T H E VA L L E Y ’ S P E O PL E , W I N E & F O O D
August 2015
WALLA WALLA VALLEY HERITAGE
$3.95
A LOOK BACK AT WHERE IT ALL STARTED, HOW WE GOT HERE AND SOME MEMORABLE MOMENTS ALONG THE WAY
Supplement of the Walla Walla Union-Bulletin
Presents The Seattle Shakespeare Company in William Shakespeare’s Sparkling Romantic Comedy…
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Meet the Washington Odd Fellows Home Rehabilitation Specialists Our team is committed to providing the best care in the Walla Walla Valley.
Charm abounds in this updated 1901 home. Main floor features large living room with built-ins and new carpet, spacious kitchen with breakfast nook, formal dining room, full bathroom and laundry room. Updated electrical, plumbing, new trek flooring on front porch and much more. Upstairs features 3 bedrooms including a master suite with claw foot tub. Huge fully fenced and gated back yard with deck. Great location close to schools and downtown Waitsburg. 559748JU
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• Our rehabilitation professionals all work full time at the Washington Odd Fellows Home. • Physical, Occupational, and Speech therapy services all available on site with state of the art equipment. • Aquatic therapy also available in our heated, salt water pool. • Walla Walla’s only Virtual Rehabilitation program for balance, strength, and gait training. • Private rehabilitation suites available for your comfort during recovery from surgery or illness.
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Minda Raquipiso, Occupational Therapy; Erin Armijo, Speech Therapy; Barbara Morford, Occupational Therapy; Dawnen Knoefler, Physical Therapy & Wellness Program Coordinator; Keith Keyser, Occupational Therapy & Rehabilitation Director; Carolina Sbodio, Physical Therapy, and Dave Barcenas, Physical Therapy.
a nice place for REHAB
534 Boyer Avenue, Walla Walla, WA 99362
509-525-6463 • www.oddfellows.com • www.facebook.com/oddfellowsww 4 WALL A WALL A LIFEST YLES
• Many amenities available on campus, including a full exercise center, Café Bistro, gift shop, and library. • Walla Walla’s only locally managed, not for profit skilled nursing facility serving Walla Walla since 1897. • Full renovations completed in 2014, come see our new look and experience the difference!
August Contributors Chetna Chopra is the associate editor of Walla Walla Lifestyles magazine.
Joe Cooke is a writer and musician who teaches business classes inside the walls of the Washington State Penitentiary. Contact him at cannoncooke.com. WRITER
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Tamara Enz is a biologist, 2014 graduate of the Wine Country Culinary Institute, hiker, photographer and yoga enthusiast. Contact her at aramatzne@gmail.com. WRITER
WRITER
Janice James is a teacher with advanced degrees in art history. She enjoys fresh sights, sounds, flavors and viewpoints. Contact her at 9953jej@gmail.com. WRITER
Steve Lenz is the designer for Walla Walla Lifestyles magazine. Contact him at stevelenz@wwub.com.
PHOTOGRAPHER
Brenden Koch is the managing editor of Lifestyles and Specialty Publications editor at the Walla Walla Union-Bulletin. Contact him at 526-8304 or brendenkoch@wwub.com. MANAGING EDITOR
Catie McIntyre Walker is a wine writer, wine blogger and author. She has been branded as the “W5” – Wild Walla Walla Wine Woman. WRITER
Diane Reed is a writer, photographer, historian and keen observer of life. She grew up in the East dreaming of becoming either a cowgirl or a famous writer. WRITER
Patricia Divine Wilder (Trish) is a local writer and feng shui consultant, trained in Essential Feng Shui. Contact her at trishdivinewilder@gmail.com.
PHOTOGRAPHER
Karlene Ponti is the Specialty Publications writer for the Walla Walla Union-Bulletin. Contact her at 526-8324 or karleneponti@wwub.com. WRITER
Nick Page is a photographer, musician and history nerd. His creative background often influences his dramatic photographic style. Contact him at nickpagephotography@ gmail.com.
WE'D LIKE TO HEAR FROM YOU! Want to comment on a story or pass along an idea for an article? Send us an email at feedback@wallawallalifestyles.com.
Visit the Walla Walla Lifestyles Website! wallawallalifestyles.com
WALL A WALL A LIFEST YLES 5
tablee of contents tabl AUGUST 2015
7 11
FISSURES + FLOODS = FRUIT
August 2015 PUBLISH ER
Brian Hunt EDITOR
Rick Doyle
How the Valley’s geologic past laid the foundation for the agricultural paradise we know today
M A NAGING EDI TOR
FULL CIRCLE: THE VINEYARDS OF WALLA WALLA
A SSOCI AT E E DI TOR
The Valley’s celebrated wine industry of today has its roots in the 19th century
14
WINE MAP
16
SWEET!
Brenden Koch
Chetna Chopra
PRODUCT ION M A NAGER
Vera Hammill
Know where to go to taste, buy and enjoy Walla Walla’s renowned wines DE SIGNER / W E BM A ST ER
Walla Walla Sweet Onions: a tasty legacy
GUIDE 20 DINING Where to find fine fare LAND, KINFOLK, HORSES AND RODEO 22 The Lynch family’s passions go back generations in the region
Steve Lenz
PRODUCT ION S TA F F
James Blethen, Ralph Hendrix, Steve Lenz, Jason Uren SA L E S STA F F
Jeff Sasser, Donna Schenk, Colleen Streeter, Mike Waltman, EDI TOR I A L A SSISTA N T
24
‘MY LOVE IS A MULETEER’
Siblings from a musical Walla Walla family make it big internationally, one penning a hit song in 1916
THE BYRDS AND A LITTLE, WHITE HOUSE: 27 DUKE, WALLA WALLA’S ILLUSTRIOUS AND STILL-GROWING MUSICAL HERITAGE
Big-name artists as diverse as John Philip Sousa, Duke Ellington, Dolly Parton and Macklemore & Ryan Lewis have graced Walla Walla’s stages throughout its history — and, soon, Mumford & Sons and Foo Fighters will join their ranks
LIVING YOUR ART 34 Jeana Garske’s residence exemplifies feng shui principles as well as
her appreciation for artwork and the Valley
WHAT WAS OLD IS NEW AGAIN 38 Historic officers’ quarters at Fort Walla Walla are being rehabilitated and
transformed into housing for veterans
NATIVE 42 GO Joseph and Laura Maier look to the plants of the Valley’s past to fill their garden
46 CAN’T-MISS EVENTS 47 WHERE IN WALLA WALLA?
Karlene Ponti
A DM INIS T R AT I V E A SSIS TA N T
Kandi Suckow
COVER: A collage of vintage images illustrates various aspects of the Walla Walla Valley's history. Clockwise from top left: Fort Walla Walla — now part of the Jonathan M. Wainwright Memorial Veterans Affairs Medical Center — as seen from the air in 1917. (Baumeister photo courtesy of Fort Walla Walla Museum) Roy Dorr and his Hi Fi Four play at a Saturday night dance at the VF W in November 1957. (Courtesy of Joe Drazan) Artist John M. Stanley's 1853 depiction of the third Hudson's Bay Company Fort Walla Walla along the Columbia River. The Wallula Gap near the mouth of the Walla Walla River can be seen in the background. (Courtesy of Brenden Koch) A postcard features a crew using a team of horses to harvest wheat in a field near Walla Walla and the foothills of the Blue Mountains. (Courtesy image) FOR E DI TOR I A L IN FOR M AT ION
Rick Doyle rickdoyle@w wub.com
Brenden Koch brendenkoch@w wub.com
PLEASE LIKE US
Union-Bulletin.com
6 WALL A WALL A LIFEST YLES
PLEASE FOLLOW US
Heritage: Geology
nourished by the Wa ws a large, verdant garden sho w vie rd tca pos 0 A 191
lla Walla Valley's fer tile
soil. (Courtesy image)
Fissures + floods = fruit
How the Valley’s geologic past laid the foundation for the agricultural paradise we know today Story by Tamara Enz
R
ivalries between states go back a long way. Most of us are proud of our home states, but many of us carry small prejudices against other states: they’re too hot, too crowded, have funny accents or scary people. The Northwest is no different; most everyone has some little gripe about neighboring states. But prehistory, catastrophe and serendipity have combined to make the Northwest more connected than most places. The Missoula Floods are not a new topic, but they are essential to knowing the Walla Walla area’s landscapes and the agricultural bounty they provide. It is less well-known, however, that before the floods of water, there were floods of basalt. This laid the foundation
for all that came later. Off and on for approximately 11 million years, fissures — cracks in the Earth’s surface — spewed rivers of lava (think: Hawaii) across the Pacific Northwest. These fissures unloaded enough basalt to cover almost 60,000 square miles of what would become Washington, Oregon and Idaho. The basalt flows are as much as three miles thick in some places. The weight of this rock depressed the Earth’s crust, creating the basin that holds the area we call “Home” today. The North American continent continued to move west while the hotspots that fed the fissures remained stationary; they are now under Yellowstone National Park.
