“Those who leave stories for future generations give us a gift of time, woven together into tapestries of the past. They give us pathways into a history with which we can relate. In doing so, both those who share and those who listen benefit from intentional generational storytelling.”
– Elaine McAllister, from “All Aboard: The Adventures of Miss Ratcliff”
The writing of “All Aboard!” was a work of the heart and our recent travels to retrace Grandma’s steps was truly a gift to my heart.
I dreamt of it while researching and writing her mini-memoir, then I lived it as Jim and I traveled from Kansas to Idaho. As I wrote in my journal during our trip, “My heart is full.” And, it still is as I relive what we saw, where we went, and who we met during those two and a half weeks. I’ve heard from some of you who are also enjoying the trip. Thanks for coming along.
We traveled through Colorado, Wyoming, and Utah, then spent much of our time in Idaho before traveling back through Montana, Wyoming, and Colorado.
We went out of our way a couple of times so Jim could add another state to his list of states visited. Our stop in Nyssa, Oregon accomplished just that, as did a quick trip to Clarkston, Washington.
Oregon. Check! Washington. Check!
Lewiston, Idaho and Clarkston, Washington are sometimes called twin cities, though Lewiston is larger. They are situated where the Snake River and Clearwater River meet. Years ago, the only way to cross from one to the other was on a ferry. In June of 1899, a toll bridge was opened giving travelers an alternative.
Grandma mentioned the famous Lewiston Clarkston Bridge in her journal, and I’ve seen old pictures. Steel beams criss-crossed the 1,700′ long structure atop concrete pillars in the river but high enough above the river that steamboats could pass underneath. I would have loved to see that old bridge but it was demolished in 1939.
The Lewiston-Clarkston Bridge was a heavily traveled toll bridge until late December 1913, after which time it was free to cross. In the summer of 1914, an average of 331 autos, 4,160 people, and 1,007 horses crossed each day.
Grandma first arrived at the Lewiston depot in late August 1913 on her way to Woodland. She spent the night at the famous Raymond Hotel. “A good room for $1,” she wrote in her journal.
After spending three months in the Woodland area, Grandma arrived at the Lewiston depot again in November 1913, bound for Central Point, Oregon to visit Aunt Anna.
Interestingly, Grandma had a couple traveling companions with her, as I revealed in the book. She didn’t divulge that information in her journal. Not right away, at least. It took sleuthing on my part but that’s the fun of generational storytelling.
The Lewiston depot – now known as “The Station” – houses various offices and businesses today. Lewiston has a charming, eclectic, and busy downtown that is not far from the depot. I wonder what it was like in 1913.
The estimated population of the entire state of Idaho in 1913 was 38,288. In 2020, the population of Lewiston was 34,203. Wow! (census.gov and en.wikipedia.org; accessed 9-25-24)
Lewiston and Clarkston are on the south side of the Clearwater River. Bare hillsides anchor the north side. This picture was taken from a residential area in Lewiston, looking north toward the bridge that brought us into town.
This old bridge across the Clearwater caught my eye. The hillsides frame it nicely in the background; wispy trees in the foreground.
Before we left Lewiston, we stopped at Locomotive Park where I snapped a few pictures. I wondered if this locomotive was of the era when Grandma traveled the rails, but I didn’t take the time to research it.
It’s enough to know these massive steel beasts carried both freight and passengers through this country, along routes carved out of mountains and built alongside rivers. I discovered quite a history of America’s early railroads as I wrote Grandma’s book.
When Grandma left Idaho, she mentioned riding the rails through areas ravaged by forest fires.
We saw similar devastation. This was just south of the Clearwater River, not far from Lewiston where winds rushed up barren mountainsides leaving ash and dirt to settle on cars traveling below.
Such a travesty to see blackened earth where acres of woods once stood.
Regrowth will happen, but not for years.
In my next blog, we’ll wrap up our awesome trip as we head home. The trip from Kamiah to Missoula MT is perhaps one of the prettiest drives, if only my pictures could have captured it.
There were three more ‘stops’ on our trip…The Kohrs Ranch in Deer Lodge MT, a family get-together in Windsor CO, then Home Sweet Home. Join me as I wrap up this multi-part blog….the end is in sight but the memories will remain for a very long time.
Elaine McAllister (c) 2024
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