The Yakima Herald, Yakima, WA., September 30, 1956, page 3A
Includes photograph
LOOKING AHEAD AT 85
Mrs. Gunkel, Fortunately Won't Have To Move
MARYHILL - Mrs. Daniel Gunkel is a woman who makes one
think that 85 is just about the best age.
She is as busy, active and forward looking as the airliner
she took in August to attend a family reunion in Nebraska.
She will not have to move for home because of the rising
waters of the Columbia. But, she is sympathetic for those who will. She
especially deplores of the loss of Celilo Falls.
Though she and her husband, Mr. Gunkel have lived in
Maryhill for 40 years, she knows that moving can be mean.
Born in Norfolk, England, her parents brought her and
her brothers to a Nebraska homestead.
They later moved to Missouri where Mrs. Gunkel met and
married her husband.
Mr. and Mrs. Gunkel later moved to Badger Mountain in
Douglas County, Wash. They had a homestead when Theodore Roosevelt was president.
They stayed there until their children were ready for
school. For a time Mr. Gunkel did orchard work near Portland. Later they
moved to The Dalles.
In 1917 they came to Maryhill, then called Columbus.
For 27 years they lived in a house near the present ferry landing. When they
arrived there was no ferry though there had been one at an earlier date.
It was resumed some years after 1917, Mrs. Gunkel recalled.
The large house in which they lived had been built originally
for a hospital when the Seattle, Portland and Spokane railroad was built.
Two of the Gunkle daughters graduated from the Maryhill
high school. Mrs. Gunkel said there were about 45 pupils and 12 grades were
taught, though the high school was not accredited.
There has been no high school now for about 20 years.
Some elementary students and all the high school pupils go by bus to Goldendale.
The school building is used at election time for voting
at the precinct still listed as Columbus.
Eleven years ago the Gunkels moved to their present home
just west of the post office and store. "I'm glad we have our little home,"
she said.
The Gunkels have been active workers of the Advent Christian
church of which Mrs. Gunkel is custodian. She was Sunday school Superintendent
for over 20 years.
"I'd seen so many young people grow up here, marry and
move away," she said.
This summer Mrs. Gunkel went by airliner to Kearney,
Nebr. to attend a family reunion. She was the only surviving member of her
family who came from England.
After the reunion they flew east to Washington, D.C.
One of the highlights of her visit there was walking through the White House.
She is very enthusiastic about flying, especially on
the luxury airliners. "So much faster, and more comfortable," she said, "there's
just no other way for long-distance trips."
She enjoys her cooking and housework. She has completed
most of her canning for the year.
One of the Gunkels' children has moved his home from
the south to the north part of Maryhill. They have two daughters at Yakima,
Mrs. Amos Foster is a school teacher at Moxee Central and Mrs. Edith Ward
is a post office worker.
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© Jeffrey L. Elmer