october23 2012
V E R N O N I A’ S
reflecting the spirit of our community
volume6 issue20
Recreating History: Vernonia Family
Brings an Old Farm Back to Life
By Scott Laird
Maybe you have noticed
the old fashioned windmill that
recently appeared on the east side
of Highway 47, just south of
Vernonia. Certainly, if you’ve lived
in Vernonia for a while, you would
have noticed the reconstruction of
the historic old barn that sits on
that same property across from the
turn off to Timber Road in the area
known as Treharne; the old barn
that collapsed in February of 2007
and was later resurrected? Maybe
you’ve noticed the handful of sheep
and goats wandering and grazing
the small pasture behind and beside
the home on the same piece of
property?
If you haven’t noticed
before, make sure you slow down
the next time you drive in or out
free
of Vernonia and take a look at
the property owned by Jeff and
Susan Ely, especially that old Star
windmill the Elys recently installed.
The Elys have been
purposely rebuilding a small-
scale family farm complete with
livestock, large producing gardens
and most recently the installation of
the windmill. And of course, there
is that magnificent barn that they
revived.
Reviving the old farm is
in part educational for the Ely’s
three children; Bradley, Meagan
and Lauren all participate in 4-H
and raise the livestock living on
the property. The reconstruction
of the barn was because the family
needed a place to keep the livestock
and store hay and machinery. It also
provided an opportunity to preserve
some history.
Plus, it all looks
inside
and the group of us sat on the back
patio the Elys constructed, soaking
up the atmosphere. We talked about
the history of the property and the
changes the Elys have made as
the sheep grazed nearby and goats
nibbled on the trees. It was
just about perfect.
The Elys moved their
family to the Vernonia
area from Hillsboro in
2006, purchasing the five
acres from the Allens, on
what was once known as
the Seagret Farm and later
as the Crawford Place.
According to Allen, who
bought the property in
1979, the land is part of one
of the original handful of
homesteads in the region
and originally belonged to
the Adams Family.
It is a historically
significant piece of land
and many families have
lived or worked on parts of
it over the years. Both Allen and
Susan Ely tell similar stories of
strangers stopping by to talk about
past friends or relations who used
to live there. “People stop here a
lot!” says Ely. “It is not unusual.
People have a lot of memories,
anecdotes and stories about things
that happened here, way back
when.”
Like most homesteads
in the area, the property was
originally logged and then farmed.
Allen says he believes sheep were
run there at one time. The property
also had an orchard; the remnants
remained when the Allen’s owned
the place.
Family Loses
Everything in Fire
as Heroic Boy Saves
Grandmother
A Vernonia family lost their rental home on
East Bridge Street, along with almost everything in it
on October 12. Fortunately their young son was able
to save his grandmother and himself.
Seth Cutright, age 12, rescued his grandmother after a
propane explosion. Cutright received burns to his hands
and face but doctors say he should recover with only
some scarring.
Roger and Julia Cutright, along with young
daughters Hope and Faith were not home on the Friday
afternoon just before 3:00 PM. Fortunately son Seth,
aged twelve, was there when an apparent propane
leak was ignited when Todd’s mother Rose attempted
to light a cigarette. After returning home from doing
some work for an elderly family friend, Seth was there
with his sixty-four year old grandmother when the
room suddenly erupted into flames.
“The whole room was just on fire, just sort of
exploded,” said Seth in a recent interview on October
18. Seth finally came home to Vernonia from the
10
where do
you read...
10
pta
fall carnival
12
vhs art
Photo courtesy of Judy Acton.
really great!
I had the pleasure
of visiting recently
with the Elys, who
also invited the
previous
property
owners,
Del and
Kathy Allen, as
well as Jack Finzel,
who
helped with
the recent windmill
installation. It was a
beautiful fall evening
Allen says the somewhat
modern, current home that now
occupies the property is at least the
third home that has been there; the
Allen’s did a major remodel to the
home when they owned it. The Elys
have since added a back porch and
used pavers to build the patio and
a fire pit. The Allen’s still retain a
piece of their property and pasture
and live nearby in a home that Del
says was built from old logging
hospital the night before. “My grandma was on fire
for a second and then it went out. And then I carried
my grandma down the stairs and laid her on the grass
and went to the neighbors and asked for help.”
“He saved her life,” said father, Roger. “If he
hadn’t been there she wouldn’t have made it.”
Seth and Rose were transported by Metro
West Ambulance. Seth received burns to his hands
and face. Rose remains in critical condition at the
Legacy Oregon Burn Center.
Seth said he didn’t have time to be afraid and
just reacted quickly and did what he thought he needed
to do.
Seth said doctors have told him he should
recover from his burns but may have some scarring.
continued on page 19
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