Dorothy Dorris Lowe Goethel
At the age of 4 Dorothy's mother died and she was raised by Anna and John Hartman in Kelliher. The Hartman's had two daughters of their own, Wanda (Batchelder) and Florence (Dress). The following is an excerpt from Dorothy's book. This was in the 1920's and 1930's.
My love of animals took me down the street to Mr. Blocker's blacksmith shop. Mr Blocker had many horses to shoe. I liked to watch him shape the shoes over the blazing coals, cool them and carefully fasten them to the horse's hooves. Most of all, I liked the horses. I discovered they liked to be petted and brushed and Mr. Blocker was pleased to have me brush them. Sometimes when Mr. Blocker wasn't busy, he formed figures out of horseshoe nails and scraps of metal. He seemed pleased to have an appreciative spectator and I felt that he liked to have me there.
There was another friend who I liked to visit. Mr. Benson was a big man with bright red hair and freckles who not only served as the Sheriff but was also caretaker for the water works. The water works was in a building by the town hall. The lower part of the town hall housed the fire hoses and ladders. The upper level was used for meetings and local dances. Mr. Benson cared for it all, including the water tower.
I (the trapeze performer) wanted to climb that water tower, which of course, Mr. Benson did not approve. When I didn't find him sitting on his bench outside the building, I would take a chance and start climbing. Most of the time I didn't get very far before he came back and called me to get down. One time I almost made it to the top where there was a walk that had an iron fence around it, which was my goal. That day Mr. Benson was not the good-natured, jovial Irishman I knew. His scolding was most severe. He sent me home, saying he would tell Mother.
There was another friend down on the corner of main street. He was a salesman by the name of Jim Armstrong. I thought he had the kindest happiest looking face ever. He was kind to little children and not only did he treat us like we were big people but he gave us special treats. He gave three pennies worth of candy for one penny.
A threatening fire made Jim a hero to all the little folk in Kelliher. Strong winds had whipped small fires around the village into a raging fire almost surrounding the town. The men and boys were busy trying to wet down and put out fires near the railroad tracks. The firefighters hoped the women and children could be taken to safety in a couple of boxcars standing at the station.
Meanwhile, the women and children gathered on the main corner downtown. Mother had hastily taken insurance papers out of the desk along with favorite pictures.I rescued my new red bedroom slippers that had painted animals around the cuff. I knew this was really serious but it was exciting too.
As everyone huddled together with eyes stinging and coughing from the smoke, Jim appeared, pulling the fire hose wagon. He said, "Don't worry. Jim will take care of you!" I knew he would. However, Jim didn't have to keep his promise. The winds lessened and the fire was put under control.
Most summers were pretty uneventful except for the 4th of July parade and when the gypsies came to Kelliher. One day Wanda had an idea. We would dress like gypsies and go out in Mrs. Sterling's garden. The garden was behind her house toward the forest. Mother was at her sewing club so we had plenty of time to find colorful clothing with bright scarves for our heads, tied as we remembered how the gypsies had tied theirs. We went up and down the rows pretending to pick vegetables. We saw the ladies leave the sewing club looking at us as they hurried home to lock their doors. I couldn't remember anyone having anything stolen by the gypsies, but the fear of them was there.
Wanda and I went home and entered the back door to the storeroom where we could take off our telltale clothing. Mother was locking the doors and telling us about the gypsies in Mrs. Sterling's garden. It was wonderful until our neighbor Johnny came up to the back porch where the family was gathered after supper. He said, "Hey Dorothy, what were you and Wanda doing in those funny clothes this afternoon?" Our escapade revealed! Mother was angry. "I'm so ashamed of you girls. I don't think I'll call the ladies in the sewing club and tell them it was you." We were sent to bed early!
Mother didn't really approve of the kind of celebration Dad was having on Christmas Eve. Dad was serving Tom and Jerry's, plus all the good food Mother had provided, to his "key men", leaders of the logging camps..the blacksmiths, head horseman and cooks. Mother could never forgive the manners of some of the guest.
One big Scotsman in particular was Mother's object of dismay. He was "Big Mac", who wore a ferocious looking mustache. When Mac completed drinking or eating he would curl his bottom lip around his mustache and rescue the leftovers with a resounding smack. It made a big slurpy sound to which Mother instinctively flinched.
Every Christmas season the Lutheran church held a Christmas party a few nights before Christmas Eve to which everyone was invited. On Christmas Eve the Presbyterian church welcomed everyone to celebrate the coming of the Christ child.
I was invited to sing "Away in the Manger" at both celebrations several times. I sang at the end of each program, just before Santa came and gave candy to all the children. Then the good ministers blessed everyone and wished a Merry Christmas to all. The love and camaraderie was contagious. Stepping out into the bright moonlight or falling snow, and walking home with the friendly neighbors was not only a happy time but a spiritual experience as everyone spoke of the Christ child with awe and love.
