The Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1931-1952, 1939-08-18
By G. Arthur Shepard
John Kyle Recalls Advancement of
Early Projects

John Kyle Recalls Advancement OF
Early Projects
Transition of the Yakima valley
from a sagebrush waste to a pros.
porous agricultural area has beer
witnessed by John Kyle, who came
to Washington territory in 1886
and claims to be the first Negro
to Settle in the Yakima valley
the only Negro who has ever car
ried a brakeman's badge on the
Northern Pacific Railway Co.
Wen Kyle, who was born in Roa-
noke county, Virginia in 1861, came
to Yakima there were few streets
and he recalled recently that the
day he arrived he could stand ir
the middle of town and see every
boundary of the village. He went
to Roslyn when he arrived in the
territory but was so impressed
with the natural beauty of Yaki.
ma that he soon returned to esta-
blish his home.
His occupations ranged from raj
roader. brick mason, laborer or
the Sunnyside dam to farmer. One
of his most vivid recollections OF
pioneer Yakima was a July 4 ce-
LIBERATION held in camp ground
where the Chicago Clothing Co
store now stands. He was lifted
off the ground while attempting
to hold down a balloon at the cele-
bration.
When reclamation service crews
started work on the Sunnyside pro-
ject dam, Kyle helped to remove
the first dirt from the site, he said
While working in Yakima he mix.
ed mortar for the building nov
occupied by the Republican Pub
fishing Co. and also worked as 8
mortar mixer when a catholic hos
pital was built where the Fourth
Street Swimming pool is now 10
Gated.
Prowd of his record as a mar
who always made his own way
Kyle is still active despite his ad
vanced age. He told of helping
build one of the first homes in the
Larson district. Before the towr
of Naches was built he went tt
that district and homesteaded 6
100 acre farm. In 1897 he returned
to his former home in Virginia but
was so depressed by the adverse
farming conditions that he came
back to Yakima and has lived here
since.
ST fell in love with Yakima the
first time I saw it" commented the
enthusiastic pioneer.
Yakimans have just returned
from Annual Church Conventions
held in other cities. Back home
from the Grand Annual Reunion
of the Full Gospel Pentecostal Mis-
sionary Association held in Seattle
Aug. As are Mr.. and Mrs. Russo
Williams and family. James Ro
binson and the Elder U. S. King
Miss Betty Robertson of Tacoma
accompanied the party home anc
remained in the city as guess
of the Robinsons for few days
Returning from the Baptist Asso
citation in Spokane which ended
Sunday, Aug. 13 were Mr.. and Mrs
George Anderson, the Rev. A. Lu
cas-, the Rev. A. w. Williams, Mrs
F A. Hawkins, Mrs Willie Scot
and Parker Harris. Those leaving
soon for the Annual Conference il
Portland of the A. M. E. Churcl
are Mrs. A R Dobbins, who ha.
returned to Yakima and finished
the term of her late husband tn,
Rev. A. r. Dobbins. Mrs. Dobbini
will meet her mother Mrs. ]. Ma
rian Harris of Pasadena at thi
conference Aug % and will return
to her home in Spokane. Other
going include Mrs. L. A. Tolliver
Mrs John Woods, Mr.. and Mrs
John Woods. Mrs. Herbert Jone
left early to visit relatives before
hand. The Rev. George S. Allel
of Seattle was in the city Aug
IL and IA to hold the last quarter
ly conference of the year.
Have you given the goldfish
IL