My trip to Othello started with a tour through Moses Lake, where I was able to find the old stake center where Weldon was baptized. I remember attending stake conference here, morning and afternoon sessions, with a sack lunch in between which seemed to always include a ham sandwich.
I then drove the back way to Othello, so I could pass through the Columbia National Wildlife Refuge and past the Pot Holes Lake and State Park. Again the wildlife refuge is only cool if you can find animals. It was sand hill crane season but I could no say that I saw one. I did see the start of the Pot Hole Canal which flows through Othello and behind our old farm.
I entered Othello on the industrial road. Othello is known for the processing of potatoes and frozen food.
My next stop was to the school where I attended half year of first grade. We moved from Othello at Christmas time and moved in with Grandma Wright. I went to the second half of first grade at Lincoln School. My father had moved the family to Othello when the Columbia Reclamation Project provided irrigation water to the area. They had been there for almost ten years. While we lived in Lincoln my father returned to Othello and sold the farm.
Close to Hiawatha Elementary is Lions Park. This is where the pool was when we lived there and we all went there to swim. A pool is still there although it has evolved considerable. Now they have slides and water play areas. The murals are outside a bounce back structure.
The hospital where Charles was born is also close by. The modern two-story construction was not there but the old hospital wing was and this is where Charlie was born. I was born in a doctor office in Othello. I was told it was downtown. Charles said he was told it was by the hospital. Weldon was born in Connell, a community about 15 miles away where they had a hospital at the time..
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| Where Charlie was born |
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| newer hospital |
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| downtown offices. I was also told the office where I was born has been knocked down. |
Downtown there still is standing a store I remember. I remember my mom collected C&H Green stamps. There is also the Columbia River Reclamation office where people arranged for irrigation water. My father put in lots of cement ditches while we were there. Of course they are now obsolete as everyone has the irrigation underground and coming up through sprinkler systems.
I found the high school and even I was never in high school in Othello, kindergarten was held in a room off the gym there. Of course that gym was old and I am sure is no longer there. There are two new gyms in front. I remember the gym being behind. Among other things we used the gym to present a dramatization where I was a spider that sat down beside her because I was good at the crab walk. I do remember attending football games at the high school with family.
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| behind the school |
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| artwork in front of school. Reminds me of Lehi's dream. |
