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About Capital press. (Salem, OR) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (April 14, 2017)
6 CapitalPress.com April 14, 2017 Archivist collects hop and brewing history By GAIL OBERST For the Capital Press Tiah Edmunson-Morton’s great-great-grandfather, Henry Lawrence “H.L.” Edmunson, grew hops in the late 1800s on a small farm in the Gosh- en area south of Eugene. Al- though the family sold the land in the 1940s, the plant is still a large part of Tiah’s life. “I like to think I have a bit of hop DNA, since I did end up starting the first hops/brew- ing archive in the nation,” she said of her work at the Oregon Hops and Brewing Archives, housed at Oregon State Uni- versity’s Valley Library. The archives are a logical extension of OSU’s role in hop bition, to the development of the plant itself, creating variet- ies resistant to mold, lice and mildew. Modern research is producing new varieties that center on flavors and smells to be used in craft beers. In 2013, inspired by the re- gional focus on beer, Tiah be- gan gathering stories and ma- terials connected to Oregon’s long history in hop cultivation, as well as home and com- mercial brewing history. The Gail Oberst/For the Capital Press archive expanded in 2016 to Tiah Edmunson-Morton, Oregon State University’s hop and brewing include cider, mead and barley. The majority of commer- archivist, listens to hop stories recorded for a recent historic display cial hops grown in the U.S. at the university’s library. today are grown in Oregon and history in the Northwest. The control the “hop louse,” mov- Washington. An interesting land-grant college in the 1890s ing to studies of processing history of hops’ commercial began studying remedies to machinery and, after Prohi- migration from the East Coast to the West is at Tiah’s blog, http://thebrewstorian.tumblr. com. Collecting and archiving the remnants of farming his- tory in boxes and files is “not very sexy,” Tiah said. “But it’s important that I save it so peo- ple can use it.” The archives are lodged at OSU, but Tiah often shares portions of the archives with the public by talking to com- munity groups, creating dis- plays and using social media. Because she spends her days collecting it, Tiah is a ver- itable storehouse of hop histo- ry, excitedly chatting about everything from the crop’s first shipping records in the 1820s found at Fort Vancouver, to more recent acquisitions do- nated by multi-generational hop-growing families. Oregon’s hop history is ex- tensive, she said, and has in- cluded commercial producers that numbered nearly 1,000 in the 1880s. They were hand- picked until the 1930s. Hop harvests filled the small towns with hand-pickers each sum- mer and fall. “It impacted everything,” she said, referring to Inde- pendence, a small town out- side Salem that claims on its website that its population increased more than 10-fold during picking season, attract- ing pickers throughout the region, and migrant workers from across the nation. Filtration • Pumps • Irrigation • Electrical for all your needs, we can handle it for you! WE SPECIALIZE IN BULK BAGS! Anthony Tasselli (top left) is a Drip/Micro Specialist, fully trained in Irricad Design, plus a certified Nelson Twig System Designer. Ag and Environmental Tech degree from NC State. Matt Corcoran (top right) is a Certified Irrigation Designer with over 29 years of irrigation experience, specializing in Micro- Irrigation, Filtration, and Water Treatment. Bob Stanford (left) is also a Certified Irrigation Designer and brings over 35 years irrigation experience and a wealth of knowledge to help serve you and provide solutions. His cell 503-949-9584. Ernst Irrigation is a full service dealership, including a Supervising Electrician on staff. We can handle it! Website: www.ErnstIrrigation.com Please call today, 503-633-1111 20179 Main St. • St. Paul, OR 97137 BAGS: • Seed Bags • Fertilizer Bags • Feed Bags • Potato Bags • Printed Bags • Plain Bags • Bulk Bags • Totes • Woven Polypropylene • Bopp • Polyethylene • Pocket Bags • Roll Stock & More! HAY PRESS SUPPORT: • Hay Sleeves • Strap • Totes • Printed or Plain • Stretch Film (ALL GAUGES) WAREHOUSE PACKAGING: • Stretch Film • Pallet Sheets • Pallet Covers LOCATIONS: Albany, Oregon (MAIN OFFICE) Ellensburg, Washington CONTACT INFORMATION: Phone: 855-928-3856 Fax: 541-497-6262 info@westernpackaging.com ....................................................... CUSTOMER SERVICE IS OUR TOP PRIORITY! w w w. w e s t e r n p a c k a g i n g. c o m ONV17-7/#5
