8
history
june20
2013
Senior Stars: Vernonia and the Oregon State Police
The Vernonia community has a long and sto-
ried tradition with the Oregon State Police (OSP).
Over the years, several persons have served with the
OSP who have had ties to Vernonia, most notably Holly
V. Holcomb, Jr. who was the Superintendent.
Former Vernonia resident Jerry Hays, a veteran
of OSP himself, provided the following information to
Vernonia’s Voice, about Vernonia ties to OSP.
History of the Oregon State Police
The Oregon State Police was formed in 1931
with a total of 112 officers. Most of the officers were
transferred from various fragmented enforcement
agencies. The majority came from the old State Traffic
Department. The rest came from other state agencies
that were responsible for fish laws, game laws, forestry,
prohibition, criminal and arson laws. The primary rea-
son for the change was to combine all these agencies
into one organization that was better trained, more ef-
ficient and fiscally responsible.
The agency now has six divisions with 655
sworn employees and six support sections with 600
support staff. The six divisions provide state wide
support in Patrol, Criminal Investigations, Fish and he joined the Oregon State Police as a patrolman until
Wildlife, Forensics, Medical Examiners and Gaming 1943 when he enlisted in the service during World War
Enforcement.
II. He was a pilot in the Pacific the-
Six former Vernonia residents
ater attaining the rank of Captain and
were members of the OSP. Some
earning several air medals. In 1946 he
were full time career members, others
returned to OSP and worked his way
worked part-time. This is quite a large
through the ranks, becoming Superin-
number from such a small community.
tendent in 1966. While serving as Su-
perintendent he was shot and killed on
Vernonians of the Oregon State Po-
the steps of the Public Service Build-
lice
ing in Salem in November 1975 by a
The member that is best
former disgruntled employee. He was
known was Superintendent Holly V.
married and had two daughters. In
Holcomb, Jr. Holcomb moved to Ver-
1988 the State Police established the
nonia when he was six. His father was
“Holly V. Holcomb Award” which is
employed at the Oregon-American
presented to officers who distinguish
mill in the planer mill section, working
themselves in a heroic manner.
his way to supervisor. Holly graduated
Holly V. Holcomb, Jr.
from Vernonia High School in 1935 and
John R. “Jack” Heenan was born in
worked for the Oregon-American woods crew while he Vernonia in 1923 and attended local schools. His father
attended Oregon State College (OSU) from 1935-39. worked for Oregon-American on the train crew until
He was an outstanding athlete and three year letterman the mill closed. After graduation Jack Heenan joined
playing quarterback for the Beavers. After graduation
continued on page 17
The Good Ol ’ Days
By Tobie Finzel
Museum News
The museum’s summer hours
began the first Friday of June and will
continue through Quilt Fair weekend
in mid-September In addition to
Saturdays and Sundays, the museum
will be open Fridays from 1 – 4 pm.
Museum volunteers welcome the
additional visitors during the beautiful
summer months that bring bicyclists,
motorcyclists, campers, and vacationers
to Vernonia.
We are pleased to have an intern
this summer. Rachel Brown is studying
history in college and agreed to spend
some of her vacation time helping us
update and digitize our artifact tags.
The informational labels for our older
artifacts were typewritten back in the
1960s and have faded with age. The
new tags are being prepared by computer
and printed in a larger font for improved
readability. Rachel’s help is greatly
appreciated.
Ms. Rogers sixth grade class for
the Vernonia Middle School visited the
museum in early June as part of their
local history curriculum. The students
enjoyed seeing the artifacts and pictures
of early Vernonia and learned a little
more about life in Vernonia several
the current holiday, local resident Virgil
Powell, his wife and children spent the
3 rd , 4 th and 5 th in Tillamook, Garibaldi,
Barview, and Rockaway, returning
home by the way of Seaside. The article
stated that they had a wonderful time
generations ago.
at Rockaway but the Seaside coast was
too crowded with people and not even
Independence Days of Yore
Although the summer months enough room to park a car. Some things
were busy ones for the early day haven’t changed!
Vernonians, there was also time for
some fun and relaxation. Just as we do From Virgil Powell’s Diary
today, the Fourth of July was celebrated Virgil Powell was a long-time resident
with community events. A July 1925 who had a farm in the Upper Nehalem
article in the Vernonia Eagle described Valley between Natal and Pittsburg.
the 1882 Fourth of July gathering in Each year from 1906 until 1955, he kept
Mist: “At that time there were merely a regular diary of his activities. These
trails through the woods and people excerpts from July 1917 show Powell’s
lived several miles apart. The chief practice of taking a holiday trip for the
means of transportation was horseback Fourth as a break from all the chores of
due to the lack of roads. About fifty the farm started well before 1925:
people participated in the festivities, the
children amusing themselves at games Tuesday, July 3: Left 6.30 A.M.
and swings. A community outdoor went up got Parkers and went down
picnic was one of the features of the to Seaside. Got there about 4.30
occasion. Nelson Cole of Mist made a P.M. Cloudy in morning but very
speech on the caption of Independence good in afternoon.
Day.”
The same issue of the Eagle Wednesday, July 4:
Was in
also recalled an 1883 picnic in Natal
Seaside, Gearhart and Cannon
held in Nels Peterson’s barn. People
Beach all day. Rained awful hard
from Vernonia and Mist attended the
early in morning but very good
entertainment that consisted of fireworks,
dancing, a picnic in the afternoon, and a during the day.
midnight dinner at Mr. Peterson’s, the
dance lasting all night. Roads had been Thursday, July 5: Left Seaside
built and more families had moved to the 9 A.M. and got home 10 P.M. Had
area. The paper also noted that during all kinds of tire trouble. Rained a
For fast
cash!
010412
Vacation Bible School
June 24th thru 28th
9am-12:15
Vernonia Christian Church
410 North Street, Vernonia
Ages: “going into” Kindergarten
thru 6th grade
Cost: Free
2245 Baseline St., Cornelius
(Across from Fred Meyer)
503-530-8119
State Licensed PB-0388
Open
everyday
at 9 a.m.
Register early at: www.vacationbibleschool.com/vernoniavbs
or call Susan Mullikin at 503-429-0181 or 503-369-3245
little but pretty fair day.
Sunday, July 8: Raked, shocked
and cut hay all day. Very hot in
forenoon but cloudy in afternoon
and looks very much like rain.
Thursday, July 12: Hauled hay all
day and got considerable hauled.
Awful hot all day. Ora came over.
Thursday, July 13:
Finished
hauling hay 11 A.M. Just fooled
around in afternoon.
Cultivated
potatoes after supper till 8.30
P.M. Awful hot all day.
The Vernonia Pioneer Museum is located
at E. 511 Bridge Street and is open from
1 to 4 pm on Saturdays and Sundays
(excluding holidays) all year. From June
through mid-September, the museum
is also open on Fridays from 1 – 4 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.
VERNONIA
E
C
I
V
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
