community
Sword’s Wall
As the rains began to seriously fall in Verno-
nia this past month, and residents starting getting that
anxious feeling as the Nehalem and Rock Creek began
to rise, one local Vernonian didn’t have too much to
worry about.
Bill Sword has built a four-foot high concrete wall around
his property in Vernonia.
Long time Vernonia resident Bill Sword took
precautions after the December Flood of 2007. Extra
precautions. What some people might consider ex-
traordinary precautions. He built a wall around his
home and workshop. A wall three feet higher than the
high water mark from 2007. A cement wall that would
hopefully protect his property against future high water
december
2009
13
events.
After 2007,
If you’re from
Sword decided to
Vernonia, you know
take it a step further
or have heard of Bill
and hired a contractor
Sword. His family roots
to build a four-foot
go way back-- they were
concrete wall that
one of the original pio-
completely surrounds
neering families here.
his house and shop.
Sword owns the proper-
Sword paid about
ty across the river from
$21,000 to have the
Anderson Park camp-
wall constructed.
ground and has his own
That
wall
private bridge to get to
now stands as Bill
and from his homestead.
Sword’s protection
He also has timber on
against another flood.
his property that he oc-
And makes for good
After the 1996 flood Bill Sword built a dirt berm around his
casionally logs. And
conversation around
house and shop to keep flood waters out. You can see that
initial berm here, and the new higher wall Sword added
every year Vernonians
Vernonia.
when
waters
came
over
the
berm
in
2007.
are reminded that Bill
Sword is still around, as local hunters take target prac-
tice on his shooting range and the boom of firearms
roars across town.
If you want to know anything about the history
of Vernonia, Sword will definitely have some informa-
tion to help fill in any story you might have heard. He
has old photos, maps, and details and he’s
not shy about sharing his knowledge.
According to Sword, Vernonia has
experienced at least five high water events
when the Sword Homestead had at least
a foot of water covering it; in 1894, 1922,
1933, 1996, and 2007.
After the flood of 1996, when his house
had about a foot of water inside, Sword built
a dirt berm around the house to help protect
it. Unfortunately, he built it about six inches
lower than was needed in 2007, and Sword
ended up with about two and a half feet of
water in his home during our most recent
The view of the Sword property from across the
high water event.
Nehalem River.
The Sword Family was one of the original families in Vernonia.
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