SIUSLAW NEWS | SATURDAY, JUNE 8, 2019 | 7A
FARM from page 1A
Over the years, the fam-
ily has spread to include
cousins and more cousins,
in-laws and friends who are
more like family. It made it
hard for kids who knew the
ropes of the farm and its
homemade playground to
wait to visit with their first-
grade classes.
“One was pouting because
he had to follow the rules,”
Loni said.
Barb said it was like the
family’s kids who were there
during the school visits this
year. “No, you guys get to
play all the time. You can get
it in line like the rest.”
Jami Thomas, Loni’s sis-
ter, said, “Well, it’s more fun
when other people are here!”
“Yeah, when it’s not just
family!” another family
member added.
On May 30, the very last
field trip, Siuslaw Elementa-
ry teacher Heather Crossley
was able to attend as a sub-
stitute teacher for Rachel
Henry’s class. Along with
Heather Costa’s class, her
students heard about field
trips “back in the day” when
Crossley visited the farm
when she was in first grade.
“I remember that day,”
Crossley said. “You guys are
going to remember this field
trip for a long time. And it’s
special since you guys are
the last ones to go.”
Among the students was
her son Rye, who said that
he liked the cows the best
out of all the animals. He
added that his favorite part
was at the end of the day
when they got to play on the
playground.
“My favorite was the tire
swing with the rope and a
board that has a big knot on
the bottom,” he said. When
asked why it was his favorite,
he said, “because my mom
got to push me.”
“That’s so special,” Cross-
ley said.
Over the past 55 years,
traditions formed around
the field trips, including the
serving of ice cream to the
students.
“When we started, it was
homemade,” Loni said. “Due
to all the rules and regula-
tions, we can no longer do
that, but we still continue
the tradition.”
The farm, south of Flor-
ence on Canary Road, orig-
inally was a dairy farm,
raising Guernsey cows to
provide milk to the commu-
nity. The family also raised
2,000 chickens and sold the
eggs to restaurants.
“They raised eggs in that
barn way over there and
they milked cows,” Loni said
to the first-graders. “They
would put the milk in glass
jars and deliver to houses in
town on what’s called a ‘milk
run.’ Grandma would drop
off a full jar of milk on the
doorstep, pick up the emp-
ty with the money inside
and go on to the next one.
We were excited because we
got to go on Saturdays when
there was no school. That
was fun.”
She laughed when she was
asked to count the num-
ber of animals on the farm.
With goats, cows, chickens,
rabbits, ducks, a donkey
named Poncho (who bites),
wild turkeys, cats and a
small dog, it would be hard
to count.
“There’s even a pig — but
the pig doesn’t come home
anymore,” said Nancy Flat-
ley, Loni’s mom.
Loni said, “He was our
pig — he is our pig — but
the people down there have
horses and feed their hors-
es two times a day at two
separate times, so they feed
the pig. Why would the pig
come home if he gets fed
four times a day down there?
And they keep the barn open
and he has a bed inside. So
why would he come home?
I wouldn’t come home! I’m
not going to walk up that
hill.”
As the students left for the
final time on Thursday, fam-
ily members gathered to give
them small goodie bags and
wave to the departing bus.
“You guys are the last
ones,” Loni said.
“It was so cool seeing all
the different generations
come up through here. Like
Aric Sneddon, who said it
was 31 years ago that he was
here. When he heard they
were coming here, he said,
‘Well, I’m definitely going to
that,’” Barb said.
Mention a name in town,
and the Elliott descendants
have a connection to them.
Crossley is a cousin to their
cousins, and they know ev-
ery family who had a farm
in the area, including the
Smiths, Huffs, Martins and
Libbys. They can even name
where they used to deliver
milk.
“I remember delivering
milk to the Dotsons who
lived over on 17th Street,”
Nancy said.
The different generations
remember different things
about the milk runs, includ-
ing when during the day
they would have to help.
Nancy said, “We were in
high school, and we’d come
from school every day and
milk the cows at night.”
Her sister Georgia Phil-
brook said, “I’d do it in the
morning. And then I’d go on
the milk run before school
and be back in time to go to
school.”
The third sister Barb add-
ed, “I think all of us had
to deliver milk door-to-
door before we got to go to
school.”
“We all helped,” someone
else replied.
For the next generation,
“We got to do it on Satur-
days when we weren’t in
school,” Loni said. “We al-
ways thought it was great;
Grandma would pick us up
and take us one the milk
run.”
See FARM page 8A
Florence Food Share
Ask us about volunteer opportunities.
