in other words/classified ads
october15
2020
21
The Good Ol ’ Days
By Tobie Finzel
Early History of the Vernonia Senior
Center
With the recent grand opening of the
new senior center building at 547 Weed
Avenue on September 12, a bit of the
background of that organization seemed
timely. The Vernonia Senior Citizens
formally incorporated in December
1969. The official incorporators were
the members of the four person board
elected that year: Virgil Snook, Nelle
Davis, Nora Harders, and Christina La-
hmeyer. The official address was the
VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) Hall
at 446 Bridge Street. This location was
used by the seniors who eventually ac-
quired it for the next 43 years until its
demolition in 2013 due to its location in
the heart of the flood zone.
Prior to the incorporation, a Golden
Age Booster Club met twice monthly
for Friday noon potlucks. They also had
an active sewing group. With donated
fabric and remnants, the energetic ladies
sewed over 50 garments for tots and
teens to be sold at the annual Jamboree
as a fundraiser to help defray costs of
the building. They met at the VFW Hall
and worked together on the project on
Monday mornings. Other Golden Age
Boosters organized a woodcutting bee to
supply firewood for the elderly and heat-
ing the hall.
In October 1967, the Golden Age
Boosters held an organizational meet-
ing as they recognized the need to have
more structure to their activities, but
formal incorporation was still two years
away. The name of the group changed to
the Senior Citizens Booster Club before
finally becoming the Vernonia Senior
Citizens for its 1969 incorporation. Its
major source of income came from the
sale of rolled newspapers. Senior vol-
unteers met to roll donated newspaper
which was sold by the pickup load. The
income was used to pay for the building
utilities. At the time most households
subscribed not only to the Vernonia Ea-
gle which was a weekly publication but
also to the daily Oregonian or Oregon
Journal. Old newspapers accumulated
at a rapid pace, and curbside recycling
was far in the future, so having a place to
donate them was welcome.
The twice monthly potlucks usually
drew 20 to 30 seniors. A business meet-
ing preceded the social time which often
included a program such as a travel slide
show or musical offering. A dance with
music provided by Wayne Welch and his
band was very much enjoyed by all who
participated. Mrs. Alvilda Hearing’s
VHS speech class often sent students to
give speeches or skits to help improve
their public speaking. These were well
received by the seniors. The seniors’
organization also added Bible study
classes to their activities. The hall was
also used for art, typing and GED classes
for all ages, and a bridge club. A high-
light of 1970 was the Christmas potluck
Vernonia’s Voice is published
twice each month on the
st
1 and 3 rd Thursday. Look for
our next issue November 5.
that drew 64 attendees. The Vernonia
Jaycees, led by President Jim Eckland,
donated a ham and turkey to the spread.
The speech class put on an entertain-
ing show of holiday-themed skits and
speeches.
The VFW Hall was alternatively
known as the Community Center and the
Vernonia Action Group Hall with meet-
ings of the Community Action Team of
Columbia County and the local Vernonia
Action Group being held there. CAT was
the county’s organization through which
Oregon’s Office of Economic Oppor-
tunity channels funds for social service
programs for families and individuals in
need and for senior services. One of the
founding board members of CAT, Guy
Thomas, was then General Manager at
West Oregon Electric.
At one point, the senior organiza-
tions from the various cities in Colum-
bia County looked into separating from
CAT due to their feeling that senior
needs were not given sufficient funding,
but they instead formed a committee, the
Columbia County Senior Citizens Coun-
cil, under CAT’s leadership with repre-
sentatives from their separate groups.
This organizational structure still exists
as the Columbia County Area Agency on
Aging through which funding for home
delivered meals, housing assistance, and
other services to the elderly is channeled.
The idea for a flea market at the
Community Center arose in 1970. The
seniors collected donated clothing,
household goods and other items for
resale. Originally inspired by the need
to provide a means with which to pay
the local senior aide, Pat Robertson,
who helped many elderly with medical
transportation and in-home care, the flea
market was successful and provided the
primary income over the years. Today’s
Bargains on Bridge Thrift Store remains
the main source of funding for current
day senior center operations.
