Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, January 07, 1954, Page 22, Image 22

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    i
Thursday, January 7. 1954
Ancient Timepieces
Revived at Lebanon
LEBANON The clockl of Una
county's fint settlers contribute
. their pert to the history of the
. area ai time marches into IBM.
Many of the mechanisms have
been ticking away the yean in
etucure parts of the county for
more than 100 yean.
Re Peery,- 177S . Franklin
street, Lebanon, la a member of
one of Unn county's oldest fam-
Hies and an authority on early
; clocks. He has set many of the
a discarded timepieces running
again after yean of disuse, and in
addition to his dock craft has
recorded the history of each as
related ' by descendants of the
families that treasured them.
Though always alert to the back
ground of old docks. Rex Peery
knows little about his own time
piece, given to him by Frank
Smith shortly before his desth
in 1940. For yean it occupied
a corner in the Smith blacksmith
shop near Silt Lake school, but
it is a real antique, Peery dis
covered when he began to dean
and repair it
Its calendar mechanism con
sists of a man of rolls similar
to an automobile's speedometer,
but much more complicated. The
. calendar device is operated by a
v disc on the center post to which
is connected a wire. As the
clock's center post revolves, it
raises a weight connected to the
lower end of the wire in a slot
on the back of the calendar mech
anism. When the weight is raised to
Its highest point, midnight, the
wire trips off the disc, causing
the weight to drop and work the
calendar mechanism. This loud
crash coming at the last stroke
of 12 does not make It a popular
; timepieceTor light sleepers.
The clock is constructed of
hard wood with a reddish tinje
resembling rosewood. It came to
Smith through his grandiatehr,
John J. Cnbtree, who settled on
a donation land claim near Scio
in 1843.
Linked to the gay 90's is the
ornate Seth Thomaa eight-day
spring clock owned by Clara
Cawrse. It may be seen at her
home near Providence church.
Cased with heavy brass plates
is its train of gears. The count
wheel and count level sits back
of the plates outside the mech
anism, a feature not commonly
found in early clacks.
This fancy timepiece cased in
heavy cast bronze, used to sit on
a shelf behind the bar in the
Esmeralda hotel in Goldfield,
Nev., during yean of 30.000 pop
ulation when fabulous gold strikes
yielded $120,000,000.
A small part of the upper right
easting is missing and a bullet
crease shows that it was shot
away when flying bullets in boom
town ban were almost nightly
occurences
In 1886, John W. Gaines, one of
Linn's earliest settlen, sent to
Montgomery-Ward in Chicago for
calendar clocks which cost $8
each. They were presents for his
three sons, Frank, Art, and Al
vis Gaines and one daughter of
his first wife, Mn. John (Eva)
Davenport
After the death of John and
Eva Davenport their son Wayne
fell heir to their clock and it now
keeps correct time in the Daven
port home at 520 West Sher
man saseet
of special note is the fact that
It has run for 67 years without
oiling or repair of any kind. The
calendar has never missed re
cording the yean, including leap
year, the days of the month and
days of tne week.
The Davenport clock is spring
driven and the original springs
still drive the mechanism which
is not worn to sny extent
A elie example of pioneer
clock craft is the Terry time
piece owned by Mrs Samanda
Haight It occupies a shelf in the
first frame house built in Linn
county, 1846, near Knox Butte.
The Knox family for whom
the butte Is named were early
comers. They followed the ex
ample ol few who came ahead
of them, rafting down the Co
lumbia river to Portland and
up the Willamette to the butte
area.
Mn. Haight's clock is one of
the patents of Eli Terry, an ear
ly clock maker. History relates
that he and his helpers made a
few clocks by hand, whereupon
Hi mounted his hors and with
clocks dangling rom the saddle
rode through the country selling
them to farmen of the eastern
seaboard. I
William Cyrus left Missouri
by ox team bound for Oregon
iii 1847. Three wagons were
piled with the family's worldly
possessions as they joined the
wagon train, heading west
Among their treasures was a
clock, safely tucked in a feather
bed
This clock ticked away the
hours In a log cabin on their
donation land claim near Scio
nutil the new house was built a
few vears later.
In 1888 Pioneer Cyrus had a
farm sale and this clock was
purchased by Seth Rockwell for
a small sum. In 1924, his son
John Rockwell, gsve the old
timepiece to Effie Peery of Leb
anon who is a granddaughter of
William Cyrus. It is now in Mrs.
Perrv's Grant street home ticx
Inr off the minutes as efficient
ly as any modern dock
tuottuino
OOCTOli
APMOVf
Aa ornate and beautifully
"rved dock is the property of
Myna Davenport, 820 West Sher
man street. It Is aa tight-day
print onven timepiece manu-
ucuirca ay tne oJbert Clock
company and is equipped with
aa alarm system that would
arouse me aeaa.
Manufactured prior to J 900,
the east is of solid eastern nk
and the ornaments are aparent-
ly nua UKMeo.
DiiTing the late 19O0s Mrs.
