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Health & Fitness

Arts on the Plateau: Songs of Trials and Triumphs to Honor Enumclaw's Centennial

The Cascade Foothills Chorale is singing their hearts out for you in a tribute to Enumclaw's early pioneers who created this beautiful place we all love.

Enumclaw's incredible stories of it's early pioneers who built our amazing community will come alive in song when the Cascade Foothills Chorale performs May 18 and 19 at 2:30 p.m. at the Chalet Theatre in Enumclaw. If you are new you will learn why Enumclaw is such a great place and if you have lived here most of your life this show will touch your heart and make you proud. The Chorale, in existence since 1976, is dedicating this show to the founding of the City of Enumclaw 100 years ago. 

The program entitled “Coal, Cows, Timber and Trains” features songs that represent the different eras and cultures of Enumclaw’s development, starting with a performance by the Native Coastal Dancers. It took many nationalities to come together to build this community. The Native American Nations were here first. Also, performing is the White River Buddhist Temple Bon Odori Dancers. Several Japanese immigrants lived with their families in small homes up at the White River Lumber Mill while they worked alongside immigrants from Denmark, Germany and Sweden.  

Earl Barker will be singing Sixteen Tons with the chorale backing him. Lori McKenna will be singing, Coal Miner’s Daughter in honor of the coal mining workers who would walk from Enumclaw to Black Diamond and Franklin to work the mines.  Hop Pickin' Time, a new catchy song composed by Trudy D’Armond, will recall that hops was the first real “cash crop” for the Enumclaw area in the 1880s and 90s.   It was a time of hard work and celebration. Picnics, dances, trading, gambling and games were common and anticipated at hop harvest time. “Timing was everything when it came to harvesting the tender blossoms of hops. Kids were let out of school to help,” says D’Armond, a chorale member. “Everyone would drop what they were doing to come and assist in the harvest. The Nation of the Yakima Tribe would travel single file, nearly a mile long, walking and on horseback to come help harvest hops in Enumclaw.”  The words of the song will go up on the screen for an audience sing-a-long.

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There will be songs about the trains, dairy cows, and timber as well. Frank and Mary Stevenson, a founding family of Enumclaw, donated the land for the railroad to build a siding on so that railroad cars could come in and out with produce and people. It truly was the railroad that finally put Enumclaw on the map; along with the vision the Stevenson’s had for their beloved Enumclaw. “Enumclaw was founded by some of the finest, most honest, and hardworking men and women this new nation had to offer 115 years ago” says D’Armond whose family goes back these generations.

Come and experience this show that has inspired the singers and director, Dean Seuss, and will do the same for you. The show is presented by Chalet Arts Showcase Theater (CAST) and produced by CFC.  The chorale asks the audience to bring canned and packaged food to be donated to Enumclaw’s local food bank. Tickets will be sold at the door and at Enumclaw Chamber of Commerce for $10.

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