Crosscut Files

For almost forty years I’ve been storing a file box labeled “Crosscut: Ilwaco High School Oral History Program, 1976/77.” It is chock-a-block full of folders which, in turn, are overflowing with written and taped interviews by Jeanne Speelmon’s journalism classes. Some are in finished form – typewritten articles complete with artwork and photographs, layout instructions and follow-up ideas. Some folders contain only the handwritten interview questions and answers, full of mis-spellings, abbreviations and afterthoughts – all waiting to be put into finished form.

Among those interviewed are many familiar names – Pat Sitton, Charles Nelson, Rees Williams, Louise Rice, Bob Andrew, and a host of others.  Even Sydney LaRue!  Some of the completed interviews were included in a small publication by the Ilwaco High students: “With the Passing of the Whale, Vol. I, June, ’77.”

Jeanne Speelmon (rt.)

The box is a treasure trove! Jeanne knew that it was and when health issues forced her retirement (was it in 1984?) and she cleaned out her classroom, she hand-delivered the box to me. “I don’t want this to get thrown out,” she said. “Someday it will be a wonderful resource.”

I do believe that ‘someday’ has arrived! In a frenzy of cleaning out our back forty, I ran across the file box once again and this time determined to straighten it out and deliver it to the Columbia Pacific Heritage Museum for placement in the archives. But, first, I thought, I’ll just take a look…

The I.H.S. Volume

What a fabulous project it was! For starters, the class (or at least some of them) journeyed to Port Townsend to participate in a conference held at Fort Worden State Park. According to an unidentified news item paper-clipped to teaching assistant Kaaren Black’s receipt for $81.25 (which she apparently never turned in for reimbursement):

The workshop is designed to research and record the folklore, oral history and traditional crafts of the communities the schools represent. It is sponsored by Centrum Foundation, a nonprofit organization at Fort Worden, in cooperation with Educational Service district 114, through state and federal funding…

…In January and April 1977 the students will return to Fort Worden with the articles they have prepared. Representative selections will be made for Crosscut, a statewide magazine.

Crosscut

I’m not sure why the project was not continued at Ilwaco High School – lack of funding, perhaps, or other pressing curriculum requirements? What a pity that there is no longer funding or time for those sorts of local endeavors by our students. How much more meaningful it would be…

As for me, I do feel another series for the Observer in the making, if for no other reason than to honor those industrious students. And, of course, to get a glimpse into our local history of the not-so-distant past. I’ve spoken to Editor Matt and I have a green light. I’m just waiting for the traffic on my writing road to lighten up a bit before I begin.