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

Dick and Sandy Richards spring snowstorm 1963

May 11, 1963 - a Favorite Story to be told! Grandpa Dick and Grandma Maysel were headed to Madras to attend some kind of livestock sale. It started snowing. Cars were "off the road". Men were "chaining up" if they were lucky enough to have chains.

Grandpa had his ever ingenious wife - Grandma Maysel by his side! She had him stop the car - she climbed in the trunk - and waved at all of the other drivers as they headed right up the road.

Grandma loves to tell how she could see the "idea" of this method taking root in the eyes of the other husbands on the road as they passed by.

Visit from the "Maine Cousins"

Doris (cousin of Dale Everett Richards) and Harry Philbrick in Mexico,Maine 1978
August, 1978 Salemtowne,Oregon
Grandma Maysel, Bill and Jim Richards (Eugene);

Mary Leeman and Audrey Philbrick (Maine);

Grandpa Dick his first cousin Doris(Mexico, Maine).

This picture was quite an event. The "Maine" cousins decided to take the bus "out west". They went to Montana to visit my parents, I'm thinking they went to Idaho to see the Trenkles and then came to Salem.

They were AMAZED at how far apart everything was - being from back east where everything is apparently much closer together.

I had the opportunity to take Doris, Mary and Audrey to Lincoln City. They loved the ocean and we picked lots of blackberries.

My mother stayed in contact with the "Maine cousins" for many years. I did until about 7 years ago - I need to try and make contact again.

Doris lived on the family farm for many, many years. The address was"Back Kingdom Road", Mexico, Maine.

Karen

Margaret Isabelle Richards 1939

The above pictures are of my Great Grandmother, Margaret Isabelle Richards. The picture with the birthday cake was taken in 1939. During this time she would have been living in either Salem or Portland, Oregon. My knowledge of when she moved to Portland is not good.

I do know that my mother talks fondly of the time when she was a girl and the family came from Union to Portland for the P.I.. It was such a busy time, and yet her grandmother took time to teach my Mom to make Deviled Eggs!!

Just a thought - my mom always referred to her grandmothers as Grandmother. Either Grandmother Richards or Grandmother Sanderson. And, she always referred to her Mother as "Mother".

Interesting that I grew up calling my grandmothers "Grandma Maysel and Grandma Ruth" and my mother a variety of things - mom, momma, mommy but never ever Mother.

My mom and her sister always and always called their Father "Dad". But her Grandfathers were "Grandfather Richards" and "Grandfather Sanderson".

Karen

1870 Census Richards Family Mexico, Maine

This is an entry from the 1870 Census - Mexico, Oxford, Maine on 17 June 1870 of the Richards Family. They are listed on lines 17 - 24. Charles Bird is my great grandfather.

I don't know why, but just reading this reminds me of "Farmer Boy". And, why were some of the boys allowed to be home, yet some had to go to school? In June?

Happy Day! Karen