in other words
july18
2019
15
The Good Ol ’ Days
By Tobie Finzel
History of Dewey Pool
Summer brings a distinct change
in the pace of children’s lives, and the
transformation of Rock Creek into a
creek-fed swimming hole is one of the
most charming small town features in
Vernonia. With the log replacement on
the dam and the improvements made in
recent years by the Lions Club, the pool
just keeps getting better. We present a
short history of this unique but welcome
oasis that has been enjoyed by young
and old alike for over eighty years.
In May 1936, the Vernonia
Chamber of Commerce discussed a po-
tential swimming hole in Rock Creek
initiated by a petition from the students
of Vernonia High School. According to
the Vernonia Eagle article on May 29:
“$400 in costs, of which $150
will be for material and $250 for labor,
was announced by Lester Sheeley at the
Chamber of Commerce meeting in the
Masonic Hall Tuesday noon as an esti-
mate for construction of the proposed
dam in Rock creek. $62.50 has been col-
lected by private subscription, he said.
A WPA project could be applied for, he
maintained.
“The bank will have to be
cribbed on the west side to prevent mud-
dying the water, and also there should
be bath houses, neither of which items
is included in the estimate, he added. In
order to protect the bridge from debris in
high water the dam will have to be 75 or
80 feet above, he explained, and it will
be necessary to blast out a section of the
soapstone deep enough to form a diving
hole.
“The level of the water can be
raised only about four feet because of
danger of flooding gardens if the level
is any higher,” he declared. “A fishway
will have to be constructed. Judd Green-
man suggested that the state board of
health be requested to test the water for
typhoid bacteria before the dam is built,
so that the swimming pool might not be
rendered useless if condemned after be-
ing constructed. Mr. Sheeley, as spokes-
man for the committee, agreed to this.”
The General Manager of Mill-
er’s Mercantile, L.H. Dewey, champi-
oned this project and made the largest
cash donation ($10.00) of all who con-
tributed, totaling the $62.50 noted above.
The original petition and the business
pledges are in the Vernonia Pioneer Mu-
seum archives.
Two years later, the pool be-
came a reality with the design scaled
back from the initial concept and made
a seasonal pool just upstream from the
bridge. City taxes were apparently used
to complete the project. The May 27,
1938, Eagle announced that the pool
was now open and named for Mr. Dewey
who was also park board chairman. It
should be noted that Nehalia Park, now
known as Hawkins Park, was the lone
city park at that time. It also housed the
high school football stadium during the
years the first high school was located
on A Street between State and Washing-
ton. A catwalk across the creek was the
students’ shortcut to the stadium and the
pool from the opposite shore.
The Eagle article touted the new
pool proudly:
“Needless to say, L.H. Dewey’s
pet project is getting the largest play of
any pleasure or business venture in the
entire county. With the dam in this week,
and other facilities being constructed
as speedily as possible, a natural play-
ground is available for all AT NO COST
every suitable day during the late spring,
summer and early fall months.
“The Vernonia City Council, the
Vernonia Chamber of Commerce and all
residents of the community, especially
the incorporation taxpayers whose funds
made available the current season’s im-
provements, extend a hearty welcome
and invitation to the world to swim in
Vernonia’s front yard. You’ll be as wel-
come as the first warm weather was this
week. You’ll be as welcome to use Dew-
ey Pool as the pool was welcome to the
more than 350 children and adults who
used it yesterday.”
The wading pool and other im-
provements were added in later decades
with the original lifeguard tower moved
back behind the shallow pool once it was
in place. The Vernonia Lions Club has
been instrumental over the past several
years in enhancing and maintaining this
valuable community resource. In 2017,
they raised the funds to completely re-
line the wading pool and have made
several enhancements to the stairs and
seating area. Most recently, a new log
replaced the decaying one in the season-
ally placed dam.
The pool has been a favorite
summer hangout for children and teens
since its inception. Old timers recall the
daily swims there throughout the warm-
er months, and there are a few tales of
adults skinny dipping at midnight. Visi-
tors and residents alike are charmed by
the quaint swimming hole known as
Dewey Pool. Thanks, Les Dewey, and
the VHS students of the 1930s! And
thanks to the Vernonia Lions Club for
keeping it for current and future genera-
tions.
From Virgil Powell’s Diary
Virgil Powell was a long-time
resident who had a farm in the Upper
Nehalem Valley between Natal and Pitts-
burg. Each year from 1906 until 1955,
he kept a regular diary of his activities.
In July 1909, he was busy, as usual, with
haying and fire patrol but took berrying
and hunting breaks when he could. Note
the covered bridge mentioned in one en-
try used to cross the Nehalem River a
couple of miles out Timber Route.
Sunday, July 18, 1909: Left
Vernonia at 5 A.M. and went
up to Bacona. Got up there for
breakfast. Met Will on the road
and we looked at the land in
Sec. 36. Got through about 1
then I came down to Hotchkiss,
fed my horse and got dinner.
Left there at 3:45 and got home
at 6:20 P.M. Pretty hot day.
Monday, July 19: Went up and
finished cutting and raking
Peterson’s hay. Also shocked
some in the evening. Pretty
warm day.
Tuesday, July 20: Hauled
up some wood the first thing
in the morning, then fixed
the hay rack on the wagon.
Went up to Emmons in the
afternoon. Very warm day.
Started in at work at fire
patrol.
Thursday, July 22: Finished
hauling hay about 3 P.M.
Then went up and hauled one
load for Peterson. Went down
to N.D. Petersons after supper
horse-back and did not get
back till 10. Very warm day.
for Peterson all day. Received
my life insurance policy. Also
received a postal from Gay E.
Awful hot all day.
Saturday, July 24: Finished
hauling hay for Peterson at
noon. Went up to Spencer
in the afternoon to get some
papers fixed. Got home about
7. Pretty warm day.
Sunday, July 25: Lameck came
up about 10 and I went up
with him. We went up as far as
the covered bridge above Weeds
(note: on Timber Route about a mile
west of present golf course) Rained
just about all day. Got back
home at 6 P.M
Tuesday, July 27: Went up to
Clarks to see about fire in the
morning. Did not do much
of anything in the afternoon.
Rained quite a little.
Wednesday, July 28: Went
blackberrying in the morning
and did not get back till
1:30. Got about 35 pounds
of berries. Took the gun and
went over across the river in
the afternoon but did not kill
anything. Rained a little in
the forenoon.
The Vernonia Pioneer Museum is located
at 511 E. Bridge Street and is open from
1 to 4 pm on Saturdays and Sundays
(excluding holidays) all year. 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. You will
also find information on the museum
on Facebook and the Vernonia Hands
on Art web page. The board members
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 them know of your interest.
Vernonia’s Voice is published
twice each month on the 1 st
and 3 rd Thursday. Look for
our next issue on August 1.
Friday, July 23: Hauled hay
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