Entry 3
First some new info from my cousin Karen [pronounced like “car” not “care”] the daughter of my father's sister Ellen:
Aunt Ruth was in what I believe was the first physical therapy class at Reed College [Portland, Ore.], originated by the woman from England (whose name I have forgotten) who originated "physio-therapy." Upon completion of her training, Ruth was sent to the tent city at Walter Reed Hospital, to work with injured soldiers coming home from WW I. I don't believe she was actually in the Army. I have an article she wrote about her career, which I'll scan and send to you.
Belle graduated from the University of Chicago with a Ph.B. (Bachelor's in Philosophy) in 1907.
Mary Ursula Alverson Babb and Thomas Babb moved to Lake Grove, Oregon, from Chicago around the time of Belle's marriage to Matt (about 1912). Their house later became the house that Uncle Tom and Aunt Berta lived in with their children, Sonia, Tommy, and Kip and Kim ( the latter two adopted through the Holt Airlift of children of mixed Korean and American parentage, following the Korean War.)
Uncle Bobby was married twice. Both wives predeceased him. Aunt Bijou married Ned Parker and founded the Montana dynasty of the Babb (Parker) family. Grandaddy and Mar (Grandma Belle) were married Bijou's house in Montana. Bijou was the oldest of the 11 children born to Mary Ursula Alverson Babb and Thomas Babb, and Uncle Tom was the youngest (born when she was 48). Six of the siblings lived to adulthood, but one died of uremic poisoning while pregnant, leaving the five I knew growing up: Bijou, Belle, Bobby, Ruth and Tom.
A final comment about today's entry: at the end Ruth comments about people's curiosity about their relationship as earlier simply about these people with backpacks – both oddities. But, overall they seem generally well received. I can't help wonder, however, if a year or two later when the joblessness of the depression peaked, if two people tramping would have been less an object of comment, but also less well received. Back to the Diary:
[In Ruth's hand]
Thursday July 23, 1931
North Bend City Auto Camp
Our hill top bed was infested with mosquitos, which buzzed all night and during the damp cold hours before dawn.
It was late when we got up and there ws no place to build a fire and I felt so dirty the one thought was to seek a place to clean up and cook.
So we made up our packs and started for the North Bend Auto Camp.
On the way down hill we breakfasted on delicious big red huckleberries.
The tramp to Northbend was hot and sunny but not too bad. We mailed my brown broges [sic] back to Portland, purchased films and left other to be mailed to Reedsport.
A man in the P.O. Advised us to take the stage until we were past Winchester Bay because of the difficulty of hiking in soft sand and of finding fording the creeks this side of Winchester. He said there would be nothing of interest this side of Winchester Bay.
We paid our 50¢ for 24 hours camping rights in the city Auto Camp – looked the place over – thought the wash house and camp none too clean but probably the best we could do so near the town.
We made our dinner of boiled rice, bacon bread butter, hot cocoa, and a peach for Matt & Tomatoe for me.
About noon we left packs in the camp office while we left to see the sight os North Bend and Marshfield [which explains why no mention of the docks the previous day]. The bus went along the Skyline drive which is a pretty winding road between the two towns.
Both towns were unusually quiet because of the butchers, bakers and grocers county picnic.
At Marshfield we spent two or three hours along the wharfs where the fishing boats were tied up. I took some pictures and hope they will be good of the fishermen and their boats.
We also visited a Myrtle Wood Factory where we saw some pieces as beautiful as those in Coquille. The man seeemed to take pleasure in showing us his wares and his factory. I purchased a powder bowl for Mary Fleming.
Back in Marshfield we met the bus driver from Roseburg who said he had taken too much off our tickets and would leave the stubs at the depot for us. (Matt had hobs put on his shoes.) We purchased and mailed cards & myrtle wood and had a good supper at the College Inn. When we could not find anything more to do we took the jitney back to North Bend. In the evening we walked ou to the RR bridge which crosses the bay.
We also walked out to the Pony Slough. The tide was high and trade winds blowing waves on the water.
Our bed for the night was the most comfortable so far. The man who is running the camp came out to talk and suggested the best place four our tent was between two big trees which protected us in a measure. Said he had used pup tents over seas behind the front lines.
The camp was so curious about our relationship – Matt's and mine that the had to ask us about it.
Everywhere we go people stare at us until I get irritated.
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