Where the Huckleberries Grow

by Agnes Rands

Where the Huckleberries Grow is the story of an immigrant family and their experiences in the logging camps of northwest Washington. The people in the early camps--primarily young, hard-working Scandinavian immigrants --struggle against harsh and uncertain circumstances but are sustained by an inner strength and joie de vivre, even in the face of tragedy. Agnes Rands lived the life she describes in this book. A retired English teacher, she resides at Black Butte Ranch, Oregon.

299 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

Reviews

[Jack Schuffenhauer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the book a lot. A true story of logging family in the 1920s and 30s in the Hoodsport, Potlatch, Lake cushman area. Dar and I have been to the Old Mill tavern mentioned in the book. Also, Dr. Linkletter who delivered the families two girls was the doctor that delivered Dar and her sister Kathy. My aunt Marie was Dr. Linkletter’s receptionist into the early 70s. A must read for the Schuffenhauer family!😊

[Denise · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book mostly because although the family in the stories was not my direct family, my family were also Swede-Finns who emigrated to the PNW to log the Olympic Peninsula but on the Pacific side of the mountains, so these stories are a window into what life was like for my early relatives in America. I found it fascinating to learn about the hardships and joys of a logging camp life and to imagine my great grandparents living there and experiencing these things.

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

From Finland in 1915 two young people immigrated to the US and found each other in Portland at a dance. They were married the next year and lived in the Seattle area. Charlie felt things would be better as a logger. They moved to Potlatch, Hood Canal to work for the Phoenix logging company up near the original Lake Cushman, i.e. before the dam was built. Clearly, the author has done her research, on both the area and nature of life in those days. I have to admit that, having grown up there along the Canal and played logger for several years, it was fun to see all that from others eyes.

[Cynthia Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very interesting read for anyone of Scandinavian descent and/or has an interest in the Pacific Northwest logging industry in the early 20th century. Life was hard, folks, and those ancestors were tough, resilient people!

[Lilly Pomeroy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating book about growing up in a logging camp near present day Lake Cushman, the Olympic National Forest, and the Olympic National Park near Hoodsport off of Union Canal.

[Susan Halvor · Rating 3 out of 5]

What I appreciated most about this book was the story of a Swede-Finn family in Western Washington working in logging camps in the 1920s, which is also the experience of my great grandparents.

[Melinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting autobiographical history of growing up in a logging camp in the Pacific NW during the early part of the 20th century. I initially picked it up as research for my own novel set in the same area. The story was engaging and I really did begin to care about the family and their fate. The only issue I had with it was the writing style. There were places in which the author actually used the phrase: "Suddenly and without warning." that drove me up the wall. It took me much longer to finish this book than it should have and it was entirely due to the writing style of the author. Perhaps that makes me sound a little snobby, but it really did get on my nerves. Having said that, considering the fact that I actually finished the book despite not being able to engage with the writing says quite a bit about the strength of the storyline.