A few million years passed. Mammoths moved south, and the northern glaciers made their appearance along the 49th parallel. Rogue glacial fingers crept south across this future international boundary, one blocking the Clark Fork River along the Idaho/Montana border and impounding 3,000 square miles of water. What happened next is a little murky, but, eventually, the glacial finger floated free (ice being less dense than its liquid form), or maybe the water level topped its face, spilled over and broke through. Either way, the dam was breached, and water flowed wildly west toward the Pacific Ocean, carving into all exposed basalt in its path. This didn’t happen just once. It happened WALL A WALL A LIFEST YLES 7
Heritage: Geology
The Wallula Gap on the Columbia River. This natural bottleneck formed a hydraulic dam during each Missoula Flood episode, flooding the river valleys — including the Walla Walla Valley — to the northwest and east. (Photo by Brenden Koch)
as many as 100 times and as often as every 50 years, for thousands of years. Each time, the frigid water bottlenecked for a few days at Wallula Gap, forming temporary lakes to the northwest and east, inundating what is now the Walla Walla Valley. As the trapped waters calmed, tons of suspended sediment — sand, gravel and silt (and even rocks embedded in thawing icebergs) — gave in to gravity and settled to the Valley floor. After each Missoula flood there was a period of relative calm before the glacier slid south again, blocked the Clark Fork and then broke free. In the interim, wind-blown sediments, called loess, accumulated on top of the flooddeposited sediment, creating rhythmites — paired layers of dark flood sediments and lighter wind-blown deposition; the total number of flood events can easily be counted because of these layers. Today, many of the region’s vineyards are rooted in these deposits, the soil’s fine texture providing good drainage while retaining moisture — excellent qualities to have during the Valley’s simmering summers. There were two more bottlenecks downstream before the floods reached the Pacific Ocean, where gravel and boulders from Montana can still be found on the seafloor. Prehistory: basalt flows. Check. Catastrophe: epic floods. Check. Serendipity: renowned Walla Walla terroir. Check. Millions of years of geologic upheaval have brought us to the most recent epoch: 200 years of agriculture. The rain shadow of the Cascade Mountains conspires with the Rocky Mountains’ protection from Arctic cold to create 8 WALL A WALL A LIFEST YLES
A bank formed as the Lower Walla Walla River cut into layers of flood and river deposits in the vicinity of Nine Mile Canyon. (Photo by Brenden Koch)
The Burlingame Gulch formed in 1926 when an irrigation ditch broke and the escaping water eroded a 100-foot-deep channel into the valley floor. The accident has been a boon to geologists, who have used the rare access to study the flood deposits revealed in the chasm. (Photo by Nick Page)
A rhythmite deposited in the Valley during and after a Missoula Flood episode. At the base is rough, dark gravel and sand. The deposits grow increasingly fine as they go up; ripples from water currents are recorded in the finest silt near the top. Another base band of heavier, dark sediment indicates the start of the next flood surge. (Photo by Brenden Koch)
the area’s climate and long growing season. But without sources of water, these qualities would be of little value. The Snake and Columbia rivers and their many tributaries, including the Walla Walla and the Tucannon, provide ample water for farmers to raise any desired crop suitable to the soils and climate. The region’s first European-American settlement was a trading post; it wasn’t until irrigation ditches were constructed that the area’s agricultural value was fully realized. Ditches gave way to wheel lines and then more efficient drip systems, expanding the amount of land to farm and potential crops to reap from it. Orchards and market gardens have abounded since before the 20th century. The area is awash in asparagus, berries, apples and the state vegetable, the Walla Walla Sweet Onion. There are vineyards seemingly on every corner. And the Valley is surrounded by hundreds of thousands of acres of wheat, mostly at higher elevations and grown without irrigation on rolling hills of Palouse loess. How does this wrap back into thinking differently about our neighbors? The Walla Walla climate, the abundance of rivers and a little hometown ingenuity goes a long way — but without the fissures in Idaho and Oregon, the Missoula floods and the windblown soil, Walla Walla would be just another dusty town, not the agricultural heaven it is today.
WALL A WALL A LIFEST YLES 9
Heritage: Geology
Many of the Walla Walla Valley American Viticultural Area's celebrated vineyards are rooted in soils deposited by the Missoula Floods. (U-B file photo)
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Heritage: Wine
An early-20th-century farm and vineyard in the Walla Walla Valley. (Courtesy of Fort Walla Walla Museum)
Full circle: The vineyards of Walla Walla The Valley’s celebrated wine industry of today has its roots in the 19th century. By Catie McIntyre Walker
I
t was a fine dining experience she had not been used to after her recent hardship of existing on dried meat during a long and dusty journey in a covered wagon. Now, Narcissa Whitman and her husband, Dr. Marcus Whitman, feasted on the grapes and other fresh fruit that were part of the lavish meals served to guests at Fort Vancouver. Mrs. Whitman saved the seeds from the fruit she ate, tucking them into her clothing with hopes of planting the seeds at her final stop — the stop that would be her last home in the West, “The Place of Many Waters” — Walla Walla. Washington state’s first wine grapes, European Vitis vinifera, were planted at Fort Vancouver by the Hudson’s Bay Company in 1825. Many fur trappers, most of French descent,
would settle in the Walla Walla Valley in the 1800s and bring with them their European traditions, as would the Italian settlers. For both groups of Europeans who made their homes in the fertile Walla Walla Valley, planting grapes and producing wine were old family customs that were rich in their heritage, and the wine was an important element in their meals, especially in place of water. On Nov. 29, 1847, the Whitmans, along with 11 other settlers, perished in an attack by members of the Cayuse and Umatilla tribes. After what came to be known as the “Whitman Massacre,” most of Eastern Washington was closed to settlement. In 1859, treaty negotiations were established and the area was reopened — and seemingly just in time: Gold mining was coming alive
all through the continent, and as close as the neighboring state of Idaho. Walla Walla saw opportunity and plunged into this exciting new economy by opening businesses that would cater to prospectors and other settlers in the area. Main Street became the highlight of the small town. Main and other nearby streets were lined with restaurants, hotels, general mercantiles, bakeries, fine garment shops, breweries and liquor and wine shops, to name a few of the businesses. By the 1890s, the wine and liquor retail and wholesale establishments grew to about 10 stores. As the Walla Walla economy grew, so did the luxury items, including fruit, such as apples and grapes. Two major contributors to Walla Walla’s growing economy were A.B. (Alvin Brown) WALL A WALL A LIFEST YLES 11
Heritage: Wine
Engravings by F.T. Gilbert portray Walla Walla, circa 1883, as a well-developed territorial metropolis, complete with multistory brick buildings, several of which are still in use today. (Courtesy image) 12 WALL A WALL A LIFEST YLES
Crafting Distinctive, Terroir-Driven Wines in the Walla Walla Valley.
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Roberts and Philip Ritz. Both men understood the profitability of the nursery business and saw the potential. Roberts invested in grape nursery stock and was known to have 80 different varieties of European grapes in his inventory. Ritz also imported grape cuttings from Europe and was enthusiastic about the possibilities for grape agriculture and industry in the area. Ritz eventually went on to own a vineyard with 21 varieties of grapes. The year 1871 seemed to be the year of recognition for the grape and wine culture in the Valley. “Grape culture is fast becoming an important feature with our husbandmen. It is now an established fact that grapes of all kinds do as well here as in any part of the habitable globe. Some are engaging in the business largely, by planting one to fifteen acres in grapes exclusively.” — Editorial, Walla Walla Statesman, April 1, 1871. In the 1880s, the Italian community would leave a large wine imprint on the Walla Walla Valley. Frank Orselli and Pasquale “Frank Breen” Saturno were Italian immigrants who brought with them Old World traditions of grape growing and wine making. The chosen grape for many of the Italian families was Black Prince, also known as Cinsault, which would eventually become a historical grape in the Walla Walla Valley. This darkskinned grape, with roots literally from the southern Rhone region of France, was known as a “work horse” and was traditionally used as a minor wine-blending grape. Besides Orselli and Saturno, other noted Walla Walla families during the Italian settlement included the Locatis, the Venneris, the Pesciallos and the Leonettis. Wine grapes continued to be a thriving part of Walla Walla’s economy until the winter temperatures of the year 1883 fell to minus 20, and many of the vineyards were lost due to the freeze. The early 1900s eventually saw the phase-out of the commercial wineries due to severe frosts. About the same time the frost came, the Northern Pacific Railway began to bypass Walla Walla. The gold deposits of Idaho diminished. And, very importantly, the Anti-Saloon League was lobbying, and Prohibition in the United States was just around the corner. Walla Walla never quite recovered after Prohibition until the end of the 20th century. Today, it has come full circle, and the Walla Walla Valley is once again vibrant with an estimated 2,000 acres of grapes, world-class wineries and a thriving Main Street.
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WALL A WALL A LIFEST YLES 13
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AMAVI CELLARS 3796 Peppers Bridge Road 509-525-3541 amavicellars.com BASEL CELLARS ESTATE WINERY 2901 Old Milton Highway 509-522-0200 baselcellars.com
3.
4.
5.
Garza Wine Tours
509.629.1174
web: garzawinetours.net email: garzawinetours.net@info
A PLUS TAXI
Serving you and the Walla Walla Valley On call or by appointment
(509) 559031JU
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aplustaxiww@charter.net • aplustaxi.com Registered and Licensed
14 WALL A WALL A LIFEST YLES
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BERGEVIN LANE VINEYARDS 1215 W. Poplar St. 509-526-4300 bergevinlane.com BLUE MOUNTAIN CIDER 235 E. Broadway, Milton-Freewater 541-938-5575 drinkcider.com CASTILLO DE FELICIANA 85728 Telephone Pole Road Milton-Freewater 541-558-3656 castillodefeliciana.com COLLEGE CELLARS 3020 Isaacs Ave. 509-524-5170 collegecellars.com DUMAS STATION 36226 U.S. Highway 12 Dayton, WA 509-382-8933 dumasstation.com DUNHAM CELLARS 150 E. Boeing Ave. 509-529-4685 dunhamcellars.com FIVE STAR CELLARS 840 C St. 509-527-8400 fivestarcellars.com FORGERON CELLARS 33 W. Birch St. 509-522-9463 forgeroncellars.com FOUNDRY VINEYARDS 13th Ave. and Abadie St. 509-529-0736 wallawallafoundry.com/vineyards FORT WALLA WALLA CELLARS 127 E. Main St. 509-520-1095 fortwallawallacellars.com GRANTWOOD WINERY 2428 Heritage Road 509-301-0719 509-301-9546
14. JLC WINERY 425 B. St. 509-301-5148 jlcwinery.com 15. CAVU CELLARS 175 E. Aeronca Ave. 509-540-6350 cavucellars.com 16. L’ECOLE NO 41 WINERY 41 Lowden School Road and U.S. Highway 12 509-525-0940 lecole.com 17. LODMELL CELLARS 6 West Rose St., Suite 104 206-409-4395 lodmellcellars.com 18. LONG SHADOWS 1604 Frenchtown Road 509-526-0905 longshadows.com By appointment only
19. MANSION CREEK 6 West Rose St., Suite 105 253-370-6107 mansioncreekcellars.com 20. NORTHSTAR WINERY 1736 J.B. George Road 509-524-4883 northstarmerlot.com 21. PEPPER BRIDGE WINERY 1704 J.B. George Road 509-525-6502 pepperbridge.com 22. PLUMB CELLARS 39 E. Main St. 509-301-8694 plumbcellars.com 23. REININGER WINERY 5858 Old Highway 12 509-522-1994 reiningerwinery.com 24. ROBISON RANCH CELLARS 2839 Robison Ranch Road 509-301-3480 robisonranchcellars.com
Paid listings. To be included, contact addirector@wwub.com.
