Melvin Kivley American Entrepreneur

 


Born 22 Apr 1898

Death 25 Jul 1989 (aged 91)

Port Townsend, Jefferson County WA USA Greenwood Cemetery

Author of the Still and I, From Trash to Treasures, Hadlock Hill

During the Great Depression Mr. Kivley ran a moonshine still in Stanwood Washington to help make payments for his family's farm and was arrested. He was sentenced to one year in jail to be served in Jefferson County. While in jail he improved his English skills and volunteered for any duties. The local Sheriff had a summer place on Indian island that Melvin turned into a self-sufficient farm that ended up feeding the local prisoners. Upon his release from jail he and his wife Ann rented a farm near Hadlock, Washington and turned a dilapidated bunkhouse into a secondhand store he rented for $2 a year and began trading. Their first business venture was selling eggs. Every Sunday they would walk several miles carrying 2 milk pails filled with 12 dozen eggs to sell for 20 cents a dozen. In his book From Trash to Treasures, Melvin shares his take on farming: “Labor on a small farm is a pleasure with the right mental attitude. Variety is the spice of life. Digging potatoes all day is a chore and backbreaking, but for three or four hours it is recreation. By digging this in the forenoon, picking apples in the afternoon is joy. To see the pile of potatoes grow is a satisfaction, and the containers of apples are a sight for sore eyes.”  From Trash to Treasures introduces many local characters such as Emil Fishwasser who was one of two survivors when their German ship crashed on Destruction Island. Also mentioned is  Chetzmoka, who told the story of the Hydas attacking the Chimacum tribe and massacring a family on Marrowstone Island and leaving a baby in a high chair. The baby was later identified as Grandmother Johnson who was raised by her neighbors. The Kivley’s opened several businesses including a lunch counter and also brought properties at tax sales in Jefferson County, In later years they developed a subdivision named Melwood Terrace in Hadlock Washington with a street named Ann Kivley Drive.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Scaffold State of Mind

Image
It was my moment to hail a yellow cab at West 53rd St in Midtown, 189 Bowery and step on it! I had wanted to say instead they hailed me and we haggled in some cobbled together language resulting in cancellation of Muhammed’s Uber ride and decamping in gray beard the sage of Manhattan yellow cab. I had just spent time viewing Van Gogh, Picasso, Diego Garcia and Wojnarowicz’ work and was beginning to ponder this new age where terracotta tones in Two Nudes imbue misogyny and the masks on Les Demoiselles d’Avignon seemingly hide cigarette burns. Starry Night became a mosh pit for a selfie competing with French tourists.  Would Van Gogh want my mug photo bombing his work? I had wanted to stay for Marty introducing the film Black Narcissus and steer the conversation to the Picasso problem. No time for that as we are hurtling down Park Avenue and Waze keeps telling the cabbie to turn left and soon we are driving through the second story of a building on an overpass with inches to spare ...
Read more

A look back: Playland 'Fun for All' the Gayway and Seattle Center's Fun Forest

Image
Finding Playland 2009 documentary In 1930 a small amusement park stood at Bitter Lake near Seattle Washington when Carl E. Phare arrived to build the Dipper an 85’ tall 3400’ long wooden roller coaster towering over the lake and Playland was born. Soon more rides followed; Shoot the Chutes, dodge em cars, Merry-Go-Round, haunted house and free parking for 12,000 cars! Playland featured a midway with games, a restaurant and Funhouse. Admission was 10 cents and 10 cents per ride including the Canals of Venice and entrance to a large dance hall. Playland operated annually from Memorial Day to Labor Day and hosted thousands of fun seekers including a yearly All Seattle crossing guard day when  rides were free.        Finding Playland a 2009 documentary produced by Broadview resident Greg Brotherton features personal stories of Playland including Tobin Fraley whose parents and Grandfather worked at Playland, Tobin describes the park as a living entity that off...
Read more

Thirty ways in Ten days to enjoy Mexico City

Image
  Thirty ways in Ten days to enjoy Mexico City note: sites with links and stars require reservations sometimes weeks in advance ⭐ denotes a Michelin starred-restaurant Chicōmecōātl Maize goddess and deity of food, drink and human livelihood Casa Azul, Frida    Kahlo collection. Basque de Chapultepec Miguel Hidalgo largest and oldest urban park in Latin America   Chapultepec Castle one of two palaces in North America once inhabited by monarchs   Maizajo ⭐ Fernando Montes de Oca 113, Colonia Condesa, Taqueria & fine dining   Casa Azul Londres 247, Del Carmen, Coyoacán Museo Frida Kahlo make reservations Amatista   Centenario no. 31, Col. Del Carmen Coyoacán Tostada heaven expect a line Mercado de Coyoacán Ignacio Allende s/n, Del Carmen, Coyoacán  a public market  San Juan Bautista Church and Monastery, Ignacio Allende s/n, Del Carmen, Coyoacán Contramar Dgo. 200, Roma Nte., Cuauhtémoc Fine seafood dining relaxed atmosphere Cityze...
Read more