Back by popular demand are some of Larry's unique mountain bluebird photos taken in his native Bickleton.  One of his favorite, upper right, is his 2005 snapshot of a bluebird with a classic Bickleton nest box taken near the Odd Fellows Cemetery. This month, with the assistance of Ada Ruth Whitmore at the Whoop 'n Holler Museum, he photographed a bluebird chick inside a birdhouse (upper left.)  Lower left is Ada Ruth and Lawrence Whitmore, taken this month at their museum south of Bickleton. Ada Ruth was among many Bickleton-area volunteers who promoted, established, and cleaned bird houses in the Bickleton area, restoring the necessary nesting habitat for bluebirds that was lost to farmland development. The town recognizes a Richland couple, Jess and Elva Brinkerhoff, who were picnicking near Bickleton in the 1950s and started a tradition of putting a can in a tree for the birds.  That led to the familiar blue and white birdhouses. The state's oldest operating tavern (1882), was renamed the "Bluebird Inn" and the small town now declares itself the "Bluebird Capital of the World." The photos demonstrate that all these efforts paid off.

Sam Ganders, Larry's grandfather, was among four men who led efforts to bring a turn of the century Merry-Go-Round to Bickleton for the nearby Pioneer Picnic in 1929. The historic carousel (Armitage Herschel/Spillman) was purchased from Oaks Park in Portland and has been restored and operates every year in June. It is more than 100 years old. and could date back 120 years. There are less than 10 operating in the United States. The horses are on display at Bickleton's Carousel Museum.  (By the way, Oaks Park still exists as a Portland amusement park after 108 years of continuous operation. That may be a clue to the Bickleton merry-go-round's age.)  Both Larry's grandfather and father, Former State Sen. Stanton Ganders, served as presidents of the Pioneer Picnic celebration. A prominent wheat farmer in the region, Sam Ganders also worked at the bank and eventually became a member of the Board of Directors.  An antique water trough from Sam Ganders' barn is also currently on display at the museum.  Our Bickleton trip to re-discover family roots also took us to the Whoop 'n Holler Museum south of Bickleton where Larry's great grandfather's1800s buggy is on display.  We also saw the family cider press at the Presby Museum in Goldendale. Below is Larry in front of Bickleton's restored Livery Stable. Larry's grandmother was the daughter of the owner of the stable and "The Grand Hotel" that was across the street.  Below right is the great grandfather's buggy. Read more about Bickleton and our family at the Ganders History Page.