8A | SEPTEMBER 16, 2021 | VILLAGE from A1 comment on the future of the resort, but a staff source has reported that the new owners have expressed in- terest in replacing most, if not all, hotel buildings with apartments. The RV park, main build- ing with restaurant and lounge and wedding garden are reportedly to remain, however it was stressed that even these plans are likely not finalized and should be considered open to change. As such, even those close to the process can only speculate on the property’s future. A ‘Monument to Wood’ The Village Green opened on July 9, 1960, and quickly attracted national recogni- tion as a luxury hotel with fine cuisine. Developed on 13 acres alongside the new- ly-created Interstate 5, the hotel put Cottage Grove on the map and established for itself a lasting legacy. The Woodard family was behind its inception. In 1905, Walter Wood- ard moved to the area from Indiana and established his family name in the lum- ber business. In the late 1950s, he sold his lumber company to Weyerhaeuser and, with his son Carlton, turned his sights toward the hospitality business. “I remember my father (Carlton) saying there was a sense of loyalty to Cottage Grove, and that they would have not attempted this anywhere else,” said Casey Woodward, grandson to Walter. Initial plans were to build a hotel on some of Walter’s land in what is now the Village Shopping Center, which would have caught traffic through Highway 99. Plans were halted, though, when Walter learned that the newly created Interstate Highway System was due to put a freeway through Cot- COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL tage Grove. Though Interstate 5 wouldn’t be fully complet- ed until Dec. 1, 1961, Wal- ter moved to purchase 30 acres closer to the proposed freeway. A portion of those acres were set aside for The Village Green. Carlton Woodard was also behind the decision to create the motor hotel. Carlton took great care in selecting the right materi- als — and people — for the facility. Manager (or “Greenmas- ter”) Harry Ringland, for example, was selected to run the show. Ringland had operated the famous Sarnez restaurant in Beverly Hills. The chef, Don Savoie, was convinced to relocate from the Commodore Grill in Portland. Chester R. Skinner, great-grandson of the City of Eugene’s founder Eu- gene Skinner, served as the maître d’. Liberal use of wood prod- ucts were used to give the resort a rustic ambience, in addition to stone, brick and tile. Man-made products like aluminum and plastic were used sparingly. The interior designer, Arthur Morgan, was well known in his field, having also worked on landmarks such as “The Terrace” in the St. Francis Hotel in San Francisco, “The Coffee House” in the Hotel Benja- min Franklin in Seattle, and “The Cavalier Bar and Din- ing Room” in Hotel Geor- gia in Vancouver, B.C. In Portland, he was be- hind “The London Bar and Grill” in the Hotel Benson, “Hilaire’s Encore Restau- rant,” and the “Stirrup Room and Café Baron” at the Multnomah Hotel. Eugene architect Percy Dwight Bentley designed The Village Green’s unique layout, stating at the time that he and his firm were proud to consider it one of the most outstanding mo- tor hotels in the region. ed making off the facility’s knobs and handles from its gold-fixtured washrooms. Manager Ringland at the time said he was perplexed how the thieves got away with it without the use of power tools, adding that the golden temptations in the Village Green’s wash- rooms were “becoming quite an overhead item.” The construction of the hotel even attracted the attention of then-Oregon Governor Mark Hatfield, who visited to dedicate the building in a “ribbon cut- ting” ceremony shortly af- ter its July 9 opening. How- ever, the governor, instead of cutting a ribbon, dra- matically sawed through a log to symbolize the area’s lumber industry and salute the substantial resort as a “monument to wood.” A Five-Star Legacy Over its first couple de- cades, The Village Green made a name for itself with national (and at times in- ternational) draw, where prestigious groups like the Gourmet Dinner Club or the Concours d’Elegance Car Show could hold posh events. The Village Green re- ceived its first Mobil Travel Guide Five-Star Award in 1965 and it continued to do so consecutively for the see GREEN on A10 OLD MILL FARM STORE -Est 1870- We’re celebrating “22” years as the fortunate owners of the OLD MILL FARM STORE, Lane County’s oldest continuous running business. DAMIEN SHERWOOD/COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL Some aspects of The Village Green are still rooted in what feels a by-gone era. In all, it took more than $1.5 million, million square feet of lumber and nearly a year to complete. The final result was a unique blend of informal elegance and rustic appeal. Interior décor was