Story of Eugene Barnet by Jennifer Gibbs of Wallowa History Center

Tuesday, January 21

12-1pm

In January and February 2025, Fishtrap will produce its Big Read program. The book this year is The Cold Millions, a novel by Spokane writer Jess Walter. His tale is based on real events in Spokane in the early 1900s–a “free speech” movement aimed at corrupt government and industrial interests and those of workers. The Industrial Workers of the World, the “Wobblies,” eventually packed Spokane streets, and 400 people were beaten and jailed in the ensuing conflict.

In a related story with a connection to Wallowa Country, Jennifer Gibbs of the Wallowa History Center stumbled upon the sheet music, “Wallowa Love”, written by Eugene Barnett, dedicated to his beloved wife, Effie.  Jennifer did some digging and found that he was a miner and Wobbly member from Idaho. He was framed for murder during a union raid in Centralia, Washington in 1919, and along with several other Wobblies, was sent to prison.  His daughter, of Lewiston, wrote his biography, Ripples of a Lie.  He was a Blue Ridge Mountain native, Appalachian coal miner, Northwest logger, United Mine Worker, Wobbly, prisoner, poet, cartoonist, craftsman and stubborn idealist.  Jennifer has tracked it all down and will tell us the fascinating story at a January 21 “Tuesday Talk” at the Josephy Center.