Our Valley
By CHARLES IRELAND
Imagine a iarm so big that it has its own service station,
its own cafe and its own meat market . . . Picture a farm so
big that it grew one of every 100 pounds of green beans pro
cessed in the U. S. last year . . Add a million-dollar Annual
payroll and an owner with an1 all-consuming zest for farm
ing , -. Toss those ingredients around and you'll come up
with U.'S. Alderman Farms. ,
Little could be writen about Alderman Farms that
" . .a . - a 4 T
prise longtime residents ei ine wuiamene .vauey
would ur-
M est of
them have read many stories detailing the output of this fabulous
farm . . . But thert may be newcomers U the valley who arc u
aware that this giant sits on their doorstep . . . Alderman Farms,
headqnarted 16 miles north of Salem near Dayton, is unique be
cause most of its crops are ready for the grocery store when they
leave the farm in frozen-food cartons . . . In farming circles it's
considered the greatest one-owner show of its kind on earth, for
V. S. Alderman, a 54-year-old bachelor, rules it all.
-. . '
i The Alderman operation is so big that few know exactly
how many acres .are involved from year to year . ... Suffice
to say that about 1,700 acres of Alderman-owned land sur
round the main cluster of farm buildings ... Involved also
this year were 160 acres of stawberries near Keizer and an-
oiner iou near uuuuce ... xuia jreni a umjui uua ic
berries, beans (525 acres), potatoes (500 acres) and corn (800
acres) . . . Currently, Alderman is devoting much time to a
new 400-acre potato field he leased near Independence.. , .
He has drivn from his home farm to Independence as many
as four times in a single day to pamper those new potatoes.
- . ' . ,
V Bulk of the. Alderman spuds goto the potato chip industry
as they have jor years. Alderman's success stems jrom storing
them at the right temperature . . . Result:, his potatoes pro
duct 35 lbs: of chips per 100-Ib. jack; ordinary potatoes pro
duce 25 lbs.-. .' . Most of the berries, com and beans are pro
cessed at the jood-freezing. plant, built at the farm in 1945-46.
The Alderman roots fa deep in Yamhill County . . . U (for
Urie),S, Alderman is a grandson of pioneers who held a donation
land claim. When' Urie's father, E. M. Alderman, married he re
ceived the first 40 acres of the present headquarters farm as a
gift'. That was in 1S93 .' . Oldtimers recall that the farm didn't
sprawt much-nntil Uric started growing np and pestering his dad
to buy more land ... Tbey will tell yon mat line was a itreoau
with big ideas right from the start . . . Much of the new land was
covered with brush. Urie spent, many a season bulldozing h clear,
then planting potatoes . . . As recently as the 30's, be peddled those
potatoes door-to-door in valley towns.
1 ; ; . - - v.-"--' -
By the time, Urie's. father died in 1939 the. operation had
grown pretty big, althugh Urie and bis mother still wrote the
checks for the bean pickers . . . But things happened pretty
last after' that ... In 1940,he hired Neva. Crabtree to help
with office "work. Now nis secretary, she is one of four of -
Iice-worKers among law year- rouna workers Aiaermao
Farms ... In 1942, Alderman began holding harvest barbeques
toward the end of picking season . . . A thousand or more
friends and dignitaries came to break bread with as many
pickers . .-. Reporters (notoriously fond of a free lunch) cov
ered these extravaganzas regularly, and Alderman Farms
fairly wallowed in publicity until the big picnics were term
inated in the late'40's. ' ' ' ' -
Alderman buUt Jiis freezer plant to insure a market for
his produce ... He had been growing corn . for, the fresh mar
ket in California and found there: were. times when it could
not absorb his entire output, or when the price offered no
profits . T. S6 he built a freezer plant and froze it ; The next
year, 1947, hi' jrpte berries and vegetables, too , . . . At its
peak, the freezing plant employs 400 persons. .
. .' 1 - . w ' : r
! In the fields. Alderman bat different methods than ' most
growers . . . He welcomes but does not ordinarily solicit the family
that drives out from town. Instead, he runs rented school buses
from all over Yamhill County, the North Lincoln beach towns and
especially, from Portland . . Postcards are sent annually to pre.
vious workers. They are encouraged to return and bring others .
