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Basque Oral History Project Index Interview Tape Index
NAME: John Odiaga
TAPE MINUTE SUMMARY OF CONTENTS
Tape 1
Side 1
0-10:00 John was born in Boise where the Idaho Power building now stands, on September 29, 1917. His father never owned any property—just sheep—but the family was renting the house where John was born for $12 a month. His father’s name was José Luis “Joseph” (originally from Amoroto, Spain), born on August 24, 1880, and he had come to the US at the age of 18 (according to his daughters Janice and Linda, who have accompanied John to the interview). Joseph didn’t want to be drafted into the Spanish army, and so came to America. He worked for Ory Cole (for whom Cole School was named) for 3 years. He learned to speak good English (no other Basques lived in the area), and was paid more than the other workers at 75 cents a day. He always wanted a horse and saddle to make the distance into Boise. After that, he and friend Joe Uberuaga went into the sheep business on their own. Joseph owned sheep until 1940, when he moved to Portland with his wife to work in a shipyard, where he took care of the tools.
10-14:30 John has 2 brothers, Mitchell (who passed away from scarlet fever at 14, acquired through a tick bite at a sheep camp where he was working with his father) and Joseph. John’s father’s sheep were all over Oregon, with lambing sheds in Vale and Nyssa. He came back to Boise at the end of WWII, around 1945, where he worked for Stan Walsh at the Boise Water Company. This was his last job. (John pauses to talk about his trips to South America and Cuba).
14:30-28:30 John’s mother’s name was Juana Mendasona, born in Ispaster in 1896. She married John’s father (who was 33) in Ispaster on November 20, 1914, at the age of 18. Joseph used to pay for his own trips back to the Basque country, and met Juana on one of these. Her family was one of the largest landowners in Ispaster. The couple moved to the US shortly after the wedding, and she immediately began to work in the sheep camps (John relates a story where she killed a snake). She opened the Beverly Hotel in Boise, where the whole family lived for a time when they were not at the sheep camps. (John relates the story of an old boarder who would walk outside to urinate). The house was kitty corner from the Idaho Statesman building, and John remembers his mother crawling out the window to hang laundry. The Odiaga family stayed at the hotel until they moved to Portland 5 years later. Juana did most of the cleaning for the 6 or 7 rooms (not mostly for sheepherders, but farmers in general), and all of the cooking. John worked at the Zurcher Merchandise grocery store to help his family earn money (but he had financed the construction of the store with no interest), but had also started selling Idaho Statesman newspapers at a very early age, using his bicycle.
28:30-30:00 John describes the Boise Basque community of his childhood. He recalls going to school near Grandview, during which time he lived on a farm with the Plaza family. He was a precocious child.
Side 2
0-8:00 The first school John attended was Central School, in Boise. He describes his adventures as a child: chasing girls, sneaking into the Egyptian Theater, and so on. He was once caught out at night after curfew (the police station was one block away from his house on 6th street), and spent a few hours in jail until friend Marvin Wright rescued him on his motorcycle. John never went to any Basque dances but the Sheepherders Ball. His friends were John Anduiza, the Uberuagas, Angelos Belaustegui (for whom he has a crude little ballad), Johnny Zubizareta (companion for a bizarre road trip to Mexico—worst driver in the world who fell asleep at the wheel and had an accident that through John out the roof of the car), and others.
8-19:00 Until he was 6, John spoke only Basque with his family. His 1st grade teacher Miss Dillard helped him learn English, and eventually wanted him to skip to the 3rd grade, but John was having none of that. John remembers that he had a late start at school because he went through the first grade in Grandview and Nyssa before starting in Boise he followed the sheep with his father, who incidentally had a wonderful command of English. John’s father owned a lot of sheep all over the place, but a farmer once accidentally burned a lot of the sheds and buildings down. John’s brother Jean helped his father a lot with the shepherding (he recounts a story from Nyssa). The rest of John’s school days were mostly in Boise. He remembers Boise High School, where he was quite a good student, once getting the highest grade on his final exam. John worked two jobs during high school. We shoveled coal at Lewis Fuel and Feed in the morning, and worked as a janitor cleaning office buildings in the evenings. (He remembers a story about a friend who played tennis poorly who prompted him to get the job). (He recounts the story of an old maid who lived near where he worked). John graduated in 1937.
