Struggling...10º

Starting the New Year, I struggle with subjects for my blog instead of just the usual, humdrum life of a retired person, such as food, dinner, baking, daily chores, the weather and community affairs...Friend Pat, (in Maryland) who I text with most mornings suggested I write about our early days in Joseph...So with that in mind here goes.

Today I will set some ground work...The year was 1973, early April...Unlike most people who move here now, we didn't stumble onto this place, fall in love with it and never leave...Herb was transferred here with the Forest Service, his second transfer and we planned to stay 3 to 7 years, until the next transfer as that was life with the FS....Transfers came and went and we stayed.

The population of Joseph was just under 1000 people, it was a mill town and farming community...The sign "This Town Is Heaven To Us, Don't Drive Like Hell Through It," greeted us then as it does now...Joseph was famous for "Chief Joseph Days, basically the one and only annual celebration."..Tourists spent time at Wallowa Lake, not in Joseph, they laughed at the sign and drove straight through...I remember 3 gas stations, Chevron, (Paul was there as he is now.) Shell owned by Burnsides, then Steens, then Antons and now the Outlaw Cafe...Another gas station and bulk plant owned by Ken Stein, then Kilgores and now Mike Musia's garage...A small grocery story where the Cheyenne Cafe is now, a larger grocery store and meat lockers a block away, where Mountain View Cafe was for several years and now is a vacant building...Bank of Wallowa County, now Stewart  Jones Silver...Dummer Drugs now Antons, the brick building was a variety store, (now Heidi's and Teals.) The Rainbow Cafe (later the Piggy Pantry) and now "Old Town Cafe." Mel's Tavern (now an art gallery)The Hydrant (had another name.) Across the street I only remember the Bowling Alley (Playmore Lanes) and Buds hardware...Post Office, City Offices, were in place...I almost forgot the Cowboy Bar and Gold Room (Arrowhead Chocolates and Mexican Restaurant.) Pauls Sports Corral and Dr. Blackburns office.

This is really taxing my brain and I'm sure there are many corrections that can be made but this gives you an idea of how Joseph has changed...Come back tomorrow for more of our story and how our life unfolded in this beautiful valley...Hugs To All...OWAV:)