Nominally. Alderman Farms does net cater much to pickers in
Marion County where the demand from other growers often exceeds
the supply . . . Picking starts about 6 a.m. in the Alderman fields
and usually halts at I p.m. . .'. Then the buses shuttle the pickers
back to their home towns . . . His platoon leaders, many of them
women, earn ISO to $1,009 In a season.
i In many respects, 17. S. Alderman has pioneered in farm
ing methods . . .Hi irrigating system has shown what trri
gation cart do to increase production in the valley. Hi pole
bean hare yielded more than 14 tons per acre compared to
th Oregon average of eight tons and the national average of
two . . , He tuas among the first to use airplanes for spraying
end is in the front rank of the more recent neitch to heli
copter. '
' Little rumors are apt to. crop up at times when a business gets
is big as Alderman Farms ... Because the Alderman Initial
U.S.A. are sometimes seen on equipment at the farms, people who
jump to conclusions have sometimes speculated that the vast place
really belongs to the government . . . Now, U. S. Alderman is not
short on patriotism . . .He was bora on the Fourth o Jnly and
named in part for a Spanish American War general . . . But it's
doubtful that the whole U. S. Army could induce him to part with
bis U. S. Alderman Farms.
Seven Girls
Seek Santiam
Bean Crown
' Stateonjui Newt Serric
STAYTON At least seven
North Santiam area girls will com
pete for the title of. queen of the
Santiam Bean Festival which
opens here Tuesday
Selection of the queen will be
the opening feature at the outdoor
stage at the Civic Building Tues
day at 8 p.tn. Each girl will speak
on the topic "beans" and the win
ner wui De selected partly on
speaking ability.
Entered are Karen Thomas,
sponsored by Stayton Lions dub;
Carol Rice, candidate of the Me
hama Womans Club:' Maralee
Frost, Catholic Daughters of Amer
ica; Sandra Dawson, Jefferson,
Acacia Assembly of Rawbow Girts:
Claudia Johnson, Lyons, Faith Re-
bekah Lodge; Norma Johnson,
Stayton, orth Santiam - Junior
Chamber of Commerce; and Jane
Cox, Stayton Chamber of Com'
merce. . " -.
Other features of the festival
wiH include a Wednesday night
talent show, Thursday night pet
parade, Friday night grand parade
and, on Saturday, a free afternoon
horse show, followed by the tra
ditional "bean hole bean feed."
Dallas Pet Parade Winners
. . if
: r .
200-House
Fircone Tract
Due at Keizer
SUtcsnua New Serric.
KEIZER The name Fircone
again sounds through Keizer news
that construction will' be started
soon in with Fircone Terrace sub
division on a series of better-than-
mkidle-dass homes by Don Lar
gent, Keizer contractor. , .
The tract is directly across the
road from what' once was planned
to be the Fircone Country Club,
and which still is referred to as
theSenator McNary Fircone farm.
It is planned that the acreage will
be terraced to allow a good view
from eacn borne. Purchase price
of each will include an allotment
for trees.
About 200 homes with two-car
garage will be built on the 27 acre
tract held by Largent, and he has
option on the remainder of the
GO acres. Lote will be of various
shape. Most of the homes will be
built in the modern-rustic, and
many will nave oayngnt case
ments.
Former owners, Mr. and Mrs.
Peter Taranoff, have retained one
lot, and already - have occupancy
in their new home North River
Roard.
In 318 i relief programs last
year, the American Red Cross
gave emergency help to 52,000
families and long-term aid to 7,-
100 families.' "
a
I
ML Angel KC's
Seat Officers
SUteimaa Xtwi Servlr
MT. ANGEL New officers of
the Mt. Angel Council of the
Knights of Columbus were installed
Tuesday night -District Deputy
Robert Volz of Salem was in
stalling officer.
New. officers are Grand Knight
Alfred Bernt, . Chancelor Maurice
Hammer, Financial Secretary W.
D. Harris, Recording Secretary
Clem Hauth, Warden - Alphonse
Scbaecher, Treasurer Joseph C.
Schmidt, Lecturer Emedio De
Santis, Trustee , Leonard Fisher;
Advocate Robert Fronk; Inside
Guard Jack Schurr; and Outside
Guard Leonard Dieker. -
A special election will be held at
(he August meeting to add ten
cents a month lo each member's
dues to meet the Council's assess
ment for the Seminary Burse fund,
Father Cyril spoke, briefly on
the planned addition to St. Mary's
School-
DALLAS Placing first In the pet parade at Dallas were Richie,
Christy and Gweme Godsey and their puppy, Spot. They are chil
dren of Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Godsey. The Friday night event was
a prelude to the Smileroo celebration here Aug. 3-6.
