Tejanos and Tex-Mex in St. Paul, Oregon 1943-1944
TO: SPMHS Board of Directors
FROM: Miguel A. Salinas, Historian and SPMHS Board Member
DATE: Feb. 17, 2011
REVIEW OF IMPORTANT DISCOVERIES:
- Reconnecting with Dr. Ronald Petrie who taught and administered the Public Schools in 1956-58; our paths would cross four more pivotal times.
- Interviewed (at her bedside) Florence Saafeld who taught in St. Paul Schools most of her professional life- 2008; my teacher in grades 5/6
- Meeting and being nominated by Gerald Jensen and the affirmative vote by Board for my inclusion as part of the SPMHS- 2009
- Confirming the matrimony of my parents Arturo Flores Salinas and Maria Salome Amezcua 1953 and the baptism of my sister Virginia 1951
- Confirmed where my parents lived in 1953- The Bunning’s Farm on Blanchet Rd. My parents became known as the family from the “chicken –coop”
- Receiving a photo copy o my report card – St. Paul Parochial School 1954
- Interview with Marianne Ernst 2009 Confirmation of my parents and uncle as laborers for the Ernst Farms; my uncle’s name was Antonio Amezcua
- Interview with Rosella McKay “Remembering Joe”…In the late 50’s, Joe was Miguel’s adult mentor after school. According to Rosella, Joe recalled a Mexican student who came to talk to him after school.-- Dec. 2010
- Sister Alberta, Mt. Angel College 1966-Reconnected with her in 2008; and confirmed information regarding Sister Rose who was my wife’s (Lidia) boss 1965-66. Sister Rose was the Business Manager for Mt. Angel College.
- Interview with Rita Koessler Schneider and her daughters Feb. 12, 2011—daughter’s Ginny Doran and Lena Koessler assisted in the discussion confirming the story of four men traveling north on 99-E. Their car broke down and instead of fixing the car..they were invited to work at the Koessler Ranch..1943-44; the men were: Manuel Garcia, Santos Vasquez, Arturo F. Salinas (my father) and one other unidentified man also from Asherton, Texas.
GRACIAS: SPMHS Board, Maryanne Ernst, Marian Kuch- assisted with some of my research, Rosella McKay, Dr. Ron Petrie, Florence Saafeld (RIP), Maximiano Salinas, Gerald Lenzen-nominated me to the SPMHS, Father Charles Borho, Charles Geis- School Principal, Sister Alberta-Benedictine Sisters-Mt. Angel, Oregon, and Rita Koessler-St. Paul, Oregon…These people have made the “prologue” of my future work possible. A true blessing! “By writing other people’s story, I discovered my own.”