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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 1, 2009)
10 community august 2009 Senior Star: Margaret Berndt By Necia DeWitt Margaret (Chapin) Berndt was born July 1, 1912, to Frank and Amanda Jane Chapin in Ellensburg, Washington. She was the fifth of six children, two of whom were twins. All were home births, with their aunt as the delivery nurse. As a child, Margaret has many fond memories of playing together with her siblings in the snow, riding sleds and ice skating. Although Margaret is the only surviving sibling now, her two brothers and three sisters all lived until they were in their nineties. Margaret’s dad was a contract builder. The family moved from Washington to Portland, Cloverdale, and eventually to Myrtle Creek, Oregon, looking for a better climate for Frank’s health. At one time, when the family ran Chapin Furniture Store, the family lived upstairs. Margaret’s mother, Amanda, was of Scottish descent and was a strong and hard worker. Amanda built coffins and prepared the bodies of people for burial. “She had more guts than me!” exclaimed Margaret. The family later purchased a large house which the family turned into a hotel, complete with a dining room. The sisters were responsible to change the linens and keep the guests’ rooms clean. Their mother taught her children the value of hard, honest work. “Mom thought it was important to learn to work, and she loved to work and work hard,” remembers Margaret. “I agree,” she stated. Often, road-building crewmen stayed at the hotel. Margaret’s mother never hesitated to offer advice to the road workers, often lending sound guidance to these hard- working young men. In the late 1920’s, Margaret’s father returned to Ellensburg, Washington, to assist his father in some remodeling work. While there, her father suffered a migraine headache attack and fell off a ladder. He died a few days later. After her father’s death, the family moved to Chemeketa Street in Salem, Oregon. The house, situated on three acres, was owned by Amanda’s father-in-law. This is where Margaret completed her senior year of high school. Although the country was still in the Great Depression, Margaret worked hard to pay for singing lessons, training her high soprano voice. She also took piano lessons. Margaret met Bruce Berndt at a dance while living in Salem, too. They courted for about a year and were married in 1936. The Berndts moved to Days Creek, Oregon, renting a ranch there in 1942. Their daughter, Linda, was born that year. Linda was deprived of oxygen during her delivery, which resulted in a lifetime mental and Margaret. passed away, at the age of 47. Bruce and physical disability. Through the urging of Keasey Road had its own Home Margaret divorced in the 1970’s, so Linda’s a family friend, the young family moved Extension Unit during the 1940’s through care fell to Margaret, alone, for many years. to Keasey Road in Vernonia, Oregon, in 1960’s. Taught by a County Extension Agent, “Lindy was an important part of my life,” March of 1945. They settled on the 160 acre ladies would meet at each other’s homes. Real recalls Margaret. “She taught me things in homestead, which consisted of rugged and life skills pertaining to being farmers’ wives my life that I never would have learned in uncleared land. Their house, first located near were taught: sewing, cooking, farming, and any other way. She was a blessing.” Rock Creek, was moved to its present location gardening skills. There was even a traveling Margaret has a strong Christian nearer the road. Margaret hated the wet, toy box to entertain their children while the faith. She accepted the Lord as her Savior rainy, muddy, stump-laden environment. But lessons were given. Attendees’ last names in the early 1950’s. She has been a part of as the weather improved, so did Margaret’s like Devaney, McFarlin, Siebert, Buckley, several Vernonia churches through the years. attitude. She lived in that same house, though DeWitt, Counts, Keasey, Conklin, Parker, and She is an avid Bible student, still feeling she remodeled a few McDonald were on the has so much to learn from the Bible. “It’s times, for 69 class roster. These the most powerful and fascinating Book ever years. social interactions and written. I never tire in reading, studying, and T h e training were highly learning from it. The Bible contains all the Keasey railroad valued by these hard- lessons we need to know while we live this line dissected the working women. life. When we apply God’s principles, things property. There M a r g a r e t go right. It’s when we seek our own ways, were no fences, remembers another whether as a person or a nation that we get so neighbors’ historic advancement, into deep trouble,” she says earnestly. “I livestock often when West Oregon learn my best lessons by going straight to the w a n d e r e d Electric installed the Lord and His Word!” onto other poles and lines which After living 69 years in Vernonia, landowners’ supplied electricity to in October, 2007, Margaret relocated to property and their part of Keasey an assisted living center in Beaverton. In Margaret Berndt and her good friend moseyed along Road. “Oh, boy, July, 2008, she moved to the Beehive Necia DeWitt. Keasey Road. was that wonderful! Assisted Living Center in Forest Grove. In “You had to Electricity made our December, 2008, Margaret’s nephew and have good brakes on your car,” Margaret lives much easier,” exclaimed Margaret. wife asked Margaret to come live with them laughingly remembered, “and my Model “Those who lived nearer to the end of in Redmond, Oregon. She enjoys being a A didn’t!” Bruce awakened one morning Keasey Road already had their electricity part of family activities, plays her keyboard to hear the neighbor’s cattle in their yard. supplied from the Keasey Dam. However, for her own enjoyment, gardens, and attends