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25. SAPOLIL CELLARS 15 E. Main St. 509-520-5258 sapolilcellars.com 26. SAVIAH CELLARS 1979 J.B. George Road 509-520-5166 saviahcellars.com 27. SOLE ROSSO ESTATE WINERY 2158 Old Milton Highway 509-252-3504 sole-rosso.com 28. SPRING VALLEY VINEYARD 18 N. Second Ave. 509-525-1506 springvalleyvineyard.com 29. STUDIO TWOZEROTWO ARDOR CELLARS A.MORELL WINES 202 E. Main 509-876-8086 studiotwozerotwo.com 30. SULEI CELLARS 17 N. Second Ave. 509-529-0840 suleicellars.com 31. SYZYGY 405 E. Boeing Ave. 509-522-0484 syzygywines.com 32. TAMARACK CELLARS 700 C St. (Walla Walla Airport) 509-520-4058 tamarackcellars.com 33. TEMPUS CELLARS 124 W. Boeing Ave. (Walla Walla Airport) 509-270-0298 tempuscellars.com 34. TERTULIA CELLARS 1564 Whiteley Road 509-525-5700 tertuliacellars.com 35. THREE RIVERS WINERY 5641 Old Highway 12 509-526-9463 threeriverswinery.com
ll a Wa To
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WASHINGTON OREGON
36. VA PIANO VINEYARDS 1793 J.B. George Road 509-529-0900 vapianovineyards.com 37. WALLA WALLA VINTNERS Vineyard Lane off Mill Creek Road 509-525-4724 wallawallavintners.com 38. WATERMILL WINERY 235 E. Broadway, Milton-Freewater 541-938-5575 watermillwinery.com 39. WOODWARD CANYON WINERY 11920 W. Highway 12, Lowden 509-525-4129 woodwardcanyon.com
WALL A WALL A LIFEST YLES 15
Heritage: Food
Sweet onions labeled "Blue Mountain," in the 1940s. (Image from from John and Pat (Herring) Lucarelli, courtesy of Joe Drazan)
Sweet!
Walla Walla Sweet Onions: a tasty legacy By Diane Reed
I
f you’re among the people who impatiently wait for Walla Walla Sweet Onion season, you can thank an unassuming French immigrant named Peter Pieri and a whole host of Italian-American families who embraced this unique variety of sweet onion and rooted it firmly in the Walla Walla Valley. Pieri was born in 1846 in Ghisoni, on the Island of Corsica. The island, a department (an administrative division) of France since the 18th century, has deep historical ties with the nearby Italian peninsula, and still retains many elements of Italian culture. Among those was a variety of “French” onion that arguably has Italian roots. Pieri, who retired from a military career on Corsica, sailed from Le Havre, France, on Jan. 1, 1882. He brought with him the seeds of those 16 WALL A WALL A LIFEST YLES
onions. Pieri spent time in Kansas, Missouri and Ohio, arriving in Walla Walla some time before 1900 — along with his onion seeds. Pieri settled on the east side of what is now College Place. He attracted the attention of his Italian neighbors, who noticed the Frenchman’s onions could winter over in the youngplant stage, which allowed them to grow to a good size for an early-summer harvest. And their mild and sweet flavor made them even more appealing. (The onions contain less than 5 percent pyruvic acid, the chemical that makes onions pungent.) Pieri’s neighbors — the Arbinis, Castoldis, Deccios, Locatis, Saturnos and others — bought seed from him and fine-tuned the onions, developing several different strains, such as the early Arbinis, the early French and the late French
varieties, to extend the season. The onions, which have to be harvested by hand, were — and still are — well-suited to small truck farms in the Valley. And these sweet “French” onions quickly gained the loyal following they still enjoy today. However, it wasn’t until the 1960s that the onions were dubbed “Walla Walla Sweet Onions.” When Arbini Brothers Farms was asked to ship samples of its onions to markets on the East Coast, it came up with the moniker for these hometown favorites. The onions quickly gained a national reputation and a devoted following. But, as the onions’ popularity grew, imitators popped up all over the map. To protect Walla Walla Sweets from "impersonators," in 1995 the U.S. Department of Agriculture im-
posed Marketing Order 956, which established a federally protected growing area — the Walla Walla Valley of Southeast Washington and Northeast Oregon. Sweet onions grown outside this production area cannot be marketed as Walla Walla Sweet Onions, and violators face stiff federal penalties. A local 10-member administrative committee, consisting of six producers, three shippers and a public member, administers the order. Kathy Fry-Trommald, executive director of the Walla Walla Sweet Onion Marketing Committee, fields questions and keeps tabs on any potential infringements on the marketing order. Just as important, Fry-Trommald promotes Walla Walla Sweets and spearheads the annual Sweet Onion Festival held in June. The 31-yearold festival celebrates the annual harvest, and includes Sweet Onion Restaurant Week and a full weekend of “Sweetness,” featuring cooking competitions, the “Funion Runion” run, Mr. and Mrs. Onion Head decorating, an onioneating contest and lots of other activities for the whole family. On April 20, 2007, Walla Walla Sweet Onions became Washington state’s official state vegetable. Today, there are 20 producers of Walla Walla Sweets, growing the vegetable on 800 acres. Although the acreage of Sweets is down from 1,400 acres just 15 years ago, there are some newer faces among current producers, including organic growers Sarah and Dan McClure, whose farm is south of Lowden. In 2014, the Walla Walla growing area produced 14,839,750 pounds of Walla Walla Sweet Onions. Recently, the Railex facility near Burbank has facilitated shipping the perishable Sweets in refrigerated cars all over the country. Shippers like the Hamada family’s Walla Walla River Packing Company, Keystone Fruit Marketing, Locati Farms and a number of others ship onions, and many firms also can send gift boxes of Walla Walla Sweets to friends and family. (Incoming freshmen at Whitman College receive a brightly colored box of Walla Walla Sweet Onions as an official welcome to Walla Walla.)
RECIPE
(Image courtesy of Walla Walla Sweet Onion Marketing Committee)
SWEET ONION AND CHERRYTOMATO BRUSCHETTA • • • • • • • • • • •
20 cherry tomatoes, cut in half 1 medium Walla Walla Sweet Onion, cut into thin slices 15 Kalamata olives, pitted and finely chopped 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh basil 1 tablespoon capers, drained 1/2 cup olive oil 2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar 1 teaspoon finely chopped garlic Freshly ground black pepper 8 slices Italian country bread, about 1/2 inch thick and 4 inches wide 4 ounces mascarpone cheese
In a small bowl, mix together tomatoes, onions, olives, basil and capers. Whisk together the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, garlic and black pepper. Pour over the tomato-onion mixture, and toss. Set aside.
For More Info:
Brush the bread with olive oil and grill slices directly over medium heat, turning once, until toasted, 2 to 3 minutes total. Divide the mascarpone cheese evenly among bread slices, spreading it with a knife. Spoon the tomato-onion mixture over the cheese, dividing evenly, and serve at room temperature.
(Courtesy of Joan Deccio Wickham)
For more information and recipes, visit sweetonions.org.
WALL A WALL A LIFEST YLES 17
Heritage: Food RECIPE
(Image courtesy of Walla Walla Sweet Onion Marketing Committee)
GRILLED AND ROASTED SWEET ONIONS WITH PINE NUT BUTTER • • • • •
1/2 cup pine nuts 4 medium Walla Walla Sweet Onions 1 tablespoon olive oil 3 ounces unsalted butter, softened 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
• • • • •
1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 1/4 teaspoon salt, or to taste 1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese 2 tablespoons pine nuts, lemon wedges and rosemary sprigs for garnish
Heat oven to 350 F. Toast the pine nuts for 6 to 7 minutes, or until golden-brown. Cool. (Caution: Pine nuts burn easily.) Preheat oven to 375 F and fire up an outdoor grill. Peel onions and cut them in half, side to side. Brush onions with oil and place cut side down on the preheated grill. Barbecue until grill marks form. Place on a cookie sheet and finish cooking in the oven until tender, about 25 minutes. Meanwhile, make the pine nut butter. Place the 1/2 cup pine nuts in the bowl of a food processor and pulse several times until finely ground. Add butter, lemon zest, rosemary, black pepper and salt. Process until mixture is well-blended. Spread the tender onions liberally with pine nut butter. Return to the oven to cook until butter is just melted, about 2 minutes. Serve onions warm, sprinkled with grated Parmesan cheese and additional toasted pine nuts. Garnish plates with lemon wedges and rosemary sprigs.
(Courtesy of Tom Douglas of the Dahlia Lounge, Seattle)
18 WALL A WALL A LIFEST YLES
RECIPE
SWEET ONION PIE • 1 1/2 cups buttery round crackers, crumbled • 6 tablespoons butter, softened • 2 cups thinly sliced Walla Walla Sweet Onions • 2 cloves garlic, minced • 2 eggs
• • • • • •
3/4 cup whole milk 1 tablespoon minced fresh chives 1/2 teaspoon salt 3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese 1 pinch paprika 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
Heat oven to 350 F. In a mixing bowl, combine crackers and 4 tablespoons of butter until well-blended. Transfer mixture to an 8-inch pie plate and press into the bottom and 1 inch up the sides to form a shell. Refrigerate until needed. In a heavy skillet over medium heat, melt remaining 2 tablespoons butter. Sauté onions and garlic slowly until tender, about 12 minutes. Arrange onions in the cracker crust. Beat eggs, whole milk, chives and salt in a bowl until blended. Pour the mixture over the onions. Sprinkle with cheese and paprika. Bake in oven for 35 minutes, or until a knife comes out clean. Garnish with the parsley. Serve hot or at room temperature.
(Image courtesy of Walla Walla Sweet Onion Marketing Committee)
(Courtesy of Chef Dave Munson and Keystone Fruit Marketing)
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Dining Guide
The Brik Bar and Grill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1415 Plaza Way, Walla Walla • 509-529-7999 Open daily, 11 a.m. If you're hungry for consistently fresh tastes, like home-cooked food, go to The Brik. All dishes are born when you order. Never frozen. Never microwaved. Even their chicken pot pie is handmade!
Clarette’s Restaurant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 S. Touchet St., Walla Walla • 509-529-3430 Open daily, 6 a.m.-8 p.m. Clarette’s offers many locally sourced foods and consistently is voted the Valley’s best place for breakfast. Generations of locals have marked important occasions with its classic American-style breakfasts. Located on the Whitman College campus, one block off Main Street, near the Travelodge. Lots of parking. Breakfast served all day.
