1915-1950
Ervin Van Dyke was born November 3, 1915, in the family home in Verboort, Oregon, the fourth of Bill and Alice Evers Van Dyke's eight children. He joined older siblings Julius (Juke), Irene, and Evelyn (Curly). He was followed by Cyril, Robert (Bud), Esther and Stanley.
William Van Dyke
family at home,
1928 or 1929
Left to right: Ervin,
Robert,
Julius, Bill, Alice, Stanley and Esther (standing in front), Irene,
Cyril,
Evelyn
The Van Dyke family farmed over 400
acres in the Verboort area, raising peas, vetch, barley, oats, wheat,
clover, and
cherry and nut orchards. Commercial endeavors included cleaning grain,
field dusting and after World War 2, spraying. The Van Dykes always had
plenty of irons in the fire.
Harvest in the late 1920's or early 1930's with the 1220 Case. Juke driving, Ervin on binder, Grandpa Van Dyke "shocking" and probably Esther and Stanley sitting in field. They used to get 20-25 bushels of wheat per acre, compared to 130-140 per acre now.
Dad said the Depression didn’t affect their family much, because they grew or made most anything they needed. They were a self-sufficient family. He did
remember
wearing a black belt that he got as a young boy that wrapped around him
twice when he first got it. He wore it for years. Dad remembered his
childhood
as being more work than play, but he did talk about playing marbles and
roller-skating into Forest Grove with his buddies. Their roller-skates
had wooden wheels that would wear down, so they’d tuck an extra set of
wheels in their pocket so they could put a new set on for the way home.
During his youth, he got the nickname, "Blackie," that stuck with him
throughout
his life.
The Van Dyke family was quite musical, playing various instruments and singing in the church choir. Through his early adulthood, Dad played saxophone and trumpet in "The Nightingales" orchestra with his brothers and sisters. The Nightingales played for weddings and in community dance halls all around the area for many years.
The
Nightingales:
Irene Van Dyke Moore,
Evelyn
Van Dyke Herb,
Ted Higby, Juke Van
Dyke, Ervin
Van Dyke.