Blog Archives

Yesterday's Voices: Merlie Rhoten Reeves

2/12/2018

Merlie Rhoten & "Pat", at the Farm, c1941

February 1 & 8, 2018 Episodes.

Many of our guests initially say that their lives aren't interesting enough that anyone would want to hear about them. Of course, we do!! How could the story of someone who commuted by horse over the undeveloped Candelaria Hill to the Rhoten family farm in Roberts not be interesting? To a one, however, each guest later remarks how much fun it was sharing their stories with us.

Merlie and David, c 1936

Elizabeth (the 7th namesake) Merle Rhoten was born in 1930 and she proudly states her age as 87 years! Merlie, as she's known by all, is the older sister of David A. Rhoten, our very first Yesterday's Voices subject who strongly suggested we should chat with her. A self-proclaimed tomboy, Merlie shared many stories of her life in Salem, both at the family home at 1845 Church Street SE, across from then-Leslie Junior High-now South Salem High School, and at Grandfather E.A. Rhoten's dairy and poultry farm in the Roberts area of south Salem along the Willamette River, backing up to what is now the Illahee Country Club development.

Rhoten Family Home, 1845 High Street SE

Although Merlie was born in a home on 23rd Street, just off State Street, what is considered the Rhoten's family home was built in 1937 on High Street SE on two lots across from Leslie Junior High School--now South Salem High. The house had three stories and a master bedroom en suite bath, very unusual for the time. The home, designed by Clarence Smith and built by Franz Joseph, was even featured in an article in the Oregonian newspaper about designer homes. The home remains in family possession, currently as the residence for the family of Merle's daughter, Christie O'Brien.

Merle's 1937 Class at McKinley Elementary School

Merlie shared her memories of driving the hay truck/trailer on the Farm at age 10, visiting the circus that set up on the field below Leslie Jr. High School (now the football field of South Salem High) where she and friend Beverly Beakey agreed to peel potatoes for admission fees, searching those grounds for coins after the circus left, and collecting bottles with Beverly on "Necker's Lane" behind McKinley School in her red wagon to turn in at the corner market. As did many of our guests, Merlie also has very fond memories of the Mickey Mouse Club meetings at the Elsinore Theater. This weekly event was held Saturdays at 1:00 p.m, and was hosted by her neighbor Holly Wolfsburg.

Ruth, Merle, David & George A. Rhoten at Family Home on Church Street, c1940

The Rhoten family were an integral part of Salem's society at this time. Although she much preferred her tomboy life on The Farm, Merle obediently accompanied her mother, Ruth Ross Rhoten, on her social rounds. Mrs. Rhoten often hosted teas and other social events at their home, as well as working to bring several cultural events to the area. At one time the Rhotens entertained Harry Belafonte and the renowned opera singer Marian Anderson, who was chauffeured back and forth to Portland by Mark Hatfield for each Community Concert Series performance, as no Salem hotel would accept a guest of color.

During the WWII years, Merlie's father George was a Civil Defense warden, whose duty it was to walk the neighborhood nightly to see that all were in compliance of the Blackout rules. They had a victory garden in the lower lot, and the family often entertained soldiers from nearby Camp Adair. One aunt insisted that the large barn at The Farm should be painted camouflage so it wouldn't be bombed. As we've found with our previous guests, the internment of the local Japanese residents was very upsetting for Merlie and her classmates, not understanding why longtime citizens and friends were being whisked away. Her father's sister also left to be a teacher at the Tule Lake Internment Camp.

Graduation, 1948

Merlie, playing the flute, met the boy who would become her husband, John Reeves, at Junior High combined concert events (John attended Parrish Jr. High). John was noted for having the longest delivery route for the Oregon Statesman newspaper. She was a member of the Girls Athletic Association, loved to dance and attended sock hops often. The Rhoten home was centrally located and became the hub of young social life. (Daughter Christie remembers that still being the case in her teen years.) The Cherry City parades were a big deal for them, often riding on a decorated truck advertising the family dairy. Her memories of the Oregon Centennial were not as fond, as she was made to wear a period costume not of her choice!

Merle, Shirley Webber & Bev Beakey "studying" in Hawaii, 1954

John & Merle, Acacia Fraternity, OSU, c1951

Following high school, Merle went off to Oregon State University and obtained a certification to teach Health and Physical Education.

While at OSU, she and Bev spent a memorable term in Hawaii, supposedly studying Hula and Psalm 23, where she surfed and spent much time at the beach. Merlie Rhoten and John Reeves were quite the couple at OSU, the tomboy and the properly dressed salesman from Bishop's Clothing Store.

Their lives would soon be interrupted by the Korean War.

John's army camp and his buddies (right), Korea, May 1953

John would come home from Korea and attend a fifth year at University of Oregon to obtain his degree in accounting, leading to a career as a certified public accountant. A lifelong Beaver supporter, he tried valiantly to hide his "Duck" times. Merile and John became engaged at Christmas 1954 and were married July 7, 1956. The local newspapers had wonderful write-ups of the betrothal party and the wedding that you can read if you wish. The family wedding photos below illustrate the ties that lovingly bind the memories of these special events.

Coralie Doughton Rhoten, Ruth Ross Rhoten, E. Merle Rhoten

John William Reeves, George A. Rhoten, and David A. Rhoten, c 1956

A family where traditions are held dear and encouraged through the generations, three brides wore the wedding dress that began with Merlie.

Merle Rhoten Reeves, 1956 (L), Heidi Olsen O'Brien, 2007 (C) Susan Reeves Hino, 1981 (R)

And because we are suckers for historic wedding portraits, a few more:

Ruth Elizabeth Ross Rhoten, 1924

Elizabeth Merle Rhoten Reeves, 1956

Bess Ross, Merle's maternal grandmother

Merlie and John shared almost 60 years of marriage before John passed away in 2015. They have two accomplished daughters, Christina O'Brien of Salem and Susan Hino of Seattle. We loved hearing their stories--stories of good times, struggles, world events, hard work, and shared fun. This family with its strong roots in the past, present and future of Salem is typical of the personalities that built our town into the city we know today. Another great chapter from Yesterday's Voices.