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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 21, 1996)
The INDEPENDENT, Feb. 21,1996 Volunteers needed to help restore B-V Linear Trail The Banks-Vernonia State Trail may not open for many weeks because of damages from th is month's flooding, according to resident Ranger Scott Green. Two major landslides, one near Tophill and the other near Buxton, cannot be re paired until weather condi tions improve. Many smaller problems, including clogged culverts, toppled signs and downed trees, could be re paired if enough volunteers can be found. M any state p a rks have sustained major damage from Mother Nature’s recent on slaught of wind storms, ice storms, drenching rains and flooding, but the Oregon De partment of Parks and Recre ation has only a small emer gency fund to draw from to pay for the most urgent re pairs. Though it may be several weeks before some aspects of the clean-up can be tack led, v o lu n te e rs are being asked to assist. Anyone who can help on the B-V Trail is asked to call Green at 324- 0606. Vets medical care changes made Effective March 1, 1996, the Veterans Administration Medical Center Emergency Care Unit w ill be open for em ergency services seven days a week, 24 hours per day. The VA and Oregon Health Sciences University (OHSU) previously com bined night tim e em ergency room ser vices in order to provide qual- Butterfly Renaissance ADULT FOSTER CARE ity care and a llo w lim ite d health care dollars to be used more effectively. The OHSU E m ergency D epartm ent w ill no longer provide em ergency care to VA p a tie n ts be tw ee n the hours of 8:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. as of the above date. Watershed meet date changed The next m eeting of the Upper Nehalem W atershed Council has been postponed u n til Tuesday, M arch 12, 1996. This m eeting w ill be held in the Washington Grade School library at 7 p.m. 185 C Street, Vernonia • 429-5220 R e tire m e n t Residence The meeting was resched uled to allow people time to recover from the flood. A n Alzheimer's Specialty Home Licensed • Class-II LORI & DON FOSTER • OWNERS/MANAGERS 16941 Timber Rd. East • Vernonia, OR 97064 • (503) 429-1152 Church M wehwW SaS«1 C hurch of J esus C hrist of L atter D ay S aints G race R eformed B aptist C hurch Bob E. Holbrook, Branch President 1350 E. Knott Street Vernonia, 429-7151 D.J.Dickey, Pastor Grant & North Streets Vernonia, 429-1919 or 429-8720 Sacrament Meeting, Sunday 10 a.m. Sunday School & Primary 11:20 a.m. Sunday School, All Ages 9:45 a.m. Morning Worship 11:00 a.m. Evening Worship 6:00 p.m. Relief Society, Priesthood and Young Women, Sunday 12:10 p.m. Wed. Prayer Meeting, 7:00 p.m. A ssembly of G od F irst B aptist C hurch Michael Jackson, Pastor 662 Jefferson Vernonia, 429-6353 John Cahill, Pastor 952 Washington Avenue Vernonia, 429-1161 Sunday School 9:45 a.m. Morning Worship 11:00 a.m. Evening Service 6:00 p.m. Sunday School 9:45 a.m. Morning Worship 11:00 a.m. Bible Study 6:00 p.m. Women’s Bible Study, 1st & 3rd Mon. 7:00 p.m. Women’s Ministry, alt. Wed. 7:00 p.m. Visitation, Monday 7:00 p.m. Bible Study, Wednesday 7:00 p.m. V ernonia E vangelical B ible C hurch S t . A ugustine (C anterbury ) E piscopal C hurch The Rev. Robert Grafe, Vicar 700 Adams Ave. Vernonia 429-1860 Sunday Services, 10:00 a.m. F oursquare C hurch Grant Williams, Pastor 957 State Avenue Vernonia, 429-6790 Sunday School 9:45 a.m. Morning Worship 11:00 a.m. Children's Church w/Nursery Evening Fellowship 6:00 p.m. Nursery Care Prayer Meeting, Wed. 7:00 p.m. Bible Studies, Wed. 7:00 p.m. ■ ■ . • • V - V' •'. .•••:'• 5 S?