Davenport boarded a group of
Umber cruisen for 23 cents per
meal and from her earnings pur
chased the clock for 12.73 from
J. C Hardin's general merchan-
aise store in Lacomb.
The Hardin stcra stocked ev
erything from horse shoe Bails
to long underwear and was one
of the famous pioneer stores
serving a wide countryside. It
was located on the corner just
east of the present home of
Wayne Downing, Linn county
commissioner.
JossIin'sHaf
Hurled in Ring
PORTLAND ufl W. L. (Les)
Josslin said ben Wednesday he is
considering filing as a Democratic
candidate) for governor.
josslin, an attorney, is a former
Democratic state chairman and
was administrative assistant to the
states last Democratic governor,
Charles H. Martin.
Josslin said, however, that if
some other "good" Democrat de
cides to run, he win not.be a can
didate. Among those listed in this
category were Atty. Gen. Robert
Thornton, State Senators Richard
L. Neuberger and Robert D.
Holmes and Joseph Carson, former
Portland mayor.
Josslin said he does not believe
Gov. Paul L. Patterson and Sec
retary of State Earl T. Newbry,
the governor's leading opponent
for the Republican nomination, will
campaign on issues important to
the state.
He said the governor has never
declared himself in the controversy
over whether the federal govern
ment or the Idaho Power Co.
should devdop power at Hells Can
yon on the Snake River. Josslin
favors a big federal dam at Hells
Canyon and said the issue is vital
ly important to the state.
Wiley Smith. Portland, Multnom
ah county assessor, is the only
Democrat yet to declare his can-
dicacy for governor.
FIREMEN ELECT
ALBANY Eugene Richard
son was elected president of the
Albany . Volunteer Firemen's
association, Chief Don Hayne
TOT CAPITAL JOURNAL. Salem. Oregon
PIONEER CLOCKS STILL TELL TIME AT LEBANON
FOOD SECnON-Pax. t
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Oregon Traffic Deaths
Show Decrease in 1953
Dairymen Urged to
Drink More Milk
WORCESTER, Mass. IB-Joseph
T. Brown, Plymouth County agri
cultural agent gave dairy farmers
a nint last night on now they could
help reduce milk surpluses.
Addressing tne i7th annual
union agricultural meeting, he
said:
"The dairy farmers could help
by drinking a little more milk. I
couldn't help noticing that there
was no milk served at the Pure
bred Dairy Assn. luncheon today.
announced Tuesday. Other of
ficers selected for 1934 are Wes
Adair, vie president; Cir.lel
Boteler. secretary, and Harry
Warner and Leonard Jewell,
executive committee.
LEBANON Old docks of pioneer days still are ticking
off the seconds in many Linn county homes. Above are shown
six famous docks, some more than 100 yean old. At top left,
dock owned by Rex Peery whose bobby is repairing old time
pieces. Top center, dock owned by Mrs. Clara Cawrse, aa
ornate Seth Thomas eight-day dock; top right dock owned
by Wayne Davenport purchased from Montgomery Wrd,
Chicago, cost $8; lower left antique Terry clock acquired by
relatives of Mrs. Samanda Haight in 1860; lower center;
William Cyrus clock now owned by Mn. Effie Peery, grand
daughter; lower right Myrna Davenport dock, purchased
for S2.73 in the 1800s from the J. C Hardin general store at
Lacomb. f
ONE TOO MANY
GREENWICH, Conn. (UP)
Election officials bad soma un
tangling to do sfter Rocco Strax
za won as a write-in candidate.
Two persons with that name live
in the same voting district on the
same i tret
State Department
Through With Clark
WASHINGTON I The State
Department Indicated Wednesday
it will wash Its hands of William L.
Clark, otuled chiet justice of the
U. S. courts in Germany, at mid
night Thursday.
Clark arrived In New York Tues
day still protesting his recall and
suspension by the State Depart
ment.
Henry Suydam. denartment nress
officer, was asked at his news con
ference Wednesday whether Clark
would report to Washington for
consultation.
Tia department has not heard
from Judge Clark," Suydam re
plied. "His appointment as a for
eign service officer expires at
midnight Thursday night."
iiBiaia
son en lib ere
CoMalnt hhmUh tfe. Ik ilwi.
IT. mum ill sisn rai saiuM
PRICES GOOD THRU SATURDAY
T ' It
'
$1.98 Value
Hot Water Bottle
Full 2 Qt- Capacity
Made of Live Red
Rubber far Lang Lift
T
TOILETRY
59c Lady Eva
Bubble Bath
20 Packets in
Each Box
3 for 1
00
TOILETRY
Children's Snap Lock
Trouser Creasers
Trousers dry
Faster, Perfectly
Created.
