This collection of oral histories from the people of upper Kittitas county help document the social, economic, and cultural changes in the area. The Roslyn, Ronald, Cle Elum Heritage Club, in partnership with CWU Libraries, are conducting these interviews to preserve local history. These interviews document the history of the area and changes seen over time since settlement. The rich history of the central cascades can now be shared with the world.
Roslyn, Ronald and Cle Elum are in the northwestern part of Kittitas County (locally known as “the upper county), in Central Washington State. It is a beautiful area on the east slopes of the Cascades where settlers in the late 1800’s created towns that thrived on numerous coal mines, timber, the railroad and other pursuits. Although the mines closed long ago, our club is a Washington non-profit corporation that, consistent with our Mission, Vision, and Values Statements, seeks to keep that rich and diverse heritage alive.
These interviews follow up and compliment interviews conducted by Fred Krueger when he taught High School in Cle Elum and later conducted interviews for Suncadia.
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Fred Talerico Video Interview
Fred Talerico
Fred Talerico discusses growing up in upper Kittitas county and all the activities for youth in the Roslyn. He talks about changes in the area when the mines close.He tells about his time in the U.S. Navy with two tours to southeast Asia. Fred also talks about his career as a coal miner in Alaska. He explains the work of the VFW and his many years as commander of the local chapter. He talks about modern problems and changes in recent years.
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Gary Fudacz Video Interview
Gary Fudacz
Gary Fudacz talks about growing up in Washington and working on farms and later in forestry. He discusses his time in the army and getting his degree at Central before working in the forest service. He also talks about starting the little league baseball in upper Kittitas county and later youth football. He continues to raise cattle with his brothers on a ranch on the Teanaway river. He mentions his family immigrated from Poland and initially worked in the coal mines of Roslyn.
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Claude Montgomery Video Interview
Claude Montgomery
Claude Montgomery talks about growing up in Eastern Washington and how things have changed over the years. He discusses his time in the army after being drafted at 24. He also talks about his career as a logger and time spent in Alaska working a cattle ranch and later a mink ranch. He discusses his personal philosophy and dedication to work.
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Video Interview with Violet Burke
Violet Burke
Violet (Vi) Burke talks about growing up in a household with twelve kids and being the middle child. Her family were farmers and she learned to enjoy farm life at an early age. She also discusses finishing high school in Ellensburg after her family moved away. She became a nanny for a local family to be able to finish her senior year of high school. She discusses her love of music and singing. SHe talks about how she met her hisband and their life farming together and the people they would meet and work with. Vi was born in 1926 and has lived most of her life in the upper Kittitas county area on her farm off Teanaway road. She has three sons.
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Tom Craven story by Ethel Craven Sweet
Ethel Cravens-Sweet
Ethel Craven tells the story of events following the funeral of her nephew Tom Craven. Tom died fighting forest fires at a young age.
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Ethel Craven-Sweet talks about founding the Black Pioneers of Washington
Ethel Craven-Sweet
Ethel discusses how she became interested in history and founded the Black Pioneers of Washington.
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Video Interview of Frances Divelbiss Glondo
Frances Divelbiss
Shannon O'Malley interviews Frances Divelbiss Glondo. Frances discusses growing up in Roslyn and Cle Elum. She talks about her diverse ethnic background and education. She also talks about raising her family while her husband was in the navy and was away for months at a time. She later returned to Kittitas county in retirement.