PAGE A2, KEIZERTIMES, JANUARY 8, 2021
A
C
B
Mystery solved in Bair Park
By ERIC A. HOWALD
Of the Keizertimes
Visitors who wander off
the paved path in Bair Park
might have happened upon
what looks to be the remains
of a vintage tractor at the
north end. The remains have
sat in the park for so long,
trees are growing up through
the frame.
While reporting on Keizer
parks for a special section of
the Keizertimes, titled We are
Keizer, intern Brooklyn Flint
mentioned the odd attraction
near the water reservoir. The
paper even checked with city
officials to find out if anyone
knew more about the object’s
origins.
Last week, reader Beth
Nolting (nee Bair) wrote in
with more details about the
mysterious skeletal vehicle.
“It’s not a tractor, as many
have surmised,” wrote Nolt-
ing. She checked in with her
brother, Dave Bair, who had
more details on the object’s
history. “It is an old Oakland
touring car. Our grandfather,
J.C. Bair, reconfigured it to
make a portable saw mill,”
Nolting wrote.
Bair Park itself was once
part of 160 acres owned by
Nolting’s great-great grand-
parents, John and Edna Bair.
The couple purchased the
land in 1882 and it evolved
to include the original Clear
Lake School and the Keizer/
Clear Lake United Methodist
Church.
Oakland Motor Car Com-
pany began production of cars
in Oakland County, Mich., in
1908. The brand was snapped
up by General Motors (GM)
the following year. GM con-
tinued producing cars under
the Oakland brand until 1931
when it was dropped in favor
of Pontiac.
Touring cars were defined
by the lack of a fixed roof and
seating for four or more peo-
ple. The style was most pop-
ular between 1910 and 1920
A sales sheet for a 1910
Oakland offered the car in
golden brown, gray, blue or
black with a five-person seat-
Post named to GOP
leadership position
State Rep. Bill Post has
been appointed assistant dep-
uty by House Republican
Leader Christine Drazan
(R-Canby). In this role, Rep-
resentative Post will serve on
the House Republican lead-
ership team during the 2021
Legislative Session.
“I am honored to serve as
the House Republican Assis-
tant Deputy and entrusted to
be on our caucus leadership
team,” said Post (R-Keizer).
“This leadership position will
allow me a stronger position
to fight for those impacted
by the ongoing COVID-19
pandemic and wildfire recov-
ery efforts. I look forward to
working with my colleagues
and bring forth solutions that
will improve the livelihood of
all Oregonians as we prepare
for the 2021 Legislative ses-
sion.”
ing capacity. The list price
was $1,200, the equivalent
of nearly $33,000 in 2021
currency. A removable top,
windshield and speedometer
raised the price to a whop-
ping $1,290.
A and C:
The skeletal
remains
visitors find in
Bair Park.
B: An Oakland
touring car as
it appeared
in a 1910 sales
sheet.
KEIZERTIMES/
Eric A. Howald