8A COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL NOVEMBER 22, 2017
A box of memories: Resident tries to reunite family with photos
Jennifer (21) and Travis (16) in 2004, Christmas.
A letter from Europe in 1977.
Arthur and Anne Jensen
celebrated
at least 50 years of
cmay@cgsentinel.com
marriage. It was noted in the
local newspaper. Arthur had served in the army. She had written to
him there. They had a son, Everett who became an artist, hosting
an exhibition of oil paintings and mixed media in Los Angeles in
1969. In 1951, his brother, Earl got married. Her name was Carol
Williamson and she had a “nice smile.” At one point, Anne lived in
Escondido, California and had a license to drive there. She traveled
overseas and in 1985, she was in Cottage Grove at a memorial for
Arthur, who was buried in a wooded area, an American fl ag posted
to a pole that reached into the clouds over his grave marker. “Arthur
Jensen 1899-1985.” Phyl gave a reading. Jana, Aaron and Renee
were there. So were Jeff, Rose, David and Wally.
Thirty-two years later, the photographs--neatly labeled and pro-
tected by laminate--were in the trash. So were Arthur’s discharge
papers. Anne’s license. The newspaper clippings that hailed their
50-year marriage, Everett’s art shows and Earl’s wedding.
“I walk everywhere, because I don’t drive,” Jeff Davis said. He
was walking by the New to You thrift store in Cottage Grove this
May when he saw a box of photographs in the garbage out front.
“I didn’t think anything of it but the next day I walked by and
people were throwing more things on the pile,” he said. “The guy
said I could have them if I wanted, so I took them.”
The haul was comprised of several boxes of documents, photo-
graphs and memories.
There are letters from Phyllis to Wally in 1943. He was in the
service and out of sight so she sent him a booklet of photographs,
asking that if he ever met a girl who, “he felt was his to have and
hold, he would play square” and tell her about it. They became the
Reinhards and had a son, Robin.
Jana wrote a letter to her parents after the invention of computers,
email and neon green paper. She thought it was a good idea she had
gone to the cabin when she did because a litter of kittens—eight in
all—had popped up on the property. She’d gone there with David,
who she had met the year before around May or June at Embers,
where he played in a band.
Someone went to Europe and wrote home about their adventures
in 1977.
On Christmas in 2004, Jennifer was 21 and Travis, 16.
The local genealogy library has traced Arthur and Anne as far
back as Racine, Wisconsin but hasn’t had much luck in identifying
a local heir.
There are school report cards, army payment booklets, holiday
photos, birthday cards and the receipts of a life lived in the shoe-
boxes Davis found in the trash on Whiteaker St. in Cottage Grove.
“I just want to know the rest of the story,” he said.
The boxes are currently being housed by the genealogical society
and anyone with information on who may belong to the boxes and
want the contents back, is asked to contact The Sentinel at (541)
942-3325.
By Caitlyn May
Two unidentifi ed people at Arthur Jensen's memorial in 1985.
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NOTICE OF CITY OF COTTAGE GROVE
PLANNING COMMISSION VACANCIES
Arthur and Anne(a) Jensen photographed for a newspaper for their 50th
wedding anniversary. The article notes that, at the time, they resides in
Escondido, California. Arthur was employed by Am. Motors in Racine, Win-
consin and Anne by the Wisconsin Telephone Company. Their anniversary
was listed as June 22. They were presented with a Hawaiian vacation for
the milestone.
The City of Cottage Grove Planning Commission has two vacancies
to this volunteer body. The Commissioners are appointed by the
City Council. The Planning Commission meets twice a month on
the 2nd & 3rd Wednesday evenings. Incumbents are eligible to
reapply. People interested in applying for these positions need
to complete an Planning Commission application available at the
Public Works and Development Department at City Hall or online
at: www.http://cottagegrove.org. The deadline for receiving
applications is December 8, 2017 at 5 pm.
For further information please contact the Public Works and
Development Department at 541-942-3340
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A wedding announcement cut from
a newspaper and saved.
Wally and Phyllis were regular characters in letters and mementos found in
a box in the trash in Cottage Grove.
Th e Cottage Grove
Community Foundation
would like to recognize the following
people and businesses:
Gary Ackley / George Devine
Pacifi c Yurts / Smith Lund Mills
Robert Ball
Roger & Eileen Russell
Banner Bank
South Lane County Fire and Rescue
Cascade Home Center
South Lane Mental Health
Cottage Grove Garbage
South Lane School District
Cottage Grove Sentinel
Faye & Lucille Stewart
Lane Electric
Umpqua Bank
Pacifi c Power
Weyerhaeuser
Ann White, CFP Cetera Advisor Networks
Thank you for supporting the work of the foundation and for joining us as we celebrated the
goodness of our community and what happens when you "Link Donors to Dreams.”
75 Gateway Blvd., Cottage Grove OR
Phone: 541.942.6482
Fax: 541.942.6483