They say “you can’t go home again,” but that’s not just a sentimental saying for Buddy Rose. The longtime chronicler of East Lewis County life and history literally can’t set foot in the small crossroads town where he spent his happy childhood years.
Rose, 77, grew up in Riffe. He and his family had to move away in 1963 after his freshman year in high school as the town and surrounding countryside were submerged by the rising waters of the Cowlitz River behind the newly built Mossyrock Dam.
The name of Riffe later was given to the lake that sits atop the once-thriving village where Rose grew up alongside a big extended family.
To honor their memory and collect stories of the submerged town, Rose wrote the book “Stories from Riffe, Wash.” It’s sold about 1,500 copies — an impressive number for a self-published book that is only sold in bookstores. He’s working on a sequel with tales that didn’t make it into the first volume. He also has stories from 20-some Lewis County veterans of World War II that he plans to put into book form.
Rose is a longtime writer for the East County Journal, covering the Mossyrock City Council and School Board and the Morton Hospital.
“There's a lot of good things happening,” Rose said. “It's important that people know that about their community.”
He also continues a longtime passion of photographing and writing about the outdoors — which is the subject of his second published book, “Fire Mountains: Treks & Treasures” about hikes between our region’s volcanoes. He has also been an outdoors writer for The Chronicle.
In addition, he is a dedicated storyteller for the Mossyrock Historical Society, often giving presentations at their meetings.
All that work earned him the title of grand marshal for the 19th annual Mossyrock Blueberry Festival, which happens this weekend.
“We picked Buddy because he’s been active in several Mossyrock organizations,” said Jim Hudson, a volunteer with the Mossyrock Area Action League, the main organizer of this weekend’s festival. “[Buddy’s] involvement and support has been integral to the Mossyrock Area Action League as well as several other local organizations.”
After becoming a Riffe refugee, Rose’s family moved to Centralia. He graduated in 1966, served in the Air Force (including a tour in Vietnam), and then spent his career working for the U.S. Forest Service in Randle.
While there he and his family built a house in Glenoma. His middle daughter operates a native plant nursery there, Kiona Native Plants.
His oldest daughter is a county director for Adult Protective Services in San Diego, and has given Rose two granddaughters.
Rose’s son is a lieutenant colonel and squadron commander on the East Coast, where most of his work is highly classified.
Rose often visits his family across the country and continues telling the stories of his hometown. He’ll be front and center in the Mossyrock Parade this Saturday at 10 a.m., riding in a Mustang convertible and celebrating generations of treasured Lewis County stories.
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The Mossyrock Blueberry Festival is a labor of love put on by the Mossyrock Area Action League (MAAL), the City of Mossyrock, the Mossyrock School District, the Road Rebels Car Club, and many local and regional organizations.
MAAL could use some more good folks to help them put on great events like this. They meet on the second Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m., in the Mossyrock Community Center. If you like blueberries, parades or just good folks helping make their communities better, attend their meetings and get involved.
Volunteering and helping create a good time for your neighbors might be the only thing sweeter than a fresh slice of Mossyrock blueberry pie.
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Dad Joke of the Week
Q: What do you call a deflated blueberry?
A: A blueby. All the air is gone!
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Brian Mittge is a community enthusiast who has written for The Chronicle since 2000 as a reporter, editor and columnist. He can be reached at brianmittge@hotmail.com.