My love of animals took me down the street to Mr. Blocker's blacksmith shop. Mr Blocker had many horses to shoe. I liked to watch him shape the shoes over the blazing coals, cool them and carefully fasten them to the horse's hooves. Most of all, I liked the horses. I discovered they liked to be petted and brushed and Mr. Blocker was pleased to have me brush them. Sometimes when Mr. Blocker wasn't busy, he formed figures out of horseshoe nails and scraps of metal. He seemed pleased to have an appreciative spectator and I felt that he liked to have me there.
There was another friend who I liked to visit. Mr. Benson was a big man with bright red hair and freckles who not only served as the Sheriff but was also caretaker for the water works. The water works was in a building by the town hall. The lower part of the town hall housed the fire hoses and ladders. The upper level was used for meetings and local dances. Mr. Benson cared for it all, including the water tower.
I (the trapeze performer) wanted to climb that water tower, which of course, Mr. Benson did not approve. When I didn't find him sitting on his bench outside the building, I would take a chance and start climbing. Most of the time I didn't get very far before he came back and called me to get down. One time I almost made it to the top where there was a walk that had an iron fence around it, which was my goal. That day Mr. Benson was not the good-natured, jovial Irishman I knew. His scolding was most severe. He sent me home, saying he would tell Mother.
There was another friend down on the corner of main street. He was a salesman by the name of Jim Armstrong. I thought he had the kindest happiest looking face ever. He was kind to little children and not only did he treat us like we were big people but he gave us special treats. He gave three pennies worth of candy for one penny.
A threatening fire made Jim a hero to all the little folk in Kelliher. Strong winds had whipped small fires around the village into a raging fire almost surrounding the town. The men and boys were busy trying to wet down and put out fires near the railroad tracks. The firefighters hoped the women and children could be taken to safety in a couple of boxcars standing at the station.
Meanwhile, the women and children gathered on the main corner downtown. Mother had hastily taken insurance papers out of the desk along with favorite pictures.I rescued my new red bedroom slippers that had painted animals around the cuff. I knew this was really serious but it was exciting too.
As everyone huddled together with eyes stinging and coughing from the smoke, Jim appeared, pulling the fire hose wagon. He said, "Don't worry. Jim will take care of you!" I knew he would. However, Jim didn't have to keep his promise. The winds lessened and the fire was put under control.
Most summers were pretty uneventful except for the 4th of July parade and when the gypsies came to Kelliher. One day Wanda had an idea. We would dress like gypsies and go out in Mrs. Sterling's garden. The garden was behind her house toward the forest. Mother was at her sewing club so we had plenty of time to find colorful clothing with bright scarves for our heads, tied as we remembered how the gypsies had tied theirs. We went up and down the rows pretending to pick vegetables. We saw the ladies leave the sewing club looking at us as they hurried home to lock their doors. I couldn't remember anyone having anything stolen by the gypsies, but the fear of them was there.
Wanda and I went home and entered the back door to the storeroom where we could take off our telltale clothing. Mother was locking the doors and telling us about the gypsies in Mrs. Sterling's garden. It was wonderful until our neighbor Johnny came up to the back porch where the family was gathered after supper. He said, "Hey Dorothy, what were you and Wanda doing in those funny clothes this afternoon?" Our escapade revealed! Mother was angry. "I'm so ashamed of you girls. I don't think I'll call the ladies in the sewing club and tell them it was you." We were sent to bed early!
Mother didn't really approve of the kind of celebration Dad was having on Christmas Eve. Dad was serving Tom and Jerry's, plus all the good food Mother had provided, to his "key men", leaders of the logging camps..the blacksmiths, head horseman and cooks. Mother could never forgive the manners of some of the guest.
One big Scotsman in particular was Mother's object of dismay. He was "Big Mac", who wore a ferocious looking mustache. When Mac completed drinking or eating he would curl his bottom lip around his mustache and rescue the leftovers with a resounding smack. It made a big slurpy sound to which Mother instinctively flinched.
Every Christmas season the Lutheran church held a Christmas party a few nights before Christmas Eve to which everyone was invited. On Christmas Eve the Presbyterian church welcomed everyone to celebrate the coming of the Christ child.
I was invited to sing "Away in the Manger" at both celebrations several times. I sang at the end of each program, just before Santa came and gave candy to all the children. Then the good ministers blessed everyone and wished a Merry Christmas to all. The love and camaraderie was contagious. Stepping out into the bright moonlight or falling snow, and walking home with the friendly neighbors was not only a happy time but a spiritual experience as everyone spoke of the Christ child with awe and love.
