ordered all F.S. employees on fire lines to wear khaki and bow ties! Any Recollection Early Telephone Systems, U.S. Forest Service, Look Outs State or Federal Agencies in the Area The first telephone lines were all Forest Service and the only private families who were permitted telephones were in stragetic locations where a phone was needed. We had "howlers", little horns above the switch board, at the Coolin R.S. The dispatcher could listen to all conversations coming over the different lines. Very handy in fire seasons. May Dew was the telephone operator at Priest River, and I can still hear her musical, "Priest-River". Describe Specific Incidents, Tragic, Humorous, or Otherwise That Will Give a More Complete Account of Your Life Maybe I talk too much; there just isn't room here. Outline Your Later Life, When and Where Married and to Whom, Children Their Names and Addresses and Your Own Career I attended college at the University of Idaho-1924-1930; I missed a year when my mother died in 1927 and missed one other semester to work. Graduated in 1930 with a B.S. Degree in Education. Coached and taught in 1030-31 in Worley, Idaho, salary $1170.00 Beat Tekoa that year so they hired me for $1440.00. Coached there 2 years and got married in 1933. Depression! Bank Holiday!! Salary cut to $810.00. I resigned and went to our houseboat in fall of 1933 at Priest Lake. Did log work on two house for Ed Kramer and took over a commissary at the Kalispell C.C.C. camp. Did O.K. financially so took the Principal's job at Hayden Lake and taught until retirement in 1968. was married to Betty Cook in Clarkston, Wash. In 1933. Three children as follow: Janet, married to Clark Mitchell-6 children-address, 1447 Alford Ave. Birmingham, Ala. Arthur Croy-married to Mary Ann-address, 2718 Rio Bravo Blvd. Albuquerque, New Mex. No children. Linda Croy, Married Larry Hossner-farming at Ashton, Ida. Three children. What Relics or Pictures, Diaries, Maps, Letters Do You Have of Early Days I may have some pictures the museum might want, maybe a relic or two; I have a book of verse published 1976 entitled PIONEER PENCIL DUST. I may still have my old smokechasers map of the Priest Lake District; if I can find it you may have it. 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. I have a broad axe and a shake froe which are still working tools but the museum may have them at a later date. I have used them in building 10 log houses. Do You Remember Any Early Hotels or Lodging Houses and Locations It must have been in the Spring of 31 or 21 that the Log drive crew stayed at the Peterson Hotel when the drive had reached Big Creek. I am sure that there were times when Prater's Halfway House was available for overnight lodging-at least in emergencies. I believe it was in 1915 that we came to Priest River by train, stayed overnight in the Charbonneau (guessed at spelling) Hotel and went to Amblies ranch at Fox Cr. In Dewey Hewitts Sleigh and 4 horses. What Sawmills Do You Remember, Location and Who Owned Them Art Marston had a sawmill across the bay from Coolin. I think C.C. Olson had a mill at the Four Corners. I think the first mill at the Outlet was operating about 1934 or 1935. it was started by the man who operated the Bungalow Café in Coolin but I do not remember the name. Any Other Items of Interest I will try and jot down such item as they come to mind. |
Collection |
PLM |