19-23:00 John remembers some of the other ethnic groups in Boise at the time. He had a Greek friend named George Colongi who taught him how to swear in that language (which he demonstrates). He shot out all the street lights near the Owyhee Hotel with nails and rubber bands with another Greek friend; he had to pay more than $20 in fines when they were caught because the other boy could not run as fast. John didn’t really get to know any of the Chinese residents of Boise until he was older and employed some of them. He very much enjoyed his life in Boise, with all the diversity. (He remembers another story from his early life, when he went to Scrappy Taylor’s house).
23-30:00 John was one of the first people drafted in Boise, despite his efforts to get relieved from duty because of his interests in the grocery business, such as at Stoner Meat Packing. He got the money for these investments because he did nothing but work and save money all his life (even in high school, he didn’t participate in athletics because of his work obligations). John made money everywhere, even gambling with fellow soldiers in the army. He headed out for the army in February 1941, and was stationed first in Salt Lake City, then to Pearl Harbor (where the war broke out!). (When asked if he saw any action in Pearl Harbor, John laughs and relates a crude tale from mess hall). John spent 5 years in the army, and eventually became a sergeant, but still considers the experience a waste of time. John had to take an IQ test to become an officer, but scored so well he was sent to the East Coast, where he refused to prolong his stint as a soldier despite repeated offers. John married his wife in 1943, while he was still in the service. She was living with his parents at the time.
Tape 2
Side 1
0-10:00 His wife’s full name was Isabel Virginia Bilbao (her mother’s maiden name was Elgezabal). They had met at the Riverside Dance Hall. She was from Mountain Home and was born in 1923; she was 16 the night of the dance, and he was 21. (Once he was stationed in Jacksonville, FL, he recalls having to hitchhike to come see her one year). Once they were married, Isabel came halfway across the country to Chicago, but the trains were so uncomfortable, that he bought a car. This was during gas rationing, and John remembers finagling for coupons. He was supply sergeant in Florida at the time, and the couple lived there a few years, traveling up and down the East coast with their gas coupons, until they moved back to Boise. He opened the Tip Top Market with another Basque, Joe Aldape, and recalls having to sweet talk local restaurants to drum up business. John’s brother Joe worked for him at the market for a time, too. They sold a lot of horsemeat in addition to groceries, but many people were too embarrassed to come buy it. When the price of beef became cheaper relative to horse, they switched to this, and employee Bicandi complained of the smell.
10-19:00 John next opened the Boulevard Market on Main Street. He mostly furnished money to keep preexisting stores running. He still has an interest in the Zubizareta’s Food King stores, and also bought a hamburger stand called the Pen Inn (next to the old State Penitentiary). John also owned parts of furniture stores, real estate developments (like Aldape Heights) and other ventures, most of which he did concurrently. He even had a cattle company called Circle B. John started all of this investment at an early age when most other players were older, and officially retired at 52, although he still draws paychecks from his interests.
19-30:00 John’s children are John Jr. (1947), Janice (1950), Tom (1951) and Linda (1957), all born in Boise. The family never spoke English at home, although some Spanish was used. They were all still interested in the Basque culture, and danced (John participated in the World’s Fair), went to picnics, and loved the food. Since they lived in Aldape Heights with many other Basques, this kind of participation seemed very normal. (John relates the story of a man who lived behind Hermengilda Uberuaga’s house and rubbed meat on himself to keep his dog from straying). John was an early member of the Basque Center, and was the one who suggested the Uberuaga property for its construction (Hermengilda had offered it to him for $20000). He liked to spend time with Basque friends, even though he didn’t always speak Basque with them. He donated the current card table to the Center, and played cards with John Bastida, Stack Yribar and others every Sunday. He even had poker and Mus parties at his home. (John’s daughters remembers that when he was in high school, he through his school books in the alley and hoped they would be there in the morning. Apparently, John Bastida blew up a bunch of school toilets in Meridian. The boys and the school truant officer had numerous occasions to get close). John identifies himself strongly as a Basque, even though he was born in the US.
Side 2
0-2:00 John remembers some more of his childhood mischief. He skipped a lot of church, even though he was whipped for it!
NAMES AND PLACES
NAMES:
Aldape, Joe: John’s
friend and business partner
PLACES:
Aldape Heights (ID)
THEMES:
Clubs and
organizations |
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