Image provided by: Vernonia Public Library; Vernonia, OR
About Vernonia freedom. (Vernonia, Oregon) 1978-198? | View Entire Issue (June 21, 1979)
Thursday June 21,1979 Page 4 — Vernonia Freedom Motes on Folks Edgar, Herbie and Margaret Hartzell, former Vernonia residents, returned to town Friday afternoon to visit with friends and attend Margaret’s class reunion. She was a graduate of 1936. The Hartzells are residents of Bend, Oregon. John, Elaine and Little John Young have moved back to Vernonia. They now have a niece living with them. She is Allison Clarke from Australia. Ed Wisdom, owner of Alpine Lanes and resident, of Vernonia recently took 7 th place in the 3-6-9 Tournament at the Valley Lanes Bowling Alley. Ed has a 709 series, which was good for a $25 cash prize. New Folks Wayne and Judy Acton are the proud parents of James Winston, bom June 15, in Forest Grove at Dr. Bours birthing cabin. James weighed 814 pounds. Mother and son are home and doing well. Women Bowlers Meet Vernonia Women’s Bowling Association held its annual meeting June 14 at Alpine Lanes for the purpose of electing officers for the coming year. Those elected were Pres.; Alice Ellson; Vice Pres. Bess Moser; Secretary- Treasurer Eunice Tovey. After a short business meeting those present were given a chance to bowl a free line. Thanks Ed! The next meeting is scheduled for August 30 at Alpine Lanes. JeneUe Wiggins Nßholcm VgHcy Poop to Those who were here Shalmon Libel Shalmon Libel, owner-operator of . the Libel farm supply store out Mist, just might have the deepest roots of any pioneer in this valley. “My granddad, John Jones was bom in 1842 and fought through the Civil War,” Shalmon tells me. “He came west to Frisco from Illinois, took a boat from there to Portland and then came on Mist. I’ve got the original homestead papers in my safe. My mother Clara was bom at Mist in 1882 on Granddad’s homestead here,” he gestures. “Mother is 96 years old and my wife and I took her to the Pioneer Picnic at Natal last Sunday. She was the oldest woman there.” “My father John Libel was bom here too just across the river where the Olympic sawmill stands. Dad always had stores. He owned the store at Mist for 17 years and I was bom there.” Although most of the buildings are June 23 is the date to remember Items for sale in all their splendor 10:00 to 5:00 at the Sew Simple Shop So don’t forget where to stop! sew simple shop <^^725 Bridge St. The Central Oregon Veterans Council coordinated local observance of Vietnam Veterans Era Week, which ended Sunday. Six Vietnam Veterans were recognized for outstanding service, including gone now, at one time Mist was a When it burned in June of 1930, the thriving little community with two fire got so hot it cracked windows and hotels and a livery stable. Because blistered the paint on the Birkenfeld people weren’t able to travel freely Store.” then, they were dependent on the Shalmon also remembers when the Mist Store for most all their shopping Gold Medal Shingle Company, up needs. “Dad had a three horse team,” Deep Creek, burned. That fire got Shalmon tells. “They were Belgiums moving so fast it created its own wind and their names were Bob, Bill and and traveled 5 miles in a half hour. Prince. Every other day, three times a “There used to be lots of fires because week that team traveled over the buildings didn’t have the protection mountain to Clatskanie to pick up they do now,” Shalmon tells me. supplies. I was too young to “There were few roads, no fire remember, but Dad printed up some equipment and no fire departments. picture postcards of the team Unfortunately there is still no fire standing in front of the store. The department in this area. In case of a driver always carried a six gun on his fire, residents must rely on the hip for protection. ’ ’ Forestry Department in Pittsburg, 14 “In 1925 Dad bought the store at miles away.” Birkenfled and I went to five grades “A man named W.H. Bridgers there,” he continues. There used to be bought dad out at the Mist and twice as much to Birkenfled as there Birkenfeld stores and in 1930 we is now but a lot of the buildings burnt moved to Portland and then Salem. down including a hotel, pool hall and But in 1932 we moved back to the Macabee Hall. The Macabee was a ranch and I’ve been here ever since.” large building and located close to us. Shalmon grew up in the days of big Summer's here without a doubt For fresh air we’re moving out— Just to the sidewalk for 1 day We’re really notout of the way. P l Former VHS grad honored 429-7441 % Obituary Leaon U. Odam Funeral services for Leaon U. Odam, 82, resident of the Vernonia community since 1945 were held Tuesday, June 19th at 1:00 p.m. at the Vernonia Bible Church. The Rev. D.J. Dickey, pastor of the Vernonia Bible Church officiated. Committal services followed with Vault interment being held at the Vernonia Memorial Cemetary in Vernonia. Leaon U. Odam was bom October 21, 1896 in Unionville, Missouri, the daughter of David and Edith Reiling Moore. She rec eived her schooling and grew to adulthood at Unionville. She was united in marriage September 6, 1913 at Unionville to Arthur Odam. After their marraige they owned and operated a farm near Unionville until moving to Vernonia in 1945. Mrs. Odam was a member of the Vernonia Bible Church in Vernonia. Her favorite hobbies were Sewing and her family. Mrs. Odam died following an extended illness on Saturday, June 16 at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Portland. She is survived by her husband, Arthut Odam, at the family home, 357 First Avenue in Vernonia. Also surviving are four sons, Myrl Odam, Brownsville, OR., Bill Odam, Brownsville, Jack Odam, Vernonia and Gene Odam of Brownsville. Twelve grandchildren and six great grandchildren survive as do two brothers and one sister; Paul and Everett Moore, both in Nebraska, and Pearl McKeddy of Missouri. Numerous nieces and nephews also survive. Funeral arrangements were entrusted to the Fuiten Mortuary Chapel in Vernonia. Raymond Hartzell, of Bend Fire Department. They received framed Presidential Certificates in a ceremony May 29 in the Deschutes County . Courthouse Annex. Raymond is a graduate of VHS class of 65. timber, logging camps and railroads. Most roads were gravel and he remembers they used to shovel rode right out of the riverbed and haul it by horse and team up to the road. “I grew up around draft horses,” says Shalmon “and I imagine I could harness a team blindfolded I got so used to it. Dad had a team of Belgiums and we used to drill grain,' mow and rake hay with them. We hooked up three or four teams to the horse sweep to thrash the grain. That’s a lot of horse power! Lately I’ve been thinking about buying a team for a hobby but they cost a small fortune.” Following in his fathers footsteps, Shalmon began selling implements, machinery and feed in 1941. Today his farm supply store caters to residents throughout the Upper Nehalem Valley. DID YOU KNOW there used to be a blacksmith shop where Lincoln Savings and Loan is now.
