Oral history interview with James L. and Julie Siebach

              Accession number: FA20- FOTL- GT- F072104. A
Researcher: Russel E. Bachert, Jr. : .
Event: Visit with James L. and Julie Siebach for interview
Place: 624 South, 400 East Orem, UT 84097
Date: 07- 21- 904 /' v " • - • '? - ' : / ;
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Co- worker( s) present: Ronda'Walker Weaver, Harlow Clark and Gloria Throne
We arrived in the afternoon for our interview and Dr. James L. Siebach greeted us at the
door and welcomed us into their home. To the immediate right of the main entrance was
a large living room Which is where we decided to conduct our interview. Before we
entered the home, we stepped onto a small porch and noticed that seeds were drying on a
. tray. Later we were to learn that Mrs. Siebach was dr^ ng them for. food.
Both Mr. arid Mrs. Siebach sat on a comfortable sofa for the interview. Gloria Throne
interviewed Mrs. Siebach first, followed after a short break, with Mr. Siebach. I noticed
that there were several small model cast iron tractors in the living room on the. book shelf.
I recalled from a prior conversation with their daughter Sarah, who is a member of our
class and who had contacted her parents about the interview, that her father had a
collection of five tractors he uses in his orchard and garden. Later I noticed several
magnets of tractors on the refrigerator in the kitchen, all echoing his passion for tractors.
Perhaps the most enjoyable time for me was when we entered the kitchen and noticed a
number. of bottles of juice- on the counter. Bubbling on the stove was a deep orange
mixture which we learned was Apricot puree. Mrs. Siebach asked me if I wanted to taste
it and 1 readily agreed. She wanted to know if she should add sugar. I told her that it was .
already sweet and had a wonderful taste and was just fine. She had the oven door open
"' and. inside . was two; colorful - trays . of Apricot fruit leather.
From the kitchen we proceeded down the stairs into a basement that holds several
bedrooms and her food storage area. Shepointed out to us that the storage area was set
beneath the outside porch. In addition to use of this storage area she also took us into her
daughter's bedroom. Inside a large cabinet were more food items. J noticed some of the -
cans had been purchased commercially andcontained dried milk, She told us that she had
asked her daughter to clear up her roorii so that we could visit. Amazingly she also stores
food in the bedroom occupied by her and her husband, but she make it clear that we
would not go there today.
Later Dr. Siebach took us on a brief tour of his. yard and small orchard. He explained the
importance of owning a water right and said that his one share was now. worth about
550,000. It was evident that he was proud of the knowledge that he had gained on how to
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cultivate an orchard and a bountiful garden. Our visit was most informative and they both
seemed relaxed and willing to give us as much time as we needed. Originally Dr. Siebach
has said that they would have their meal about 6: 30 pm and it was 7 pm when we got in
our car to leave. - , r •
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