A. A wild plum
B. Ground fog
C. Icy water
D. Upset stomach
E. All the above
F. None of the above
Actually, there is no correct answer because nobody knows for sure. A, B and C are possibilities, Klamath Indian words that are similar to tumalo. D is my very own definition: "That spicy chili gave me severe tumalo. Got any antacids?" Anyway, Tumalo is a popular name in the Bend, OR area: Creek, State Park, Tavern, Coffeehouse, and about 30 more places and businesses have the Tumalo name.
The unincorporated community of Tumalo, between Bend and Redmond is a census designated area, population 488. In the early 1900s it had its own school, Bobcats as the original mascot, later upgraded to Tigers. Apparently bobcats fell short of the mark when it came to those ferocious Tumaloians. Tumaloites? Tumalofers? Whatever.
The pix of the girls basketball team, below, was undated. 1930s maybe? Anyway, gotta love their outfits. I assume they were called Tigresses.
Here's the entire school in 1938.
And here's the most impressive thing with the Tumalo handle: Tumalo Falls. We visited it last year.
