Reflections: Excerpts
In 1996, Moses Lake residents, many of them children, identified the reasons why they came to the community and why they stayed.If Moses Lake didn't have dams and water we wouldn't be here. Roses are red, violets are blue. I love Moses Lake because it's cool.
Brandon, age 10
Our family moved to Moses Lake when my husband Bill became the Farm Management Instructor at Big Bend Community College. When I first learned of Moses Lake's annual rainfall, I thought I'd be lucky to get a bath once a week! We planned to stay 'three to five years max,' but we're still here after 26 years. We found Moses Lake to be family friendly, and Bill still loves working with farm families. We've made many good friends, and we've come to appreciate the stark beauty of the area.
Teri Looney
My family moved here because my dad got a job here. We stayed because we made friends and liked Moses Lake. We first lived on the base then we moved in town. We've lived here for three years.
Maria, age 9 almost 10
My family came to Moses Lake in 1954. My parents were migrant farm workers who were looking for work in the sugar beet and potato crops. They liked it and stayed, migrating in and out of town. They made Moses Lake their base. I was born here in July, 1970.
Ruben Vella, age 26
My family came because my dad had a better job here in Moses Lake. We are making lots of money, and we grow good foods because we can eat and not have to go to the grocery store all the time.
Autumn, age 9
We came to Moses Lake as newlyweds in 1936 to work in Percy Driggs' apple orchard. Depression times. No other work readily available. Was and is a good place to raise watermelons, onions and potatoes and also children. All of our four graduated from Moses Lake High School.
Nadine Driggs, age 79
My dad, Edward L. Ehlert, moved his family here in 1949. He had a road grader and worked on the "Farm-In-A-Day" project; helped build the earthen dam across Potholes Reservoir; and probably dug more "ditch pads" for the farmers' fields in the early years of the irrigation project than anyone else (prior to 1958). He also helped build many of the new roads--including cutting 3rd Avenue through town as it exists today. He helped with snow removal every winter.
Anonymous
My family came to Moses Lake because we thought it was a safe town.
Anonymous child
I wasn't thrilled at the prospect of moving to Moses Lake. However, my husband was offered his first teaching job here and a job's a job. Since we have lived here, we have never been bored and love our friends in the community. We have also become active in our church. We basically have been growing "roots." Yeah! Moses Lake!
Sue Mather, age 33
We stayed here because of the water and because we made friends and my grandparents live here.
Morgan, age 9
My husband loved fishing and hunting, and he went to work for U & I Sugar over here, so that's why I came. In fact, I loved it after I saw it . . . I've been in the city all my life so I loved that openness, fresh air, and after I learned how to fish, that was it. I was hooked just like everybody else.
Carrie Kitty Blakes
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Yadira Garcia describes life as a high school student in Moses Lake
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