eclec- tic, drawing on a variety of styles of Americana, old Europe and the Far East. Streetlights from Copen- hagen. Brass fittings from Ireland. Wicker lights from Hong Kong. In the lounge, tables from Italy. Screens from Moroc- co. Cabin lights from an old whaling ship. A statue from Boston, the Maiden of Good For- tune (nicknamed the “Iron Maiden”), graced the din- ing room and achieved its own popularity with cus- tomers. When the Village Green advertised gold nugget hunting for the nearby Bo- hemia mines, it brought a rash of bad luck on itself as modern gold diggers start- We would like to extend a hearty THANK YOU to all the Grove community for helping us to enjoy the whole stretch! During these unusual times, if you are uncomfortable, we can do business over the phone, outside as before, and are willing to be as accommodat- ing as you need. We look forward to seeing you all soon. You’re the best. In Home Caregiver Chuck & Debbie All applicants will be considered for employment without regards to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and national origin. All applicants must have experience taking care of the elderly as well as a great attitude. As a caregiver, you must be able to pass a background check. For more enquiry about the Caregiver job, you can contact Mark (chillingtong@gmail.com) Part-time - 5 hours per day Monday-Friday - $20 per hour Open Mon-Fri 10-5 Saturday 10-4 541-942-3042 327 S. River Rd. Cottage Grove Providing help for someone with suicidal thoughts When celebrity chef and travel television personality Anthony Bourdain committed suicide in 2018 at age 61, the world was taken aback because it seemed like Bour- dain was on top of the world. Many well-known people have committed suicide, including Robin Williams, Chris Cornell, Margot Kidder, and Kate Spade. In 2021, “Dawson’s Creek” writer Heidi Ferrer committed suicide after a year-long battle with COVID-19. Those close to people who have taken their own lives often wonder what they could have done to help. Al- though suicidal thoughts are not exclusive to the rich and famous, the tales of celebrities who take their own lives serve as sobering reminders that even those with fame, money and success may still fall into depths of depres- sion that can lead to suicidal thoughts. Suicide is a public health problem that affects people from all walks of life. Various factors can contribute to thoughs of suicide, and promoting supportive behaviors and improving education can reduce the numbers of suicides and suicide attempts. Consider these statistics, courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Preven- tion and the Government of Canada. • Suicide is the tenth leading cause of death in the United States. • More than 47,500 Americans took their own lives in 2019. • In 2019, 12 million American adults seriously thought about suicide, and 1.4 million made an attempt. • More than 10 Canadians die by suicide every day. • Suicide rates are on the rise in the United States, in- creasing by 33 percent since 1999. • For every death by suicide, at least seven to 10 survi- vors are signifi cantly affected by the loss. While certain instances of suicide seemingly come out of the blue, there are certain warning signs that may be present. Recognizing these signs can help people get prompt assistance. The National Institute of Mental Health reports that the following are some signs that a person may be having suicidal thoughts. • Talking about wanting to die or wanting to kill them- selves. • Mentioning feelings of hopelessness or indicating there is no reason to live. • Speaking of great guilt or shame. • Acting very anxious or agitated. • Displaying feelings of unbearable emotional or physi- cal pain. • Searching for legal ways of killing oneself. • Taking great risks that could lead to death. • Using alcohol or drugs more often. • Saying goodbye to family or friends and giving away important possessions. • Displaying extreme mood swings. Suicidal thoughts are an emergency and taking action can save lives and prevent injuries. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration says if a person believes someone may be thinking about suicide the following actions should be taken. • Call 911, if danger for self-harm is imminent. • Ask the person if he or she is thinking about suicide. Listen without judgment. • Remove any objects that could be used in a suicide attempt. • Stay with the person until additional help arrives. • Call SAMHSA’s National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK or text the Crisis Text Line’s number Little Caesars “Help, Hope & Healing Since 1970” 24/7 Youth Crisis Line: 541-689-3111 Cottage Grove Rural Program Offi ce: 541-767-3823 NEXT TIME • SAVE TIME ORDER ONLINE SKIP THE REGISTER PIZZA PORTAL Pickup littlecaesars.com (541) 942-2551 Main & Hwy 99 Cottage Grove