Grandma's Kitchen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 S. Colville St., Walla Walla • 509-876-4236 Tue.-Thu., 12-8 p.m.; Fri. & Sat., Noon-11 p.m.; Sun., Noon-7 p.m.; Closed Monday Grandma’s Kitchen offers many delicious, regional Mexican dishes. Enjoy cactus salad from the state of Hildago plus tasty original dishes from Yucatan, Morelos and Chihuahua. Enjoy sangria or one of our 10 Mexican beers with your meal. Located in the heart of downtown Walla Walla.
Jacobi’s Italian Café & Catering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 416 N. Second Ave., Walla Walla • 509-525-2677 • jacobiscafe.com Mon.-Thu., 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Fri. & Sat., 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Come “Mangia Mangia” in Walla Walla at Jacobi’s Café! At Jacobi’s Café you can enjoy our signature Italian cuisine and experience casual dining with customer service that is second to none. You may dine in our vintage train car or sit back and relax on our patio. Because when you are Italian Café & Catering thinking Italian ... think Jacobi’s!
Mill Creek Brew Pub . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 S. Palouse St., Walla Walla • 509-522-2440 • millcreek-brewpub.com Mon.-Sat., 11 a.m.-midnight; Sunday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. For 15 years, Mill Creek has served locally brewed, handcrafted beers. You’ll find great values on the kid-friendly lunch and dinner menu, served inside or out on the largest patio in town. Local wines, daily specials and great atmosphere, all await you at Mill Creek Brew Pub.
Patit Creek Restaurant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 725 E. Dayton Ave., Dayton • 509-382-2625 Lunch: Wed.-Fri., 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.; Dinner: Wed. & Thu., 4:30-7 p.m.; Fri. & Sat., 4:30-7:30 p.m. Named in “Northwest Best Places” as the only four-star French restaurant east of the Cascades, Patit Creek has been serving great cuisine — without the attitude — since 1978. While all the entrees are exquisite, their meat dishes are truly notable, especially the Medallions of Beef Hiebert. An imaginative wine list and remarkable desserts make Patit Creek a gem worth traveling for.
T. Maccarone’s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 N. Colville St., Walla Walla • 509-522-4776 • tmaccarones.com Open daily, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Welcome to T. Maccarone’s, a modern, Washington wine-country bistro influenced by classic Italian sensibilities. Join us in our downtown Walla Walla restaurant for a celebration of the senses – from the fragrant allure of white truffle to the warm spark of candles in our intimate dining room, let us help make your wine-country experience truly memorable.
Thai Ploy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 311 S. Ninth Ave., Walla Walla • 509-525-0971 Open seven days a week from 11 a.m. Roast Duck Curry, Lemon Grass Barbecued Chicken, Coconut Prawns, Pad Thai and more. A great menu of Thai dishes, expertly prepared. Enjoy a glass of wine, cold beer or tasty Thai iced tea with your meal. Plenty of room for groups or just the two of you. If you’re looking for a true Thai dining experience, Thai Ploy is the place for you.
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Heritage: People
Jackie, Margie and Mike Lynch keep the Old West spirit of ranch life alive. (Photo by Nick Page)
Land, kinfolk, horses and rodeo The Lynch family’s passions go back generations in the region. By Janice James
M
ike Lynch; his wife, Margie; and daughter, Jackie, have forged a life around horses at their 1899 residence in Walla Walla and on their Century Farm, dating from 1876, in the foothills of the Blue Mountains south of town. Each location retains memories of early frontier days, having supported generations of homesteaders, explorers and farmers. Their story involves a rich narrative of overlapping households of immigrants, ranchers, cowboys and cowgirls. Horses, called “equine athletes” in the competitive world of rodeo these days, have always held a central place. For the Lynches, a lifelong enthusiasm for 22 WALL A WALL A LIFEST YLES
horses holds the story of their lives and land together. In 1935 Mike’s mom, Mary Robison Lynch, held the title of Princess of the Pendleton Round-Up; in 1937 she was Queen. Mary is honored in the Pendleton Round-Up Hall of Fame. Margie proudly claims Jackie could ride before she could walk. As a family, the Lynches headed to a local rodeo every weekend during the season. Family participation was strong. Mike steer-roped on the professional rodeo circuit and took part in team roping events with Margie. Jackie took up barrel racing at an early age. She recalls training at home this way:
“We would practice every day. Growing up, we had lights in our arena in town, and we’d be out there until after midnight in the summer.” Turning her love for horses into a business, for the last three years Jackie has been training horses professionally for rodeo and barrel-racing competitions with support from her father and mother. On any given day, she tirelessly exercises, trains and conditions nine or more horses — including six client horses and her own, which these days include Savvy, Jasper and Mikah. Meanwhile, her business, Lynch Ranch Performance Horses, is attracting positive notice in the increasingly ambitious world of rodeo
competition where 0.02 seconds can mean the used for everything.” cloverleaf pattern, but, more importantly, she difference between winning and second place. When he was about 16, Mike’s dad let him teaches each horse to use its body correctly From the vantage point of her custom saddle rope some calves. It wasn’t long before he was and responsively. seat, Jackie knows keenly the intense thrill of attending rodeos and winning steer-roping The regimen is intense and varied as Jackie tearing around barrels in a cloverleaf pattern, events. aims to engage and involve the curiosity of controlling every move of her horse with masJackie’s mom, too, has always ridden horses. each young animal. As she tells it, “To make an tered ease. She recalls training her first horse, To this day Margie is involved in competitive equine athlete, it’s up to me to set the grounddubbed Val (for having work for the rest of their gotten her around Vallife.” entine’s Day), when she In pursuit of her was 7 or 8. Someone took dream of being a horse notice of Jackie loping trainer, Jackie studied figure eights one day and with a reining trainer, suggested she try barrel a cutting trainer and racing. She was a natural countless professional at it. barrel racers. She took “I was 11, and I won lessons, enrolled in clineverything on her. Val ics and read every book was the first adult horse she could find. She is I ever trained to barrel exacting about what she race,” Jackie recalls with wants in the horses she pride. buys. All are registered Val was also the first quarter horses; a lot Mary Robison Lynch — Queen Mary — on Diploma, around 1940. As youngrope horse she stole from have some thoroughbred sters, Margie and friends regularly rode from town to the Lynch Ranch for a day on horseback with Mary. (Courtesy of Mike Lynch) her dad. It wouldn’t be mixed in. the last horse theft in Whereas her dad the family. More recently, might just take a wellMike appropriated a 16bred cow horse to the rohand sorrel mare called deo, professional barrelFlo Jo, the first yearling racing competition today Jackie started as a barreldepends increasingly on racing horse entirely on horses bred from proven her own, as his new rope barrel-racing stock. Add horse. a strict diet, individual“If a horse doesn’t ized training practice, make it in one thing, we superior health care try it in another,” she (including chiropractic says positively. adjustments), massages Th e n e w f a m i l y and joint lubricants, the business has reignited perfect saddle and saddle rodeo fever in Mike. His pad, arena conditioning Edward Lynch, Mike’s dad, as a young child around 1920, seated on a work horse natural affinity for steer to acclimate a horse to in front of the ranch house. (Courtesy of Mike Lynch) roping goes back to his the sounds, grounds and childhood days when he distractions of a rodeo, helped his colorful, larger-than-life, wild Uncle trail challenges. and, hey, it’s time to watch the race. Emmett, his father’s oldest brother, with farm In a thoughtful moment, Jackie says, “My In the 21st-century world of competitive work on the Lynch Ranch where Emmett grew dad taught me how to rodeo and go fast, and barrel racing, where nothing is left to chance, up. Emmett’s influence would inspire Mike’s my mom taught me how to show horses and 0.02 seconds is serious business. rodeo success story. A Professional Rodeo Cowlearn the fundamentals correctly. I’m extremely boys Association Gold Card member, Mike is a grateful I showed so much as a kid and that I repeat winner at several prestigious regional was taught correct horsemanship from such roping competitions. a young age.” For More Info: As Mike tells it, “Emmett would take me Training a horse to barrel race competitively along — he taught me how to drive a team. We is a demanding, lengthy and involved process. lynchranch.biz, “Lynch Ranch even did a little logging. We would ride all those Riding five days a week, it takes about three Barrel Horses” on Facebook ridges, jump big logs. Rodeo horses, mountain years to make a promising barrel-racing horse. horses, work horses — they were horses you Starting with 2-year-olds, Jackie works on the WALL A WALL A LIFEST YLES 23
Heritage: People
Sisters Marion (top) and Emilie Frances (bottom) exemplified early-20-century modern womanhood. Via “the talking machine,” Emilie Frances’ hit song “My Love is a Muleteer” reached an exceptionally wide audience. (Courtesy images)
‘My Love is a Muleteer’
Siblings from a musical Walla Walla family make it big internationally, one penning a hit song in 1916. Story and captions by Janice James
I
n case you missed it, the 1916 song “My Love is a Muleteer” was a huge hit in the United States, Mexico and South America. It was one of several songs written by Emilie Frances Bauer, who was born in Walla Walla in 1865. While she took credit for the lyrics — about inflamed passion for a muleteer (one who drives a mule or team of mules), she disguised her role as composer using the nom de plume Francisco di Nogero. After a decade of much public speculation, the true identity of Francisco di Nogero emerged in Emilie Frances’ obituary of 1926. The composer wasn’t a man 24 WALL A WALL A LIFEST YLES
after all, as public opinion had assumed. In her recent book “Marion and Emilie Frances Bauer: From the Wild West to American Musical Modernism,” Susan E. Pickett, author, music historian and professor of music theory and violin at Whitman College, unraveled the curious mystery of the improvised name Emilie Frances used. Noting that “Francisco” occasionally appeared as “Francesco” in the header on the musical score, Pickett recognized a clever but rather transparent connection to the real author’s first name, which music insiders like Frances’ sister Marion and others would cer-
tainly get. But “di Nogero” proved to be a more difficult challenge until, in a flash of insight, Pickett realized “Nogero” was “Oregon” spelled backward. “Frances of Oregon” — the clues were there all along. By the time she wrote “My Love is a Muleteer,” Emilie Frances had had a long professional career as a journalist and music critic in New York City. She wrote regularly on a range of topics for a weekly journal called The Musical Leader and, on occasion, published articles in The Oregonian and The New York Times.
