Mount St. Helens oral history interviews and written recollections, 1944-1981

In this interview, conducted by Linda S. Dodds on June 19, 1980, Gilbert T. Benson (born 1929) discusses his knowledge of geology and his study of Mount St. Helens leading up to and after its eruption in 1980. He describes Mount St. Helens' volcanic characteristics, talks about the future of the mountain and the area, and discusses how volcanic eruptions affect people who live near them. He talks about the warning signs before the eruption, and about discussing the imminent eruption with his geology students at Portland State University. He speculates about the future of the area affected by the eruption, including the likelihood of future eruptions. He closes the interview by discussing how plate tectonics contribute to the creation of mountains.

This interview was conducted by Linda S. Dodds at the home of Julia S. Bernard in Portland, Oregon, on August 12, 1980. Bernard (born 1926), discusses her memories of spending childhood summers with her family at the Harmony Falls Lodge, which was located on the north side of Mount St. Helens and was destroyed in the eruption. She describes the cabins at the lodge, talks about the people who operated the lodge, and looks at photographs and discusses them. She talks about recreational activities at the lodge, including pageants and hiking, and about other families who frequented the lodge. She closes the interview by discussing how little Harmony Lodge changed over the 20th century.

This interview was conducted by Linda S. Dodds at the home of Dorothy H. Blasen in Portland, Oregon, on December 2, 1981. Blasen (born 1925) discusses her experiences as a Girl Scout leader at a scout camp near Spirit Lake on the north side of Mount St. Helens from 1966 to 1980. She describes the campground, talks about interactions with nearby youth camps, and lists the gear that Girl Scouts needed to bring to the camp. She talks about how the Girl Scouts she led worked with the Forest Service while they were at the camp. She closes the interview by describing encounters with wildlife in the campground area, including frequent visits from a bear.

In this interview, conducted by Linda S. Dodds and Patricia Keith on July 1, 1980, Russell J. Carmichael (born 1901), discusses his experiences as a logging superintendent for the Weyerhaeuser Timber Company in the forests north of Mount St. Helens. He shares his memories of how the Depression affected the lumber trade, talks about how Weyerhaeuser acquired the logging rights to the land near Mount St. Helens, and describes the equipment they used. He closes the interview by talking about wildlife in the area, and about the possibility of salvaging timber that was downed by the eruption.

In this interview, conducted by Linda S. Dodds on July 1, 1980, brothers Don E. Cripe (born 1911) and Allen B. Cripe (born 1913) discuss their experiences climbing and skiing on Mount St. Helens and around Spirit Lake, beginning in 1935. They talk about fishing in Spirit Lake, about staying at Harry R. Truman's Mount St. Helens Lodge, and about how the landscape of the mountain changed after the eruption. The brothers discuss their involvement with the Longview Ski Club, of which they were charter members, and talk about their role in the construction of the club's Mount St. Helens cabin, which was built in 1935 and destroyed in the eruption. They also describe the dangers involved in skiing on the mountain. They close the interview by talking about how the mountain became more crowded after roads were built to the area.

In this 19-page typewritten account, Patricia E. Dyke (born 1926) shares her memories of spending the summer of 1942, when she was 15 years old, at the YMCA camp on Spirit Lake, near Mount St. Helens. She also describes her experiences while working as a server at Harmony Falls Lodge near the lake in 1945. The typescript ends with a eulogy for the land, buildings, plants and wildlife destroyed by the 1980 eruption.

In this interview, conducted by Linda S. Dodds on November 26, 1980, Edmund Hayes, Jr. (born 1926) discusses his memories of summers with his family at the Harmony Falls Lodge on the north side of Mount St. Helens in the 1930s and 1940s. He speaks about the cabins where his family stayed, discusses other families who frequented Harmony Falls, and talks about continuing to spend summers at the lodge with his wife and children before the lodge was destroyed in the 1980 eruption.

In this 11-page typewritten account, Retlaw W. Haynes (born 1906) shares his memories of spending summers with his family at Spirit Lake near Mount St. Helens beginning in 1922, and describes the cabin his father built on the lake. He writes about mining operations in the area, about Mount St. Helens Lodge owner Harry Truman, and about boating on the lake. He closes with comments about Spirit Lake transcribed from the visitor log his parents kept at their cabin.

