Some of Grandpa Dicks Songs

Richards home on Lancaster Drive in Salem, OR

This is the home on the ranch that Grandma Maysel and Grandpa Dick owned on Lancaster Drive in Salem, OR. The back of the picture says 1951. That would have been right after they finished at the Oxbow Ranch in Prarie City.

I don't think that they lived here until about 1957 or 1958 and then it was just for a short time as Grandpa went to work for the Pacific International livestock Exposition.

I do remember visiting them when they lived here. I remember all of the "green" colored pears grandma had in the basement.

I also remember the drive up one evening from Gold Hill, OR. We drove past Albany and the paper plant just smelled terrible. Funny thing to remember.

Grandma and Grandpa used this as a rental property for a number of years. I know that during my 4th grade year our family rented it. There was a lovely big barn, a chicken house, a dairy and the acerage (80 I believe) went from Lancaster drive down to what is I-5. At the time that entire situation was under construction. My sisters and I used to ride our bicycles around the clover leaf onto the highway going from Lancaster Drive up to the Detroit Lake Area while they were building it.

Grandpa did sell the farm - the reson - too rocky!! It became a very profitable Sand and Gravel firm and today the house still stands and serves as the Sand and Gravel office.

Richards life at the Oxbow Ranch in Prarie City, Oregon 1945 - 1950

The Oxbow Ranch was owned by the Ford J. Twait Company in Los Angeles, California. Grandpa Dick was hired as the manager in 1945. He retired as the Manager of the Oregon State College Extension Station to take on this position.

I was born while they lived here. I do remember coming through this gate at dark one night.

I also remember being upstairs and Great Grandma Cora Sanderson being there. She lived with Grandma and Grandpa in her later years.

Grandma Maysel told me once that when it was time to can peaches a "truck load" would arrive. There was a crew that tackled to project. I'm sure that Grandma was a good manager of that program.

Grandpa Dick in front of the house - Grandma Maysel is sitting in the wagon (I think). That wagon went with them to Scappoose also. What fun we had in it!

Grandmas Iris garden at the Oxbow. She started collecting iris in the 30's. Always labeled.

The Beaver Slide.

Winter at the Oxbow Ranch

Winter at the Oxbow Ranch

Winter at the Oxbow Ranch

Dick Richards Retires from Pacific International Livestock Exposition

1963 Visit to Portland by Griggs "girls" before PI

Our family had moved from Gold Hill, Oregon to Shoshone, Idaho during the spring and summer of 1963. Daddy was hired to teach Vocational Agriculture and Chemistry at Shoshone High School and started in the spring of 1963. Momma was the last to move as she was finishing up nursing school in Medford. She became an LPN. She was hired at the Gooding, Idaho Hospital when she arrived in Shoshone.

Momma my sisters and I drove to Portland where she took her Nursing Board of Examination. It was just before the PI. This is a copy of the letter I found she had sent to Grandma after our visit.

I do remember this trip - always loved going to Grandma and Grandpas. I was a senior at this time.

Karen

The Griggs Girls at the PI 1961 or 1962

1961 or 1962 at the PI (back) Karen, Maysel Sanderson (Grandma), Dick Richards(Grandpa)

(front) Gayle, Jean Ann Richards Griggs (Momma), Ruth and family friend Herb Chandler

Momma drove us to Portland from our home in Gold Hill, Or. to "help" Grandma and Grandpa at the PI.

We stayed in their duplex on 82nd and Alberta. We girls slept in cots Grandma had fixed up in the basement. Grandma bought us each a food ticket and when we got to the PI each day we were "turned loose" to help out. One thing we did was lead groups of school children through the exhibits. I'm not sure that we knew exactly what we were doing - but, it was a fun week.

It was fun in the evening to sit in Grandpas Manager box and watch the rodeo.

I do remember having to "stay out of the way" every morning while Grandpa got ready to go to the PI. It was a 1 bathroom duplex. Grandma would run him a tub of hot water with lots of Ivory Snow suds!!

School children on tour.

School Busses arrive for tours. FFA boys out front to lead the tours.

1963 Pacific International Livestock Exposition

Dick Richards with Champion Dairy Judging Team from Mollala, Oregon 1963.

Left to Right: Dick Richards, Vic Voreis, win Muffet and Roger Dougherty

1963 Dick Richards (most right) with Oregon State FFA President and other gentlemen

1964 Dick Richards manager of the Pacific International Lifestock Exposition, admires Gold Medal Award presented to him for his outstanding service to Oregon agriculture. Joyce Chapin, Farm Bureau Sweetheart, holds the award as President Harold Beach, who presented the award, looks on. This was presented in Grants Pass, Oregon.

Dick Richards greeting entry from Spokane Interstate Fair 1963 PI Portland, Oregon