Above: Marion’s woodcut for the cover of “Up the Ocklawaha,” a work for violin and piano that she composed in 1912 at the urging of her friend, the great American violinist Maud Powell. Marion translated Powell’s detailed description of traveling up the Ocklawaha River in the Florida Everglades into an evocative “musical picture,” as one reviewer characterized it. (Courtesy image) Right: Pickett suggests that Julia Bauer appears with President Rutherford B. Hayes and Mrs. Hayes in this photo taken in Walla Walla on October 5, 1880, during Hayes’ Presidential Western Tour. (Photo courtesy of Whitman College Archives)
Although she didn’t write many songs, a few, such as “My Love is a Muleteer,” were rooted in Western themes. Another song, called “Red Man’s Requiem,” dedicated to the memory of Nez Perce Chief Joseph, combined poignant lyrics by Emilie Frances with music composed by her rising-star younger sister Marion in an evocative blend of medieval and modernist music styles. By this time Marion, the youngest Bauer child, born in Walla Walla in 1882, had joined her sister in New York, where music opportunities and adventures abounded. Marion achieved wide recognition among the music luminaries of the day as a composer, pianist, teacher, journalist, critic, lecturer and author. Emilie Frances and Marion, later joined by a third sister, Flora, were at the center of a raging music scene, a pivotal time in music
history when conservative trends were yielding to Impressionism’s dissonance and achromatic scales, and American music was searching for a cohesive national expression. Visiting European composers of towering reputation, including Igor Stravinsky, Béla Bartok and Arnold Schoenberg, made their acquaintance. Marion also traveled to Europe on numerous occasions, pursuing studies in technique and composition in France, Germany and Italy. The sisters were acquainted with Giacomo Puccini and, owing to their wide-ranging facility with languages, befriended and groomed professional relationships with many other composers, singers and performers. Emilie Frances’ fluency in French accorded her the first American interview with Claude Debussy on French soil. The sisters’ accomplished parents, Jacques
and Julia, also deserve mention. Jacques arrived in Walla Walla by way of military service in the U.S. Infantry. He straightaway opened a tobacco shop on Main Street, then set about finding a wife. His brother Robert secured a match — Julia Heyman who, like Jacques, was a Jewish immigrant from France. Julia, who spoke French, German, Italian, Spanish, Hebrew and English, was living in Portland with a sister. In 1864 the couple was married at the Beth Israel Synagogue in Portland, then settled into a house on Alder Street between Fourth and Fifth avenues. Emilie Frances, their eldest child, may well have been the first Jewish baby born in the area. Jacques had a talent for music. Aside from a beautiful tenor voice and a broad familiarity with musical genres, he played a variety of musical instruments. Walla Walla newspaper WALL A WALL A LIFEST YLES 25
Heritage: People
Susan Pickett has found deep personal and professional meaning in her chance discovery of Marion Bauer. She continues to promote the works of female composers and seeks to get Marion’s Symphony No. 1 published, at last. (Photo by Steve Lenz)
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articles from the 1880s, assiduously combed by Pickett, document occasions when father and daughter Emilie Frances performed together locally. Emilie Frances studied piano as a child and composed at least three songs in Walla Walla. Julia, a linguist and a scholar, opened a language school — School of Modern Languages — where, besides European languages, she taught English and the new language Volapük to foreigners. In 1882, Julia joined the teaching staff at Whitman College, where she remained for six years. After Jacques’ tragic and unexpected death in 1890, Julia moved with her underage children back to Portland. Her three daughters, even when established in New York City, returned almost annually to visit their mother, sister Minnie and brother Cecil who remained there. Marion returned to Walla Walla once to receive an honorary master’s degree from Whitman College in 1932. Pickett’s fruitful chance encounter with the Bauer story is hardly less astonishing than Emilie Frances’ and Marion’s under-celebrated contributions to music history. A practicing violinist in search of new music by female composers, Pickett was perusing a book on music history published in the 1940s when Marion Bauer’s name popped up. Pickett was intrigued that Marion had been born in Walla Walla, and was amused that they shared the same birthday, Aug. 15, but she was riveted to learn that Leopold Stokowski conducted the New York Philharmonic in a performance of Bauer’s symphonic poem “Sun Splendor.” Deeply impressed, Pickett says, “At that point, I needed to know everything.” Her drive to learn more about Marion Bauer was haunted by one question: How had she never heard of her before? After all, she had studied the history of music, she was a musician, and she also lived in Walla Walla. Owing to the fluke of finding Marion Bauer’s name in a book, recovering music and reconstructing the careers of other significant women composers lost to history over a 300-year span has become Pickett’s all-consuming preoccupation. Since Pickett’s discovery 25 years ago, she has brought to fruition a richly detailed and impeccably researched book that breathes life into the stories of two talented sisters born to parents of intellect, cultural aspiration and ambition who found their way to Walla Walla. And somewhere along their journey, came a muleteer.
Heritage: Music
The Byrds take the stage at Cordiner Hall on Nov. 23, 1968. (Photo from the 1969 Waiilatpu yearbook, courtesy of Whitman College Archives)
Duke, The Byrds and a little, white house: Walla Walla’s illustrious and still-growing musical heritage Big-name artists as diverse as John Philip Sousa, Duke Ellington, Dolly Parton and Macklemore & Ryan Lewis have graced Walla Walla’s stages throughout its history — and, soon, Mumford & Sons and Foo Fighters will join their ranks. By Joe Cooke / Layout and captions by Brenden Koch
W
alla Walla has hosted an astonishing and diverse array of musical acts and entertainers over the years. If arts and entertainment have anything to do with quality of life, it is no wonder the town was recognized as one of the best in the U.S. by Sunset magazine and USA Today; chosen for AMC’s unscripted series “Showville”; and now selected as a “stopover” for Mumford and Sons’ Gentlemen of the Road tour. The thriving local arts culture isn’t a new phenomenon, though. It all started back when the little frontier town of less than 5,000 residents was just beginning to blossom. Beer, not wine, was the drink of the day, and Master Brewer J.H. Stahl was one of the most prominent citizens and business owners of his time.
A ticket stub from Stahl's Opera House. (Courtesy of Fort Walla Walla Museum)
Spirits and entertainment: 1881-1952 Stahl opened a concert hall as a “respectable” establishment in 1881 to appease the equally prominent and outspoken Elizabeth Tannatt, who was the mayor’s wife and the president of the Women’s Christian Temperance Society. With seating for 500, Stahl’s Opera House was the Cordiner Hall of the late 1800s.
In addition to the vaudeville acts and Gilbert and Sullivan operettas presented at Stahl’s, military bands performed at Fort Walla Walla, and the newly established Whitman College brought a new level of musical instruction and talent to the young city. Nearby Small’s Opera House and Livery Stable seated 700. For some historical perspective, the two theaters together seated over 20 percent of the citizenry. That’s the equivalent of about 6,000 Walla Walla residents today. Of course, there was no YouTube, Facebook or Instagram, no reality TV, no streaming video, no Xbox and no texting. People actually gathered in groups and listened to live music, watched live shows and socialized. Small’s Opera House collapsed in 1884, and Stahl’s disappeared into the murky depths of
WALL A WALL A LIFEST YLES 27
Heritage: Music Left: A postcard shows the Keylor Grand Theatre at the corner of Fourth and Alder streets, circa 1906. Fliers on the Fourth Street side of the building advertise an upcoming appearance by former opera superstar Lillian Russell, then on a 33-week cross-country tour in the dramatic comedy "The Butterfly." (Courtesy of Fort Walla Walla Museum) Below: An ad from the Jan. 4, 1909 (Walla Walla) Evening Bulletin promotes a concert at the Keylor Grand by Arthur Hartman. In the 1890s Hartmann toured Europe as a child prodigy, and later performed in Europe and the U.S. Less than two months before this Walla Walla stop, he'd played Saint-Saëns' third concerto with the New York Philharmonic at Carnegie Hall. Hartmann, who became a prolific composer and arranger and was on the founding faculty of the Eastman School of Music, was a close friend of fellow composer Claude Debussy, and is best known for transcribing a number of Debussy's works. (Courtesy image)
history, leaving the town temporarily bereft of a cultural venue and meeting place. Soon, Howard Keylor filled the gap with the Keylor Grand Theatre, which opened in 1905 and played host to countless musical acts and extravagant performances. During those early years, Walla Walla’s entertainment scene attracted the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Al Jolson, and John Philip Sousa and his band, along with lesser-known but equally professional productions like “A World of Pleasure,” which was billed in 1916 as: “Rivaling in Barbaric Splendor an Oriental Pageant the Famous New York Winter Garden’s Most Stupendous REVUE.” The Keylor Grand was a major venue until the seating area was demolished in 1954. The large stage house still stands at Fourth Avenue and Alder Street, and although many pass this historical landmark at least once a week, few think of it as a piece of the heritage of today’s entertainment scene. It’s gone the way of the Capitol Theater, torn down years ago, and the Liberty Theater, absorbed into the down28 WALL A WALL A LIFEST YLES
town retail center, but still visible, if you look. The sloped floor, complete with seats, still exists under the false floor of Macy’s juniors department. You can see the stage in the back, and the tops of the doors that led backstage. The Liberty and the Capitol switched to moving pictures during the ’20s and ’30s as tastes and budgets turned to cheaper entertainment. But live music has always found its way to Walla Walla. Jazz and the Duke: 1952-1974 The Golden Age of Capitalism brought innovation and dramatic change to Walla Walla’s music scene as the nation rose from the ashes of economic depression and war. Every generation adopts its own iconic musical styling, and in the ’40s it was big-band music. Ballroom dances were common on the Edgewater Park Dance Pavilion, in the Armory and in the Arcadia Ballroom. the Foxtrot, the Lindy Hop, the jive, the jitterbug and a host of other “outlandish” dances thrilled youngsters and appalled the adults, who had, ironi-
