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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 6, 2018)
december6 2018 VERNONIA’S volume12 issue23 free reflecting the spirit of our community The West Coast Shoe Company Story Family owned business in Scappoose celebrates a century of building quality handcrafted boots and shoes By Scott Laird The West Coast Shoe Com- pany has been distinctly tied to the Pacific Northwest and the logging industry for 100 years. Many Columbia Coun- ty residents may be unaware that one of the world’s top manufacturers of handcrafted, American made, custom work boots is located right here in Scappoose. This family owned business has quietly become a legend in the work boot industry, while more re- cently building a loyal follow- ing among lovers of high quality fashion footwear. The West Coast Shoe Company, also know as Wesco, has been commem- orating their 100 year anniversary during 2018 with billboards along Highway 30. They ended the year with an open house celebration at their world headquarters in Scappoose on December 5-6, invit- ing longtime customers, distributors, and others from around the world to join them for the festivities. The West Coast Shoe Com- pany’s story is a unique one, especially in this age of automated manufacturing by large corporations. Originally started by John Henry Shoemaker (a very fit- ting name) in Portland, Oregon in 1918, Wesco has remained a family owned and family run business for all of its 100 years. Four of the five company Presi- dents have been named Shoemaker, in- cluding current President Roberta Shoe- maker, the granddaughter of John Henry, who currently owns the company with two of her sisters. “Growing up I remember com- ing in here with my cousins to visit the factory,” says Roberta Shoemaker about her family’s long history with Wesco. “Our aunts and uncles, and in my case both my paternal and maternal grandfa- thers, all were working here. That’s how it started and that’s how it’s been for decades. It just makes sense that that’s how it’s needed to continue.” The origins of the company are a well documented legend within the family - it’s a story of determination and achievement the owners and employees can reflect on with pride. 16 year old John Henry Shoemaker started his shoemaking career in Grand Rap- ids, Michigan, then considered the logging capital of the world. He first worked at Rindgen, Kalm- bach, Logie & Co., where he learned the craft of building log- ging boots. The son of European immigrants, John Henry left a young family in 1903 and headed for the Pacific Northwest to look for new op- portunities, hoping to establish himself and send for his wife Lou Ella and infant daughter. Intending to head for Seattle, Shoemaker’s money Calk boots for loggers were Wesco’s original boot ran out in Portland. – they continue to make them today. There he was for- business was logging driven and it’s been tunate to land a job with the Bradley Shoe Company where an integral part from the beginning, and his boot crafting skills were in demand; for our growth through the many decades he sent for his family, and later moved to of our history,” says Roberta Shoemaker. “My grandfather carried the knowledge the Goodyear Shoe Company. In 1918, now with a family of he gained in Michigan making logging seven, John Henry Shoemaker set out on boots out West with him. With logging his own and established the West Coast being a large part of the Pacific North- Shoe Company. Work boots were the west and boots being a safety feature focus, and with the logging industry in that the workers had to have as part of Oregon quickly expanding, so did his their tools, logging played a big part of business. John Henry moved his store- our history for a long time.” Old photos of the various store- front and factory four times around Port- fronts in Portland’s downtown show that land between 1918 and 1929 to meet the Wesco not only sold and repaired their growing demand for his boots. “When West Coast Shoe Com- own shoes and boots, but also supplied pany started one hundred percent of our loggers and other workers with their continued on page 8 VHS Winter Sports Preview Wrestling – After winning the Special District 1 Meet last year in dominating fashion and sending six wrestlers to the State Tournament, Head coach Chris Barnes (last season’s District Coach of the Year) and the Logger wrestlers look poised for a similar season this year. The Logger’s lineup looks inside 7 local teen publishes book 9 spirit of christmas in vernonia 17 vhs winter sports schedules stacked once again with over 20 District Champ is a junior who took wrestlers out for the team, four of 3 rd place at the State Tournament last them returning state qualifiers. year. Rice will probably wrestle at “I feel really good about this 152. season,” says Barnes. “I’m confident Other wrestlers to watch for are we’re going to be strong again this seniors Hepner Forester at 160 and year.” Josh Sholes at 126 who both also The road to the District Title qualified for state last year. Sopho- will be a bit tougher this year, as more Wyatt Jones went to state at 106 five teams have been added, includ- last year, but has grown and will most ing Sheridan, known for having a likely wrestle at 126. strong program in the past. Returning wrestlers to keep an “I don’t see why we can’t re- eye on include seniors Byron Cook peat,” says Barnes. “I think we’re at 138 and Isaiah Bozied at 145, and as talented, if not better, than last Above: Head coach Chris Barnes gives instruction juniors Austin Sicard at 138 or 145, year. We don’t have the same lead- to his wrestlers. The Loggers are looking to defend and James Watson at 182. their District Championship this season. ership yet, but that’s coming.” Newcomers to the program in- Below: Josh Sholes (front in blue) is one of four Barnes says the team looks clude freshman Luke Thompson at returning wrestlers who qualified for the strong through the lower weights, 126 who was a standout during his State Meet last year. with at least two wrestlers in most middle school career, and senior Matt weight categories, but the team is Lavoi at 120, a transfer student from short in the higher weight classes. St. Helens who has seven years of The team opened their season wrestling experience and qualified for with a good showing on November state last year. Keep an eye on sopho- 30 at the Harrisburg Tournament, fin- more Pete Crystal, a first year wrestler ishing 5 th out of 20 teams that were who is strong and athletic. mostly 4, 5, and 6A. Sophomore Pat- Barnes has been working to rick Fletcher was the only individual develop the girls program and this year winner at 106 pounds, while freshman he has four girls on the squad. The girls Brandon Depue and Josh Rice both have a separate schedule of meets this took 2 nd . year, and most meets are now provid- Rice will be one of the team ing a girls bracket, but the girls can also leaders this season. The defending wrestle in the regular meet bracket if continued on page 14