This interview was conducted by Linda S. Dodds on August 26, 1980, with a pair of friends: Harold S. Hirsch (born 1907), owner of the Hirsch-Weis company, which later became White Stag; and Amos M. Lawrence (born 1910), an educator. Hirsch and Lawrence discuss their memories of spending summers at the YMCA camp at Spirit Lake, north of Mount St. Helens, during the 1920s. They describe the hike to the camp, discuss camp activities, and talk about camp workers and attendees. Hirsch also shares his memories of an outbreak of diphtheria in the camp during the summer of 1920, in which two children died. They talk about the legend of "Hairy Apes," cryptids rumored to live around Spirit Lake. They close the interview by describing visits they made to the area as adults, and by sharing how their time at the YMCA camp affected them.

In this interview, conducted by Linda S. Dodds and Patricia Keith on June 17, 1980, Kathleen A. Johnson (born 1950) and David W. Harvey (born 1947) discuss their home on the Toutle River, which was destroyed in the 1980 eruption. They describe the neighborhood, talk about their neighbors, and discuss the state of the area after the eruption. They share their reaction to the early predictions that Mount St. Helens would erupt. They look at photographs of their house and discuss them. Harvey talks about the eruption from his perspective as an archaeologist. They close the interview by discussing the work being done to clean up the ash and debris from the eruption, and by talking about how their experience of losing their home and possessions affected them.

In this interview, conducted by Linda S. Dodds and Patricia Keith on June 30, 1980, Jake C. Jones (born 1910) discusses his experiences climbing and hiking on Mount St. Helens and around Spirit Lake, beginning in 1929, and talks about people he climbed with. He describes the climbing gear he used, talks about the dangers of climbing on the mountain, and discusses the old mines in the Mount St. Helens area. He also looks at photographs of the area and discusses them. He closes the interview by speaking about the destruction wrought by the 1980 eruption.

In this interview, conducted by Linda S. Dodds on September 29, 1980, Alice S. Koehler (born 1929) discusses her memories of summers at Harmony Falls Lodge near Spirit Lake, north of Mount St. Helens, from 1935 until 1979. Koehler, a co-owner of the lodge at the time of the 1980 eruption, talks about the history of the ownership of the lodge, describes the cabins and lodge environs, and discusses the recreational activities her family participated in. She also lists other families who frequented the lodge. She talks about the legend of "Hairy Apes," cryptids rumored to live around Spirit Lake. She speaks about other properties around Spirit Lake, and discusses bear sightings at the lodge. She closes the interview by sharing her hopes about the future for the Harmony Falls Lodge property.

In this interview, conducted by Linda S. Dodds on June 20, 1980, James P. Langdon (born 1906) disucsses his family background and early life in Portland, Oregon, and talks about his early interest in forestry. He discusses his work as a landscape architect and recreation planner for the Civilian Conservation Corps in the Spirit Lake area, north of Mount St. Helens, and later as a ranger in the same area. He talks about building campgrounds, about managing huckleberry growth, and about other recreational facilities managed by the U.S. Forest Service on the mountain. He describes the flora and fauna in the Mount St. Helens area, discusses the history of mining on the mountain, and talks about Harry Truman, who lived on the mountain and died in the 1980 eruption. He also talks about several other people who lived and worked on the mountain. He shares the origins of the legend of "Hairy Apes," cryptids rumored to live around Spirit Lake. He closes the interview by talking about his experience as a U.S. Forest Service ranger on Mount St. Helens during World War II.

In this interview, conducted by Julie M. Koler on August 20, 1981, James P. Langdon (born 1906) disucsses his work as a landscape architect for the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s. He speaks particularly about constructing campsites around Spirit Lake, near Mount St. Helens, during the summers, and about his later work as a forest ranger in the same area. He talks his association with people who lived on Mount St. Helens, including Harry Truman and Ole Peterson. He describes how the Spirit Lake area changed over the 20th century, talks about the legend of "Hairy Apes," cryptids rumored to live around Spirit Lake, and discusses the destruction caused by the 1980 eruption. He also talks about interacting with members of the Yakama tribe while working for the CCC in the Mount Adams area. He closes the interview by describing Spirit Lake as it appeared in 1935.

