Mother's Good Night Kiss

What this sheet music lacks in cover graphic pizzazz is made up for with the back story. The composer and lyricist (Samuel Phelps Totten and T.J. O'Connor) autographed this 1922 piece in Chehalis, Washington, a twin city to Centralia, Washington, where my great-grandmother Jennie Hoss lived. As the only real musical member of the family in 1922, I'm sure it was she who acquired this piece.

The very first bit of sheet of music I scanned and posted here was another Totten work.

Since he was so local, I became interested in Totten, and tracked down his obituary on page 13 in the June 14, 1970 issue of the Daily Olympian.

So many connections. The Liberty Theater later became the Olympic Theater, which is how I remember it. Today the site is home to the Washington Center for Performing Arts.  I spent more than one summer week at Camp Thunderbird. And Marlene Selene was one of my high school classmates.

Apparently Mr. Totten was instrumental in leading the Washington State Employees' Retirement Board in the early years. Quite a career switch! He's the gentleman on the far right. The man standing third from left is John J. O'Connell, who made an unsuccessful bid for Governor in 1968.

I discovered Samuel P. Totten was buried near my office in Tumwater. So on this very rainy day I paid a visit to the cemetery and paid my respects. I actually have an uncle and aunt buried nearby!

Small world.

Phone photo 2834

Derelict theater, Chehalis, Washington

Phone photo 2833

Chehalis, Washington

Morty Comix # 2646

Morty Comix # 2646 was given as an offering to one of the greatest human-made objects in western Washington State, the giant Yardbirds crow in Chehalis! She has a little one under a wing and a splattered egg painted on the pavement beneath her.

When I visited her last year she was still being restored. But look at her now. What a beautiful job!

Anyway, under her front support beams I found a little triangular hole in which to leave my Morty Comix. The designers probably put the opening there as a breathing vent for when the Greeks pile inside and then offer the crow as a gift to the city of Troy.

Postcard - Chehalis, Washington

"Chehalis, Washington, and Mt. St. Helens. This friendly city, located between Seattle and Portland at the base of timbered hills, is the home of the Southwest Washington Fair."

If you click on and enlarge the image, you might be able to see Mount Saint Helens (when it still had a pointy top) on the horizon. Obviously this card was printed prior to the May 18, 1980 eruption.

Chehalis is known regionally as the county seat for Lewis County, for being a twin city of Centralia, and for hosting giant Yard Birds.

Morty Comix # 2371

Morty Comix # 2371 was slipped into the cleaning station of a gas station in Chehalis, Washington

Phone photo 1519

Another roadside mascot for Yard Birds

Chehalis, Washington

Phone photo 1518

A giant crow with baby bird, serving as a roadside attraction for Yard Birds in Chehalis, Washington.

As you can see, the tail end is in the process of being repaired. Restoration work has apparently been going on for awhile.