Upon moving to the home we lived in for several years in Lake Tapps; we children (in our preteen and teen years) adapted to living in a ramshackle home in the deep woods. Adaptation incurred numerous endeavors.

Water

Because the dwelling was dependent upon a relatively shallow well system for water; and because we couldn’t depend upon its water to be free of contamination; we used that water to support the sewage system and bathtub/shower. We determined that we had little recourse to  such use of the available well-water; but could not trust it to be sufficiently pure to drink such potentially detrimental water. In order to provide water for drinking, cooking and dish washing; we determined that we’d obtain water from a hose available at a nearby country gas station. Availing ourselves of multiple 5-gallon plastic water carriers and an insulated water dispensing cooler with spigot; we boys would regularly travel to the nearby country store/gas station and fill our water containers. We’d then transport them home. Thereby providing necessary pure water for needed drinking and kitchen tasks. Such regular tasks were a regular part of living in Lake Tapps throughout our years there.

Heating

While the structure had a furnace located in the short hallway; it offered only a single outlet into the ‘dining room’ (a simple hole in the wall) to supply the entire house with heat. Hence, what heat there was distributed itself (grossly inadequately) through out the living areas via a simple hole in a wall. At the opposite end of the dining/living room (a sizable area) was a ceiling to floor simple smoke-stained stone fireplace. Inasmuch as we were surrounded with evergreen forests; we older boys took it upon ourselves to cross the street in front of our house to venture a short distance into a healthy stand of ~40 foot evergreens. Felling a tree, we boys hefted upon our shoulders and carried it home to the large cement table providing a covered entry into our front door and living room. With the tree resting on that cement table; we’d saw off about 2½ feet from one end. Repeating our efforts; we’d supply several days of fireplace wood to heat the living area of the home. As the wood pile diminished; we’d select another tree and perform the same cutting and preparation of wood for the fireplace. (Without the fireplace we quickly discovered the furnace supplied grossly inadequate heat to the living room.)

Inasmuch as we discovered very quickly that our felling living trees did not provide readily burning dried wood; we realized we’d need a means to light our ‘green’ wood and achieve sufficient burn so as to supply heat.  (Kindling and other means did not satisfactorily ignite our ‘green’ wood and it would soon extinguish.) Following numerous attempts; we finally were introduced to the use of coal oil (sometimes called kerosine oil) to provide sufficient flame to commence a slow but consistent ‘smoldering’ of our ‘green’ wood and we could finally heat our living room with the trees we’d obtain from the forest. (We eventually learned that we were violating the law by felling unauthorized trees. Nevertheless, surrounded by acres of forest; we decided our meager harvest was doing no harm and continued during cold months.) Consequently, a container (usually metal) of coal oil rested near the fireplace for convenience. Of course, care was taken to maintain distance from the fire to provide safety – even though the coal oil burned rather slowly.

The Well

The well was located approximately 50’ beyond our yard fence in a forested area with a worn path to the cinderblock shed where the well as housed. Periodically the well would lose its prime and water to the house would cease. On such occasions one of us boys would be assigned to traverse the path and prime the well pump in order to restore water to the house. Unfortunately, the cold winters would occasionally freeze the shallow pipes to the house and we’d experience a lack of well-water to supply bathroom needs for a day or so. Likewise, because the well was shallow, it would occasionally run dry during summer months and we’d experience insufficient well water for bathroom needs. Thus, the well would freeze in the winter and dry up in the summer. Suffice it to say, the well did not supply our needs all that well!

