The Gift of Memory

God gave us all the gift of Memory so that we could remember how fortunate we were throughout our lives. That is why we always remember the good things and put the bad things out of our minds.

I remember being blessed to be born into a loving caring family. I also feel privileged to have been raised in the remote mining camp of Duthie, Idaho where we had the freedom to pursue adventures city kids could not. Once our chores were done we could explore anything within walking distance, which would have been anything within a 15 mile radius. Those were the days, if you wanted to go some place you walked, without a conscious effort, as everyone walked.

We hiked into remote canyons to hunt or fish, even camped out for weeks at a time if we chose too! We hiked or rode our bikes the fifteen miles to the railroad bridge below Prichard to go swimming. We hiked the twelve miles to Black Peak Lookout just to visit with the lonesome lookout employee. We hiked the nine miles down to the forks of Eagle Creek where we shot ground squirrels (gophers). Then did the same thing in reverse nine miles home. All of the old abandoned placer camp fields were full of gophers also. I remember how we learned to shoot our old single shot 22 caliber rifles accurately, and Winchester Super X ammo was only 49 cents a box!

When it came time for us to work for wages we were prepared. We had cut wood by the cord with crosscut saws, shoveled dirt with #2 shovels, both underground and above ground. And old family friend “Uncle Pete” worked us at his mine, and on his ranch on Beaver Creek. We started in the mine at age 8 riding the mine cars out of the tunnel. That same summer our dad put us cutting fire killed snags for fire wood with a chain saw. There were many bachelors working placer claims on East Eagle creek that we done favors for, for a cup of coffee or sometimes nothing. We were taught to help the old and infirm with out expecting anything in return.

I also remember how good simple food tasted, flavored with nothing but hunger. Eating trout fresh caught out of a small stream, and cooked over a campfire on the stream bank is one of my favorites.

For employment opportunities we had snow to shovel off roofs and paths. We picked berries for home use as well as to sell to the big hotels in Spokane, Washington. We also sold them the rendered lard off of fall fat black bears used for pastries made in their kitchens.

I can name every dog that was ever in my life, as well as horses that we rode or packed. My grandfather had a ranch in South Dakota so we were familiar with all farm animals. “Uncle Pete” had cows, horses, and chickens on his little ranch.

I also remember the old one room school at Duthie where all eight grades were taught in the same room. There also were many community functions in that little community of Duthie. Everyone was almost like family. Also very compassionate, because most had been through two world wars, the depression of the 1930’s, so they had already experienced hardship and knew how to help their neighbors through their perceived troubles.

Our parents prepared us for life with a good work ethic, which made our work enjoyable. My Dad’s perspective on work, every job deserves your best effort

So cherish your memories, because when you no longer have memories, you no longer have life.

Fred Scott

Wallace, Idaho