vernonia’s
voice community
january
09
2009
Schaumburg House Gets Boost
From Wauna
The Schaumburg House, the
home that is being planned for
injured logger Dean Schaumburg,
his wife Kendra and son Sylas, is
back in the news. Project man-
ager Casey Mitchell reported just
before the new year that Wauna
Federal Credit Union has offered
a construction loan on the remain-
ing funds that were needed to be-
gin construction. “I am really ex-
cited,” said Mitchell. “We have
what we need now. We’re going
to start building the house!”
Mitchell emailed an update recent-
ly, that stated the project was about
$50,000 short of its goal. He noted Sylas and Kendra Schaumburg stack wood while readying the
property that will be their new family home.
that the excavation had been done,
and they were looking forward to
pouring the foundation soon, and were continuing to look for donations so they could move
forward. The loan from Wauna will allow construction to begin immediately.
Dean Schaumburg was seriously injured in August of 2007, in a logging accident, and the
family home was flooded during the storm of December 2007, days before Dean was sched-
uled to return home. Schaumburg
has been undergoing intensive ther-
apy for over a year. Mike Pihl has
donated a new lot to build a home
for the family, and Mitchell, Jim
Prpich and Bruce Holz, along with
other volunteers, have taken on the
task of designing and building the
family a new home.
“We will still take donations, but
with this loan from Wauna we are
set to proceed,” said Mitchell.
Family and friends of Dean Schaumburg took out two trees
this past fall in to prepare the site where a new home will be
built for the family.
If you are interested in helping with
the project, contact Casey Mitchell
at 503-369-3133
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Toni Barton from the Vernonia Mini Mart presents Sandy Welch , Director of
Vernonia Cares, with a $1,000 check to help with supplies and expenses
Senior Stars of Vernonia
Some of the people who make Vernonia such a special place are our Senior Citizens. We
have a large group of citizens who have lived here for a long time and can offer an excellent
perspective on the history and people of this community. They have lived full and interesting
lives, and have much knowledge to share. Vernonia’s Voice is honored to periodically profile
some of our “Senior Stars.”
Faith Reynolds: A Life of Learning
Faith Reynolds was born May 17, 1912, in Standfield, Oregon, to Elmer Hiatt and Ethel
(Galloway) Hiatt. She had two brothers, now deceased. She moved to Vernonia in 1927, at-
tending Vernonia Grade School for most of her early education and continuing for three more
years in Vernonia High School.
When her mother moved to Portland to work in Emmanuel Hospital, Faith moved with
her mom and worked in the dining room of that hospital, earning 25 cents per hour. Between
shifts, Faith attended Jefferson High School in Portland. She graduated from Tigard High
School in 1933.
It was also in 1933 when she met and married Ralph (Boomer) Reynolds. It was a dif-
ficult economic time with the country still living under long-lasting effects of the Great De-
pression. Faith emphasizes that the Great Depression lasted nearly ten years, a fact of which
many people are unaware. However, Ralph and Faith, as a newly married couple, extended
welcoming arms to others as family members lived with them and sought employment op-
portunities.
Faith says she’s always enjoyed being a homemaker, and values those who also under-
stand how important making a comfortable home is. She said she learned to stretch funds
and find creative ways to brighten their home, even teaching others sewing and handwork
skills. Despite the difficult economy and a busy life, Faith went to night-school to further her
education.
Faith and Ralph moved to Vernonia in 1934, and raised their two children here. Their
daughter, Marjorie, and son, Roy, were born within the next eleven years. Both children are
Vernonia High School graduates. Faith has three grandchildren and seven great grandchil-
dren who are the apples of her eye! Ralph and Faith were married 56 years, until his death
in 1988.
Faith has had many wonderful work and vacation experiences in her lifetime. She was
one of the people who manned the fire station lookout at the end of Keasey Road, she has
worked for the Red Cross, and in the Vernonia School’s cafeteria in 1955. She took evening
classes through Portland State University, eventually attending full-time to complete her
teaching degree, which she received in 1960. She taught kindergarten and first grade in Ver-
nonia from 1962 to 1978.
After her college graduation, Ralph and Faith traveled for six weeks by train, touring
thirteen countries in Europe. That mode of transportation was especially enjoyable, since
Ralph’s occupation was that of being a locomotive engineer. He was allowed to ride in the
cab of the locomotive several times during this vacation. In 1986, Faith had a twenty-one
day tour through China. Another vacation was in 1991, when Faith visited her son in Austra-
lia, while he worked there for four years. Faith has also visited Alaska, Mexico and Canada.
She stresses that she always traveled for more education. “It has been a dream come true to
see so much of the world,” she states. “I am thankful for the many opportunities I’ve expe-
rienced to see and learn how others work and live.”
Many years ago, Faith and Ralph purchased a lot in Long Beach, Washington, and built
a beach cabin there with the help of their children. She still owns that cabin and enjoys vaca-
tions there as often as she can. Faith was a quilter at the Senior Center from 1979 to 2008.
These quilts were raffled off every year and acted as fund-raisers for the Center. She also
was a member of the Vernonia Extension from 1933 to 2007, until it disbanded. Not every-
one can say that they’ve lived in the same house for seventy years, but Faith can make that
claim!
When asked what her current interests are, and what keeps her going, Faith clearly de-
clares, “This is the joy of my life: I never ceased my deep interest in education. Therefore,
in my old age, life is still exciting. I enjoy reading and listening, keeping up, and being aware
of the marvelous world and opportunities around me. Many friends and neighbors stop to
visit me, both old and young. They are the treasures of my world.” Faith also said, “I am
appreciative of our local library. We should be proud of it. I usually read four books a week,
if time allows, and find this to be a wonderful way to further my interests and education.”
Faith’s great-grandparents settled in 1883 near Mist. Faith still helps maintain their
family cemetery on Old Burn Road. She is compiling the history and genealogy of seven
families as a result of her excellent memory, stories, and pictures. It would seem Faith’s
education is leading the way for new generations to expand their education!