14
community
august
2009
Gary Meyers Preserves a Little Bit of History (continued from page 1)
front window. He added the two cars that are on display in
what was once the Chevy showroom: a 1969 Hemi Plymouth
Roadrunner that is one of only 194 built, and a 1970
Plymouth Roadrunner Superbird, that is one of only 458
originally manufactured. But the rest of the collection might
be even more interesting to some visitors--
old metal signs and gas cans, model cars
and neon signs that line the walls and fill
the shelves-- making it a most interesting
office, and telling the story of days gone
by. “Everything has a little story,” says
Meyers. “People come in from all over and
they always recognize something and they
attach to it. You can create a friendship
around those things, and that’s what the
town is about, and that’s what people like.”
Meyers loves to talk about the
collection and share it with others. Some of the signs and
items on display are originally from the Vernonia Auto
Company, like the original Coke machine that sat in the
show room and is remembered by local old timers, and one
of the original gas pumps that sat on the curb in front of the
building. That coke machine still has green paint drips that
Meyers remembers as the
original color of the inside
of the showroom. And old
photos from the 1930’s show
that same gas pump.
But there’s more to the
story than what’s on display.
Meyers has collected all kinds
of artifacts that date back
to those old businesses that
came before him, including
an old 1938 brochure from
the old dealership for Chevy
automobiles that were for sale
that year; those old photos of
the building from the 30’s; the
original letter that established
the dealership in Vernonia;
and ice scrapers with the business name on it-- even business
cards and boxes of matchbooks with the dealership’s name
printed on them. Most of the items have been brought to
Meyers by local citizens who just wanted him to have them,
after he began collecting the memorabilia.
“That’s just how it started out, just keeping some of
the old history alive,” says Meyers. “Just neat old stuff that it was time to go home. It’s a heritage I remember-- Wally’s
you don’t see anymore. It’s stuff that is never going to be station and that old neon clock. It’s not his clock, but the
made again, never seen again once it’s gone.” So Meyers just station’s gone now, he’s gone, and you just have to keep a
keeps adding to his collection. “It’s gone from a few little little bit of that alive.”
things and a little bit of history to, boom!, it just exploded, “
Meyers has accumulated his collection through
he says.
the internet, at swap meets, has made trades with locals for
The accumulation of some items with items of value, or just received
actual ties to the building and previous business donations from people who
occupants gave Meyers the history bug and he thought he should have the
wanted to learn more. Along with Meyers, friends items for display. And people
and employees spent hours on research at the love to wander around the
Vernonia Library, looking through old newspaper room and reminisce.
articles and ads to uncover tidbits of information,
But it’s not just old-
and develop a timeline for the building. Meyers timers who appreciate the
was able to date the neon Chevy sign that he has collection. A ten-year-old boy
hanging in the window to at least 1936. That sign recently came to visit the showroom. He had been told he
is Meyers’ pride and joy.
was allowed to choose to do anything that day, and he chose
“We found an article from August 30, 1936, that to come look at the cars in Meyers Auto Body. He knew all
talks about a night-time burglary, and says ‘While in the about Mopar history and excitedly talked on and on about it.
front office, the men were viewed from the street due to the
What was once a dream for Gary Meyers-- having
neon sign that remained lighted,’” said Meyers. Those kinds his business in the old Vernonia Auto Company building-- is
of small details are what Meyers finds so rewarding and now a reality, and may plant seeds for future Vernonians. A
meaningful.
legacy lives on.
“It’s just growing up
and being raised here,” says
Meyers about his interest in
collecting the artifacts.
“It’s just car stuff,” he says.
“When you’re in the car world,
I guess that’s what you do--
collect car stuff.”
But really, it’s much
more than that. A lot of the
items have stories that go along
with them, like the clock over
the reception desk. It’s not an
original from Vernonia, but
there’s a reason it’s hanging in
the showroom. “When I would
cruise town as a kid, Wally’s old
76 gas station had a big neon
clock just like this,” remembers
Phone (503) 429.2617
Meyers. “I never wore a watch Kitchen Countertops
Fax (503) 429.0941
back then, and, of course, you Fireplace & Furniture
ABSOLUTE@AGALIS.NET
Tubs
&
Vanities
didn’t have clocks on your
stereos in your cars like today.
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And that clock was how I knew
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where she was an
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Prevention Specialist.
“I was born and raised in Reedsport, a town
just like this. Needless to say, I feel at home
here. My personal goal as an A & D Specialist
is to help youth make healthy choices. What
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