O $100
pr. A
VARIETY
$1.29 Ivory Fire King
Mix Bowl Set
Four-Piece $1 00
Set A
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$2.89 Certified
Vitamin "A"
100 Capsules $100
25,000 Units A '
TOILETRY
$3.96 Shower and Window
Curtain Set
Assorted Colors $1 00
Durable Plastic A
VARIETY
10c Fancy Everyday
ift Wrap Paper
6 for 29'
For Weddings,
Showers, Birthdays
VARIETY
$2.00 Hollywood
Wall Mirror
18" Diameter Perma
Silvered Floral Design
88
VARIETY
By PAUL W,
SALEM IH Oregon's traffic
safety authorities can I figure out
wny uregoa is among the top rank
ing states m reducing its traffic
oca in tou la uu.
They give the credit to Lad
Luck, and keen their flniera crass.
eo in nopee mat the good record
migni continue.
They say there might be soma
other factors, but tbey can't prove
Oregon's 11.1 per cent reduction
in traffic deaths la 1KJ is either
the best or second best record in
the country.
While the number of deaths de
clined sharply, the number of acci
dents dropped off only slightly and
the number of injured persons in
creased. This makes traffic safety
men fee! that the hand of fate
helped bold down the death rate.
There were 4S0 traffic deaths in
1952. and 170 In IKi. But Secre
tary of State Earl T. Newbry's
traffic safety division isn't crowing
about It The division would just
like to know how it was done.
The lowest post-war total was sse
in 1M, and the safety men felt
soared to 417.
The traffic safety men say 1954
could be a very bad year, and
that's why they aren't bragging
about 1941.
In 1853. the traffic death rate
was running about normal until
June L Then it took a nosedive
for the rest of the year. In the
last seven months, the death toll
was down from lis to 11. com
pared with the same seven months
of -1952.
Jim Banks, assistant traffic safe.
ty director, says there wasn't any
increasea eniorcement or educa
tion that could have caused the
drop.
Could weather have been a
cause? Possibly. The fall of 19S2
was warm and dry, and the fall of
iw was wet Maybe people drive
more carefully in wet weather.
Could there have been better en
forcement? Maybe. The state po
lice added (0 more traffic officers,
making a total of 291. However,
these officers weren't in the field
until last Oct L
Was there better traffic safety
education? Probably. Banks and
his staff did about the same
amount ol work as they did in
HARVEY JsV
issx. But Banks says that the 19SS
safety drives sponsored by civic
organisations, radio stations and
newspapers could be a contribut
ing factor.
Is it a national trend? No. The
national traffic death totals are up
about one percent
So Banks and State Police Sunt
H. G. Maisoa credit the reduction
to plain luck.
The total number of accidents la
the first it months of the year
waa M.M. a decrease of about
2.M0. And the number of persons
injured in that period was 12.211,
an increase of about 200 over the
same period of 1952.
So those figures cast explain
the reduced death toll, either.
Oregon officials have kept their
eyes on Washington State during
November and December, when
that state had a traffic enforce
ment drive. ,
Washington had a 42.7 per cent
reduction in its death rata in those
two months, compared with th
same period fa 1952. i
But Oregon, without am nwt!
enforcement drive, had an even
larger reduction 4J.7 per cent.
Before the driv itrtH b
L Patterson said Oregon would
not increase its enforcement, so
Oregon figures could be used to
help determine if Washington's
drive was ' successful.
Msison said his Oreeon Sit
police never have had a special
enforcement drive.
We do concentrate our effort
on the highways during critical
periods, such as on holidays. That
i" tne principle of selective enforce
ment, Maisoa said.
Speed generally is considered tn
be a big faotor in fatal accidents.
The faster a ear goes, tne less
chance a passenger has of surviv.
ing an accident
In Oregon, however, of the 27 .
persons killed during November..
speed was considered a factor in
only two of the deaths.
In those two accidents, one driver
was. going so fast he couldnt
make a curve.- In the other, the
fast driver was on the wrong side
of the road.
So the police say there are manv
angles besides speed. But just what
the answer is, the traffic safety
men would like to know.
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No. 1 IfV C CO
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Fred Meyer Drugs
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W Reserve the Right to Limit Quantities
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Ward 1954 Midwinttr Sale Book ,
'jr.? , Oaf4MTiwJa
2
FreeWards New Sale Book
Save on Family Needs
Here h your chance to save money on
things you realty need end, at the
some time, be sure of quality merchan
die. Stop in the Catalog Department
of our Retail Store and oik for a copy
of Wards new Midwinter Sale Book,
hs 184 poges are filled with timely
bargain. For example, notice how
prices have been cut on "Snug-Fit"
colored sheets and Cannon Towels. See
reductions on fashions savings on
clothing and shoes for every member
of the family. Women will like sale
prices on home appliances and rugs
. . . dinette sett, mottrees and bed
outfits. Men will appreciate reduced
prices on power and hand tools and
extra-traction tirei, recommended for
driving In snow or mud. Ready-to-point
desks, dressers, bookcases, chairs,
and bunk beds are ell reduced or
special purchases. There il a big sala
on dirmerware-. choose from 16 pop
ular patterns. These ond mony other
values for family, home and car arc
In Wards new Midwinter Sale Book. Aik
for your free copy today. Then, to or
der.call our direct line telephone service.
SHOP WARDS FRIDAY NIGHT 'Til 9 t. M.
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