In this interview, conducted by Linda S. Dodds on August 19, 1980, Emil W. Lange (born 1898) looks at early 20th-century photographs of roads and buildings in the area around Mount St. Helens, as well as some family photos, and discusses them. He shares his memories of childhood summers at the Lange family cabin on the Toutle River. He discusses the sawmill his father operated on the mountain, the mining operations in the area, and other people who lived and worked on the mountain, including Harry Truman and Ole Peterson. He also talks about wildlife in the area; about the legend of the "Hairy Apes," cryptids rumored to have lived near Spirit Lake; and about how the area changed over the 20th century. He closes the interview by discussing how his father, Robert C. Lange, built the family cabin in the 19th century.

In this interview, conducted by Patricia Keith on August 7, 1980, Helen M. Leonard (born 1906) discusses her involvement with the Mount St. Helens Hiking Club beginning in 1936, and speaks extensively about working for the U.S. Forest Service as a dispatcher on the mountain over several summers during World War II. She describes her job duties, talks about recreational activities on the mountain, and shares her experiences with wildlife in the area. She also discusses the legend of the "Hairy Apes," cryptids rumored to have lived near Spirit Lake. She talks about people who lived on the mountain, including Ole Peterson, discusses mountain rescues that occurred while she worked for the Forest Service, and shares her experience during a thunderstorm on the mountain. She closes the interview by looking at and discussing photographs and a map of Mount St. Helens and Spirit Lake.

In this interview, conducted by Patricia Keith on July 21, 1980, Hazel M. Marcellus (born 1901) discusses her experiences as a woman fire lookout near Mount St. Helens during the 1930s and 1940s. She talks about staying in a lookout with her puppy, about her job duties, and about living conditions in the lookout buildings. She discusses her encounters with wildlife, fires she spotted, and the legend of the "Hairy Apes," cryptids rumored to have lived near Spirit Lake. She also talks about people who lived on Mount St. Helens, including Ole Peterson and Harry Truman. Accompanying the interview recording are eight black and white photographs, taken by an unidentified photographer during the 1940s, of the areas around the fire lookouts Marcellus stayed in.

In this interview, conducted by Linda S. Dodds on June 20, 1980, Gunnar Nilsson (born 1908) discusses his experiences skiing and climbing on Mount St. Helens, beginning in 1929. He talks about his study of the flora in the Spirit Lake area, about his involvement with the Longview Ski Club, and about some of the people who lived on the mountain, including Harry Truman, Jack Nelson, and Ole Peterson. He discusses his work in the area as a mechanical engineer for the Weyerhaeuser Timber Company. He also talks about mining operations and about hunting on the mountain. He closes the interview by sharing his opinion on the various logging companies that owned timberland on Mount St. Helens and their forest management policies.

In this interview, conducted by Linda S. Dodds on November 5, 1980, John W. S. Platt (born 1912) discusses his memories of summers with his family at a cabin at Harmony Falls Lodge, beginning in 1950. He describes the cabin, which was built by the Meehan family and located near a YMCA camp, and talks about the cabin he built for his family on the same property as his children grew older. He speaks about Harry Truman, owner of the Mount St. Helens Lodge, and about Jack Nelson, owner of Harmony Falls Lodge. He also talks about the ownership of Harmony Falls Lodge after the Nelsons retired. He describes his experience climbing Mount St. Helens. He closes the interview by describing the fish and wildlife around Spirit Lake.

In this interview, conducted by Linda S. Dodds and Patricia Keith on June 30, 1980, Robert E. Quoidbach (born 1925) discusses his experiences as a camper, camp counselor, and assistant camp director at the YMCA camp on Spirit Lake, north of Mount St. Helens. He speaks extensively about hiking and skiing on Mount St. Helens with the Longview Ski Club beginning in the 1940s, discussing the club's cabin on the mountain, other club members, and the club's activities. He talks about Harry Truman, owner of the Mount St. Helens Lodge, and describes some of the Spirit Lake lore that children who attended the YMCA camp would share. He closes the interview by reflecting on what was lost in the 1980 eruption.

