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.