by Deborah Lobey | Apr 30, 2026 | Oral History - Stories, Posts
Few are fortunate to be selected and honored as a Rhododendron Festival princess. However, to have a mother share that experience with her daughter 18 years later, makes it all the more exceptional. Linda Hayman Kalista and Alicia Kalista Albritton recently shared...
by Deborah Lobey | Apr 16, 2026 | Oral History - Stories, Posts
Among the many cultural gifts brought by early migration to America was music – including hymns, psalms and folk songs. Research shows what became known as barbershop harmony, likely originated from the influences of the African-American culture during the...
by Deborah Lobey | Oct 19, 2025 | Oral History - Stories, Posts
During an era when tug boats on the Siuslaw River operated at all hours of the night, the bridge tender (Tiny Marsh) would initiate a siren prior to lifting the draw bridge for boats to pass. The night of March 27, 1964 began like any other, but that would soon...
by Deborah Lobey | Aug 7, 2025 | Oral History - Stories, Posts
The Family Behind the Phone Company “We’ve come a long way” may be an old saying, yet it sums up the evolution of long-distance communication from the days of telegraph messages to telephone. As more folks began to settle in the Siuslaw area, it became essential to...
by Deborah Lobey | Mar 29, 2025 | Oral History - Stories, Posts
(Part 2 of 2), (View Part 1) From early on, John Barnes developed a connection with the forest, cultural heritage and history. One could say it was in his DNA – passed down from a grandfather who homesteaded, and a father who was a brush picker and well-known hunter...
by Deborah Lobey | Mar 2, 2025 | Oral History - Stories, Posts
(Part 1 of 2) (View Part 2) Though Brush Picking may be an unfamiliar occupation to some, it has maintained a history throughout the Pacific Northwest. Folks may not get rich by it, yet it continues to be a source of income from the forest. Chances are, pickers today...