cally, grown up in the “Roaring Twenties.” Jazz music from the East Coast made its slow way to the West, and, in 1952, Walla Walla residents rallied for an entire week around the annual “Swing into Spring” campaign that culminated in Duke Ellington Day. Duke and his band played a concert and dance in the Armory, marking one of the biggest days in Walla Walla's musical history. For Duke and his band, the Walla Walla stopover would be part of the tour that re-invigorated their careers and launched a whole new generation of fans of jazz and big-band music. Between 1957 and 1974, Walla Walla played host to an impressive cross-section of groups and artists, like the Vienna Boys Choir, Kenny Rogers and The First Edition, The Byrds, Little Richard, Van Cliburn, Isaac Stern, Ray Charles and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. Duke Ellington's March 31, 1952, performance was the capstone of the Walla Walla Chamber of Commerce's "Swing into Spring" campaign. Many local businesses, including Bendix Music Electric (left), used Ellington's visit in their advertising. (U-B file ad) Below: A crowd of decorous Walla Wallans enjoys the sounds of Duke Ellington and his orchestra. (U-B file photo) Right: Little Richard was also among the many major musical acts to perform at the Armory, bringing his band there on June 17, 1957. (U-B file ad)
WALL A WALL A LIFEST YLES 29
Heritage: Music By the mid-1970s, the Walla Walla Fair and Frontier Days was drawing big names from country music like Merle Haggard and his then relatively unknown opening act, Dolly Parton. With the construction of Whitman College’s Cordiner Hall in 1968, the town's musical horizons expanded once again. Local musician Carl Christianson recalls some of the concerts that surprised him: “I remember Taj Mahal came, and Bela Fleck.” Like all of Walla Walla’s great heritage, Cordiner was built on a foundation of the past. When the college bought the land for construction,
one elderly resident agreed to sell on the stipulation she could stay in her home for life. The deed to that property was transferred to the college in her will, but for many years there was a little, white house on the Cordiner grounds. Ellington and his band came back in October 1964 to a much smaller crowd of Whitman students and alumni, and in 1965, he played again in the Walla Walla High School gym. In February 1973, the Walla Walla Union-Bulletin announced that
The Byrds play Whitman
Continues on Page 32
Left: The Byrds pose for a photograph in the dressing room beneath Cordiner Hall. From left: Clarence White, rhythm guitar; John York, bass; Roger McGuinn, lead vocals, guitar; Gene Parsons, drums. (Photo from the 1969 Waiilatpu yearbook, courtesy of Whitman College Archives) Above: A newspaper advertisement for the performance.The Wailers, one of the biggest regional rock bands in the Pacific Northwest in the late '50s through the '60s, was apparently replaced on the bill by Sweet Rolle. (U-B file ad)
By Brenden Koch
T
he Byrds formed as the Jet Set in Los Angeles in 1964. By mid-1965 the band was on its way to stardom with a No. 1 hit single, “Mr. Tambourine Man,” and an album of the same name that created and boosted the folk-rock genre to the mainstream. Another 1965 single, “Turn! Turn! Turn! (to Everything There Is a Season),” also reached No. 1. The Byrds’ Dec. 22, 1965, record, “Eight Miles High,” explored new sounds, and is viewed as one of the first psychedelic rock albums. As the group continued to delve into new musical territory, subsequent releases did not garner the popularity of its previous hits. By 1968 The Byrds were a band seemingly in constant flux, whose star had faded somewhat from its early heights. Their August 1968 release, “Sweetheart of the Rodeo,” was a stylistic turn to country music, a change that alienated many fans of the band’s previous folk-rock and psychedelic sounds while at
30 WALL A WALL A LIFEST YLES
the same time irritating country fans who disliked the rockers interloping into the genre. And 1968 saw the band turn over its lineup multiple times. When it took the stage in Walla Walla, the band’s current members had been together for only a few months. The show at Whitman College’s Cordiner Hall, scheduled for 8:30 p.m. on Nov. 23, 1968, was sponsored by the school’s Lettermen’s Club with the purpose of “earning money for letter jackets for varsity athletes,” as reported in The Whitman College Pioneer on Nov. 21, 1968. The Pioneer built anticipation for a psychedelic spectacular, reporting the band was “just winding up cutting an album, which, according to their manager, is super-heavy,” and promising an “erotic” light show that would “work on the audience’s sensations.” James McKinlay, Whitman class of 1971, said the audience was “looking forward to hearing ‘Turn Turn Turn’ and ‘Mr. Tam-
bourine Man,’” the band’s folk-rock singles. However, according to McKinley, instead of folk or hard rock, the group performed songs from “Sweetheart of the Rodeo” to a less-than-appreciative crowd. “At the end there was little applause and the band just walked off the stage,” he said. The band’s unenthusiastic reception by Walla Walla would continue, according to 1970 Whitman alum Ed Pinedo. After the concert, Pinedo recalls, the band sought a bite to eat at the Red Apple Restaurant, but “were refused service because of their long hair.” The Byrds’ visit here was apparently not one of their more noteworthy tour stops. Years later, when Jim McGuinn, longtime owner of local record store Hot Poop, asked the band’s frontman, Roger McGuinn (no relation), about the 1968 concert, the latter McGuinn said he had no recollection of having visited or played in the town.
Left: Ani DiFranco sings and plays guitar at the Armory on Nov. 1, 1995. A crowd of several hundred attendees, consisting mostly of Whitman College students, took in her "high-energy, acoustic songs," reported the U-B. Less than a year later, the label-defying DiFranco was among the performers in a tribute concert to Woody Guthrie sponsored by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland. (U-B file photo)
Above: Joan Baez talks with locals while signing autographs after her concert at Cordiner Hall on Oct. 18, 1987. The influential artist performed a variety of tunes, including old hits, material from her 1987 record "Recently," spirituals and folk songs, and, at her urging, had the crowd of 1,300 singing along to "Amazing Grace," as she'd done two years previous at Live Aid in Philadelphia. During the concert, Baez, ever the political activist, spoke about her opposition to the "barbaric" death penalty, called for an "intelligent relationship" between the U.S. and Central America, and had a few gibes for the yuppie generation and "money-oriented youth," reported Robert O'Boyle in the U-B. (U-B file photo) Left: Ziggy Marley brings his positive sound to the Walla Walla County Fairgrounds on July 21, 2012. The five-time Grammy winner, son of reggae legend Bob Marley, visited the Valley between "Wild and Free Tour" stops in Coquitlam, British Columbia, and the Oregon Zoo in Portland. Local acts Rubberneck and Campbell Davis and Company opened the show. (Photo courtesy of Scott Butner Photography) WALL A WALL A LIFEST YLES 31
Heritage: Music Ellington’s entire Pacific Northwest tour was canceled, including his scheduled stop in Walla Walla. Ellington, born in 1899, died in May 1974, leaving a legacy of jazz innovation and having moved Walla Walla further along the road of its musical heritage. Ladies and gentlemen: 1974 to the present So Walla Walla pays homage to the performers who shaped the sounds of the Valley and paved the way for the plethora of current talent. It has seen greats from the past, like Peter Frampton at Cordiner Hall in 2012 and Colin Hay at Main Street Studios this spring. Local residents have had the pleasure of revisiting the patron saint of jazz, Duke Ellington, as our high school musicians showcase his legacy. Last spring, the Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra performed Duke Ellington’s tribute to Shakespeare, “Such Sweet Thunder,” in the Gesa Power House Theatre. Whitman College continues to bring in up-and-coming acts, such as Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, for intimate shows. And the wine industry has given rise to many small venues that attract local and regional talent, fueling the appetite for bigger shows. Duke Ellington Day, the Gentlemen of the Road Walla Walla stopover, and all the national, regional and local performances that grace the many local stages are not isolated occurrences that have sprung unbidden from the ether. They are manifestations of the dreams and desires, of days gone by, of all of the concerts and events and culture that have accumulated, and as this summer passes into history, the musical influences become the heritage of tomorrow. Someday, Cordiner Hall may be an apartment complex or a gymnasium or a pile of rubble. Or a little white house may stand there again. Life is, after all, just a stopover.
On their way up Emerging artists make it big after performing in Walla Walla.
The Band Perry lead singer Kimberly Perry belts out a melody while flanked by her brothers Neil, left, and Reid on Aug. 31, 2011, at the Walla Walla Fair and Frontier Days. The band was in the process of becoming one of the nation's top country groups, with their single "You Lie" reaching No. 2 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart earlier in the year. Subsequent singles "All Your Life" and "Better Dig Two" each garnered the top spot in 2012. The Perrys took multiple awards in 2011 from the Academy of Country Music, CMT and the Country Music Association, and won a Grammy in 2015 for Best Country Duo/Group Performance for their cover of Glen Campbell‘s "Gentle on My Mind." (U-B file photo)
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis thrill the crowd at Whitman College's Young Ballroom on March 3, 2012. On Oct. 9 of that year the duo released their breakthrough album, "The Heist," which debuted at No. 2 on the U.S. Billboard 200. On Feb. 2, 2013, the album's lead single, "Thrift Shop," reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Its second single, "Can't Hold Us," also reached the top position. In 2013 they won two American Music Awards and three MTV Video Music Awards, and in 2014 won four Grammy Awards, including Best New Artist and Best Rap Album. (Photo courtesy of Zoe Rain Photography) 32 WALL A WALL A LIFEST YLES
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Heritage: Art
Left: A curvaceous metal sculpture by Bill Piper graces the Skills and Knowledge gua of the Garske/Robinson yard. Center: A playful Buster Simpson mobile brings balance and joy to the Love and Marriage gua. Right: Monica Stobie's animal totem painting enlivens the stairwell and proclaims Garske's deep connection with animals.
