The Lewis River Hydroelectric Projects - PacifiCorp

Lewis River Interpretive & Education Plan
• Pamela Fabela, Heritage Center Director, Yakama Nation
• Marilyn Malatare, Curator, Yakama Nation
• Ed Arthur, Asst.Tribal Historic Preservation Officer, Cowlitz Indian Tribe
• Mike Iyall, Cowlitz Indian Tribe
Interviews with Local Residents
Several locally written books on the early settlement history of the Lewis River
Valley were very helpful in developing the cultural history portion of the storyline.
Publications such as Fields of Flowers and Forests of Firs (originally written by
the Woodland History Committee in 1958) and Pioneer Families of Yale Valley,
Washington by Mary Helen (Laughlin) Rice. Sea Reach also conducted interviews
with local residents who grew up in the Valley. Residents interviewed in person
include the following:
• Mrs. Margaret Colf Hepola, who was born on a homestead just above the site
of Ariel Dam and who has written extensively about pioneer life in the valley.
• Mr. Thomas Frasier, whose family homestead was located near present-day
Yale Dam (the Saddle Dam cuts across some of their farm fields).
• Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Reese, who operated a small general store at Yale in
the 1930s.
• Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Bozorth, whose families homesteaded in the Lewis River
Valley and Woodland area.
• Mr. Don Stuart, whose family settled in the Yale area in the 1930s and who
worked both as a logger and soil engineer for the construction of Swift Dam.
• Mrs. Elva Dobbins, who was born in the valley and grew up on a homestead
near Yale.
In addition, Sea Reach interviewed other locals with historical knowledge, and
gathered photographic resources, during public meetings (see below).
Public Meetings
Sea Reach and PacifiCorp conducted a public meeting near the beginning of the
project to gather local information, meet with and apprise interested parties of
the progress of the Interpretive and Educational plan. The meeting was publicized
several weeks prior to the meeting date, inviting people to attend and requesting
information and historical photographs. The meeting was very well attended and
lasted several hours. Two members of PacifiCorp staff, David Moore and Jane
Hills, were available to answer questions and Sea Reach presented preliminary
exhibit design. Most of the meeting was devoted to talking with the attendees and
scanning historic photos. Several locals had so much information to share that
Sea Reach made appointments for follow-up meetings and interviewed them at a
Sea Reach Ltd • 146 NE yamhill Street • Sheridan, OR draft 3 • November 2008 • page 9