The Good Ol ’ Days
By Tobie Finzel
The War is Over
A radio announcement on Tues-
day afternoon, August 14, 1945, in-
formed the nation that the Japanese had
accepted the American terms of surren-
der, and World War II finally, formally
came to an end. As was true across the
country, Vernonia erupted into a jubi-
lant celebration that lasted well into the
night. Sirens and whistles sounded, the
city’s fire alarm brought firemen in to
drive the trucks with sirens wailing in
a spontaneous parade through the sud-
denly crowded center of town. Flags ap-
peared everywhere borne by the happy
citizens. On a more personal level, fam-
ilies rejoiced that their loved ones were
now out of danger and motorists looked
forward to the end of gas rationing when
they could once again say “fill ‘er up.”
A street dance with music from a local
band ended the day.
The Last Log Train
On August 27, 1957, Locomo-
tive 105 brought the final load of logs to
the mill in Vernonia, signaling the end of
an era that began in 1924 when the first
cargo from Camp McGregor rolled into
town. Chet Alexander, engineer, drove
as a bigger than usual crowd watched
and waved. The train also bore some of
the logging machinery and tool sheds
from the camp. Chet came to Vernonia
in 1922 as the tracks to the camp were
being laid, and worked as engineer for
all but the years when the mill was closed
during the Great Depression. Over the
lifetime of Oregon-American, its 28,000
acres of timber yielded two and a half
billion board feet of lumber, the bulk of
which was delivered by this daily run.
Camp McGregor was built in
1922 far up Rock Creek beyond the rail
yard at Keasey in the center of O-A’s
timberlands. Logging operations com-
menced while the big lumber mill in
Vernonia was under construction. The
camp consisted of bunkhouses, dining
hall, cook house, commissary, offices,
and a school. It housed nearly 300 log-
gers at its peak. Several families estab-
lished homes there, too, but it all burned
down in 1933’s Wolf Creek Fire. It was
left abandoned during the Depression-
caused mill closure that began in 1933.
When the mill reopened in 1936, bunk-
houses needed for the camp were built
at the mill and sent by train back up into
the woods. In 1947, with logging opera-
tions now too far from Camp McGregor,
Camp Olson was built further south in
the Coast Range. It was dismantled
and its buildings moved by train back
to Camp McGregor in 1955. On August
16, 1957, with logging operations nearly
over, the cook house closed and the end
of Camp McGregor was nigh.
The last logs were cut into lum-
ber over the next few months and the
systematic dismantling began for the
mill that at one time had been the big-
in other words
august21
2014
7
gest concrete and steel lumber mill in the Wednesday, August 21: Took trailer
world and had employed 750 in its most load of brick to Westimber cabin 8 A.M.
returned 12 P.M. Saw 5 deer along road.
productive years.
O.A.patrol eve.
Another Poignant August Ending
Virgil kept special documents
Judd Greenman came to Ore-
gon-American in 1925, succeeding Ed folded in the back of his diary. John Sto-
Hayes, the first Superintendent. He was fiel, the museum curator who transcribed
promoted to Vice President and General Virgil’s diaries in the 1960s, added this
Manager in 1936 when the mill reopened note below the August 21 entry:
Virgil got a letter today from
after its three year closure. Mr. Green-
Judd Greenman, “In recognition
man retired in 1955. He suffered a fatal
of your hard work and loyal co-
heart attack and died in August 1957 just
operation with the Company, we
days after the last O-A log was cut.
are increasing your salary effec-
tive August 1, 1946, to $285.00
From Virgil Powell’s Diary
per month. Our best wishes for
Virgil Powell (1887-1963) was
your future health, happiness
a long-time resident whose family had a
and prosperity go with this to-
farm in the Upper Nehalem Valley be-
ken of our esteem.”
