Morty the Dog

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Buttons - Misc. - 1979

Burlington,

Vermont

Taxi, Driver

License

2414

This was my I.D. button when I drove a taxicab in Burlington

Morty Comix # 2492 found a new home and enhanced a recent issue of Cat Fancy in the Centralia Timberland Library, Centralia, Washington. Outside the library is a memorial honoring the four WWI veterans killed in the Centralia Massacre, Nov. 11, 1919.

I had relatives on both sides of that tragic event where Wobblies and vets clashed. My great-uncle testified at the trial. His mechanic business was next door to the IWW Hall. In the early 1970s I interviewed several people who were involved, including three eyewitnesses to Dale Hubbard's murder and Wesley Everest's capture. I also learned about the prosecutors wiretapping the defense during the trial at Montesano and what they did with the info. All in all, a pretty sordid story, and one day I'll publish it.

Family trivia: My great-great grandfather once lived in a house at the present location of the gray building in the background of the last photo.

Monday, December 31, 2012

Phone photo 2168

Skagit

La Conner, Wash.

Buttons - Misc. - 1985

29 & Holding!

Phone photo 2167

Elma Variety

Elma, Washington

Buttons - Misc. - 2009

Missing Since June 26, 2009

Lindsey Baum

Lindsey, who was 10-years old at the time, vanished while walking home through the middle of town. Hopefully the case will be solved soon.

Phone photo 2166

James Abbott mural, created August 1995, Elma, Washington

Morty Comix # 2491

Morty Comix # 2491 was placed between the edge of a bench and the wall in a popular Centralia, Washington restaurant

Phone photo 2165

Biggest Buck Contest!!!

Montesano, Washington

Sunday, December 30, 2012

Buttons - Misc. - 2002

Whale Done!

On reverse: China

A button designed to promote a book about management by Ken Blanchard. I have no idea why it turned up in my box of buttons.

Phone photo 2164

A portrait of that one-eyed genocidal pirate, Robert Gray, "discovering" the harbor that now bears his name. Found in the Grays Harbor County Courthouse, Montesano, Washington. Personally, I would like us to rename this chunk of land "Sasquatch County." The so-called Sasquatch myth is more credible than the bunk we have been fed about Robert Gray.

Favorite Movie Quotes: Giant

"You ain't even worth hittin'. Jett, you wanna know somethin' true? You're all through."

Phone photo 2163

Isaac Stevens, Washington's first territorial governor, is pictured stealing land from the Natives of Grays Harbor in the 1850s at a site that is now the city of Cosmopolis. Yes, we actually have a city called Cosmopolis here. Locals call it "Causy." This scene is in the Grays Harbor County Courthouse, Montesano, Washington, which the locals call "Monte." Monte is a most pleasant city.

Stevens has a controversial place in Washington history generated in part by his shabby treatment of the Indian population. After he left our corner of the world, he was killed in action at the first Battle of Bull Run in the Civil War while serving in the Union Army.

Morty Comix # 2490

Morty Comix # 2490 was tucked behind a sign at the recently closed Hostess bakery in Tumwater, Washington. The Twinkie Weiner Sandwich is now a thing of the past.

Morty Comix # 2357 had been left in the yellow real estate box on the corner last May.

Phone photo 2162

Superior Courtroom, Grays Harbor County Courthouse, Montesano, Washington

It seems like I get a summons for jury selection once a year. But this time I was actually selected to sit on the jury. It was a criminal case and the trial lasted only a day. A fascinating experience.

Saturday, December 29, 2012

Mysterious Activity

Bezango WA Interview with Ron Austin

The TESC blog, The Evergreen Mind recently posted a nice interview with filmmaker Ron Austin about the Bezango WA documentary.

Also included in the post is the entire panel discussion (apparently) starring Matt Groening, Craig Bartlett, Drew Christie, Tommy Thompson, Megan Kelso, Ruth Hayes and yours truly from last May!

Thanks to Louise Amandes for directing me to this great blog.

Buttons - Commercial - 1980s?

Deluxe Bars & Grills

Another mystery button. I am guessing this was made for the De Luxe Bar & Grill on Seattle's Capitol Hill, a place I have never visited. The image on the button is very small and I'm wondering if the cartoonist here is someone I know. The style reminds me of Ed DeVore or Flicky Ford.