Living your art
Jeana Garske’s residence exemplifies feng shui principles as well as her appreciation for artwork and the Valley. By Patricia Divine Wilder / Photos by Steve Lenz
I
nspiring, peaceful, riotous, energizing, complex, elegant — how do you view the art in your surroundings? According to feng shui (pronounced “fung shway”), the ancient Chinese art of placement, the items in our surroundings have a discernible impact on our lives. Arranging artwork with “feng shui eyes” strives to evoke an energy level consistent with the use of the space — for example, choosing larger, more-vibrant or active pieces for a kitchen, office or family room. Conversely, artwork that puts the mind at ease or draws on one’s more sensual nature is better suited to areas of relaxation. Further, feng shui defines nine areas (called 34 WALL A WALL A LIFEST YLES
guas) within a space that affect particular aspects of our lives (see the bagua diagram on the opposite page). For that reason, we can place objects with intention to invoke desired outcomes. Some important concepts of this ancient and complex practice are clearly illustrated in the home of Jeana Crawford Garske. As you approach Jeana Garske and Rob Robinson’s residence in Walla Walla, a lively, broad-hipped metal sculpture by Bill Piper summons you to the covered front porch. Originally, the sculpture was a gift to Jeana’s mother, who named it after her own mother, Maggie Rupe. At each equinox and solstice, Jeana rotates Maggie 90 degrees on her movable pedestal. Objects that move manually or
through forces of nature work to revitalize the energy in our lives. This versatile piece is located in the “Skills and Knowledge” gua of the property. What does it say to Jeana? It is a reminder of family, which is important to her. It embraces the curvy nature of the women in her family. It is fun. Moving it brings her joy, and it says to others, “I am a lover of beauty and art.” For 20 years Jeana led ArtWalla, a nonprofit organization largely responsible for the city’s public-art collection. The multiple installations of public art are an integral part of Walla Walla’s award-winning restoration and revitalization. Inside the front door (also located in the
“Skills and Knowledge” gua), Jeana has an antique pie table that used to belong to her grandmother, and two welcoming chairs where she and Rob often read and converse in the evenings. Atop the table is a small replica of Squire Broel’s sesquicentennial public art piece “Looking Back, Looking Forward.” Mounted on the wall above the table is a 1982 painting by Elizabeth Harris, “How Coyote, Cougar, Fox, Squirrel, Antelope and Frog brought Fire to the People.” These pieces speak to the family’s dedication to supporting local artists and honoring the region’s heritage. In the dining room (the “Health and Family” gua) hang two large, side-by-side commissioned paintings, also by Elizabeth Harris (a Crawford cousin). One canvas portrays fall/ winter and the other spring/summer in the Walla Walla Valley. The Crawford family is grounded in the rolling hills of the Blue Mountains, and the artwork creates a relaxing atmosphere for meals and gatherings. Strongly represented in Jeana’s artwork throughout the house are animals, with which she connects deeply. A Monica Stobie animal totem painting done on rich, handmade bark paper rears up at the base of the front stairway, drawing the energy upward. A Chinese screen in the living room dances with bird and animal images. Owls grace Jeana’s bathroom, and a bright papier-mâché toucan hangs in her kitchen window. Upstairs, Jeana’s office is located in the “Career/Life Path” gua, where she loves to look over at a large pastel done by Leslie Williams Cain. It features the Walla Walla River from Nine Mile Road, looking east toward the Blue Mountains — another case where Jeana’s artwork portrays the Walla Walla Valley, home to her many contributions. Also upstairs, seen from a window located in the “Love and Marriage” gua, is a large, playful, outdoor mobile. The Buster Simpson work of two fish dancing on the wind sends out colorful reflections, just as Jeana and Rob have done, working and playing together over the years.
For More Info: For a map of Walla Walla’s public art locations, visit artwalla.com.
Diagram of the Bagua Fame and Reputation Love and Marriage
Prosperity
Health and Family
Energy Center of Home
Children and Creativity
Travel and Helpful People
Skills and Knowledge Career/Life Path
Front Entrance Nine spaces called guas make up the full bagua. They are oriented over a dwelling/property according to the front entrance. Each gua relates to an aspect of life. (Diagram based on Essential Feng Shui)
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Heritage: Art
Sitting together at a family heirloom pie table in the Skills and Knowledge gua, Jeana and Rob recap their day and commune with two of the family pets. Their home's artwork reflects their support of local artists and family.
Commissioned paintings by Elizabeth Harris portray the rolling hills of the Walla Walla Valley over the four seasons. The paintings are in the Health and Family gua, where the art serves to create a peaceful, yet flowing atmosphere for gatherings. 36 WALL A WALL A LIFEST YLES
On April 27, Jeana Garske — along with Jeanne McMenemy, Rob Robinson and Mark Anderson — received Walla Walla 2020’s Community Award for Outstanding Public Art. Implementation of the project, “Windows on the Past,” located downtown at Heritage Square Park, spanned seven years. Its completion required grants and fundraising totaling $300,000, as well as ingenuity, coordination and diligence. More information can be found at artwalla.com.
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Heritage: Homes
These structures are some of the oldest in the Pacific Northwest. The commanders' quarters still retain the elegance of the late 1800s.
What was old is new again
Historic officers’ quarters at Fort Walla Walla are being rehabilitated and transformed into housing for veterans. By Karlene Ponti / Photos by Nick Page
I
n the 1850s, significant change came to the Walla Walla Valley in the form of two temporary U.S. military encampments. In about 1858, the permanent Fort Walla Walla was established and occupied at the location now known as the Jonathan M. Wainwright Memorial Veterans Affairs Medical Center. It was strategically built on a ridge to provide a sweeping view of the surrounding area. Some of the buildings constructed in 1858 as officers’ quarters are still standing, and were occupied until relatively recently. Most, however, have been empty for a while. The 80-plus-mph winds during the storm of Jan. 4, 2008, damaged the row of buildings severely. The 1887 commanders’ quarters, which had replaced an earlier version, were the most intact and have since been used for offices. The other structures were left vacant. But that’s all about to change. In a project acknowledging the historical 38 WALL A WALL A LIFEST YLES
significance of these buildings, melded with the need to provide more housing for veterans, the VA and Catholic Charities became partners. The remaining historic officers’ quarters are being renovated for today’s veterans needing a home. Tim Meliah, director of Catholic Charities of Walla Walla, says the charity became aware of the need for veterans’ housing, and the VA opened its doors for someone to develop these properties. “It meets the needs,” he says. “Our veterans are the highest population of homeless.” At a cost of about $11.6 million, the project includes four rehabs and the construction of two new buildings designed to be compatible in tone and feel with their historic neighbors. “They will blend in nicely,” says John Fisher, housing development manager for Catholic Charities of Spokane. The project, known as St. Michael the Archangel Haven, will provide 40 subsidized one-
to three-bedroom apartments for homeless veterans and their families. The historic buildings have plenty to offer: They are duplexes that come in at about 5,000 square feet each. The plan is to have a number of apartments in each building. “They are huge,” Meliah says. “I love the idea to keep the integrity of those buildings, and repurpose them.” VA Archaeologist Steve Roberts says the buildings have tremendous potential in capacity and design. The duplexes have about 14-foot ceilings and were “designed so they had a distinctly New England flavor,” he notes. But both building new and repurposing old structures has challenges. “They’re in pretty rough shape,” says Fisher. “The exteriors will remain the same,” says VA Director Brian Westfield. “But the interiors will have to be gutted,” Roberts adds.
“We will be completely updating the systems of the buildings: brand-new electrical, plumbing. The windows will be replaced, but will evoke the historic feeling of the buildings,” Fisher says. “All of it will be in keeping with the historic nature of the buildings.” The exteriors will be spruced up, but will be historically consistent. “The entryways will be keeping the original banisters and doors,” Fisher says. Efforts are being made to place the buildings on the National Historic Register, says VA Public Affairs Officer Linda Wondra. The buildings are very solid, built to last. But rehabbing something that has been there for 150 years definitely presents more challenges than constructing something new. “It takes a lot more time to catalog historic pieces,” Fisher says. Workers will dismantle the buildings to the frame, number and label pieces, then put them back together. "It’s like a big jigsaw puzzle,” Fisher says. “It’s more time-consuming, and time is money.
The money is in labor costs.” Meliah applauds the efficient community collaboration of different agencies working together to assist those who need some help. In addition to the VA and Catholic Charities, the collaboration includes Blue Mountain Action Council, the city of Walla Walla, Walla Walla County, Walla Walla Housing Authority, Helpline and other agencies. The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla were credited for providing a great deal of assistance with information and historical research. A great deal of time and research went into the initial preparation of the venture. The preliminary work involved digging into the past, with excavations and extensive archaeological research. Workers sifted soil through screens, found artifacts and discovered outlines of buildings that are no longer standing. Roberts says they worked closely with historic preservation and adaptive reuse architects Heylman Martin of Spokane. The project needed the new buildings to be similar to, but not exactly the same as, the old ones. The initial
design of the two new buildings too closely matched the historic ones. It would be a violation of historic standards to do that, Roberts says, so they actually had to change the design to make it more modern. The project is still in the early stages of construction, with groundbreaking held this past April. Fisher estimates the construction will take about a year, so they hope to be leasing apartments next spring. Since the buildings began as military housing, it is fitting they will return to providing homes for veterans. If the people from the 1850s were standing there watching this new project revamping their former homes, what would they think? “(The buildings) have not been lived in for a very long time, and we’re breathing life into them. I think they’d be proud to see it still there,” Fisher says. Meliah thinks so, too, and he feels very encouraged about the new project. During the groundbreaking, he had been thinking it would be good to have people
Time weighs heavily on the interiors of the large buildings. WALL A WALL A LIFEST YLES 39
Heritage: Homes
One of the officers' quarters at Fort Walla Walla, as seen in the early 20th century and in the present. The structure will be remade into housing for veterans. (First photo courtesy of Whitman College Archives; second photo by Nick Page)
Renovations have begun, with the interiors being taken apart while historically important pieces are saved and catalogued for later reconstruction. 40 WALL A WALL A LIFEST YLES
The simple elegance of the stairway and entrance of the building will be preserved.
around — “imagining having families living up there on the hill” and children’s laughter once again being heard where there had been a long, lonely silence. The forlorn buildings will return to their shine and purpose, and it will help the military. Meliah says it’s important to provide for people who have been in the service of our country and have experienced homelessness — “to make a positive impact for a family, not just for this moment, but beyond,” he says. “To provide stability and permanence for their kids and their processes.” He says there will be a sense of community for the future residents, with others nearby who have had similar experiences. The whole project honors the past, preserving historic structures while helping those living veterans needing some assistance. “A hundred years ago, families were living there ... Once again, it will be a spot for families,” Meliah says. “I love the idea of taking those buildings that have such a history and making them usable.”
