The Good Ol ’ Days
By Tobie Finzel
The Malmsten Family in Vernonia,
Part 3
Olof Malmsten was a strong
and healthy man well into his eighties.
He worked at his blacksmithing trade
until near the end of his life. He had
a paralyzing stroke in June, 1910, and
a second, fatal stroke in November
of that year at age 85. He is buried in
the Vernonia Pioneer Cemetery. His
wife, Louisa, is buried next to him. She
died seven years later in November
1917.
Four of the five Malmsten
brothers - Franklin, Charles, Sidney,
and Elon – and Mr. Hurt operated the
mill they established in 1907 for several
years but business at Vernonia Lumber
and Fuel was slow and money was
scarce. Mr. Hurt was the first to sell his
share, then the brothers one by one until
everyone but Franklin had sold out. In
1922 Oregon-American Lumber bought
most of that site for the new sawmill that
would bring big changes to Vernonia.
O-A also acquired several acres of
Franklin’s pasture land north of the
Nehalem River to create the huge mill
pond now known as Vernonia Lake.
Vernonia’s population soared
from 150 to over 2,000 as soon as word
of the future mill and the jobs it would
provide became known. During this
period, Vernonia was the fastest growing
city in Oregon. With so many people
coming to town to seek employment and
no hotel to accommodate them, Franklin
built the Vernonia Hotel in 1921 on
Bridge Street where the Senior Center
currently stands. The hotel boasted the
first running water and electric lights in
town. A small power generating plant
at the dam on Rock Creek provided the
electricity. Only downtown Vernonia
had this luxury that eliminated the daily
task of cleaning and filling kerosene
lamps.
Father Olof, brother Otto and
Franklin were also instrumental in
building the Evangelical Church in
Vernonia. The first church was located
north of Bridge Street on Jefferson. The
church outgrew its space and in 1925
built a new structure, today known as
Grace Family Fellowship, on State
and A Streets, right across the street
from Charles Malmsten’s home. The
first church’s steeple taken down, the
remaining building was converted into
the Cherry Tree Apartments.
Franklin and Bessie ran the
Vernonia Hotel for a few years before
leasing it to other managers. A man
of many talents, Franklin served on
the city council in the early 1920s. He
also built a service station and garage
near the corner of Bridge and State.
When the O-A mill closed during the
Great Depression, many people moved
away to seek employment elsewhere.
Franklin and Bessie stayed, however,
and Franklin worked for the Civilian
Conservation Corps from 1933 to 1936,
the years of the mill closure.
They remained in Vernonia
until 1947 when they built a home in
the Cedar Mill area of Portland next to
their daughter, Kathryn, and near their
son Marshall. Along with their sister,
Hazel, all three of Franklin and Bessie’s
children graduated from Vernonia High
School. Otto and Louisa’s other sons
also moved away from Vernonia, but the
family’s history is interwoven with much
of the town’s early years. Their legacy
remains in the church they helped build
and the beautiful barn on Mist Drive.
From Virgil Powell’s Diary
Virgil Powell (1887-1963) was a long-
time resident whose family 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. One hundred years ago
this month, Virgil had business with the
regional Game Warden regarding some
game violators. Farm chores continued
as usual.
Friday, January 15, 1915: Worked
around the barn pretty much all day.
Pet had a calf 10:30 A.M. A little snow
on early in the morning but bright and
dandy balance of the day.
Monday, January 18: Took the hides
off of two sheep that died first thing in
morning. Frost in morning but bright
and dandy all day.
Sunday, January 24: Went over
to Elliott place in forenoon. C.W.
Loughery, Game Warden, came 11 A.M.
and stayed overnight. Nellie Deeds was
up for a little while. Frozen awful hard
in morning but bright and fine all day.
Monday, January 25: C.W. Loughery,
Game Warden, and I left 8:20 A.M.
Went up to Vernonia and on up to Smiths
and stayed overnight. Frozen hard in
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morning but bright and fine balance of
day. Got up there 3:30.
Tuesday, January 26: Left Smiths 8
A.M. Walked down and got here 11:30
A.M. Frozen considerable in morning
but very good balance of day.
During the next two weeks, Virgil made
multiple trips to St. Helens, apparently to
appear as a witness in the game violation
case.
Thursday, February 4: Left 7:30 A.M.
and got to Houlton 1:30. Fair in forenoon
but rained considerable in afternoon.
Friday, February 5: Was in St. Helens
all day. Received a subpoena about 1
P.M. to serve on the Mrs. Foreman jury
but was not called up. Rained awful
hard all day.
Saturday, February 6: Left Houlton
4 A.M. and got home 9 A.M. Went up
to Vernonia 10:30 and returned 2 P.M.
Very good all day. Received my new
Game Warden Commission and Star 609
for 1915.
Monday, February 8: Garfield and
I left 6 A.M. and got to St. Helens 12.
Listened to a case in Circuit Court in
afternoon. Very good most all day.
Tuesday, February 9: Was a witness
7
before the Grand Jury at St. Helens in
forenoon. Left Houlton 1:25 and got
home 6:30. Bright and dandy all day.
Friday, February 12: Just fooled
around most all day. Sheriff Stanwood
took the game violators out to St. Helens.
Very good all day. C.W. Loughery came
late in evening and stayed overnight.
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.
Open Air Market
Seeks Public Input
Open Air Market Potluck
Where – Vernonia Grange
When – Jan 17th at 1-4pm
Why – get public input
RSVP – Rachel@rangelights.com
Bill@rangelights.com
or by calling 503-429-0438
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CCRider beats having to pay all of the costs
associated with driving a car.”
- Nick Rohrig, PCC Student
Need a Ride? Ride the Bus! It’s Smart - It’s Easy - It’s Economical
CC R IDER D ISPATCH • 503-366-0159
Meyer’s Auto Body • 493 Bridge St • 503-429-0248
The CC Rider Transit Center
1155 Deer Island Road, St. Helens, OR. • www.columbiacountyrider.com
