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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 22, 2011)
welcome from the editor Saying goodbye for good is never easy. This month Vernonia’s Voice is taking time to say goodbye to sev- eral, what I would call, icons of our community. And the landscape of Vernonia just won’t be the same. During the week of February 14th the Country Kitchen was demol- ished. Also known as the Pine Cone to many long time Vernonia residents, this business and structure was severely damaged during the 2007 flood and be- came another casualty of flood recov- ery and the changing face of our town. I only knew it as the Country Kitchen, and certainly didn’t know it as well as some folks--or hold it as close to my heart. One person called me during the demolition to make sure I was aware, and recounted fond memories of spend- ing lunch time during school days there. I’m guessing that was about forty years ago, and I know there are many, many more people around town with similar memories. But the Country Kitchen does hold a special place for me as well. The first day I visited Vernonia, looking to see if it might be a place I would consider for relocating, it was my first stop. I sat over a plate of eggs, potatoes and toast and then wandered around town on foot--Anderson and Hawkins Parks and Vernonia Lake, the Grey Dawn Gallery, Black Bear, Creatures, Sentry Market, Vernonia and True Value Hardware Stores, the Mini Mart, the Pioneer Museum, the Linear Trail--reaching the conclusion that, yes, I could give this place a try. The other image of the Country Kitchen that is burned into my brain, mostly because I have a photograph of it, is of the 2007 flood waters reaching to the windows, as a truck sits stalled in deep water out in front. The photo was taken while working to salvage food 2011 3 week it was erased from our landscape. A restaurant that looked and thing new and was amazed. And by But our memories cannot be erased. felt like a museum, Cafe 47 was a cul- the way, the food was really good too! tural icon, filled with images and col- Unfortunately bad timing and *** *** lectibles. It was a poor health were too business that Bill much for Cafe 47-- In a letter dated February 4, Long put his heart Bill opened just as the 2011 Providence Medical Group Physi- and soul - and economic downturn cian Phyllis Gilmore informed her pa- hands - into long began and it proved tients that she will be retiring on March before he officially too difficult for this 4th. Although Dr. Phyllis, as many of her opened the doors. small town restaurant patients and community members came Most of us remem- to remain sustainable. to call her, had not been established here ber the long wait, Bill’s health issues for a long time, she has been an integral about one full didn’t help either as part of this community. She came to year, as Bill read- he was open limited us from Louisiana, and her southern ied the interior and hours at times. And draw and exterior--hanging though we all wanted easy going the decorations to support Cafe manner and hand build- 47, many of us just cast a real ing the booths. couldn’t afford to go charm over And WOW!, was out to eat as often as many of us. it worth the wait. we would have liked. And Even before you It was a short yet, she walked in the door run. But in that short could also you knew some- time Cafe 47 became a be tough as thing special was favorite. And now one nails and contained inside of the businesses that all busi- from the hanging really was the heart of ness when flower baskets, bamboo paneled exte- eclectic Vernonia is no longer with us. needed and rior and handmade sign. Filled with that is what movie posters, road signs, antiques, It’s hard to say goodbye, es- I will remember about her. She was one license plates, rock and roll album pecially to community icons. In small of the real heroes of the 2007 Flood, covers, photographs, and all other towns people and businesses come and wading through three feet of water at manner of memorabilia, paraphernalia, go. Some leave more of an impres- the inundated medical sion than others. And this month we facility to salvage medi- say goodbye to three that will leave a cines and supplies to run lasting impression and should not be a make-shift shelter and forgotten for a long time. From where clinic. And she strongly I sit, the view in Vernonia has changed advocated for Provi- dramatically. dence to provide tem- Scott Laird porary tent structures so Editor and Publisher she could continue to see patients in the weeks fol- lowing the flood while the medical building was repaired. She was also a strong advocate for rebuilding Vernonia Schools and instrumen- tal in the passage of Publisher and Managing Editor the Bond Measure that Scott Laird helped kick-start that 503-367-0098 project. She has become scott@vernoniasvoice.com a respected and vital leader in our community. Contributors She understood what practicing art work and other knick-knacks, Chip Bubl rural medicine was really about and did it the place was stuffed with stuff, Jamie Jones hanging from the ceiling and every with compassion, grace, and that tough- ness we all came to expect and respect. other surface area. The restaurant Dr. Carol McIntyre She was an inspiration and a was filled with atmosphere--and Dennis Nelson done in a way that was tasteful and, shining light in those dark days of De- Sean Pickner cember of 2007 and she will never be well, just plain cool. Every time Sonia Spackman forgotten by those I walked in the door I saw some- Burt Tschache who saw Photography her work. On Feb- Jamie Jones ruary 27 the Scott Laird community Copy Editor is invited to Dennis Nicks a retirement party for Want to advertise? at the Dr. Phyllis Contact: ads@vernoniasvoice.com Big Gilmore at Have an article? Red the Vernonia Contact: news@vernoniasvoice.com Barn Scout Cabin 2121 starting at Mist 2:00 PM. One year subscriptions Dr. (24 issues) $35 *** *** PO Box 55 Opening Night Party on Bill and Carla Long Vernonia, OR 97064 Thurs. March 3rd, 6 - 9 pm shut the doors at Cafe 47 last 503-367-0098 also open month, ending a short but bril- March 4th-6th, 10 am - 4 pm liant run as one of Vernonia’s www.VernoniasVoice.com most interesting businesses. Buckleberry Cottage & Out on a Limb Spring Faire from the Middle School cafeteria cool- ers and move it to higher ground. It is an image I will never forget. In the end it was those flood waters that signaled the end of the Pine Cone/Country Kitchen--it’s doors were never reopened after that day and last february22
