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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (July 10, 2012)
Senior Stars: Sally Harrison By Karen Miller community july10 2012 13 Sally remembers that from got off the bus and threw every last Junction into Portland. Well, always around the age of nine she would candy into the thorn bushes along the thinking Sally would pocket the Sally Harrison came into this go berry picking—long hours and road. Then she wrote her own note: money and thumb a ride instead. world with a bit of flair, arriving on hard work I bet! Sally made fifty “Dear Miss Keyser. I punished Sally. Now I hardly believe a 50’s beauty Christmas Eve 1940. And her life cents per flat--$30 to $40 dollars a Sincerely Yours, Mrs. Biggs.” And like Sally had any trouble getting the has been full of flair ever since. day with her partner in crime (as she gave it to her teacher. passing truck drivers to hit the brakes Sally had a younger sister Apparently Miss Keyser and help her reach her destination. Charlotte and brother Johnny. All figured out the truth. As a result, Back to the Vernonia beauty three children were taken in by their Sally’s mother made Sally retrieve shop. One day Sally was closing up birth mother’s sister Ruth; Sally and every last candy from the thorn when two gentlemen were leaving Johnny were later adopted by Charlie bushes and made her eat every last the tavern next door at the same and Freda Biggs. Sally didn’t see her one. And to this day Sally hates time. One was telling the other how sister Charlotte again until both were chocolate. he “hates Vernonia.” Sally promptly in their mid-twenties, Unfortunately Well kudos to you Sally— broke into the conversation, telling Charlotte met an untimely death in a you went on to win the 8 th grade him, “...if you don’t like Vernonia, car accident in San Diego in 1967. principal Paul Gordon Outstanding then get the hell out!” I don’t know Here’s a little bit of history Student Award for the girls---Bill what happened to that guy, but the from Sally about the early days around Howard won the award for the boys other--well before the evening was Vernonia: Sally’s real Grandma that year. Sally remembers that out Sally had cut his hair and within Lee, her birth mother’s mother, and Principal Paul Gordon was shot one month and six days they were husband Shorty, collected milk for and killed in a hunting accident in married. a living from farmers around the the early 1950’s. Sally and Del Harrison were region in the 1930’s. The Lee’s lived Sally graduated from married for over forty-nine years. on Lone Pine Road. During that time high school in 1959—Sally Del was a timber faller from Astoria the Klu Klux Klan had a presence in was Memolog Editor, Dance and, Sally proudly boasts, a trophy Vernonia. The KKK were a far right Committee Chair, and Class winner at the Vernonia Jamboree. Sally Harrison, age 5. supremacy group who historically President. Flair indeed! Sally’s beloved Del passed away in had expressed themselves through describes it) Rosie McCoy. Rosy, do Sally went on to study at 2010. terrorism and were known for their you remember you and Sally rolling beauty school in Portland for two Some of you will remember white costumes, robes and masks around in poison oak hoping to get years and opened a beauty shop back vibrant Sally, always one for flair, designed to be outlandish and out of berry picking? Maybe Sally here in Vernonia, behind where Shay starring in Vernonia’s melodramas terrifying and to hide their identities. was just tired of eating in the 1970’s. One Grandma Lee also worked to hide those tuna sandwiches her of Sally’s personal HER identity when she crossed the mother made for her— favorite performances: Nehalem River at night to a KKK every day! “Aunties Absentee” occupied field and removed material Sally fondly with Caroline Keasey from their crosses, brought them remembers that she loved as the heroine and Sally home and made clothing for her school, even with her Miss as the Old Grandma. children. Sounds like a plot from a Keyser memories. I bet In that one, Sally’s first rate suspense movie! everyone who went to chair tipped over Times were tough living on school around that time backwards. One of the North Street for Sally around the has their “Miss Keyser other performers, Sam age of five. She recalls some big Memories.” Like this: Poetter’s father, tried to apartments where she remembers Apparently, at least in help her up and pulled margarine in bags where you Sally’s eye, Miss Keyser her wig right off her squeezed color into the margarine, wasn’t very nice--actually head. bottled sour milk, and one bare light she was mean to one of How many of you bulb hanging down. Due to these Sally’s classmates, Phyllis readers have fond living conditions, the local welfare Meyer. To try to appease memories of those days came and dispensed the children. Miss Keyser, Sally stole with Sally? The Biggs, who were in their forties, (with good intentions we Of Sally’s other life adopted Sally and Johnny, Ruth kept see) two dollars out of accomplishments she Charlotte. her father’s billfold and notes that she was Sally with brother Johnny, and Freda and Charlie Biggs. Charlie Biggs was a navy bought a box of heart Mayor of Vernonia veteran of WW I. Sally remembers candy to give to her. When Sally gave Park now stands. More on that shop from 2005- 2011 and survived both that Charlie’s mother Ruby Biggs her the candy, Miss HEARTLESS later. floods in 1996 and 2007. Sally wasn’t much in the cooking gave it back to her, telling Sally to While going to beauty school, recalls that when she took over as department, but boy could she ever go home and tell her mother what she Sally’s mother would give her the Mayor she and the City staff helped bake sugar cookies! had done. Sally, with hurt feelings, $1.38 to take the bus from Staley’s continued on page 14 Need more room? See us for the lowest prices GUARANTEED! Debit/Credit now accepted 5x10 $39 10x10 $69 10x20 $99 RV Storage $149 Outside storage available Totally fenced and gated Padlocks Available Authorized U-Haul Dealer Boxes and Supplies Available We can make your reservation Pick up here or anywhere 58605 Nehalem Hwy South • P.O. Box 292 Vernonia, Oregon 97064 (503) 429-7867 10-6 Tue-Sat 12-4 Sun
