Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 9, 2018)
7A THE DAILY ASTORIAN • FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2018 Anniversary: ‘Thousands of soldiers were sent into the woods’ Continued from Page 1A “Hurrah!! Hurrah!!,” his diary from Nov. 11, 1918, reads. “The war is over at last. Hurrah!!!!! (Hostilities) ceased at 11 a.m. and we all quit work and went to town. The French people went crazy with joy. Anti-aircraft guns popping. A big time in Chatillon (France) for everybody. Hurrah!!!!!!” Chapman has been orga- nizing her dad’s materi- als to add to the American Legion’s collection and for the National Archives and Records Administration. “I just want him to be known for doing so much for our country, and for me, because I miss him every day,” she said. Aside from people, Clat- sop County provided spruce trees to build airplanes for the Allies. In 1917, there was a gen- eral strike among the Indus- trial Workers of the World for better working conditions, creating work stoppages that slowed the flow of timber out of the Pacific Northwest just as the U.S. was entering the war. In response, the Army created the Spruce Production Divi- sion, based in Portland. “Thousands of soldiers were sent into the woods to build mostly temporary log- ging railroads and plank roads, operate the latest in trucks and other vehicles,” wrote David Lindstrom, a member of the Friends of Old Fort Stevens, in the group’s most recent sum- mer newsletter. “They inno- vated the fastest way to cut logs, then loaded them on rail- road cars for daily shipment to the Army depot at Vancouver, Washington, for final milling. Then the lumber was shipped to airplane factories at home Clatsop County Historical Society The Army’s Spruce Production Division harvested trees in local forests for airplanes during World War I. and abroad.” The division grew to 30,000 members laboring in more than 200 camps along the Oregon and Washington state coasts, including about 750 troops locally. They worked alongside civilians, producing an estimated 23 million board feet of spruce a month for the war effort. “The whole enterprise lasted 15 months,” Lind- strom wrote. “Once the armi- stice ending the Great War was signed on Nov. 11, 1918 pro- duction abruptly stopped. The camps were taken down, rail- roads were dismantled, equip- ment including locomotives, rail cars, rails, railroad ties, donkey engines, vehicles, rig- ging, cables, etc. were taken to the Vancouver, Washing- ton, Army depot and sold off as surplus.” American Legion Clatsop Post 12 Edward Stratton/The Daily Astorian Ardi Chapman has been transcribing the World War I diaries of her late father, William Carl Urell, who served in the Army’s 157th Aero Squadron repairing airplanes. Monument: ‘It was a lot of shuffling’ The city still needs to finish work on the terracotta and flat roofs as weather permits, replace railings and finish painting and weatherization, said Jonah Dart-McLean, interim director of the city’s Parks and Recre- ation Department. The Union- town Association will help fill planter boxes around the monu- ment, while the city will handle ground landscaping. The city has also installed new outdoor lighting and doors that automat- ically lock in the evening to help deter vandalism. “We’ve got a janitorial ser- vice contracted out to do other parks bathrooms, and they’ll start servicing these when they’re open as well,” he said. “Hopefully that frequency during the evening and night hours will help.” Continued from Page 1A The city’s restoration, over- seen by former City Planner Rosemary Johnson, involved Clatsop Community College’s historic restoration program, Tongue Point Job Corps Center and local contractors. “It was a lot of shuffling and coordination to make sure it got done in the right order,” John- son said. The city received a state His- toric Preservation Office grant for $12,000, along with a local match of $10,000, to restore the Doughboy Monument, which includes the first public bath- rooms added to the National Register of Historic Places. But before the work could be fin- ished, a driver plowed his