Some Residents of Note at Gooseprairie
The women of the Double K had the greatest impact on the Prairie. Kay Kershaw was born in Naches and opened the guest ranch in about 1945. She was a remarkable woman who was one of the first women to climb Mt. Rainier, fly a plane and parachute. During World War II she joined the Red Cross and went, among other places, to Egypt. While playing polo, she crushed a disk in her back and after surgery her leg was paralyzed and even after further surgery, it always gave her some problems.
Isabelle Lynn came as a guest from Washington, D.C. in 1952 and joined Kay as a partner in the ranch in 1956.
These two women were very intelligent, ardent conservationists, and politically minded and set out to protect the mountains they loved. Together they originated the proposal for the Cougar Lakes Wilderness Area. Isabelle served on the Board of Trustees for the National Parks Association.
Early on Kay advertised in magazines in Washington DC and only took guests who would stay a full week so that they would get to know and love the area. That brought many interesting people to the area (including Isabelle), William Douglas, Eric Severeid, and at one time, Kennedy’s entire cabinet. These connections proved vital to getting the area designated as a wilderness area.
Douglases
William Douglas is, of course, the best known person associated with the Prairie. Gooseprairie became an important part of his life. Many of his books describe Gooseprairie and the surrounding areas and clearly show his love of the area. The Boslers are mentioned in at least one of his books.
The women of the Double K had the greatest impact on the Prairie. Kay Kershaw was born in Naches and opened the guest ranch in about 1945. She was a remarkable woman who was one of the first women to climb Mt. Rainier, fly a plane and parachute. During World War II she joined the Red Cross and went, among other places, to Egypt. While playing polo, she crushed a disk in her back and after surgery her leg was paralyzed and even after further surgery, it always gave her some problems.
Isabelle Lynn came as a guest from Washington, D.C. in 1952 and joined Kay as a partner in the ranch in 1956.
These two women were very intelligent, ardent conservationists, and politically minded and set out to protect the mountains they loved. Together they originated the proposal for the Cougar Lakes Wilderness Area. Isabelle served on the Board of Trustees for the National Parks Association.
Early on Kay advertised in magazines in Washington DC and only took guests who would stay a full week so that they would get to know and love the area. That brought many interesting people to the area (including Isabelle), William Douglas, Eric Severeid, and at one time, Kennedy’s entire cabinet. These connections proved vital to getting the area designated as a wilderness area.
Douglases
William Douglas is, of course, the best known person associated with the Prairie. Gooseprairie became an important part of his life. Many of his books describe Gooseprairie and the surrounding areas and clearly show his love of the area. The Boslers are mentioned in at least one of his books.
posted by Dave P at 6:09 PM
1 Comments:
Wonderful info! Very little #doublekranch info has made it online. This kind of story would be great on www.historylink.org Post GP stories there! :-)
Post a Comment
<< Home