Garfield, Elberton book shares small-town memories

Garfield and Elberton: Homegrown Memories, is now in print to mark the end of a project which started in the late 1990s.

The 175-plus page, soft-cover, book incorporates local memories with area history and photos.

Author Sally Elder began the book in the late 1990s by focusing on her own collection of Garfield and Elberton tales. During her research at area libraries and historical societies she discovered the number of written items on the two towns is limited.

“There is so much local history out there, but none of it is written down,”Eler noted.

Much of her research involved contacting local and former residents and recording their memories.

“Everyone I talked to was excited to share their stories, which I love to hear. I really appreciate everyone’ support,”she said.

Elder, who was raised in Garfield, fondly recalls trips to nearby Elberton to visit childhood friends.

“The towns were close enough we could each start in our own hometown and ride our bikes about two and one-half miles to meet at Lasz Juvenile Fish Pond where we would eat a sandwich before riding the rest of the way,” Elder said.

Good times in Elberton involved riding horses and camping along the North Fork of the Palouse River.

Elder said her biggest motivation for writing the book was “when I realized my granddaughter had no idea that her own backyard was once home to two separate thriving communities.”

The book includes current photos and information, and entries of “Why I Live in Garfield.”

Joeanne Sarver, of Colfax, won $25 for her entry.

It tells the story of Elberton’s productive years until nature and technology caused the town’s demise. Today, Elberton continues as a park under management of the Whitman County Parks Department.

From 1998-2009 Elder and her late husband Dan Bothell published Palouse Magazine, an area history publication to “put a face on local history.” A portion of those subscriptions went to scholarships for graduating high school seniors, who had to create a story of earlier days through writing or photography. Over the years, Palouse Magazine awarded $7,200 in scholarships and awards.

“The idea of the scholarship program was to help our young people learn something about their hometown, so they could be proud of it before they went out into the bigger world,” Elder said.

The book is available by sending check or money order of $33.50 (includes postage and handling) to Sally Elder, PO Box 548, Pullman WA 99163-0548.