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Heritage: Garden
Go native
Joseph and Laura Maier look to the plants of the Valley’s past to fill their garden. By Karlene Ponti / Photos by Steve Lenz
T
he Walla Walla Valley “It’s aggressive. You have to has a rich, fascinating either keep it contained, or past. It’s a history of just let it go.” the people who lived here, In her newest plantings, as well as of the land and its Laura hasn’t kept up with indigenous plants. Although the weeds. there are many microclimates “I haven’t really decided in the area — and differing what to do about the weeds,” opinions about what is a she said. “I think I’ll leave the native plant — there is an ground as it is, and I’ll just interest in hardy, droughtsnip it off with scissors.” resistant plants for gardens The street-side garden and yards. also has wild strawberries, Native plants include an which Laura said make a assortment of trees such as great ground cover. the ponderosa pine; shrubs, Laura’s interest in native including sagebrush, hazelplants blossomed from her nut and sumac; and perennilove of hiking in the nearby als such as yarrow and penmountains. She also loves the stemon. A variety of grasses world of nature as it is, and are also indigenous to the wants to honor and protect area, among them bunchit. She worked on the nativegrasses like Indian ricegrass plant garden project at the and wild rye. Blue Mountain Humane SoSome local people are ciety when it was built. working to preserve those She doesn’t miss the sodplants through native-plant ded lawn. gardens. Joseph and Laura “Native plants are easier Maier at 930 Bonnie Brae St. to take care of; obviously, you have put in native plants and don’t have to mow. Actually, a low-water garden, suitable it takes care of itself. They’re for the dry climate here. good for bees.” Native plants provide a visually pleasing, drought-resistant addition to a garden. “My sunny, unwatered “I think they’re pretty,” sidewalk strip is planted she added. with native plants. I have recently taken the normal For More Info: Walla Walla grass turf out of my front lawn lished. Barber Creek runs alongside their and last fall replaced that lawn with native property, providing a soothing sound and Information on native grasses,” Laura said. relaxing atmosphere, not to mention necesplants is available at: The areas with native plants have plenty of sary moisture. The Washington State texture and color varieties. Blue fescue is one In a garden area near the side of the house University Walla Walla of the prominent plants. It thrives in this area is a tall, blue flax plant, which provides a nice County Extension Office, and keeps its color all year, providing a nice bit color spot, its blue blossoms next to the vari328 W. Poplar St.; ext100.wsu.edu/wallawalla. of blue-green in the winter. Indian ricegrass ous shades of green. is taller, and penstemons provide more color. “You can find it along many country roads,” The Confederated Tribes The key to putting in native plants is to Laura said. of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, ctuir.org. plant them when they have a developed root In the planting strip next to the road, she system. This often means planting in the fall, has the bright, yellow blooms of buckwheat The Washington Native according to Laura. With any transplanted and the feathery yarrow. Plant Society, wnps.org. plant, water is essential to get them estab“People make lawns out of this,” she said. 42 WALL A WALL A LIFEST YLES
A type of native redwood shades the Maiers' home and yard.
Blue fescue adds a distinct color to the garden.
WALL A WALL A LIFEST YLES 43
Heritage: Garden
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ITEM # 158.14 Š 2015 SPRING VALLEY VINEYARD, WALLA WALLA, WASHINGTON 99362
44 WALL A WALL A LIFEST YLES
The couple also has a type of native fir tree to provide shade.
The garden has a great variety of plants and color spots.
Native plants also provide healthy habitat for insects. WALL A WALL A LIFEST YLES 45
AUGUST THROUGH OCT. 24
AUG. 7
AUG. 14-16
• The Tamástslikt Cultural Institute hosts the exhibit “Alcatraz: Life on the Rock.” Details: 541-966-9748, tamastslikt.org.
• The first Friday of each month, free admission at Tamástslikt Cultural Institute, Pendleton. Details: 541-966-9748, tamastslikt.org.
• The annual Harvest Time Art Show sets up shop at Milton-Freewater's Central School. Details: 541938-5126, artwalla.com.
AUG. 1 • Spend a summer Evening at the Depot for a wine and beer social. Refreshments, raffle, and an auction of art, antiques and collectibles. 6-9 p.m., Dayton Historic Depot. Details: 509-382-2026. AUG. 1-2
AUG. 8-9 • Sweet Onion Live IV, an exhibit of model horses, some artistically modified. 8 a.m.-6 p.m., Town Hall, Waitsburg. Details: sweetonionlive4.weebly.com.
• Muddy Frogwater Festival. Plenty of activities, including art, music and great food. Yantis Park, MiltonFreewater. Details: 541-938-5563.
AUG. 9
AUG. 16
• The Walla Walla Sweets versus the Kelowna Falcons in the last game of the season. 7:05 p.m., Borleske Stadium. Details: 509-522-2255, wallawallasweets. com.
• Annual Ice Cream Social at Fort Walla Walla Museum. Details: 509-525-7703, fortwallawallamuseum.org.
• Annual YMCA Peach Basket Classic basketball tournament. 8 a.m., Downtown Walla Walla. Details: 509-525-8863, wwymca.org.
AUG. 11
• Walla Walla Drag Strip hosts time trials. Middle Waitsburg Road. Details: 509-301-9243, facebook. com/wallawalla.dragstrip.
• Three Rivers Winery hosts a concert by Sammy Witness & The Reassignment. 6 p.m. Details: 509526-9463, threeriverswinery.com.
AUG. 5
AUG. 13-15
SEPT. 2-6
• Gentlemen of the Road Stopover tour and music festival featuring about 30 bands including Mumford & Sons and Foo Fighters. Headliners will be performing Friday and Saturday at the Whitman College Athletic Field adjacent to DeSales Catholic High School and Borleske Stadium. Other acts will perform on Main Street. Details: union-bulletin.com, gentlemenoftheroad.com.
• The Walla Walla Fair & Frontier Days has long been a community tradition with entertainment, cowboys, livestock, arts, carnival, food and music. Wednesday night kicks off the festivities with a concert by Vince Gill. Friday-Sunday enjoy exciting world-class rodeo action. Walla Walla County Fairgrounds. Details: 509-527-3247, wallawallafairgrounds.com.
• Wine tasting, first Wednesday of the month. Plateau Restaurant at Wildhorse Resort & Casino, Pendleton. Details: 800-654-9453, wildhorseresort.com. • Enjoy an old-fashioned country dance. 7:30 p.m., the gazebo at Pioneer Park. Details: 541-938-7403, fam. bmi.net.
AUG. 20-23 • The Summer Shakespeare Festival presents “As You Like It.” 7 p.m., Gesa Power House Theatre. Details: shakespearewallawalla.org, phtww.org.
Regular Events TUESDAY • Trivia Game Night. 7 p.m., Red Monkey Downtown Lounge, 25 W. Alder St. Details: 509-522-3865, redmonkeylounge.com. WEDNESDAY
Square Park. Details: 509-529-8755, downtownwallawalla.com. • Pianist Carolyn Mildenberger. 5-7 p.m., Sapolil Cellars, 15 E. Main St. Details: 509-520-5258, sapolilcellars.com/events.htm.
• Music. 5:30 p.m., Rogers’ Bakery, 116 N. College Ave., College Place. Details: 509-522-2738.
• Live music. 7-10 p.m., Sinclair Estate Vineyards, 109-B Main St. Details: 509-876-4300, sinclairestatevineyards.com.
• Record your music. 7 p.m., Open Mic Recording Club at Sapolil Cellars, 15 E. Main St. Details: 509520-5258, sapolilcellars.com/events.htm.
• Live music. 9 p.m., Wildhorse Sports Bar at Wildhorse Resort & Casino, Pendleton. Details: 800654-9453, wildhorseresort.com.
• Karaoke. 8 p.m., Wildhorse Sports Bar at Wildhorse Resort & Casino, Pendleton. Details: 800654-9453, wildhorseresort.com.
• Live music. 9 p.m., Sapolil Cellars, 15 E. Main St. Details: 509-520-5258, sapolilcellars.com/events.htm.
THURSDAY • Downtown Farmers Market. 4 p.m., Heritage Square Park. Details: 509-529-8755, downtownwallawalla.com. • Comedy jam. 8 p.m., Wildhorse Sports Bar at the Wildhorse Resort & Casino, Pendleton. Details: 800-654-9453, wildhorseresort.com. FRIDAY • Each Friday, enjoy a concert at 4 p.m. at Heritage
46 WALL A WALL A LIFEST YLES
• Music or DJ. Music: 9 p.m., DJ: 10 p.m.; Marcy’s Downtown Lounge; 35 S. Colville St. Details: 509525-7483, facebook.com/MarcysBarAndLounge. SATURDAY • The Walla Walla Valley Farmers’ Market. 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Walla Walla County Fairgrounds. Details: gowallawallafarmersmarket.com. • Each Saturday, the Downtown Farmers’ Market sets up shop at Crawford Park, Downtown Walla Walla. Details 509-529-8755, 509-240-2898, downtownwallawalla.com.
• Saturdays, through October, the Living History actors portray characters from the area’s past. 2 p.m., Fort Walla Walla Museum. Details: 509-8764300, fortwallawallamuseum.org. • Live music. 9 p.m., Wildhorse Sports Bar at Wildhorse Resort & Casino, Pendleton. Details: 800654-9453, wildhorseresort.com. • Live music. 9 p.m., Sapolil Cellars, 15 E. Main St. Details: 509-520-5258, sapolilcellars.com/events.htm. • Music or DJ. Music: 9 p.m., DJ: 10 p.m.; Marcy’s Downtown Lounge; 35 S. Colville St. Details: 509525-7483, Facebook.com/MarcysBarAndLounge. • Live music. 6-9 p.m., Sinclair Estate Vineyards, 109B, E. Main St. Details: 509-876-4300, sinclairestatevineyards.com. SUNDAY • Every Sunday during the summer, the Living History actors portray characters from the area’s past. 2 p.m., Fort Walla Walla Museum. Details: 509-8764300, fortwallawallamuseum.org.
Submit your event Send your event details to Karlene Ponti: 509-526-8324 or karleneponti@wwub.com.
Photos by Steve Lenz
Where in Walla Walla?
Clue: More suited for Donald than Gilligan, where is this island? Contest rules: If you have the answer, email it to rickdoyle@wwub.com, or send it to: Where in Walla Walla? 112 S. First Ave., P.O. Box 1358, Walla Walla, WA 99362. The names of 10 people with correct answers will be randomly selected, and they will receive this greatlooking mug as proof of their local knowledge and good taste.
Last issue’s clue: This 1905 structure turned the page from its original use to a state-of-the-art community center. Answer:
Carnegie Art Center
Last month’s winners Jean Ann Mitchell Richard Reavis Niels Peterson Carol Smith Lisa James
Chris Bishop Lynn Cummins Stacy Shake Carl Jeglum Larry McKillip
WALL A WALL A LIFEST YLES 47
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20
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ROCK AND ROLL COWGIRL AND ROCK & ROLL COWBOY JEANS
MILTON-FREEWATER, OR 85342 HIGHWAY 11 (541) 938-4200 Mon-Sat 8am-7pm Sun 9am-6pm www.Ranch-Home.com Not all products available at all stores. Images for illustration purposes only. Good through 08/31/15.
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