A one-page typewritten account in which Bettie Lou Rogers (born 1922) shares her memories of flying a seaplane over Spirit Lake, north of Mount St. Helens, and writes about how the eruption of the mountain affected the community of Silver Lake, Washington, where her daughter and grandchildren lived at the time. The written account is accompanied by 4 black and white photographs and 3 color slides, taken by an unidentified photographer between 1944 and 1960. The images depict Mount St. Helens, the Longview Seaplane Service on the Cowlitz River, and a plane Rogers flew over Spirit Lake in 1947.

In this interview, conducted by Patricia Keith and Linda S. Dodds on June 30, 1980, Susan M. Saul (born 1951) discusses her involvement with the Mount St. Helens Hiking Club during the 1970s. She talks about the clubhouse on Mount St. Helens, about her experiences hiking with the club, and about the club's actions ahead of the 1980 eruption. She describes the birds she saw on Mount St. Helens, and discusses her involvement with the Audubon Society. She also speaks about her work for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. She closes the interview by talking about the final hike the club took on the mountain, eight days before the eruption. Accompanying the audio recording are two black and white photographs, one showing members of the Mount St. Helens Hiking Club at Ape Cave on June 22, 1974, and the other showing members of the club on February 1, 1975.

In this interview, conducted by Linda S. Dodds on June 18, 1980, Silas W. Scoggins, Jr. (born 1929) discusses his experiences as a caretaker at Spirit Lake Lodge near Mount St. Helens from 1963 to 1971. He talks about working for Harry Gustafson, describes the area around the lodge, and discusses the lodge's visitors and accommodations. He describes spending winters at the lodge alone with his dog. He speaks extensively about the Mount St. Helens Lodge, which was owned by Harry Truman. He also shares his thoughts about the legend of the "Hairy Apes," cryptids rumored to have lived around Spirit Lake.

In this 2-page typewritten account, Maxine L. Shannon (born 1921) shares her memories of a ski trip on Mount St. Helens with the YMCA in the winter of 1937, in which her group was caught in a snowstorm.

In this 3-page typewritten account, E. Mowbray Tate (born 1902) shares his memories of climbing Mount St. Helens while spending summers at the YMCA camp on Spirit Lake in 1915 and 1916. He describes being struck by a falling boulder during a climb in 1915, and being carried down the mountain.

In this 8-page typewritten account, Thomas Vaughan (1924-2013), director of the Oregon Historical Society from 1954-1989, describes his memories of seeing Mount St. Helens for the first time after moving to the Cowlitz Valley in Washington as a child in the 1930s. He writes about his experiences on the mountain and at Spirit Lake during his childhood and teenage years, and later as an adult after he returned to the Pacific Northwest in the 1950s.

In this interview, conducted by Linda S. Dodds on June 30, 1980, Willard H. Walker (born 1897), who worked as a lumber mill foreman in Longview, Washington, shares his experiences climbing Mount St. Helens and hiking around Spirit Lake, beginning in 1924. He talks about logging operations on the mountain, and speaks extensively about wildlife and hunting in the area. He discusses the destruction caused by the eruption, and the possibility of salvaging timber. He closes the interview by talking about the popularity of huckleberry picking and hiking on Mount St. Helens, and about Ole Peterson.

In this interview, conducted by Linda S. Dodds and Patricia Keith on July 1, 1980, Rex L. West (born 1911) discusses his involvement with the Longview Ski Club beginning in 1936. He talks about the construction of the club's cabin on Mount St. Helens, about skiing on the mountain year round, and about the mountain's winter landscape. He speaks extensively about parties thrown by the ski club, and about the club's association with Harry Truman. He discusses his experiences fishing on Spirit Lake. He also talks about the legend of the "Hair Apes," cryptids rumored to have lived near the lake. He closes the interview by discussing the future of the Longview Ski Club in the wake of the 1980 eruption.