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