Charles Lee Helle
born Feb 1935
St Francis Hospitial (above photo)
Kewannee, IL.
9 years 3 months formal schooling, in and out of trouble with the law from the age of fourteen to the age of seventeen. At the age of seventeen a Judge got my attention and from that time on I have bent over backwards not to run afoul of the law.
Age of twenty, went out to Tacoma, WA for a short visit, that short visit turned into a life-long love for the Pacific North West. While there I joined the US Army, (1956) this was to become my job for the next twenty years. Anyone with a interest in part of my military life can find a few boring details at
1958, My Stepfather ( Jess Koening ) and my Mother bought a piece of property in BC Canada. I 1st saw this property in 1959 and from that day I knew that I had found a home. Now forty one years later that feeling is as strong as it was then
I968 I went through my 1st divorce after being married for twelve years. This marriage did produce some offspring that I'm very proud of.
1970 I tried marriage again, 1974 went through my 2nd divorce, no children, no hard feelings.
1971 my Stepfather ( Jess ) and my mother moved to BC Canada, they settled in a small community not to far from the original property they had bought years before.
1976 I retired from the military, packed my bag and headed for Canada. The 1st summer I loafed, fished and loafed some more. During this time I found that I needed something to do. Decided to take a two year hydraulic course in Spokane WA
One year later, I bought a existing antique and junk store in downtown Spokane. ( I think perhaps in a former life I might have been a horse trader or horse thief ) as this type of business? Seemed to come naturally to me.
1983 became bored with buying and selling, realized that I had a lot I wanted to do before I got to old to do it.
1983 sold the store, sold my house and made the move to the property that my folks had bought in 1958.
This property that has became my home can be reached by boat or by a logging road that runs past the property. This logging road is not kept open in the winter time. Results are I go in every Spring as soon as the snow melts. Late March early April on the average.
From the house to the logging road is a mile distance up over a fairly steep hill. (1953 I would have called this hill a mountain.) When I retired the only way into the property was by boat traveling from Deer Park, BC up Arrow Lake for a distance of twenty-five miles.1984 I bought a old TD9/bucket loader, with this I pushed a rough road thru to the logging road on top of the hill. ( over the years this has developed into a fairly decent 4-wheel drive road. )The old shack that is my home is the original that was on the property, it 1st started life as two cabins, in the late 30's the property owner (Walter Jowett) got married and joined the two cabins into one. This property has been the main part of my life since 1984, adding on to the old shack, repairs road building, a little logging from time to time. ( 1995 I select logged 25 acres taking 32 loads out) unheard of here in BC at the time. Clear-cut! Was and is the rule here. To see a few photo's of this property click hereBelow is a picture of the place as it looked in 1959
Since my retirement I have set myself many small goals, this web site is one of the larger ones. this goal will be achieved when the 18th generations start showing
this site to their children
2006 update
Damn but time flies, since I started this page a lot of water has flowed under the bridge.
For some reason I still have my good health (clean living and not being married?)
I still travel to the property in Canada every spring from a home I bought in NE Washington state. Still keep pretty active, even bought a portable sawmill a few weeks ago.
2017 Update
Lots of changes this past 11 years, health isn't so good but I'm still alive and bitching . Don't get up to Canada as much as I'd like, biggest drawback is my water system. The hill behind the house requires strong legs which is something I've pretty well lost
