One Nation, Under God

Whitewater News and Opinion for January 30, 2019

The Government Shutdown has made people aware of our low-income people. That part is good.

Get well wishes to Bill Jesson and Lyn Simonson of Whitewater. Also, to my sister Janet Brown of Billings, Mont.

Happy birthday again to all January birthdays.

There was a party for Patty Young’s birthday at the Senior Meals held at the North 40 last Wednesday.

Whitewater Lutheran Church had a business meeting on Sunday after a potluck lunch.

It snowed, but the weather is not too cold. That's good. During the winter, I don’t go out much to hear the news. If you have news, call me or write me and I will mail the news into the PCN.

Anyway, here is a chapter from my book “Hills Beyond Whitewater Creek” from Chapter 10 entitled “Whitewater, Population 10. One Big Happy family. (in the 1940’s).

Where is the coming of spring, the 100 or so residents of Township of Whitewater, or constantly outside, and the reputation of being “one big family"was displayed even more.

If you were an outsider, driving into Whitewater for the first time, you would have driven forever as you went down the hills and enter the secluded little valley from the south.

“This is civilization here, there is a village! It must be Whitewater; that is the only dot on the map until you reach the northern Canadian border. Boy, I thought I was lost!“ Then you would see the sign. As the car crosses the bridge you look at the Clearwater, rippling gently; or if it is early spring, roaring and swirling, and you say, “what pretty, white, Clearwater, and this bridge is so quaint!“ Children may be on the bridge staring at their creek and waving at you.

And you enter “main street“ in the daytime, you may see house wives on the store steps, carry in groceries and babies, and chatting in the street or over back fences, or perhaps, as they hang their clothes, “did you know that Jane is expecting a baby?“ Or “my kids were sick all winter. I’m sure glad spring came,“ or “I think it’s going to rain, my rheumatism is acting up now.“

If you are in Front of the “false front“ on the bar or “pool hall“, you will see some local farmers and ranchers entering or leaving with a “little nip for the road,“ visiting and exchanging news from the long winter. “I lost 100 cattle, pretty rough year!“ Or, “boy, I have to start with seeding, hope the price of grain goes up!“ Or, “do you know where I can get a cook and a housekeeper?“ And one open “Quick“ drink leads to another.

In the 1940s, many old automobiles, but some still ride horses for local transportation. You may see a few horses tied to the “ hitching post“ in front of the bar or store. There was one man, who is a good worker and loves his horse, but who came to town, indulged in “one little drink“ and ended up spending three days at the tavern. His horse stood there until someone, sometimes me, would water him and tie him in a meadow, maybe by the creek. At the creek, Children were laughing and playing with their dogs. Children ran and played everywhere, especially by the creek.

 

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