Henry Gerhard, Treasurer
Three weeks ago, on September 25th, HPCC held a community breakfast to bring members together and to honor Doug Taylor – oldest longtime resident, historian, and generous supporter of HPCC and HPFD. Doug not only lived here, he was instrumental in building the High Prairie community we have today. In the event you are not familiar with Doug’s work see the brief recap below.
The excellent breakfast was well attended and a number of newer residents came out. We collected enough in donations to cover all our expenses, plus $49, and gained at least one new volunteer firefighter.
MY STORY
Doug Taylor
I was born in Goldendale, Washington, on January 16, 1934. The folks were living on what is now known as Schilling Road. The Hartland School District, Number 29, consolidated with Lyle School District in 1940 and I started my first year there. I actually did graduate from Lyle High School in 1952. We got our first telephone service in the mid-1940’s on Schilling Road; farmer lines (party lines) had been in prior to this. We moved to the junction on the Centerville Highway and Hartland Road in 1948. That is where we had our first electricity for the Prairie. Dad wired the house there.
I got my first cow when I was 11 years old. Dad bought it for $60.00. The agreement was that I would get her heifer calves and he would get the bulls for feed and pasture.
When I was 19 years old, I bought the Baptist Church, which was built in 1898, and is still standing on my property at 876 Centerville Hwy. The purchase price was $400.00 for the church and 1 acre. There was a Methodist Church on Morris Road before my time. High Prairie had three school houses. One was known as Hartland School. Another was Hog Heaven School and the last was Johnson School. The Hog Heaven School was actually out of the Hartland School District boundaries at that time.
I was married to Dona Brown for 62 years. We have four children: Doug Jr, Martin, Nancy and John. Dona passed away December 17, 2016.
Being part of a small community you wear many hats. I served nine years on the Lyle School Board, several as chairman. Tom Amery and I were instrumental in starting Fire District #14 in the early 1980’s and I served several years as chairman. I also served as Superintendent of the Swine Department at the Klickitat County Fair. I also served as chairman of the Hartland Cemetery Association, which now is in the able hands of Ben and Barbara Parrish. I received the livestock award of O.P. Kreps, County award to the Douglas Taylors. I was first editor of the High Prairian with the support of my wife, Dona, and Cindy Henchell.
My closing thoughts are:
As I think of the progress and accomplishments of the High Prairie folks, I think it is the commingling of ideas and contributions. We have the strengths of together we can build, improve and coexist. I dare say we are quite a mix politically – Republicans, Democrats, Libertarians, ACLU, Independents and probably a couple others. We have accomplished many projects such as the Community Center and two fire halls by working together. The modern national politicians think first of what can I do to get reelected, second what is in my best interest, not what be best for the citizens or the country. I must add however that the local politicians were very helpful for us to accomplish our goals as a community. We have created mail service from three days a week to six, a first-class fire district, a Community Center which can accommodate over a hundred people, goodwill and admiration from other areas.
September 25, 2021 – Pancake Breakfast at the Community Center.