* ''V£ F irst C hristian C hurch Dick Halaas, Pastor 410 North Street Vernonia, 429-6522 Sunday School 9:40 a.m. Morning Worship 11:00 a.m. Children's and Junior Church Evening Service 6:00 p.m. Ladies' Bible Study, Mon. 7:30 p.m. Women's Fellowship, 2nd & 4th Wednesdays, 1:30 p.m. Every Wednesday: Ladies' Bible Study, 9:15 a.m. Evening Bible Study, 6:30 p.m. Choir Practice, 7:30 p.m. S t . M ary ' s C atholic C hurch Fr. Ron Millican Pastoral Administrator Lani Vandehey 960 Missouri Avenue Vernonia, 429-8841 Mass Sundays 10:00 a.m. Reconciliation 9:30 - 9:45 a.m. or by Appointment The Churches of Vernonia Welcome You By Jerry Lionberger This is the third and final column about hoboes in Vernonia. Lionberger grew up in Vernonia, where he was called “Dean". He now lives in Mil waukie. When hobos traveled around the country on the railroads dur ing hard times it was referred to as riding the rods or the rails. We all know what the rails are, but what were the rods? The rods were long bracings that ran beneath the floor of a car and the rails to add stabilization and strength to the car's long length. Hobos used to place grain doors across these rods to lay on when boxcars were loaded and the doors were locked. They laid on these and held onto the rods. It was very dangerous and some lost their lives when they lost their grip and fell onto the tracks. Most of the hobos who arrived in Vernonia did not have to ride the rods because the boxcars and flatcars were brought in empty for loading lumber at the Oregon-American Lumber Mill. They rode in style inside the boxcars or on the flatcars. Many of the boxcars that came to Vernonia had been used to transport wheat or corn beforehand. Some might wonder how the doors could be opened without the grain cascading out. This is where grain doors, as they were called, were used — and used by hobos later. They were con structed of one-inch boards, double thickness and about the size of a closet door. Before the boxcars were loaded with grain, a heavy craft-like paper was tacked onto the walls around the inside and about halfway up. This sealed off any splintered or missing boards. The grain doors were then laid on edge across the door entrance as grain was loaded. When the cars were unloaded at their destination, many of the grain doors were left inside. These had many uses around the home and were often carted home to later be torn apart for the boards. My family raised chickens and rabbits for our own use as well as for selling and couldn’t always afford to buy feed at the feed store. That’s where my job of sweeping the boxcars came in. My tools were a worn-out broom, a dustpan and a gunnysack. The craft paper had to be tom from the walls, then you’d bang the walls with the broom handle, which loosened pockets of grain that sifted out at the bottom. There was always one board left off around the bottom of the wall’s construction. Sometimes I’d really hit a bonanza and fill a gunnysack about half full. A fresh string of boxcars was constantly being brought to town and I had to keep track of where they were switched on the sidings. It was easy to run alongside and jump up to see which- cars had hauled grain. Of course I had strict orders to stay back when the engine was switching cars, but it was a treat to climb aboard and take a short ride when no one was in sight. Looking back, I think it’s amazing how much confidence par ents had in their children to do a good job when assigned one to help the family’s cause, even when danger was present. The most valued memories of my life are those of growing up in Ver nonia during the depression and hard times. I can barely recall any events of importance in later, good times. I can remember families pulling together, exchanging things and helping each other make ends meet. I can still taste the home-canned venison, elk and bear meat given to us that was shot out of season while the game warden turned his back, knowing the meat would be distributed to families in need. I am thankful that I had these experiences “branded” in so deeply that they can easily be recalled to enjoy, over and over. Milligan & Cat H ’ Cur! Holy Day Services 7:00 p.m. St. Vincent dePaul Society Irish Bruers, 429-7201 S eventh D ay A dventist Roger Kruger, Pastor, 397-6883 2nd Ave. and Nehalem St. Vernonia, 429-1941 Wally Ratkie, Pastor 850 Madison Avenue Vernonia, 429-1103 Sunday Services Morning Worship 10:30 a.m. All meetings of the Upper Nehalem Watershed Council are open to the public. All in terested people are encour aged to attend. Hobos, Grain Doors and Chicken Feed Sabbath School 9:15 a.m. Morning Worship, 11XX) a.m. Tuesday Prayer, 7:00 p.m. O ur thoughts and prayers are with all oj you who suffered so m uch damage and heartbreak during and after the flood. We wish you the best as you work to recover. OPEN 9-5 MON.-SAT. • CALL FOR APPOINTMENT ¥29-0108 Gwen Milligan, Owner 58230 Adams Road ♦ Vernonia