Margaret smiled when she related, “Bruce there wasn’t enough electricity generated the Westside Foursquare Church in Bend, charged out of the house, hit a cowpie, and at the dam to bring it down to us until West Oregon. Margaret has a beautiful view from promptly slid down right into it and the Oregon ran the power lines to us.” her living room of the mountains around mud!” In the 50’s, the repeated stress on Redmond. Taking Linda, (who was severely Margaret’s back while she cared and lifted On June 28, 2009, Margaret visited disabled) along with them while they worked Linda led the couple to relocate Linda to The Vernonia for a few days to celebrate her together, Bruce and Margaret cleared their Baby Louise Haven Home, in Salem. Once 97 th birthday. The Scout Cabin was filled land so they could farm and develop it. At her health improved, Margaret worked for with people whose lives have been blessed first, they used horses, and later a tractor or six years at Tektronics, in Beaverton. When through this bright, sparkly lady who always caterpillar. Margaret explains, “When we Linda reached the age of 18, however, a has a ready smile and kind word. Margaret started, we would drop the logs into the creek restructuring decision meant Linda needed would be the first to tell us that it is the and then pull them up to the saw mill. My to live elsewhere. The couple decided to Lord’s light which shines brightly through job was to pole pike them along the way. It bring Linda back home. Margaret continued this Senior Star. was a hard, messy job, but necessary to get caring for Linda until 1989, when Linda the timber to the mill. At the end of a hot day, we would take turns holding Linda so she could paddle her feet in the creek. She loved it!” The couple cleared an area next to Rock Creek, and later put in septic lines and dug a well to supply water to the sites. Much later, it became known as Creekview Lane. It has Becoming a Reserve Police Officer is a challenging several homes on it now. The Berndts bought and rewarding way to serve your community and the railroad right-of-way after it was vacated become a part of the exciting world of law enforcement. to add to their property. Another enterprise of the Berndt family was to contract logs for other landowners. Margaret still has an old THE CITY OF VERNONIA IS LOOKING log scale book which tracked the details of FOR INDIVIDUALS TO: the log loads. “What an improvement when • Help in providing police services to the community power saws came on the scene,” remembers Vernonia Seeking Reserve Police Officers • Gain first hand knowledge and experience in the field • Make a positive impact in our city • Receive specialized law enforcement training Senior Center Activities For August 2009 Five Area Luncheon: Held in St. Helens this month on August 31st. Join seniors from throughout Columbia County for this monthly gathering hosted by a different community Senior Center each month. AARP Safe Driving Class: Anyone interested call Karen Miller, Senior Services at the Vernonia Senior Center 603-429-9112. Connie’s Fabulous Breakfasts: Fabulous breakfasts are available to the public on Fridays for a cost of only $3. The event happens at the Senior Center (446 Bridge Street) from 7:00 to 9:00 AM each Friday. Meal price includes a beverage, too. Enter through the side, parking lot door. What a deal! Week Day Lunches: The Vernonia Senior Center offers nutritious and tasty lunches each weekday for only $3. These are available to the public, not just Senior Citizens. (Mealtime is noon; late arrivals may not be served.) You can reserve your lunch by calling by 11:15 AM, or further in advance if possible, to assist the cooks as they prepare the day’s meals. Maple Bars available locally!: Connie King, the cook at the Senior Center, is making maple bars each day. The maple bars are available to the public, too, and only cost $1 each. Availability is subject to quantity on hand. You can assure yourself of a good supply by pre-ordering them directly from Connie by calling the Senior Center (503-429-3912) any week day, from 7:00 AM-3:00 PM. Please allow one day lead time for larger orders. The Center’s front door opens at 9:00, but the side parking lot door opens at 7:00. Ah, sweet treats! Thrift Store: Bargain prices can be found in Vernonia’s Senior Center in their Thrift Store. The retail store is open Monday through Friday, from 9:00 AM until 3:00 PM. The Thrift Store provides funds for he Senior Center’s facility and its many activities. Donations can also be dropped off during those same hours, and donated clothes need to be clean and in good condition so they are “sales ready”. Buy locally and support your local Senior Center. Membership Dues: Another way to support Vernonia’s Senior Center is to pay the $10 annual membership dues. Checks may be mailed or dropped off at the Senior Center. Whether you are seeking a career in law enforcement, or simply want to take your interest in community activism to the next level, you can do something positive for yourself and your community. • • • • • • • • • MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS Be at least 21 years of age at the time of appointment. Be a citizen of the United States or have applied for citizenship. Possess a high school diploma or G.E.D. certificate. Possess a valid Oregon Drivers License. Be in good physical condition as demonstrated by a physical agility test. Take a psychological examination and be found suitable for police work. Be of good moral character and pass a criminal record check. Have no felony convictions. Have no recent or extensive misdemeanor record. The Vernonia Police Department is also seeking Office Volunteers and is helping recruit for membership on the City Emergency Preparedness Committee. For more information about any of these opportunities contact the Vernonia Police Department at (503)429-7335