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About Vernonia freedom. (Vernonia, Oregon) 1978-198? | View Entire Issue (March 21, 1979)
Wednesday March 21.1979 Vernonia Freedom — Page 5 Jenelle Wiggins Pop Ceballos Nehalem Valley People Pop (Sam) Ceballos by Jenelle Wiggins Pop (Sam) Ceballos has led an unusually interesting life. He was bom in Pototan Iloilo, Philippine in 1900 and as a young man was a star athlete winning 4 gold medals in the Philippine Olympics. Pop came to the USA in 1919 after World War I and went to work at a cannery in Alaska with a friend. “I made $300 or $400 in a few months. That was a lot of money. With the American dollar you can be king in the Philippines, My friend was going to Portland, he said it was good there and I went along. I wanted to finish high school so I got a job as a houseboy, earning $15 a month to pay for my enrollment. I got my diploma from Jefferson High School.” “I was working at the shipyards when I was offered a job as a houseman, mowing lawns, cleaning windows and other odd jobs from a man named Frank. His partner was a man named Meier. One day he said he wanted me to be his chauffeur. And I didn’t even know how to drive! But less than a week later, I was sitting behind the wheel of a big Cadillac. We tfaveied all over the country including Havana, Cuba and Mexico. We had to pay a boy to sleep under the car in Mexico City so nobody would steal the tires. I had a lot of fun at Mr. Frank’s expense. ” “When the Japanese invaded the P hilippines I went to Salem to enlist. My home town was being invaded and I figured since I knew every nook and cranny of that village I ’d make a good soldier. But they told me I was too old. The town I was born in was burnt to the ground in 1942. My F ather and M other ran to the mountains to hide. They took nothing but the clothes on their back and they never came back. Some of my other relatives ran to the rice fields and layed down in the water, breathing through reeds. They burnt all the houses, everything.” “ I went back to my village 6 years ago. Everything was so different. There was running water, and electricity and all the girls were wearing short skirts! I came to .Vernonia for the 1st time in 1920 to visit some Philippine friends who were working at the Mill. those who came Jamboree Committee meetings Preparation for Jamboree Court Two meetings of the 1979 Jamboree Committee have already been held, and officers for 1979 have been elected. They are: Chairman - Jerry Keenon; Vice Chairman in charge of Fund Raising activities - Marv Meyers; Vice Chairman in charge of Non-Fund Raising activities - Sharon Linstad; Secretary - Cris Krieger; and Treasurer - Mary Cota. Many projects are under way. Among them are: the A rt Show, the Bowling Tournament, the Trap Shoot, the Teen Dance, the Parade, the Logging Show, the Queen’s Court and the Queen’s Coronation. The band for the Teen Dance has been contacted, and because they are an excellent group which will appeal to adults as well as teeenagers, it was decided to change th e name to the “Jamboree Dance” and invite adults as well as teens. It will be held in the V.H.S. gym on Friday night of the Jamboree. “Saw Music Sam”, who plays a musical saw and made his first appearance in last year’s Jamboree has been contacted and will be back again this year. Holding an “ Old Time Fiddlers” Contest during Jamboree was suggested. Chairman Jerry Keenon offered to check into it. The wood is being gathered for the 1979 Jamboree buttons. They will go on sale April 1st. Our Jamboree is a huge project, and there are several positions which still need to be filled. The main ones are that of Publicity Chairman and Program Chairman. Anyone with interests in these (or any other) areas should contact Mrs. Cris Krieger, Jamboree Secretary. Input is needed from as many sectors of our community as possible to make this year’s Jamboree the best ever! Last Friday the Junior and Senior girls ar V.H.S. heard a presentation on the 1979 Jamboree Queen’s Court. Former Jamboree Queen, Cris Krieger and former Princess Kathy Osgood told of their experiences on the Court. The rules for the 1979 Court were explained, and all the girls were encouraged to try out. Because the Jam boree buttons which the Princesses sell are the main fund raiser for the Jamboree, the Jam boree Committee has decided to give a $250.00 college scholarship to the Princess who sells the most buttons this year. In order to boost button sales, all applicants to the Court will be given the month of April to sell buttons. At the end of the month, the four girls who have sold the most buttons will be declared the 197Ó Jamboree Princesses. Runners-up will receive thank-you gifts from the Jamboree Committee. The advisors for the 1979 Court are Mrs. Ann Holce and Mrs. Gayle Martin. Any girl or parent who wishes additional information