Closing the Tree Farm - August 1958Dad, with David & Norman, took a long weekend
in August to Bigfork to close the tree farm. The truck, tractor, and tools were taken out of storage at the Halverson's. Dad drove the truck down the road; David drove the tractor through the woods. The log-loading A-frame was lowered to the ground. The tractor climbed up the north side of the gravel pile from the well excavation, then over the top onto the truck bed parked on the south side.
The saws, chains, and tools, a rocking chair, wood stove, and other cabin contents were loaded over, under, and around the tractor. The truckload was covered with canvas and tied down. The cabin was locked and boarded closed. Swam in Flathead Lake and the Swan River.
First time in years, last time in years. |
|
|
At Kalispell, we visited Uncle Earl for the last time. “Good ‘ol” David said to Earl: “Why don’t you come out and see us sometime.” I think I saw Dad squirm just a little. Earl barely responded with a “y-yeah” but he sat up straighter. I believe he was pleased at the 'offer.' He hadn’t visited his brother’s home since Kalispell, 1943. |
The Wedding - September 1959
David, Pat, and families had spent the summer planning for The Wedding, to be held in late September.
In mid September, a brief letter arrived from Earl, announcing: “Well, I will be see you in a week.”
Panic struck.
“Why, they might call off the wedding.”
Helen was working at the Oregon Centennial, providing secretarial services.
She consulted with a knowledgeable person there on the predicament.
They advised a “night letter.” (An urgent, overnight telegram requesting someone to change their plans.)
“Visitors, busy, no room, away from home, etc. Don’t come!”
No reply from Earl, but he didn’t arrive.
Earl must have been anticipating this visit since David's ‘invitation’ a year earlier:
Scheduled his vacation, bought a train ticket, packed his suitcase, ready to go - only to be refused.
In mid September, a brief letter arrived from Earl, announcing: “Well, I will be see you in a week.”
Panic struck.
“Why, they might call off the wedding.”
Helen was working at the Oregon Centennial, providing secretarial services.
She consulted with a knowledgeable person there on the predicament.
They advised a “night letter.” (An urgent, overnight telegram requesting someone to change their plans.)
“Visitors, busy, no room, away from home, etc. Don’t come!”
No reply from Earl, but he didn’t arrive.
Earl must have been anticipating this visit since David's ‘invitation’ a year earlier:
Scheduled his vacation, bought a train ticket, packed his suitcase, ready to go - only to be refused.