There have been some changes in
senior center operations over the years
and varying levels of support from gov-
ernment programs. The early day twice-
monthly potlucks were replaced by se-
nior congregate meals at some point, and
home-delivered meals for homebound
seniors were added. Social activities
and food have always been a draw until
the current, and we hope temporary, ces-
sation of large group gatherings due to
the pandemic. The Senior Center looks
forward to restoring congregate meals
in the beautiful new dining room and an
expansion of group social activities.
CLASSIFIED
ADS
HELP WANTED
Community Justice Director
Columbia County, OR EOE
Deadline 10/19/2020
Apply at ColumbiaCountyOR.gov
From Virgil Powell’s Diary
Virgil Powell was a long-time resident
who 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. As usu-
al, there are references that we wish we
could have him explain!
Monday, Oct. 3, 1910. A lot
of us went up to the dam at
Pittsburg in the morning
and fished till about 1 P.M.
Came home and got a horse
and went out looking for the
crazy man. Captured him
about 3 miles above here.
Went up to Albert Parkers
and stayed all night to
help watch the crazy fellow.
Rained pretty hard all day.
Tuesday, Oct. 4. Left Parkers
about 9 A.M. and came down
home. Was up at the dam for
a while. Did not do much of
anything. Rained pretty hard
most of the day.
Wednesday, Oct. 5. Sawed
some wood the first thing in
the morning. Went up above
in the afternoon and took
some bark off of a tree. Went
down to Rays where some of
the boys were batching, about
5.30 P.M. Stayed all night
and certainly had a time.
Pretty fair day.
Sunday, Oct. 9. Got home
from the dance at Vernonia
at 6 A.M. Went to bed and
slept till 10.30. Will Elliott
and I were shooting at
some geese over in the field
in the afternoon. Bummed
around the house about all
afternoon. Rained quite a bit
all day.
Monday, Oct. 10. Went up to
Vernonia horse back about
9.30 and got back about 1.30
P.M. Ordered a new crosscut
saw while up. Went up the
river to Rays after I got back
from Vernonia and got back
about 5. Pretty fair day.
Tuesday, Oct. 11. Was stirring
the oats in the morning.
Went over to Elliotts about 11
A.M. and was over there till
about 4 P.M. Got my wagon
seat from Dave Kaye. Very
good day.
Thursday, Oct. 13. Carried
about 50 bushel of oats
from the barn across the
road to the dry house in the
morning. Did not do much
of anything in the afternoon.
Very good day.
Friday, Oct. 14. Left for
Clatskanie in the buggy at
5 A.M. and did not get out
there till 10 A.M. Grace went
out with me and George
Flagg came in. Started back
at 1 P.M. and got home at
6. Gee but the roads are
certainly fierce. Rained a
little in the morning.
Saturday, Oct. 15. Went up
the river pheasant hunting
in the morning. Went down
the river in the afternoon
and did not kill a thing. Very
fine all day.
Sunday, Oct. 16. Went down
to Rays in the morning and
a lot of us went out on the
Enterprise road hunting.
Killed 2 small bucks. This is
my first one since the snow.
Got back home at 5.30.
Certainly had a lot of fun.
Rained just a little.
The Vernonia Pioneer Museum is lo-
cated at 511 E. Bridge Street and is
normally open all year from 1 to 4 pm
on Saturdays and Sundays (excluding
national holidays, Easter and Mothers’
Day.) There is no charge for admission,
but donations are always welcome. Be-
come 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 Vernonia Pioneer
Museum page and our page on Vernonia
Hands on Art website, www.vernoniah-
andsonart.org. 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.
Cedar Side Inn
Specialty Pizzas
Taco Tuesday
from opening until 9 pm
3 hardshell or 1 softshell $4.25
11:00 am - 9:50 pm Every day
Classified ads are $5/month up to 50
words, published in two issues. Email:
Scott@VernoniasVoice.com or call
(503) 367-0098.
Check our Facebook page for daily specials
756 Bridge Street, Vernonia
503-429-5841