These mountains were called the blue hills because they were colored blue by camus flowers in the spring. The camus plant was a main food for the Kalapula Indians. It is sort of like a potato.

"The creeks around here come going the river."

Her real name was Thelma Downes and she lived near Opal's school on Mosby Creek road across from the Stewart Covered Bridge. Thelma is the only friend that Opal takes exploring and teaches about the animals of the forest.

Thelma Downes died in a fire near her house in the spring of 1905. She was 25 years old.

Opal calls this place where the road goes three ways . It is the intersection of Mosby Creek Road and Layng Road.

Opal's vivid imagination sees Mosby Creek road as going two different directions. One way the road goes west towards Cottage Grove. The other way the road goes is east to her school and the blue hills. Layng Road goes north and onto the upper logging camps and the Bohemia gold mines.

Opal went to the Walden School from 1904-1905. It had only one classroom for students from grades 1 thorough grade 6. Teachers would get one group of students working on an assignment and then teach another subject to the other students. One teacher usually taught 30 or more students of all different grades and subjects.

Rural schools were built six miles apart from each other. Students were expected to walk up to three miles each way to get to school and go home. Many older people can remember walking up to six miles to and from school in rain and snow.

I walked over unto