tween Natal and Pittsburg. Each year
from 1906 until 1955, he kept a regular
diary of his activities. He worked at a The Vernonia Pioneer Museum is located
many jobs in addition to maintaining his at 511 E. Bridge Street and is open from
family farm. He and his family moved 1 to 4 pm on Saturdays and Sundays (ex-
into Vernonia when the children were cluding holidays) all year. From June
small. He was a fireman at the O-A mill through mid-September, the museum
for many years, and as he neared his six- is also open on Fridays from 1 – 4 pm.
ties, he worked on night patrol there. A There is no charge for admission but do-
lifelong hunter, in 1946 he built a hunt- nations are always welcome. Become
ing cabin near Westimber in the Coast a member of the museum for an annual
Range. The old shingle mill he refer- $5 fee to receive the periodic newsletter,
ences was at the far East end of the pond and if you are a Facebook user, check
out the Vernonia Pioneer Museum page
opposite the mill.
Sunday, August 18, 1946: Went to created by Bill Langmaid. The museum
Westimber and put roofing boards on. volunteers are always pleased to enlist
additional volunteers to help hold the
Left 6:45 A.M. and returned 4:45 P.M.
Tuesday, August 20: Took some brick museum open and assist in other ways.
loose from old shingle mill by pond Please stop by and let one of the volun-
A.M. Worked some on trailer and around teers know of your interest in helping
yard. Pretty warm day. O.A. patrol eve. out.
Community Health Fair Features OHSU’s Let’s Get Healthy!
The Columbia Health Coalition is working in
collaboration with the Knight Cancer Institute at Oregon
Health & Science University (OHSU) to address breast
health and diet concerns among seniors in St. Helens
using an interactive, computer-based health education
and research exhibit called Let’s Get Healthy!
A Community Health Fair will be held on
Monday August 25 from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM at the
St. Helens Senior Center, 375 S. 15 St., St. Helens, OR.
This event is free of charge.
Let’s Get Healthy! was developed by
OHSU scientists to share health information while
also engaging individuals in the scientific process.
Information collected through the program will be kept
private but will help assess the community’s overall
breast cancer risk and how to reduce it. It will be used
by the Columbia County Health Coalition to determine
the programs that would be most effective in reducing
the community’s overall breast cancer risk.
The Community Health Fair is a result of a
Terry’s
Gym
collaborative community assessment completed in
2013 by the Columbia Health Coalition and Knight
Cancer Institute’s community health educator, Niyati
Desai. A community readiness assessment includes
engaging key community stakeholders in an interview
process. Participants represent diverse sectors including
health and medicine, media, education, social services,
government and community events. Desai interviewed
nine stakeholders to determine the health risks in
Columbia County. The interviews were compiled,
coded for anonymity and scored using an anchored
rating scale system. The consensus scoring process
determines the local capacity to address breast health
needs.
According to the results, community members
recognize breast cancer is a concern, but there is little
recognition that it might be occurring locally. The
interviews found that community members believe
there is a sense that even if it is a local issue, there is
nothing that can be done at that level to reduce cancer
risk.
The goal of the health fair is to raise awareness
that breast cancer exists in Columbia County and can
be addressed locally.
The Columbia Health Coalition views this
collaboration as a launching point to increase awareness
of how to improve breast health. To learn more about
this process contact Claire Catt at the Community
Health Fair or at the OSU Extension Office (503) 397-
3462.
For more information about Let’s Get Healthy,
visit www.letsgethealthy.org.
About Columbia County Health Coalition
The Columbia Health Coalition is composed
of community stakeholders who care about creating
a healthier Columbia County. The Columbia Health
Coalition’s vision is to partner with organizations and
agencies for improving health where we Live, Work,
Learn, and Play.
Insurance sending you in the wrong direction?
Let us send you in the right direction.
Vernonia
Veterinary Clinic
Small and Large Animals
Now Open
Mon, Wed & Saturday
9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
JOIN
THE TEAM!
503-901-1705
16720 Noakes Rd. Vernonia
Call for Appointments
(503) 429-1612
Meyer’s Auto Body • 493 Bridge St • 503-429-0248
Or 24 hr. Emergency Number (503) 397-6470
700 Weed Ave. Vernonia, OR
