Meet the stubborn innkeeper who became a folk legend. Truman of St. Helens is a biography & regional history of Harry R. Truman and his lodge at Spirit Lake, set against the 1980 eruption.
Written by Shirley Rosen (a family insider who worked at the lodge), this 1981 account blends interviews, on-the-ground detail, and period photos. It’s a photo-verified copy ready for the reader or the Pacific Northwest history shelf.
Quick Specs
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Size: 9 × 6 × 1 in
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Material: Red boards; paper pages; printed jacket
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Color: Bright red boards; red/cream jacket with color photo
- Origin or Maker: Madrona Publishers (Seattle) & Longview Publishing Co. (Longview)
- Year or Era: 1981
- GENRE: Biography & Regional History (Mount St. Helens, PNW)
- Language / Pages: English, 162 pages
- Identifiers: ISBN 0-914842-57-9; LCCN 81-4304
- Origin or Maker: Madrona Publishers (Seattle) & Longview Publishing Co. (Longview)
- Year or Era: 1981
- GENRE: Biography & Regional History (Mount St. Helens, PNW)
- Language / Pages: English, 162 pages
- Identifiers: ISBN 0-914842-57-9; LCCN 81-4304
Edition & Features
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Edition/Printing: Later printing (number line ends at “2”)
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Dust Jacket: Present with price on flap (not price-clipped)
- Illustrations/Plates: B&W photo sections and text throughout
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Extras: Author photo on rear flap; subject index (photo captions)
Condition
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Grade: Good (reader-ready)
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Notes: Firm binding; light shelf wear; random handling smudges on some pages; uniform page toning; jacket shows mild edge wear/rubbing consistent with age. See all photos—sold as pictured.
Condition Grade Key
Near Fine: minimal wear; tight; clean.
Very Good: light wear; clean text; minor flaws.
Good: noticeable wear; sound copy; scattered marks/toning.
Fair: heavy wear; complete but worn.
About the Author: Shirley Rosen
Shirley Rosen—niece of Truman’s third wife, Eddie—worked summers at Mount St. Helens Lodge. Her firsthand ties inform this account of Truman’s life, voice, and the events surrounding the eruption.
Add a landmark PNW biography to your shelf—read it, then display it.
Disclaimer
The vintage items I share with you have been previously owned and loved and may show some wear. Please use the pictures as a guide.
While I do my best to capture colors accurately, your monitor or device screen may display colors slightly differently from the actual item.
Care & Handling: Handle with clean, dry hands. Store upright, out of direct sunlight, at about 68°F and 40–50% relative humidity. Avoid damp areas and extreme temperature swings.
Please note: If you have any questions or need more photos, ask.
About Reading Vintage
At Reading Vintage, I curate one-of-a-kind treasures for book lovers, decorators, and collectors—including vintage books, retro bookends, and charming collectible pieces
