The Good Old Days
By Tobie Finzel
Museum News
With the slightly warmer and
occasionally sunnier weather, we have
welcomed the return of visitors who
are bicycling in the area. It’s always
fun to show the museum to those who
are exploring the area for the first time.
That is not to say that local visitors
aren’t equally welcome. We have many
visitors who tell us they have lived here
for years and have never been inside.
One day, a young man about twelve
years old came into the museum. “I’ve
lived here all my life and never been in
to see this,” he said. It happened that he
was a descendant of Clark and Melissa
Parker who were the first to settle here in
1874, so it was especially rewarding to
show him all the Parker family pictures
we have on display.
We were saddened to learn of
Norbert Pelster’s passing at 100 years of
age. Norbert used to visit the museum
regularly and enjoyed telling tales of
his days working at Oregon-American
Lumber. During the Great Depression
the mill suspended operations from 1933
to 1936.
Norbert was one of the few
people kept on the payroll as a security
guard. He regaled us with many stories
of his duties as a night watchman during
those years. How we wish we had
recorded those stories! We miss him
and extend our condolences to the entire
Pelster family.
The Museum board welcomes
a new and enthusiastic new volunteer,
Angela Bettencourt.
She recently
received her training and will be holding
the museum open at least one Sunday
per month. As always, we appreciate
our volunteers and invite you to become
one, too!
Depression-era Reminiscences from
Bob New, VHS 1947
During the Great Depression of
the 1930s, jobs were almost nonexistent.
The Oregon-American mill didn’t
reopen until 1936, and Bob remembers
that men would show up at the gate
of the re-opened Oregon-American
Lumber Company and stand around each
morning, hoping they might be hired for
a job, any job.
There was a man in Vernonia
who walked each day from the top of
Corey Hill to the mill for many weeks,
bringing his lunch in case someone
didn’t show up for work and he could get
a day’s wages. He eventually did get a
coveted permanent job in 1938.
A 1934 Vernonia Eagle article
Oregon Senior Spelling Bee
For fast
cash!
010412
Many older adults enjoy playing
with words and are good spellers, but did
you know that there is an Oregon Senior
Spelling Bee especially for people 50 years
of age and up? This year’s event, Oregon’s
16th annual senior spelling bee, will be
held on Saturday, April 13, at the Heritage
Center of the Sisters of Holy Names in Lake
Oswego. Starting time will be 1:00 PM
A national senior spelling bee,
sponsored by AARP and held each year in
Cheyenne, Wyoming, has been in existence
for about 17 years, but very few states host
a similar contest. This is probably a factor
in the success of Oregon contestants, who
have returned home with four first place
trophies, plus several more second and third
place trophies!
The Oregon Senior Spelling Bee
starts with a written competition of 75
words presented in three rounds of 25 words
each, followed by a break with refreshments
for contestants and guests. Competition
resumes with an oral round and concludes
2245 Baseline St., Cornelius
(Across from Fred Meyer)
503-530-8119
State Licensed PB-0388
Open
everyday
at 9 a.m.
history/area news
march21
2013
listed the forty young men from the
Vernonia area who were stationed at the
Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) camp
near Mist. There were many Depression-
era programs established to help address
the widespread unemployment; the CCC
was designed to put young men to work
on public projects including forest fire
suppression. They received lodging,
meals and a paycheck - most of which
had to be sent home to help their families
- in exchange for their work. The article
noted that these local men were lucky to
be stationed so near their homes as this
was not often the case.
From Virgil Powell’s Diary
Virgil Powell was a long-time
resident who had a farm in the Upper
Nehalem Valley between Natal and
Pittsburg. Each year from 1906 until
1955, he kept a regular diary of his
activities. Here’s what Virgil wrote
during the changeable weather of March
1914, his original spelling intact:
Monday, March 16: Plowed a piece
down by the river for potatoes
and finished 4:30. Some peddilars
here over night. Bright and fine
all day.
Tuesday, March 17: Plowed the
piece back of orchard by the river.
Dave & Booth were here for dinner.
Awful warm all day. Inez & I
went over to Elliott place and got
some cattle out in evening.
Wednesday, March 18: Went over
with the presentation of trophies to the top
three finishers. The first place winner is
offered financial assistance to attend the
AARP National Spelling Bee in Cheyenne,
which will be held on July 13, 2013.
The all-volunteer Oregon Spelling
Bee Board hosts this event which has proven
to be both entertaining and stimulating. The
relaxed atmosphere of the Oregon State Bee
provides a great way for seniors to have fun
while challenging themselves. The Board
is made up mostly of participants who
have won the Oregon Bee in the past years,
including four Vernonians: Noni Andersen,
Tobie Finzel, Carol Sawyer and Audeen
Wagner.
For more information or a
registration form, call Audeen Wagner
at 503-429-9700, or Tobie Finzel at 503-
705-2173. The entry fee of $12.00 is non-
refundable. Participants may also register
on the day of the event. Spectators are
welcome.
7
to Elliott place and plowed all day
for Bill Brown. Awful hot all day.
Saturday, March 21: Plowed over
on the Elliott place all day. Very
good all day. Ed. Webster & Kelly
were here for dinner.
Wednesday, March 24:
Built
some fence over across the river.
Snowed and rained all day and
was a terrible bad day. Went over
to Elliott place in afternoon and
got Chief.
Friday, March 27: Took a sow up
to the boar at Tuckers. Started
up at 8 and got home 12:45 P.M.
Snowed and stormed terrible all
day.
The Vernonia Pioneer Museum
is located at 511 E. Bridge Street and is
open from 1:00-4:00 PM on Saturdays
and Sundays (excluding holidays)
all year. From June through mid-
September, the museum is also open on
Fridays from 1:00-4:00 PM. There is
no charge for admission but donations
are always welcome. Become a member
of the museum for an annual $5 fee to
receive the periodic newsletter, and if
you are a Facebook user, check out the
new Vernonia Pioneer Museum page
created by Bill Langmaid. The museum
volunteers are always pleased to enlist
additional volunteers to help hold
the museum open and assist in other
ways. Please stop by and let one of
the volunteers know of your interest in
helping out.
Golfing Season to Begin
By “The Gopher”
April 3 rd will mark the
beginning of the 2013 season of the
Vernonia Men’s Club.
Wednesday night play
is scheduled to begin April 3 rd ,
followed by a general meeting.
This year’s membership
dues will be $45. This will help
fund our Oregon Golf Association
Membership,
and
various
tournaments.
This
year’s
“Spring
Handicap Tournament” is scheduled
for Sunday April 21 st .
For
Tournament Information contact
Tournament Directors Nick Zavales
or Dave Seidleman.
Our group ranges in skill
level, from professional, to really
terrible (I proudly reside in the
latter group), and most in between.
Regardless of your ability level, we
welcome all who would join us for a
season of fun and camaraderie.
The Vernonia Men’s Club
is dedicated to promoting the joy of
golf, the education of golfers on the
rules and etiquette of golf, for the
betterment of the game.
Vernonia’s Voice is published on the
1st and 3rd Thursday.
Our next issue will be April 4.
Old,
worn out
and rusty?
Need body
work?
Call...
Meyer’s Auto Body
•493 Bridge St•
VERNONIA
503-429-0248
VERNONIA
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I
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SER PAIR
& RE
Warranty on all parts and labor
Now offering
2 and 4 wheel
alignments
58605 NEHALEM HWY. S.
Next to Storage, Too
503/429/7972