School Bus

Soon after moving to Lake Tapps, we became aware that we’d moved ~5oo feet beyond the county line and therefore ~5oo feet outside the Auburn school district where we went to school. However, because we’d already commenced attending Auburn High School while residing in our prior home on Harvey Road; we simply continued to attend Auburn High. Inasmuch as the school bus could only go as far as the county line; we’d have to walk the 5oo feet to board the bus for school. Additionally, we’d gone ~500 feet beyond Auburn’s Ward boundaries. Likewise, since we’d already been attending the Auburn Ward for months; we continued to attend church in the Auburn Ward. However, we’d been attending early seminary prior to our move to Lake Tapps. But because Jay and I had saved some money from our jobs at Leroy’s drive-in; we had enough to purchase our first car – a well-preserved light green 1954 Chevrolet sedan. Upon our purchase we were able to resume our early morning seminary and drive ourselves home from school.

Skunks

Because we had a significant crawlspace beneath our floor; and because there existed a significant opening to that crawlspace; we were aware that animals could establish themselves there.  Nevertheless, because we’d not experienced such inhabitants following several months; we didn’t worry much about it. One night however we were all asleep in our beds when we heard scuffling beneath our floor in wee dark hours of the night. As we could hear that scuffling had escalated into fierce altercation and snarling; we began to smell the distinct odor of skunk. As the battle beneath our floor grew ferocious; we realized that a couple of skunks had taken refuge in our crawlspace and they were each spraying each other. The smell of skunk grew so intense that our eyes began to water. Helpless, we stomped on the floor in order to frighten the invaders and eventually the abandoned the crawlspace. Unfortunately, the damage had been done and the smell of skunk permeated anything and everything. Jay, I and Rick were attending high school at the time and had little recourse but to wear clothing from our closets that bore the smell of skunk for our next day at school. I remember classmates commenting and distancing themselves from me that day. It was a most difficult time. Fortunately, we learned that we could use mothballs to cause skunks to stay away. Hence, we threw several packages of moth balls into our crawlspace to prohibit a recurrence of skunks or any other animal.

Water bottles to warm beds

Us four boys occupied the four bunkbeds in a single bedroom. Because the room grew cold during fall, winter and spring months; and because the beds were very cold as we enter them; we’d boil water and fill mason jars with the hot water. By placing the mason jars in our beds prior to entry; we’d heat the bed sufficiently to avoid 30 minutes simply warming our beds so we could sleep. Later as I experience the cold, clammy sheets of my digs in England; I’d think back fondly of how we curl ourselves around a warm mason jar prior to sleep.

Showers at Church

Over time we boys learned that there was often insufficient well-water to supply showers for all family members. Additionally, we’d begun to spend several hours at the church playing basketball with each other in the meetinghouse cultural hall. Recognizing that we’d often get filthy from hauling and cutting wood; and recognizing that we often didn’t have sufficient well-water to cleanse ourselves; we soon began using the church showers available adjoining the men’s room we used amidst our weekly basketball events. Thus, we weekly took advantage of the churches shower facilities to cleanse ourselves and limit our demand for precious well-water at home.

Poaching

Across the street and about 200 yards from our driveway a sizable lake entitled Mud Lake lay near the roadway. It was surrounded on three sides by roadways and an isthmus dominated Its center. I had frequently observed ducks paddling on the lake’s surface and finally determined that I would endeavor to get one of those ducks. Taking my 20-gauge single shot shotgun; I would walk down to the lake upon arrival home each afternoon and endeavor to sneak onto the isthmus without alerting the ducks. Once on the isthmus; I’d spook the ducks and endeavor to get off a single shot (others would’ve been useless) as the ducks flew overhead leaving the lake. Attempts had been fruitless for weeks and I’d begun to give up. Finally, one day as the ducks flew high overhead; I shot and observed a duck’s right-wing collapse as the duck pealed away from his companions and slid to a crash at the bank of the lake. Retrieving the duck (now dead) from the bank’s rushes; I hurried home to reveal my achievement. I then retreated to the garage to prepare my duck for cooking.  Once plucked and cleaned; I found that the entire duck fit in the palm of a single hand. Entering the living room; siblings requested to see my prize.  Upon seeing my miniscule duck; I was laughed out of the living room to fry up my duck.  Upon eating this small morsel, I decided I’d not poach any further and put away my shotgun!