28 — THE CHRONICLE
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2019
COMMUNITY
110
TH
BIRTHDAY
CELEBRATION
Final installment
T
his week we conclude our month-long look at the
various eras covered since the birth of The Creswell
Chronicle on Sept., 30, 1909. The fi nal era, from
1986 to present, saw more growth in the community and
the surrounding towns. Eugene and Springfi eld combine to
make up nearly 250,000 people and the southern Willamette
Valley is expanding from Pleasant Hill to Creswell to
Cottage Grove and beyond.
As always, please feel free to contribute your own
stories and photos and we’d be happy to publish a selec-
tion of readers’ memories through the past 110 years.
~K E Y P L AY E R S O F T H E E R A~
Timeline
1986 – Present
1988 — Creswell Airport
runway was expanded on an addi-
tional 66 acres purchased by the
City the previous year and it was
realigned, with a paved taxiway.
Burlap and Lace and Dairy Queen
opened up shop in town. Creswell
Farmers’ Market also returned in
2014 in the former lumberyard
behind Creswell Library.
1992 — Creswell’s Rural Fire
Protection District took delivery
of its latest apparatus: a ladder
truck with a 50-foot extension
ladder and a 500-gallon water
truck.
2015 — Creswell Kiwanis Club
installed a new “Welcome to
Creswell” sign.
1998 — Creswell’s Water
Treatment Plant received major
upgrades to increase the number
of users.
1999 — The City of Creswell
took over operations and
management of the airport.
Publisher Helen Hollyer, Jeanne Olson and Pam Farmer
Mayor Eddie McCluskey
2000 — Mayor Eddie
McCluskey retired and completed
his reign as Creswell’s Mayor
after 22 years, having served
eight years before that as a city
councilor.
— The City of Creswell received
approval of its wastewater facili-
ties plan.
2001 — Ray’s Food Place
opened a new store on the east
side of Interstate 5.
2003 — South Lane Rural Fire
Protection District and Creswell
Rural Fire Protection District
consolidated.
Su Liudahl (Creswell Library)
Bill Spencer (76 Station, Point S)
Heidi Tunnell (Creswell Bakery)
2007 — Lane Library District’s
Board of Directors voted to
continue Library District Director
Su Ikeda (now Liudahl)’s employ-
ment contract after a six-month
job performance evaluation.
2010 — Seven-digit dialing
comes to an end; callers must
now dial the 541 area code to
connect on local calls.
Jessica Landstra (Farmlands Market)
Norm Few
H O W T O S U P P O R T C R E S W E L L’ S H I S T O R Y
T
he Creswell Historical Museum is always eager to receive new volunteers
and members. To volunteer, no experience is needed and people can
choose to work as little or as much as they’d like. To be a member, dues are $20 a
year and help support the activities and expenses of the Museum.
The Museum is open the second and fourth Saturdays of each month from 11 am.
to 3 p.m., and by special appointment If you are interested, please contact us at
541-895-5464 or PO Box 414, Creswell.
2012 — The City of Creswell
was in hot water after the Oregon
Secretary of State’s office stated
that the City was in violation of
state law due to its lack of up-to-
date financial audits. The City had
annual expenditures of roughly
$3.5 million. The last year the
City had filed an audit was for
the 2009 fiscal year, and it was
submitted six months after the
filing deadline.
2013 — Longtime local pastor
Dave Stram is elected Creswell
mayor.
2014 — Ray’s Food Places
closed; Farmlands Market,
2016 — The marijuana green
light was halted in Creswell, after
reinstating the city’s ban by just
128 votes.
2016 — The Creswell Library
officially purchased its building
and gained momentum for expan-
sion plans.
2017 — “Potroversy” began
in Creswell after a recreational
marijuana initiative was filed with
the City by One Gro, cofounded
by high-profile attorney Mike
Arnold. Business owners banded
together and local residents held
protests on Oregon Avenue.
Ultimately, the initiative was
squashed by an unprecedented
85 percent of voters.
2017 — New economic devel-
opment was stimulated as new
businesses abounded in Creswell.
One Gro Investments, Creswell
HealthMart Pharmacy, Dollar
Tree, Dollar General and Camas
Swale Medical Clinic all opened
shops in town.
2017 — Creswell High School
Principal Andy Bracco and Vice
Principal and Athletic Director
Jordan Osborn resigned amid a
texting scandal for allegedly ridi-
culing students via text message
during a sporting event.
2017 — Creswell got its first
full-time sergeant. Lane County
Sheriff’s Office’s Sergeant Scott
Denham added 20 hours per week
to his shift, making him solely
dedicated to serving Creswell.
2018 – Richard Zettervall
elected mayor
2019 – Joe’s Diner closed
2019 – Great snowstorm
2019 – Great rain/flood
2019 — Noel and Denise
Nash purchased The Creswell
Chronicle, renaming it The
Chronicle and expanding cover-
age from Cottage Grove to
Springfield. The paper celebrates
the 110th birthday of its first
edition on Sept. 30, 1909.