1950 ❖ ISLAND CHERRY JUICE ❖

While I was archiving for the Shaw Island Historical Society in the 1990s, a faithful correspondent and former, full-time resident, Betty Schlott, mailed this story for the record. Well, there is a little horticultural content.

The Dave Federle
and Rachel Copper home,
Ben Nevis Loop, Shaw Island,
San Juan County, WA.
Photo dated 1969.
Courtesy of Margaret 'Babs' Cameron.

"After fishing in the northern waters of Alaska all summer, Dan Hoff was glad to spend his winters on Shaw Island, in his home on Blind Bay. Many cold winter evenings would find Dan walking approximately 1.5 miles to visit his friend Mr. Federle. He shared his bottle of whiskey while Mr. Federle contributed one of his many jars of home-canned cherry juice for the mixer. Mr. Federle was of German descent and Dan was Norwegian, both having noticeable accents. One time Mr. Federle informed me 'that damned Nor v egian can't even pronounce his 'chays.' I had trouble controlling a smile.
      My husband Bud was called up in the reserves in 1950, for the Korean War. Evidently, Dan and Mr. Federle felt sorry for me being alone. One dark evening, though they were quite tipsy, they opted to pay me a visit. Three-year-old Susan was asleep and I was rocking one-year-old Vicki when they arrived. I was nervous about inviting them in so encouraged our large dog to enter too. He was not allowed in the house and couldn't believe his good luck. I tried to be a good hostess offering coffee and cookies, both of which the men refused. They spent about an hour telling me how sorry they were I was left alone with two babies and how unfair the war. I became more nervous as time went along so I stopped rocking Vicki. I figured if she were uncomfortable enough she would cry. This worked and also made the dog nervous. The two neighbors soon decided it was time to go home. Though I had been lonesome I was glad to see them leave. I know now they meant well but at the time I did not appreciate their friendly gesture.
      Mr. Federle grew beautiful flowers and had a couple of apple and cherry trees. Being unfenced, they were a tempting meal for any deer that passed by. Since Mr. Federle felt he helped to feed these four-legged denizens he felt obligated to enjoy some venison. His method was surefire. Sitting in his darkened house with the window open, his shotgun on his knees, and the sill holding a big ripe apple, the deer never had a chance. Many a time a carcass was seen hanging in plain sight in his woodshed. The game warden, sheriff, and anyone else who spotted the deer chose to ignore it."

The writer of this story,
Betty Williams Schlott (1924-2003),
husband Bud, and Susan and Vicki.
They lived full-time on Shaw from 1946 to 1967.
At the time of this writing, it is the home of
 Tia and Frazier, on the north shore of the Island,
overlooking West Sound, Orcas Island, WA.

Dan Hoff (1889-1955), a single man, inherited his large farm on the shore of Blind Bay, from relatives Hans and Catarina Christensen Lee, who homesteaded the farm, to earn their land deed. Not many years after Betty wrote this story, the Hoff place became known as the Wilding Farm.

      David Federle (1875-1952) was married to Rachel "Minnie" Elliot Copper and stepdad to the well-known farmer, Theodore Copper. 
      'Ted' Copper (1906-1987) arrived early enough from Pennsylvania to attend grade school where he met the love of his life, Eunice Biendl. They married in 1932; Copper Hill Lane is named for the hardworking couple who operated a large poultry farm, grew strawberries, and cut their own lumber for the poultry buildings–before they built their house.