Prior to its present location in downtown Clayton, The Grange Hall was located west of Clayton on what was then known as the Farm to Market Road and now Williams Valley Road. Up through the mid 50s this was the primary gathering point for the Community. From Grange meetings to Scocial functions of all nature, it became the gathering place of some of Clayton's most prominent citizens. Clarence & Wilda Nord, Emil and Margraret Tobeck, Paul and Ella Gibson, Paul and Alma Berger, Hayes and Elva Lewis, Royal and Elva Clouse, The Chistansons, Carpenters, Schliemanns and on & on. Alma Berger passed on in 2008 leaving Eddie Olson the sole surviver of "The old Timers"
Danny Calicoat, son of Marvin and Wilma. Marv and Wilma were the stars of entertainment at the Clayton Grange dances. They were light on their feet and cut a mean rug.
Snuggled amongst the mostly century old homes, hope springs eternal. Here is a magnificent log dwelling built by and owned by Jimmy Lee Hatfield. Jimmy Lee was superintendent for Burton Construction Company when they did such a wonderful job of remodeling the Clayton School.
Putting up hay the old fashined way, loose. It was always a little exciting to load a hay rack and get it in the hay mow before it rained. Most barns had a haymow door with a track that extended past the outside wall, On this track was a pulley and a carrier. Strung through this was a large at least 1 inch diameter very long rope. The rope was dropped down to the load of hay and connected to a set of slings placed , one at the bottom of the hay rack and another half way up. The carrier had a trip and to this was hitched a light trip rope. The team was hitched to the long heavy rope at the opposite end of the barn. The horsres pulled the sling load up, along the track to about where the load was to be dropped. Pull the trip rope and the hay fell into place in the haymow, ready to be fed to the livestock during those long cold winters.
A rather different view of the Baker barn. Randy and Taffy Long have had the right side restored. There are two photos down in the right hand column showing the Baker's life in 1931
Bill Wesling is the son of Mr. and Mrs. George Wesling. Raised on a farm not far from Clayton, he his older brother George and friends rode horses all over. Bill still lives in the Deer Park area. Bill passed away in 2016.
Big Marvin Calicoat hailed from Bozeman, Montana and ended up in Clayton around 1945. He is shown playing in the "Bloomer Girls" softball game about 1950. Arlene Davis Whitney took both of these pictures.
Johnny Norby pictures in the same game as Marvin Calicoat. He and his wife Sally Norby always had their neighbors' well being in mind. They were either working or helping someone in need. One couple they helped over the years was Elva and Royal Clouse. They will not be forgotten.
Clayton native Mae Huffman Fischbach's birth certificate. Now 95 (in 2005) she is as spry and alert as she ever was and has lived in the same house since 1938. Mae passed away in 2017 at the age of 104.
Bloomer Girls softball team, circa 1950. L - R Sharron Jarrett Olson, Agnes Baynes, Wilma Calicoat, Helen Davis, Evelyn Cox, Glenna Ireland, Mary Baldwin, Ruby Lewis, Lucille Olson, Wanda Parker is not shown.
Verna Cox , Vera Cox (Forney) , Cora.
These were the Tiles that went around the Ticket office of the Grange Hall. They went back up as decoration of the Clayton Grange.
Jack Lewis provided the Society with this picture of the Clayton Grange Hall #456 as it stood along side the Farm to market road west of Clayton.
The fireplace and light fixtures are the only remaining parts of the original Clayton Grange Hall. The rebuilding of the Clayton Grange is expected to be completed for the "grand reopening" in October 2008. "Mission accomplished"
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Mr. Ed Kuntz, mechanic at what was formerly Jim Swinyard's Service Station and Garage. Recently demolished, storage tanks removed and a prefab house has been moved in.
Wilma Calicoat and Lillie Glassbrenner, with Wilma as usual, giving joy and support to all she knows and loves.
Guy and Delores Westling Davis. Guy has something cooking.
Mr. Homer Young about to put a load of hay in the haymow. The kids (Neil Cumpton, Arlene Davis, and Mary Baynes) taking on a glass of lemonade.
The Brickyard Tavern, once the Ramble Inn, is still as cozy and welcoming as ever. See that nearest bar stool? I can still see Fred Swanback sitting at his favorite seat, drinking a beer with a raw egg in it. This was his way of celebrating a special holiday. At the other end, just past the walk through, would be Jim Baynes. You never see either one in here anymore. Fred has gone to his favorite watering hole in the sky and Jim is too busy on the old family farm to be bothered. Jim passed away a few years ago.
Catherine Baker in the winter of 1931. Her title for this picture is "snowbound".
Snow piles in the winter of 1931. Our thanks to Carol Baker Betz for these priceless Baker family photos..
The rarest of rare collectors' items from the Clayton Brickyard archives. Privately owned and one of only 5 known to exist.
There were more than a few of these special made bricks but rare enough that a 90 year old Clayton native Eddie Olson claims to have never laid eyes on one & he started working for Wahington Brick and Lime in 1936. This was given to me as a gift in May 2007 by a very special friend. RAC
Carol Baker's grandmother taking her for a ride past the old barn.
Last and youngest of the Dave Baker family, Sharon
Mr. Dave Baker and his wife Ella raised their family in the Clayton area.
In the words of Steve Thomas written in 2009, "My Grandfather Ole Fred Forgey was born in Clayton in 1916, to James W. Forgey and Hilda Westby. Upon passing 3 years ago I inherited these photos." This is the old Ole T. Westby farm on Spotted Road. Ole T. Westby built this barn in the 1890's. Now it’s under the ownership of the Harris and Messerschmidt families.
This is the Ole T. Westby house on Spotted Road along with the barn above photo. Thank you Steve Thomas for this historic photo.
The vast majority of this class spent many years in the area. Frances Wind included. But Mae Huffman Fischbach moved to Spokane with her husband Ted in 1938. Bought a neat little home on the north side and has lived happily ever after.
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