Story of Eugene Barnet by Jennifer Gibbs of Wallowa History Center

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 touch of the Wallowa in it, Jennfier Gibbs of the Wallowa History Center found sheet music for a song written by a Wobbly striker in Centralia, Washington in 1919. There the Wobblies and the American Legion fought and killed, and several union men went to jail. One of them, Eugene Barnett, wrote a song to his beloved while in jail, and his daughter later wrote a biography of him. Jennifer tracked it all down, and will tell us the story on a January 21 “Tuesday Talk” at the Josephy Center.

Donations appreciated!