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
