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About Cottage Grove sentinel. (Cottage Grove, Or.) 1909-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 28, 2021)
COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL | OCTOBER 28, 2021 | 3A Nuggets of History Cottage Grove Ghost Stories Editor’s note: This is the final part in a two-part history se- ries about local ghost stories. tion located on Main Street near the Train Depot in 1910. The building is now the home of a cafe, re- tail businesses and apartments. It is also well known for its Buster Keaton mural. Many are aware that Buster Keaton and his movie crew stayed in the building when it was still a hotel. Over a hundred years of history have seen more than one death at the loca- tion, including one well-known murder in 2004, making it no surprise that en- counters with spectral inhabitants are reported. By Holli Turpin Cottage Grove Historical Society The first part of this series looked at ghostly accounts coming from the Lea House and the Cottage Grove Armory. Here are a few more spooky tales told right here in Cottage Grove. Cottage Grove Hotel The lady of the hotel has been seen around the halls and in the stairwell of the old hotel building. The building now to the many artifacts, photographs of the past, and treasures of days gone, the mu- seum also boasts a spirit of its own. Past curators of the museum recall seeing a woman who seems to enjoy hanging around the building and mak- ing her presence known in subtle but clear ways. Known as Lucy the Lady of the Church, she is said to be a friendly spirit. Ironically it would seem the ori- gins of the museums ghost has been lost to history. scorned and even feared, however, their existence as a part of our town’s history should not be forgotten. This tale also serves a clear purpose in a town which was crisscrossed with rail- road tracks at the time. Parents would warn their children not to walk on the track or take shortcuts across a trestle bridge and telling a cautionary tale such as this would help reinforce their point. The Train Trestle on the North end of Town A local legend states that three women from a nomadic group visiting the area were hit by a train while walking on one of the trestle bridges. Unable to outrun the train, all three perished. Reportedly the three ladies can oc- casionally be seen on the bridge, un- No minds have been changed, con- vinced, or dissuaded from their previous opinion of the existence of ghosts. That is not the point; the true lesson is that a ghost story often serves as a reminder of the past, a harbinger of history and an entertaining way to share unpleasant past. Every community seems to have some *** PHOTOS COURTESY OF COTTAGE GROVE HISTORICAL SOCIETY The Cottage Grove Museum was originally built as a church and has been rumored to be the haunt of Lucy the Lady of the Church. houses Buster’s Cafe. During a video interview, current oc- cupants claim to have felt the presence of one or more spirits. It is also said that items are inexplicably moved around with items found in locations that make no sense. The Hotel was built as a grand destina- The Cottage Grove Museum This old building was originally a church. The building was built and ded- icated as a Catholic church in 1897. In 1962, the Pioneer Historical Soci- ety arranged to purchase the building reimagining it as a museum. In addition During National Food Bank week, it’s important to remember our neighbors struggling to provide their families with enough food to eat. In Cottage Grove, and the surrounding areas, lower income families can fi nd help at Community Sharing Program. Community Sharing is a local non-profi t that provides community members basic needs, life-skill tools, and resources towards self-suffi ciency. Each month an average of 450 emergency food boxes are distributed by Community Sharing’s pantry. Emergency food boxes are meant to supplement SNAP assistance (previously called food stamps) with a 3-5 day supply of food. As a partner agency, Community Sharing gets over half of its food from the county’s food bank, Food for Lane County. Th e rest is donated by local individuals, organizations, and businesses. Historically the need for emergency food in the fall and winter is signifi cantly higher than in the spring and summer. Our current record month served 893 food boxes. Following this pattern, the fall and winter months might see even more record-breaking numbers of families in need. In addition to the increased number of our neighbors facing food insecurity. Th at means local food donations are critical, now more than ever, to meet the basic needs of an ever increasing number of able even in the hereafter, to escape the tracks. While this story is not backed up by any known documentation, it’s con- tinued telling serves as a reminder of the nomadic groups who used to travel through Cottage Grove regularly. At the time these groups were often eligible families. In addition to food, Community Sharing accepts donations of essential non-food items, such as hygiene items, clothes, and cleaning supplies, to provide to its client families. Th ese items aren’t covered by SNAP assistance, but clothes, toilet paper, diapers, and soaps are almost as vital for day-to-day living as food. Community Sharing also relies on local volunteers to operate eff ectively. Our board of directors is composed of dedicated community leaders who volunteer many hours supporting this organization. In the pantry, volunteers help sort the donations, stock the shelves, and assist clients through the pantry process. Offi ce volunteers are needed to give out critical information, help clients fi ll out necessary forms, and provide a kind ear to clients on the edge of crisis. In addition to our current support from local volunteers, we are always looking for volunteers who would be willing to help stop local hunger by organizing a food drive, or fundraising event in Community Sharing’s honor. During the coming holiday season, Community Sharing will be off ering food box clients a special food box for December holiday celebrations. Clients will begin signing up for the special food box in November. Th e box contains seasonal foods and a frozen turkey or chicken for each family. Community sharing will be type of local ghost story to tell. Commu- nities all around the globe, big, small, urban rural, new, or old, all tell tales of woe or caution by way of ghostly lore — a clear reminder that tragedy is not unique to one town and the desire to share and find lessons in tragic events is worldwide. selling buttons to support our holiday food boxes over the next two months to help put on this special event. We will be selling these buttons for $10 each, please call one of our board members or come by our offi ce to purchase a turkey button and provide a holiday meal to one of your neighbors. In December volunteers from all over the community will help distribute the holiday food boxes at OLPH Catholic Church. Th e event is an amazing, nondenominational display with concerned community members coming together to give back. Th ere are also a number of annual donations drives this time of year, such as the local U.S. Postal Service’s food drive, Boy Scouts’ door-to-door donation collection and the South Lane School district’s food drive. Please consider supporting these organizations in their eff orts. Th e directors, staff and volunteers at Community Sharing would like to thank the Cottage Grove community for their continued support. Together we are able to provide desperately needed basic needs services to our community as a result of your generosity. To fi nd out how you can help, call Community Sharing at 541-942-2176 Monday through Friday from 11am- 3:30pm. THIS MESSAGE BROUGHT TO YOU BY THESE LOCAL SPONSORS: Community Sharing 1440 Birch Ave 541-942-2176 Old Mill Farm Store 327 S River Road 541-942-3042 Pinocchio’s Pizza 795 E Main St 541-942-5531 King Estate Winery 80854 Territorial Rd Eugene 541-685-5189 Fountain Gutters Cottage Grove, OR 541-729-9515 My Boys Pizza 96 N Mill Street Creswell 541-895-4505 Kalapuya Books 637 E Main St 541-942-6143 Lane Electric Cooperative 787 Bailey Hill Rd Eugene 541-484-1151