2190 Spruce Street • P.O.Box 2514
Florence, Oregon 97439
(541) 997-9110
info@fl orencefoodshare.org
A weekly roundup of shopping,
savings and doings around town.
Habitat for Humanity
Construction Volunteers needed for each stage of
the building process.
Experience is a plus, but not required. Help us build
a new home
For information call 541-902-9227
Helping Hands Coalition
We are in need of volunteers on Monday,
Wednesday and Fridays. We need volunteers
to serve food, set up for meals and also
prepare meals beginning at 11:00 am and
fi nishing at 2:00pm.
New Location: Community Baptist Church,
4590 Hwy. 101, Florence
(Across from Fred Meyer)
Volunteer
Get
involved
Donate
Do your part and
volunteer today
to help support
these local non-proft
organizations in
our community!
Senior Services Advisory
Council Needs New Members
Are you a senior? Have a passion for working with seniors? If yes,
please consider applying for the Senior & Disability Services (S&DS)
Senior Services Advisory Council. S&DS serves all of Lane County
with a wide range of publicly funded services for older adults and
persons with disabilities. The council advises S&DS on services and
advocates on senior topics. Contact us at: sdsadvisorycouncil@
lcog.org or download an application from: http://www.lcog.
org/827/SSAC-Council-Membership Application deadline: April 26,
2019.
Meals on Wheels and Cafe 60
Meals on Wheels are available to people over the age of 60 who cannot get
out much due to illness or advanced age and who are not eating properly,
regardless of income. Cafe 60 is available for those who prefer to make new
friends in a dining room setting.
1570 Kingwood, PO Box 2313, Florence
541-997-5673
laneseniormeals.org
THE OLD SCHOOL FURNITURE STORE
NEW FURNTIURE AT OLD SCHOOL PRICES
NEED A GOOD NIGHT’S SLEEP?
COME TO THE OLD
SCHOOL FUNITURE
STORE FOR A NEW
MATTRESS
WHILE YOU ARE
THERE CHECK OUT
BEDROOM SETS
Monday - Saturday 10-6 • HWY 101 & 6th Street
541-997-9424 FREE IN TOWN DELIVERY
FLORENCE SAW SHOP
& RENTAL CENTER
MAKE YOUR LIFE EASIER WITH HONDA.
Florence Saw Shop
is your local Honda
Power Equipment dealer.
Come see our selection
of Generators, Mowers,
Tillers and Pumps.
OPEN MONDAY—FRIDAY 8AM TO 5 PM
1550 HWY 101 & 6TH STREET 541-997-2653
6TH
10-6
6th & & HWY.
HWY 101
101 541-997-9424
541-997-9424 MONDAY-SATURDAY
Monday-Saturday 10-5
Memory Care Respite of Florence
Come join the team! Memory Care Respite of Florence is looking for new
volunteers to spend time socializing, playing games, listening to music, and
having coffee and lunch with our participating senior citizens. Our program
depends on volunteer power to stay afl oat and time is running out! If you’re
at all interested in socializing and relaxing with seniors while their loved one
takes a break, please email us for more information. We need more volunteers
like YOU to keep our program going. Contact us at memcarerespite@gmail.
com
COME IN TODAY AND BROWSE ROOM AFTER ROOM OF NEW FURNITURE
BEST HOME FURNISHING
ASHLEY FURNITURE INDUSTRIES
COASTER OF AMERICA
SPECIAL ORDERS— PICK YOUR FABRIC * FREE IN TOWN DELIVERY *
Oregon Coast Humane Society
relies heavily on volunteers.
There are many opportunities to volunteer and a variety of skills and talents
are always in need. Volunteer interest forms may be found online, at the shelter
and at our Thrift Shop on Bay Street.
www.oregoncoasthumanesociety.org/volunteer/
Peace Harbor Volunteers
Join the Peace Harbor Hospital Volunteers, you will fi nd an area of
interest in a caring organization.
400 9th Street, Florence
541-997-8412 ext. 2218
Us Too Florence
Saving men one PSA test at a time. “Someone to talk to...who understands!”
541-997-6626
maribob@oregonfast.net
www.ustoofl orence.org
STIHL IS THE NUMBER ONE SELLING BRAND OF GASOLINE POWERED
HANDHELD OUTDOOR POWER EQUIPMENT IN AMERICA.
FLORENCE SAW SHOP HAS CHAIN SAWS FOR HOME OWNERS AND PROFESSIONALS
ALONG WITH TRIMMERS – EDGERS - BLOWERS - BRUSHCUTTERS
MONDAY-FRIDAY 8AM TO 5PM
HWY 101 & 6TH
541-997-2653
FLORENCE SAW SHOP & RENTAL CENTER
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