Climbing Town Hill, that stretch of road between Abby Dabby Park and Auvil Avenue, is a modest kind of strength-building exercise for runners, bike riders, and moms with strollers. When we first moved here in 1984, the road was paved but without sidewalks, so pulling my wagon up the hill with my kids, Nathanael and Ben in the wagon, and Ruthie and Geoffrey walking beside was hard work. The practice of getting four little ones all warmly dressed and ready for a chilly walk, making our way around town, climbing gravelly hills, and keeping everyone happy was good training for life's future challenges.
Later, when they grew older, we sometimes took bike rides around town. Going down Town Hill was another kind of adventure. Not long after learning how to use hand brakes, my youngest son, Ben, had the scare of forgetting how, losing control, and calling out "Help! I can't stop!" as he careened down the hill. Gary sped up as fast as he could to ride beside him, calling out instructions. Thankfully, no cars were coming up as they swerved around the sharp corner at the bottom of the hill and recovered balance and control. All of our hearts were racing.
Years later, it was Ben whom I jogged beside going up the hill one day, when my goal was to be able to run the entire distance from our house on Albin Drive, around the park and up Town Hill, and back home. It is maybe 3 miles. I always ended up walking up the town hill, having spent all of my strength until Ben, running beside me, coached, "You can do it, Mom! Keep going! Stay strong!" I think I was barely running, more like walking with a little hop in my step, but I claimed success. The next and each time I ran again, it got a little easier as I thought of Ben cheering me on.
In the old days, Town Hill used to stretch all the way from the park in the second town of Entiat, up the same hill it does now, so it was much longer at that time. I have heard that besides being steep, it was also much narrower. One hoped to not meet another vehicle, particularly a school bus coming the other way. Linda Olin told me that it was thanks to Will Risk, the owner of the old store in the second town, that Entiat Way along Town Hill was widened. Mr. Risk called the road department and staged a logging truck and a school bus meeting on the Town Hill road. It wasn't long before the road was widened for safety's sake. Storekeepers are truly the heart of a small town.
Reports have surfaced on the Facebook group "You might be from Entiat" about a cougar wandering around town, including sightings of it climbing the town hill. It is recommended for pedestrians to stay alert and walk in groups. Personally, I bring an airhorn with me when I am alone. It is believed that cougars are generally timid and will flee when confronted loudly. Safety guidelines advise against running from a cougar, as this can trigger their instinct to chase prey.
As we close the 2024 season of summer Saturdays, and the Museum being open regularly, I am looking forward to the challenges of working together to complete some of the visions of our predecessors and those of our current members. We will be starting inventory of our artifacts. We want to share some of the audio and video recordings and memories of local residents that were made years ago, with our patrons, both at the museum and online on our website. Dick Burkenpas has put much time and thought into the updated version of the website and has designed a meaningful and beautiful logo for ECHS and the Albert Long Museum. Much thanks to his creative work! We are looking forward to the spring when we will be working with the City of Entiat and local volunteers to install a small barn building behind the museum that will house some of the tools and tack. The space gained by moving things around will allow us to organize and display papers and books in a more accessible way.
On Friday, Oct. 4, which I just recently learned from his granddaughter Wendi Crutcher, is the birthday of Albert "Shorty" Long, we will gather at the museum for a day of work: cleaning the exterior and interior, building shelving, moving and arranging items for the little mercantile building, and generally doing pre-inventory organization. We just recently joined the Washington Museum Association and look forward to making more connections with other museums, volunteers, and experts. It is an uphill climb, but we can do it! Life gives us hills to climb, unforeseen and sometimes sudden changes. If we let those challenges keep us from pursuing our goals, and are afraid to take risks, we forfeit the opportunities we are given to grow, to become strong and resilient. It may take a while, but we can make it up the hills, and be grateful to be able to enjoy the magnificent view.
Comments