should call Ann at 429-2205 or Gayle at 429-8371. When you see a girl selling buttons next month, please consider buying one. Not only do they finance our Jamboree, your button will help that girl become a 1979 Jamboree Princess! Historical Society Twenty-five members of the Columbia County Historical Society enjoyed slides shown by Clatskanie’s chief historian, Melvina Barr, at the old Mayger Grade School. The theme was “Old Clatskanie before the Castle and Churches.” Next historical meeting will be March 28 at Warren Grange with the usual potluck at noon, followed by a program. responsibilities with his daughter-in- That was before they built the Sunset Sam and family on Bridge Street. Highway and you had to go from Pop is young for his 79 years. He law Roxanne. A family favorite is Pop’s Philippine speciality, Chicken claims to be the oldest living berry Banks to Timber and through. ” In 1948 my wife died leaving me picker in addition to being an avid Adobo. with 3 children to raise. I was fisherman. During the fishing season Chicken A dobo _ working then and my girl was going Pop rises at 5 am every morning, gets (Beef or pork make a nice variation) to attend St. Mary’s and my boys in his car and heads for the Columbia 1 chicken VaC vinegar would have attended a boys school. River. “I haven’t caught a fish yet,” 1/8 C soy sauce dash of tobasco But I didn’t want my children to be Pop laments. “But I ’m going again 1 onion chopped separated so we moved to Vernonia tomorrow. This keeps me broke.” where we could be a family, and I “From 1953 to 1960 you could 2 cloves of garlic pressed went to work at the Mill. I liked it throw your line in the river and 2 slices of ginger root Cut the meat into pieces and place that way.” always get a fish. That was the time, “I left for work at 8 a.m. and the not now. From December to March I in a large saucepan and cover with kids left for school. I worked behind have only seen two fish caught. This water. Add the vinegar, soy sauce, the resaw. My kids came home at 3 is the worst year for salmon fishing. tobasco, chopped onion, garlic and p.m and I got home around 4 p.m. We If there’s a fish to be caught in ginger. Bring to a boil and then simmer until meat is almost done. At lived out behind the Grade School Rainier, I ’ll be the first to catch it. I with about 50 other Philippine used to have to give fish away last add any vegetables you have and families. The sewer lagoon is where because I caught more than we could cook them until just tender. Serve Adobo on a bed of rice. Delicious! our house used to be. Oh boy.” eat or fit in the freezer.” “There were about 100 colored Pop puts a cow bell on the tip of his families living behind the Chevy rod and when a fish gets on the line PCC Painting class garage and sonie other nationalities that bell rings like crazy. “My bell Portland Community College too. There were some Japanese hasn’t rung since December,” Pop Extension Service will offer a class in Oil Painting Tuesday 27, at 7 p.m. room 4 at families before I came here. sighs. “I go everyday, Nothing.” Everybody worked at the Mill. The “In the summer we fish ocean the High School. Tony Hyde will be the Mill build some houses and we rented perch. They average 3 pounds and if instructor. All levels are advised to bring recent them. Most houses rented for $5.00.1 you smoke them they taste better work if they have any, and whatever paid $8.00 because our house was a than salmon. Ben Fowler and I catch painting materials they have on hand. A little bigger. There was no electricity, those perch by the bucketful. supply list will be available for those or plumbing. ” Pop shares the cooking students who need to purchase materials. “I went to the head boss and said that I wanted ele<$ricity for my family. He said ‘No! We can’t afford that.’ So I went to the city and they said ‘No! We can’t do that.’ It turned out that Mr. Greenman, the owner of the O.A. Mill Was also the best friend of Mr, Frank, I went to Mr. Greenman and told him I needed electricity and hot water for my Weekend Special children. I said that I would pay for From 5 pm Friday & Saturday, March 2 3 &24 it. Well, our house was the first to get electricity and water, and eventually Gary’s Special the others got hooked up at their own Prime Rib expense. I went right out and bought an electric washer and a stove. Up until then my daughter Ret^ heated the dishwater on the woodstove. hours monday-thursday • 8am-8pm Pop Ceballos is somewhat of a friday & Saturday • Bam-9pm celebrity, having been written up in closed Sunday the Vernonia Eagle, the Journal and the Oregonian. He got his citizenship at 73 years of age in order to make a trip back to his homeland. Relatives 429-4743 866 Bridge Street here worried that without it Pop might have trouble returning to the States. Pop presently lives with son ROACH’S Restaurant
