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Marianna Peters, the daughter of German-speaking parents, takes us back to quieter times when a family’s life and industry was centered in the family farm. As you read Growing Up in Prune City, you will walk through that delightful time at the turn of the century when the “stuff” of life for many families consisted of hard work, making clothes, cooking, baking, and canning, along with social breaks for church and school. In 1917, the Peters and other farmers planted many acres of prune trees around Dallas, Oregon. The town became known as “Prune City.” Prunes were shipped from Dallas throughout the United States, to other countries, and to troops deployed in Europe.

You will enjoy getting to know Marianna, the youngest of four siblings, as she goes to the small country church where she learned, and then embraced, her family’s religious values and practices. You will sit beside her in a country school as she learns. You’ll smile with her at cherry and prune-picking antics and activities. You will watch her play with other young friends as they wait for the daily mail delivery. You’ll hear her gasp, a few years later, when her name is called as valedictorian for Dallas High School’s graduating class of 1934. Then after a few years in college, your heart will be warmed as you see her falling in love and becoming Mrs. Elvin Quiring.

About the author:

JULIA D. QUIRING-EMBLEN is Marianna Peter’s daughter and Jason M. Quiring is her first grandson. Both spent countless hours listening to the stories Marianna told about her life on the farm. For years, Grammie, as Marianna is called, entertained neighbor kids, her own children and grand children, and the children in her classrooms as she told these delightful stories. With her permission, we have captured a few of these stories of her life in Prune City, Julia Quiring-Emblen lives in Dallas, Oregon