Hoquiam's Channel Point holds an Obama party of its own
Jan 21, 2009

By Callie White
The Daily World

Some residents of Channel Point in Hoquiam say they knew that some day their country would elect a black president. They just never expected to see that day in their lifetimes.

“I knew the day would come, but I doubted that I’d live that long,” said Dolcia Stritmatter, a resident at the retirement community who was riding the excitement of the inauguration yesterday. “It was fantastic.”

Neither, in some cases, did their children think they would see the day.

“We’re just so excited that it happened in our lifetimes,” said Molly Delateur, who was visiting her mother, Billie, during a special Presidential Inauguration luncheon.

The residents were sipping champagne — which had been uncorked once Barack Obama had officially been sworn in and was used for a toast led by Hoquiam Mayor Jack Durney, and eating a menu that very closely matched what the new president had eaten earlier. Seafood stew, a brace of duck with cherry chutney, molasses sweet potatoes and an apple cinnamon sponge cake and sweet cream glace. To replace the pheasant, which was unobtainable, the retirement home substituted a baron of beef.

All the tables were decorated with flags, and the residents were decked out as well. Some wore bright sweatshirts with the American flag or “USA” emblazoned on the front, while some ladies put on fur wraps and men wore suits. Channel Point staff also got dressed for the occasion. Jill Bellis, executive director for Village Concepts, the company that owns Channel Point, had on black-beaded evening attire.

“We’ve never done this before,” Bellis said. “We thought this was a pretty big historic event.”

The inauguration events started with a special morning worship service led by Howard Wilson, a deacon at the local Catholic church. Wilson said he couldn’t have been more pleased to do the honors.

“This was the first time I’ve voted for a Democrat since Roosevelt!” Wilson proclaimed. “I just felt we needed a total change.”

His wife, Betty Wilson, added that she was thrilled with the new president and the fact that she got to see history in the making. Asked if she thought she’d see the day a black man took the most powerful position in American government, she replied, “No! I didn’t! I’m very grateful we’re alive and able to witness the new president!”

Residents had their pictures taken while holding portraits of whoever was president when they were born. There were plenty of people to hold Herbert Hoover and Calvin Coolidge, but there were just three residents who could claim to be born during the time William McKinley and William Taft were president, way back in the early part of the 20th Century.

Wenona Stobie watched the inaugural parade as she sipped coffee after her lunch. She said she worried that right now because of “Bush’s mess,” the job of the president was too great for anyone to manage, but she had faith in Obama.

“He’s a good man,” Stobie said. She added that Obama could help this country heal its painful racial divisions.

“There’s not going to be black and white and all this stuff anymore,” Stobie said.

Marian Vidonis, another resident, said she was ready for Tuesday’s big gala.

“I think it’s the beginning of a new era,” Vidonis said. “We sure need a new era because things are not too good right now!”

Marie Fry, another resident, said she feels relief at the new administration after so many months of terrible economic news.

Fry said she grew up during the Great Depression, and for her it’s poignant to think she may see similarly hard times in her later years. When she was young and poor — along with all her friends and neighbors — it wasn’t a big deal.

“It’s hard if you’ve had everything and lost it, though,” Fry said.

Indeed, finding a die-hard Republican in the lunch room yesterday was an impossible task. Perhaps it was the natural outcome of a party to celebrate an incoming Democratic president. Or maybe Obama’s stated desire to reconcile differences was already going to work just hours into his presidency.

“He has a lot to face, but he looks like he’ll take it,” said Irene Descher.