IT'S TIME TO ASK
7
Dedication
Of Sublimity
Home Near
Statesman Nw lerTict
i
SUBLIMITY The new' Mar
ian Home in Sublimity is now re
ceiving finishing touches for the
delication and blessing on Sun
day, Aug. 7.
Curbings and sidewalks have
been completed and the grounds
shaped up. '
During the past week, the sisters
in charge of the home attended
a spiritual retreat conducted by
the Rev. G. Scheffold. While they
were in retreat, a group of parish
women assisted them with their
work and care of the sick, also
processing 510 quarts of Royal
Anne cherries, besides gallons of
juice, in one day.
Births
At Valley Hospitals
Statesman Newt Service
, SHERIDAN To Mr. and Mrs.
Winer Melonuk, Sheridan, a
daughter, -July 14 at McMinnvflle
Hospital.
i To Mr.' and Mrs. James L. Old
ham, Sheridan, a son. Larry, July
17 at McMinnville Hospital
To Mr. and Mrs. Norman C.
Johnson, Sheridan, a daughter,
Robin, July 17 at McMinnville
Hospital
Lyons Youth
Group Prays
For Peace
SUtcimaa New Scrric
LYONS The Methodist Youth
Fellowship of Lyons Methodist
Church is carrying on a "Week
of Prayer for Peace" in response
to President Eisenhower's call for
prayers for the Geneva Confer
ence. The group, under the leader
ship of Janet Bellin, has assigned
) certain days to each of its mem
bers during which they will make
concerted prayers for world
peace. '
This action was begun with
worship service entering on
peace at their regular MYF meet
ing - Sunday night Miss Bellin
gave a dramatic reading, "The
Bomb That Fell on America."
Guests at the meeting were
three members of the MYF of
First Methodist Church, Salem.
They were Marcia Humphrey,
Eeverly Fulton and Dennis Fatch.
They talked about summer camp
end the Methodist Youth Fund.
Statesman, Salen, Ort.r Sunday, July 24,-1955 (Sac l-3
AMS
MAR. 22
APR. 20
AJ 46-589
H)
51
S TAR GAZEB!0
Br CLAY X. POLLAN-
.jf TAtmis
f& AMI 21
I MAY 21
1-16-29-40I
50-02-76
MAY 22
JUNE 22
cancb
JUNE 23
JULY 23
3-8-9 531
54-3546
JULY 24
a "
AUG. 23
ITVO-21-31
AUG 24
i
5-15-23-331
47-56-67
H Your Daily Adnitf GWd M
According lo h Sfort.
To develop message tor Sundoy,
read words corresponding to numbers
of your Zodtoc txrth siga
SEPT 23
OCT 23
A. A.10VWO4
48-6840-90S
2 Yout -
3 Km
4 Nm
5 Deception .
. V Inspiration"
7 A
Clear
Of '
10 Go
11 Settle
12 New
13 A
14 Vety
15 1 ' '
17 Tok
IB A
19 Enoblct
20 Be
21 Self-elion
22 T
23 tiity
25 Prepositi
26 Fnenoly
27 Lmle
28 Ftyee
29 A
30 Go
31 You
32 Star .
33 Church
34 Seem
35 From -
36 You :
37 THaft
38 Condition
3? Get
40 Chonc
41 Out
42 Awhile '
43 Conl
44 TkJes
45 To '
46 Bean
47 A
48 To
49 General
50 To
51 Depend
52 A
53 Emotionoi
54 Conditions
55TK
56 Strange
. 57 Be
58 Hangina
41 On
62 Bloom
63 Are
64 Little
65 Favorable
66 AAoming
67 Source
68 Moke '
69 Fire
70 Today
71 It r
72 To
73 OH ' V
74 You '
75 Proyee
76 Aqom
77 Feet
78 Buddmo,
79 Other
80 Good
81 Money
82 Your
83 Nervau
84 Much
85 Might
86 IneeresK
87 tereh
88 Help
scotrto
OCT 24 Lsl
NOV 22
B0-72-33-52n
164-75-858 VL4
nov :
OK.
7-12-24-34
U5-57-78 V
59 Cooperation 89 Today
Good
Advene
jf 724
QjNeutnl
45
CAfttCOttt
DEC
bCM1-42-71 (T
D 4-77-83-89
jam at
FEB. 19
m:AjAT
fc72-8T86vSH
MAR. 2t.T Os
h7-18-27-28l"l
P9.73-82-87eL
SUBLIMITY To Mr. and Mrs.
