In a recent issue of Washcoegg, the official publication of the Washington Cooperative Egg and Poultry Association, John C. Lawrence, manager of the Winlock station, pays tribute to the thrifty and united Finnish farmers of his community - Winlock. He writes: "As our nation is made up of many states and our states of many counties, so is a district such as Winlock made up of many communities. Each community has a personality. Sometimes there is a picture made of a combination of pictures of many different individuals so put together that it represents the characteristics of all in what is called a composite picture. When any given community is strongly organized its character is a composite of the individuals who make it up.

"The community lying some five miles south of Winlock and two miles northeast of Vader is known as Finn Hill. This name is given because the people living there are of that nationality.

"Here are some of the characteristics: When I went to this community several years ago, where we then had no members, arrangements were made for me to return to a meeting where all would be present. At that meeting I presented the merits of the association and invited them to join. The reply was that they would talk over the matter between themselves after I was gone. If they concluded to join, they would all join, otherwise none would join. A few days later I received word that all would join, which they did.

"Last week at their request, I acted as spokesman before the county commissioners on a road matter affecting some of them. All were present. Some seventeen families were represented. Coming back, I was told there were over sixty voters and they all voted alike. They further said there were no radicals among them, that they were satisfied with our government and believed in obeying its laws.

"This is a prosperous community. The old military road runs along the top of the ridge or hill and the homes are facing this highway. It lacks rural delivery of mail owing to the road conditions, but this will be secured in due times. While all our local communities are full of co-operators, there are few so closely united that they act in concert in every matter not only affecting all of them, but which affects the interests of a few. 'All for one and one for all' seems to be the motto and it works well."

Source: The Chehalis Bee-Nugget, Friday, 11 Nov 1927, page 16.

Transcribed by Jenny Tenlen.