Sondreson Hall and the Flying Farmers

Mostly, I enjoy writing this column. The North Fork is special to me, and to the folks I write about, and we have special concerns about how to best preserve the area and the things that make it special. Among those things are the fish and wildlife, the forest, the river, and, of course, the rural lifestyle. That means we often disagree on how to protect the North Fork.

Occasionally, though, I have to write about sad or even tragic events, since living in a special place doesn't shield us from the cycle of life. This week is one of those times.

We received word that Ruth Sondreson died on April 14. Ruth was the last person I know who was instrumental in the building of the North Fork Community Hall, which was later named Sondreson Hall.

Ruth and her husband Lloyd ran a logging operation on the North Fork and donated the logs that built the hall. The logs were flattened on three sides at Sondreson sawmill and transported to the building site by Sondreson trucks.

Ruth and Lloyd for many years owned an airplane and were active members of the Flying Farmers. They developed an airstrip on their property and, on many occasions, there were 20 or so aircraft belonging to the Flying Farmers sitting in their meadow.

Where Lloyd and Ruth once lived is now a popular launch site for floaters as well as a popular camping and hunting area and is now owned by the Forest Service. The riverside meadows have been the site of two national Mountain Man Rendezvous.

In the 1950s, Ruth and Lloyd were the prime movers of the North Fork Improvement Association. Ruth served five terms as president and led or organized dozens of social events. She started the now traditional Thanksgiving Day feast at Sondreson Hall. She invited everyone and cooked the entire meal.

As I recall, the first Thanksgiving was baked salmon, but I can't remember if they were caught by the Sondresons or purchased at Pikes Market. At any rate, those first great Thanksgiving feasts have now become an annual event at Sondreson Hall, and it all started with Ruth Sondreson.

Also sad this week was the pending departure of Jake and Rita Keltner. They have sold their cabin, and this week friends and neighbors are helping them pack up and move out. This, of course, is an excuse for social gatherings in the evening. Already we have had magnificent dinners at the Hoiland and Ogle compounds, with more to come in the coming days. Most important is enjoying time with Jake and Rita and working on them to plan future long visits to the North Fork.