Marvin Harsken, former Sublimi
ty residents, a daughter, July IS
at Corvallis Hospital Grandpar
ents are Mr. and Mrs Fred Hart
mann, Sublimity. t
Rev. Orrie Arnold
Visits at Pedee
tatesmaa News Service
PEDEE The Rev. Orrie Ar
nold, Dayton, Ohio, bead of pub
lications for the Evangelical Unit
ed Brethren church, visited in this
community Wednesday. His father
was pastor of the EUB Church
here in the early 1900 s and the
Rev. Mr. Arnold graduated from
the former Dallas College with
the class of 1907.
He is in Oregon to attend the
Valley
Obituaries
- SUtesmin News Service
Mrs. Marjorie Letson ,
LYONS Final rites for Mrs.
Marjorie Letson, a resident of
this community., were held
Thursday at Redmond where she
died on Tuesday. Surviving are
her husband, Lester Letson, and
two daughters, all of Lyons.
annual EUB Conference at Jen
nings Lodge. .
There usually are two. total
eclipses of the sun every three .
years, visible somepir.ee on earth, i
People Do Read
SPOT ADS
You Are!
Sec Better for Safer Driving
Many a traffic accident is due to the fauHu tision of a
driver. Eliminate this 'hazard from your motoring. Get
a clieck-up on your eyes.
Dr. E. E. Boring
USE YOUR CREDIT
AND OUR EASY
PAYMENT PLAN
Optometrists
- At Boring Optical -Corner
12th at Center
Dial 3-6506
Free Parking Space
i
4
Dr. Sam Hughes
Harold E. Smedlcy
Phon 2-0656
775 N. 16th St., Salem
Ask mtm tt)y obowt our Ycm
cost income protection plan
w wrfl help to guord
ogoinst ftoonc'rol loss when
r Occident strikes.
. 4
t8iAWflOoWi;iteA80t
n
!
1. .
i i r -
f 't
t :
l-r
f
i -
I
n.
i
V.rsn T. Golden
Serving JSalem and'
' -. ' ' ' - '
, Vicinity as Fun eral
Directors for 25 Years
t (I Convaniepf lec alio n-S. . Commercial
rrT on a pva una airci rem to cm .
terits no cress traffic to hinder strvi- -ces.
Salem's most modern funeral homo. ..
with soaring capacity for 300V: Services
within your means, always. ' -
Virgil T. Golden Co.
C 1 1
b !
?. : ....
' ' ' ni ii. ".mi i .1,,.... ' i i.i " "n. ;; ' 'ini i ' ,:m,;.mi ,; ' ' -
,Mmp, ,J -
' '
t's the 4mD6or RivferSL-
the stunntng now hit
of America's Hardtops
TT 7hen Buick introduced this
yVjnatioh's first hardtop-the
Riiera-folks went for it, and fast.
They liked the Convertible look of
this 2-door beauty long, low and
rakish. They liked the added security
of the steel roof overhead. And they
certainly liked the absence of
center posts in the side window areas
-- which gave a completely unbroken
view left and right
People liked it all so well that, over
the past six years, they made the
Riviera the biggest-selling hardtop in
the world, bar none,' A.tid it still is,
N ow Buick has come up with
another great advance in hardtops
the 4'Door Riviera and it's a sensa
tional hit. ' . '
It has everything the original 2-Door
i - , ' ' ' ' ' "
Riviera has plus separate doors for
rear-seat passengers, and a whale of
a lot more room for them.
Rock-solid tWApillars on either side
are what latch the front doors and
hinge the rear ones.. So there's no
center post above the door line-ani
a completely open sweep of view to
both sides, '1
And the roominess provided by this
gorgeous new hardtop is really some
thing over 9 inches more hiproom
and S inches more legroom in the rear.
Why don't you come see this brand
new kind of automobile that's heading
up the parade of the hottest-selling line
of Buicks in history?
.That way you can also try Buick
comfort, Buick power, Buick ride and
handling and roadabttity plus the
electrifying action of Buick's Variable
Pitch JDynaflow.
Do it this week tomorrow would be
fine and you'll see what record
volume really means in the way of
record-high trade-in deals.
Vrisbl Pitch Dyntfiow ii lb only Dynifiow Bkk
imiUi loJty. It ii jmW 0 RO ADM ASTIR, opliomj
moduli extrs ton on olber Series. .
-- -ss&e ' .fii
!,
Grace S. Golden
"Drive, from factory
Saveupfo . 21(2) (2)
See YOUR BUICK Dealer"
OTTO J. W ILSON CO.
605 S. Commercial St.
FUNERAL SERVICE
Phone 4-2257
388 N. Commercial
..Salem, Oregon
ft