truck into the eastern flank of the structure, setting back the res- toration while the city sought insurance reimbursement and assessed any structural damage. With the help of outgoing City Councilor Cindy Price, the city later received $5,000 from the Samuel S. Johnson Grant Colin Murphey/The Daily Astorian Repairs to the Doughboy Monument are nearly complete. Foundation, named after the father of state Sen. Betsy John- son, D-Scappoose. The grant provided the local match for a second State Historic Preserva- tion Office grant of more than $17,000 to replace the terracotta roof above the restrooms. Using the nearly $47,000 from the two preservation grants and an estimated $160,000 in insurance payout, the city and partners were able to restore the monument and bathrooms, repair the damage from the crash and re-anchor the bronze statue. GAME MEAT PROCESSING Debbie D’s will be at Cash & Carry in Warrenton at 10:00 a.m. every Saturday to pick up and deliver meat for processing. James Goodwin was an able seaman and part of the gunner crew on the SS Mongolia when it became the first vessel to fire on Germans after the U.S. en- tered World War I. HONORING THE FALLEN At 11 a.m. Sunday, Dart-McLean and Johnson will lay a poppy wreath from the United Kingdom at the foot of the Doughboy Monument. Joining them will be Adjutant Mike Phillips from American Legion Clatsop Post 12 and fellow member Charles Parker, a Vietnam veteran whose great-uncle Freeman Parker died in World War I. The Bells of Peace, including an American Legion bell at the Doughboy and others at local churches and the Astoria Fire Department, will ring in honor of the end of the war. At 1 p.m. Sunday in the Astoria Public Library’s flag room, Lucien Swerdloff and John Goodenberger from the college will detail the Doughboy Monument restoration. Library Director Jimmy Pearson, a historian for the American Legion, will speak about U.S. involvement in the war. Phillips will read the names of the 34 county residents killed in World War I. Parker rings the bell after each name, and pop- pies will be placed on the names of the fallen. The American Legion Clatsop Post 12, charted in July 1919, will celebrate its 99th birthday and Veterans Day on Saturday. The events begin with a 10 a.m. brunch. A Veterans Day pro- gram at noon will include presentation of colors, the National Anthem, displays, guest speakers, patriotic music and cere- monies for prisoners of war and those missing in action. The American Legion will host a prime rib dinner from 4 to 6 p.m. and music by Theory of Relativity from 6 to 10 p.m. Please Adopt a Pet! GISELLE 2 year old Torbie Cat 20 lb. min • Each batch individual IT’S THAT TIME OF THE YEAR!!! Sugar & Spice and everything nice, combined with petite and pretty; She is a joy. Please call or leave message by Friday so we know to expect you! DEBBIE D’S Jerky & Sausage Factory 2210 Main Avenue N. • Tillamook, OR • 503-842-2622 See more on Petfinder.com SENIOR DAY SPECIALS CLATSOP COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER • 861-PETS 1315 SE 19th St. • Warrenton | Tues-Sat 12-4pm www.dogsncats.org THIS SPACE SPONSORED BY BAY BREEZE BOARDING SPECIAL SENIORS MENU FOR 60 & OVER EVERY TUESDAY STARTING NOVEMBER THRU JANUARY CHECK OUT OUR $ 7 DAILY SOUP & LUNCH SPECIALS MON: WED: FRI: 5:00 pm Downtown Astoria Michael T. Williams Nov. 10 th OPEN DAILY AT 11AM Visit Downtown Astoria on the 2nd Saturday of every month for art, music, and general merriment! Presented by the Astoria Downtown Historic District Association 20 N. COLUMBIA, SEASIDE • 503-738-4331 www.normasoceandiner.com presents Every month, year ‘round! TRIPLE GRILLED CHEESE WITH TOMATO BASIL SOUP FRENCH DIP WITH POTATO LEEK SOUP COD FISH TACOS WITH A CILANTRO LIME SAUCE AND RICE OUR SOUPS ARE, OF COURSE, HOMEMADE 1 BLOCK OFF BROADWAY • 1 BLOCK FROM BEACH The Rainland Fly Casters astoriadowntown.com facebook/astoriadowntown.com Fly Fisher, Fly Tying Instructor, Photographer “Willamette Waters” Oregon’s Hidden Trout River Gems! Thursday, November 15th at 7 PM Peace Lutheran Church 12th & Exchange No Cost • Public Welcome Info: 503-338-2279
