in other words
december15
2016
7
The Good Ol ’ Days
By Tobie Finzel
Christmas in Vernonia
Christmas may have been a
simpler holiday in the early days of Ver-
nonia, but celebrations of various types
were still to be found. Dances and com-
munity suppers were the traditional way
people came together for various holi-
days, and Christmas was no exception.
In later years, Christmas festivities grew
with the population. Christmas pag-
eants with music and short plays were
performed at each of the consolidated
schools (Mist, Lincoln and Washington),
and the various churches had special ser-
vices and music. In the 1970s, the annual
Christmas cantata featured singers from
the various churches. Improved roads
meant more people could travel to rela-
tives’ homes or host out of town family
members for the holidays so the pro-
grams were held before Christmas Day.
According to a December 1978
Vernonia Freedom article, the fi rst Com-
munity Christmas Festival was held at
the American Legion Hall on Adams
Street the second weekend in December.
Similar to our current Christmas Bazaar
and the Spirit of Christmas events, the
community festival featured booths and
tables staffed by local businesses and or-
ganizations. Handicrafts, art and baked
goods were offered for sale with music
performed throughout the Friday and
Saturday event. The highlight that fi rst
year was a talent show on Friday night.
Sponsored by the Vernonia Recreation
Council, the purpose of the event was to
draw the community together for an en-
joyable time while raising funds for vari-
ous organizations. The proceeds were to
go to the Community Center then oper-
ating in the Legion Hall.
By February 1979, the Commu-
nity Center had become the Community
Schools Activity Committee (CSAC).
CSAC continued to offer the adult edu-
cation classes started by the Community
Center but not the Christmas Festival.
That same year, the fi rst annual Christ-
mas in Vernonia Bazaar was organized
by two former shopkeepers, Louise
Hamnett and Jo Hall. They had handled
consignment items made by local crafts-
people while in business and wanted to
continue to provide an outlet to show-
case that talent. Held the fi rst weekend
in December at the Odd Fellows Hall on
Grant and North (now the Nehalem Val-
ley Bible Church), the two day bazaar
established the ongoing tradition that
only handmade items could be sold.
Musical performances by vari-
ous choral groups occurred throughout
the day, and the Odd Fellows’ auxiliary,
the Rebekahs, provided food and bever-
ages for sale. Although the organizers
and venue have long since changed, the
Christmas in the Country Bazaar and
more recently the Spirit of Christmas
event continue to start the holiday sea-
son with an enjoyable social and shop-
ping experience.
This month we’ve included a
larger selection of entries from Virgil
Powell’s diary of 1906 to give a glimpse
into how a young man spent his time
during the season.
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. Here are a few entries
from December 1906; like November,
it was cold and rainy. He certainly kept
the post offi ce busy with the getting and
sending of postal cards. Christmas Day
for Virgil meant a community dance at
the Natal Grange.
Thursday, December 6, 1906:
Threshed wheat with the flail
most all day. Got 2 postal
cards. Sent postal cards to
Alice, Ada and Ena.
This
makes 21 postals to Ada.
Saturday, December 8: Went
down to the lower school
hunting. Killed two pheasants
and one quail. Rained awful
hard all afternoon and
snowed for about 5 minutes.
Wrote to Dickson Postal Card
Co.
Went up to Vernonia
about 6 P.M. to a basket
social, amount took in $43.
Had a pretty good time. Got
home next morning at 4 A.M.
Mailed postals in Vernonia to
A. and A.
Sunday, December 9:
Did
not get up until 10 A.M. and
did not do much but set in
the house the rest of the day.
Wrote to Lameck & Rob and
fixed some postal to send
to Portland to Alice and A.
Rained most all day and very
cold.
Monday, December 10: Did
not do much work because it
rained so hard. The wind blew
awful hard in the evening.
Pationally (sic) waiting for
Christmas to come.
Friday, December 14: Went
down and traded my 22
special to Emil for his bicycle
and outfit. Got back home at
1:30 P.M. Very cold all day.
Saturday,
December
15:
Carried the mail down to Mist.
Got to Mist about 10:45 A. M.
Grange Day at Natal, had a
feast on pie at the Hall when
I came up. Got to the Hall at
1:15. Rained awful hard all
day. Sent a postal card to
Alice; the one from Portland
came that day also. Got home
at 3:30.
Monday, December 17: Went
down to Mist to Mr. Wright’s
funeral. Got down there about
11 A.M. Started home at 4
P.M. Seen the Natal Grangers
coming up and agreed to haul
the Vernonia music down for
them Xmas. Got home at 6:30.
Pretty good day but cloudy.
Carl went over to Armstrongs
to stay.
Thursday, December 20: Went
up to Vernonia to Mr. Emmons
funeral. Got some postals and
mailed to Alice and Ada. Also
sent the postal to Ada of Elmer
and I. Rained awful hard all
day and the river is up very
high. Have rode horseback
2220 miles in 1906.
Sunday, December 23: Went
down to Natal about 11 A.M.
to the shooting match at got
home at 5:15.
Pretty good
in the afternoon but rained
quite hard in the morning.
Monday, December 24: Fixed
things to go to Vernonia after
the musicians. Pretty good
day, did not rain any. Got a
Christmas present from Myrtle.
Also got 6 postal cards, one
leather from A.F. mailed at
Clatskanie. Tomorrow night
there will be something doing
at Natal Hall.
Tuesday, December 25: Went
up to Vernonia the first
thing in the morning after
the musicians. Started from
Vernonia for Natal at 12:30
P.M. Arrived at the Grange
Hall at 4:30. Rained quite
hard all day. Sent postal to
Alice and also got one from
her. Had a pretty good time.
Wednesday, December 26: Left
the Hall at 3 A.M. and got
home at 6 A.M. Slept until 9.
Went up to the Post Office and
got the mail. Very bright all
day. Mailed a postal to Alice.
This makes 29 that I have sent
her.
Thursday, December 27: Went
up to N. J. Parkers and did
not get home until 2 P.M. Very
bright all day. Got a postal
from Claus.
Counted how
many times that I have been
to Mist this year. Total 88.
Sunday, December 30: Went
up to the Post Office the first
thing in the morning and
mailed some letters. Started
to go down to church at Natal
and got down as far as Dave
Kays and heard the preacher
did not come so came back
home. Snowed all the way
coming and the ground was
white when I got home.
Monday, December 31: Started
for Natal at 2:30 P.M. and got
Alice and went up to the dance
at Vernonia. Got to Vernonia
at 8:30. Had a dandy time,
there were 32 numbers sold.
Pretty fair day. Snowed just a
little in the evening.
The Vernonia Pioneer Museum is located
at 511 E. Bridge Street and is open from
1 - 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. We now
have a page on the Vernonia Hands on
Art website, www.vernoniahandsonart.
org If you are a Facebook user, check
out the Vernonia Pioneer Museum page.
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
C H I RO P R AC T I C C L I N I C, I NC.
VernoniaChiro.com
Joseph Dombek, DC
(971) 248-4055
Books on Wheels
A NEW SERVICE
AVAILABLE THROUGH THE
VERNONIA PUBLIC LIBRARY
Now Accepting New Patients
610 Bridge Street • Vernonia, OR 97064
Library volunteers will deliver books to
citizens who are homebound or physically
unable to come to the library.
Vernonia’s Voice is
published twice each
month on the 1st and 3rd
Thursday. Look for our
next issue January 5.
To apply or find out more details,
call Audeen Wagner (503) 429-9700
or the Library (503) 429-1818.
Vernonia Public Library • 701 Weed Avenue