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Retired Elders Find New LifeReviving Washington TownR,RYDER WOOD, Wash.—(UR); town’s only barber and he re-—The 250 residents of thisitired after 30 years in the' private little town can stake Army. He also is secretary of claim to being the most the fire department, “young-at-heart” citizens in all- “There’s nothing like living,America. in Ryderwood,” said Beckwith.Ryderwood, once the who claims he didn’t intend to| Hogging capital of southwest- work when he moved here, but ;ern Washington, now is a There was a need so he keeps; itown inhabited only by old his barber shop open four days; folks. The youngest resident is a week. i55 years old. As for the fire department,I The new Ryderwood is it has two fire engines and 25 ! located on 220 acres of fertile'volunteer firemen. Recently aland in the northwest part of * Cowlitz county. To live there,fire in one of the town’s houses brought firemen out ina person must be retired and a rush. They extinguished thej have a modest fixed income of flames quickly, preventing! not less than $125 nor more serious damage to the home. ] Than $250 a month. One of the busiest and most!: It’s a busy little community, contented residents is 72-year-The sound of hammer and saw old Albert Fitschen, a retired ion wood throughout the day mortician. He no longer | lets the visitor know Ryder-'worries about putting people |wood isn’t a rest-haven for:away. He spends his time mak-i the aging. ing violins, tuning pianos andThe people of Ryderwood'sharpening hand saws. His work because they want to be:hobbies are archery, guns and busy. Houses are being re- playing the violin in the town’smodeled and painted, lawns string orchestra, and gardens are growing and! The man in charge of the.other improvements are being Town is Col. W. E. Brandt , a made—and by the oldsters, 'retired banker, who is presi-There’s a big sign that ex- dent of Senior Estates.presses the town’s feelingHe said “the reincarnationabout itself, it reads: of Ryderwood was to make it,“Ryderwood ... not just a place where retired persons!more years to our life, but;with modest incomes could jmore life to our years.” :own their own homes and live1The feeling in Ryderwood is;with persons of their own ll that of genuine neighborlyjgeneral age group.” \*folks.Take the “boy” of the town,Outside of contract and v, policy matters, the residents of nfor instance. He’s 55-year-old;Ryderwood run the affairs of s Kenneth Beckwith. He’s the their community. c
Newspaper Details
Racine Journal Times Bulletin
Racine, Wisconsin, US
Sun, Sep 18, 1955
Page 61
Full Page
Clipped by
Timberland R.
WA, USA 29 Aug 2024
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