In the mid-1800s Ezra Meeker made a late-night trip to the outhouse outside his small log cabin in Kalama and was almost killed by a falling tree. The early Northwest pioneer had devised a creative way to clear the old-growth forest at his Kalama homestead by burning the bases of the trees, but unfortunately he couldn’t control which way the trees fell, and that night one came down right between his cabin and outhouse.
Today, it’s one of Islander Joe Meeker’s favorite stories to tell.
“There he was, caught with his pants down,” Meeker said, chuckling as he sat near the wood stove at his Paradise Valley home.
It’s just a preview of the tales Meeker will tell this Sunday at the third installment of Vashon Community Care’s (VCC) popular Telling Stories speaker series.
Meeker, a descendant of Ezra Meeker, has spent his life learning about the experiences of Ezra and others who travelled the Oregon trail and settled the Puget Sound area as well as other parts of the West.
The 78-year-old retired professor of comparative literature speaks about the past with authority and passion. He said he has found great satisfaction in learning about his ancestors and the history of the Northwest.
“In order to know who you are, you need to know who you came from. … It’s a connection everybody needs to make,” he said.
Meeker’s knowledge extends far beyond the history of the area, though.
Along with tales of buffalo hunting on the Oregon Trail, the California Gold Rush and early encounters with Native Americans, Meeker plans to weave in a larger story of the human race.
Meeker, who is also an ecologist and has studied genetic evolution, recently had his DNA analyzed by researchers at the University of Oxford, who determined that his ancestors settled Northern Italy 15,000 years ago. Marveling at what science can now reveal, Meeker noted that 15,000 years ago Vashon Island had yet to be carved from a thick layer of ice.
“I’ll try to put what I say in the context of a larger history, human life on the planet,” he said.
Meeker is excited to share what he knows with the Island during what he said is traditionally a time for storytelling.
During the winter months, he said, pioneers and Native Americans weren’t as occupied with hunting and gathering and used the extra time and long nights to gather around the campfire and tell stories.
“Winter is a time when people get close to the fire … and reaffirm their relationships with one another,” he said. “Traditionally with the Native Americans of the Northwest, it’s when elders pass stories on.”
Linda Milovsoroff, VCC’s director of development and the organizer of the Telling Stories series, said VCC’s board unanimously chose Meeker as the program’s next speaker.
“Everybody on the committee knew Joe and thought he was an excellent storyteller and had interesting stories to tell,” she said.
Milovsoroff believes the series has immeasurable value on Vashon. She said that in her position she often sees people who realize too late that their loved ones had fascinating stories to tell and interests to share.
“Our whole goal is to get the interesting life stories from seniors, be it a personal story or a passion,” she said.
Milovsoroff said the last two talks, one at the Blue Heron and one at the Vashon High School theater, sold out, and she expects Meeker’s talk at the high school to be popular as well.
The series has been funded by the estate of late Islanders Catharine and David Carr, so all ticket donations will go to the care center.
And though she couldn’t give any details, Milovsoroff said that in true storytelling tradition, Meeker will tell his stories by a campfire.
Joe Meeker will speak as part of the Telling Stories series at the Vashon High School theater at 4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 23. Tickets are available by donation at Books by the Way, Vashon Bookshop and Vashon Community Care.
