Other Union Hall Memories
The union was a big part of our lives. Therefore, after reading The Union Hall Story, a number of memories flooded back to me and I had to write.
I never sat in father's lap while he banged the gavel. Nevertheless, I did spend many hours keeping up that place. Back in those days, the hall was not only a organizing spot. It was the social center of the mining community. Once a week we had movies and twice a year we held polka party night.
For 25 cents, you were admitted into the hall and I would run the movie projector. The union only had access to God-awful movies that no self-respecting theater would run. They stared Tex Ritter, Roy Rodgers, Dale Evans, Gene Autry, Barney Google, and Joe E. Brown. By today's standards, they were as captivating as a bucket of sour milk. Back then, however, we took what we could get. The main plot was always that some cows got loose and had to be chased through the town--I can still those scenes repeating themselves over and over and over again while I sleep. While flipping the channels, I sometimes see Dale Evans on TBN. Although she is talking about God, I could still just slap her face for producing years and years of absolute crap.
In the summertime, the main problem was that it was very hot. But, you could not open the windows wide because people would always climb through and get in free. Finally, we had to put nails in the window frames so they could not open them more than a foot.
Another problem was going home. You see, the big Yugoslavian woman (who lived nearby) always shouted to her dogs, "Get those Italoskis!" Accordingly, we had to step lively in order to keep our cuffs from being chewed.
This woman also cut the hair of the Slavic men. So, from all around they showed up because she warmed their ears whenever she hung over their heads. There was never a chance of frost bite in that barber shop. She also gave permanents to many Slavic women. It was always humorous because everyone looked like fat Little Orphan Annies upon leaving.
I guess you could say it was really like Dollywood in her Slavic beer hall/pool room/barber shop. In back, she had a fish pond that had fishes the size of baby Shamoos. Since she almost looked like a Shamoo--only larger, I guess it was appropriate.
During the summer, she always was bent over in the front yard with her behind up in the air. She always said she was working on her flower bed. One day, a character in town gave her a good slap on the rear. As she chased him around the joint, he asked what was the problem. "What's wrong? You've shown the whole town, I just gave it a pat."
In later years, she became a big member of the church and was recognized for always giving the most. When mother became President of the Altar Society, the Msgr. told mom that she would need a baseball bat to keep that wild human beer dispenser under control.
Also long the way home, there was another beer joint. It could have been called the Las Vegas of Barrackville. Unfortunately, the owner was not very skilled in cards because he lost his car, home, and everything he owned. In the end, the mine subsidence claimed the front of his building and that was that.
The other story referred to "loud mouths". It is true that there were many of them. One time, Harry I. did not get his way so he ran off the stage. As he bolted into the side room (where we used to sell refreshments), he forgot that the floor had collapsed the previous year. Unfortunately, we never got around to repairing it. There were many laughs as the whole hall heard the wild scream and the thud during his six-foot drop. Even the Ices said that the Indians never yelled like that. It was not often that the loud mouths got it. So, we enjoyed that special moment of grace.
Another trouble maker got to represent the union in Florida. We had many private ho ho's when we heard that he ended up in the hospital. Apparently, he dove in not knowing that the ocean was cold. They told us that his loud mouth really went "yip!"
Quite a few did not speak English. Therefore, many were always interrupting and objecting but no one knew what they were saying after the first two words. Consequently, it is no wonder that father had to use his gavel. I hope these memories of mine help you to get a bigger picture of our union hall. From time to time, I see cars down there but what they are doing, I do not know.
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