05/29/2025
Tahoma Obelisk.
This telephone pole was the center of a epic story. Off of a tucked away street off Mtn Hwy 7 in Washington State, US. A engineering marvel, with some creative negotiation and ofcourse my child labor.
The Tacoma Power came to our little end of the Street and finally noticed that the power pole installed in 1974 was in the wrong spot. It very dangerously went across the peak of the roof clearing it by no more than 18" or so. I remember my dad teaching me how to roll under it and not to touch it. My earliest experience was helping with the roof. In plane language he quite simply said I would die if I touched it.. He raised a 9 year old who could help roof and was smart enough to understand this simple rule. Natural selection parenting, I passed.
Alas, the electric company a few years later decided it needed moved. They said the pole was free but my dad had to pay to get it installed. Aahhaw! A loop hole he saw it instantly the wheels were turning. He found out what day it was to be delivered and instead of scheduling professionals with equipment he pulled the van parallel to the driveway. They came with the pole and he had them place it on the cargo rack of the trusty old blue Ford van 1968 1 ton vintage, rusting and now fully loaded.
Upon coming home from school and down the drive way I saw it.. A 50 ft telephone pole sitting atop the van. Normal kids would be shocked or puzzled.. I ,however, was wondering what his next move was with the power company.. I had my answer! Out of place and wonky looking on top of the van but I wasnt surprised. He told me his plan and to work I went.
My father and I both enjoyed watching documentaries on history, war, and during the 90's Egypt. So many good shows of mystery and discovery all seemingly with Zahi Hawass the face of Egyptian archailogy in the 90's and even today.
I remember watching a show featuring the the Obelisks. On egypt and how they could of done it. It is these episodes my dad drew his inspiration and hatched his plan. He being the overseer and me the laborer I set out digging a hole. For several days after school I dug a 6 ft or so hole that had a slanted ramp. When the hole was deep enough we enlisted some neighbors. Gathering every come along, rope and chain and our neighbor Brett's trusty blue s10 pickup we started to pull the pole off the van into the hole. We worked carefully to pull, heave, crank and balance the at times the unwieldy pole. If this went south it was my room that would pay the price. As we erected this monument of Erl's creative thrift we placed rocks, etc in as we slowly propped it to 90 degrees. Success! It took a hour or so to get it secure but we had done it.
He called the electric company to tell them they could move the power now. They questioned him saying the contractor hadn't told them the new pole was installed. He took delight in telling him he had already done it.
The home place sold, my father passed all that remains is this power pole and the memory of how the hell it was erected.
Never understatement the tenacity of a frugal Marine, child labor and a 1968 Ford 1 ton van..
