The idea for this blog started at my dad's funeral in 2005. After the funeral my sister, Barbara, ask if I could write things down of my life in Oregon. She is some what younger than my brother, Wayne and myself. By the time she was old enough to remember many things The family had moved to Ely, Nevada and later to Roseburg, Oregon. My life pretty much matured on the Lower River Road. I tried several times to write it down. But as many of life's event things start to get complicated as you keep recalling things. Then attempting to cut them down to size. Your choice is to cut it down, Grants Pass or a day by day account of events. Then it hit me do a blog. It does not need to be in any order except as events come to mind. Stories will breed stories.
To help keep me on track while speaking at my dad's funeral I thought about a trailer that was part of our life's from the time I was born until it was sold in 2002. By that time it had been in the family for 62 years that I knew about. A TRAILER! Yep. I am not sure when it was purchased. It may have been used to help move my parents to the Lower River Road some time in 1940?
What I do know it was part of our family during World War ll. Around 1942 dad was inducted into the Army Air Corp. He was a Veterinarian so received officer's commission. His job was to inspect troop food supplies and its preparation facilities. He did not leave the States. Salina, Kansas was the furtherest east he got.
So leaving the Lower River Road to fend for it's self off the Russ family went to war. They loaded up the trailer and off to Wendover Air Base, Utah. They found a home in Wells, Nevada. We lived there a few months and then he was transfered to Monahans, Texas. Loading up the trailer in Wells and off they went pulling their family goods behind them. The next stop was Salina, Kansas. However my mother pulled the trailer back to Grants Pass, Oregon. Repacked suit cases and took the train to Kansas. This all lasted until 1945. Then we all settle back on the Lower River Road for the post War years.
The trailer then became a utility vehicle. When dad built a new barn it was used to haul supplies for it's construction. It was used to haul dirt from a basement dad dug under the house. [a story there] Much of the rock and dirt was dumped along the Lower River Road. I suspect it is still there. He hauled pigs and cows for our farm. Then some time around 1948 or so it was converted into a trailer to haul larger cattle.
Originally it was built of 1 by 4s and ran on wheels with a leaf spring suspension and painted black. A little light for cattle. So it was beefed up with 2X4 and 2X6s. A drop gate was built so the animals could walk in. With a stanchion to hold their heads. It was painted green. The walk up gate could be removed so it could haul hay, manure, household good. It was still a utility trailer. Many a time Wayne and I used it as a manure spreader. We loaded it up and then walked behind pulling it out on the pastures. [ah another story]
We moved to Nevada in 1956. It still was used as a utility vehicle. Buts the farm animals use was no more. But then it took on the additional duties of a camp trailer. [oh joy]. Many a fun night was spent unloading camping gear on our many travels. A Disney Land trip camping in a public parks out of a cattle trailer. We felt like kings, ya right. I did like Disney Land and was one of the first people to visit. But out of a green cattle trailer.
In 1961 they moved Roseburg and the trailer was still being used as a utility vehicle. Some time around 1980 or so it was converted into a boat trailer and finished it's life thus.
Anyway that was my story that day. So this is my story to day and have several Lower River Road stories out of this one. Yes it is history. and this is history.
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