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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (May 21, 1997)
H Page 6 i m The INDEPENDENT, May 21,1997 Community „x-xSSS Picce» 1 Schwabs’ 50th anniversary feted By Robb Wilson, Curator Columbia County Historical Society Museum With the past few days of sunny, summer- like weather, the children of our town have been out in full force, playing and forgetting the long winter we had. In the old days of Vernon ia, when the weather wasn’t good enough to be out, one of the dry places to play was the roller skating rink. Not only did we have one skating rink, but several over the years. I am not sure of the years each of these places were used for skating, but will start with the building on the corner of Bridge and Wash ington Streets. Before the “Pine Cone,” what we call “Country Kitchen” today, was a wooden structure built for the sole purpose of recre ational skating during the 1930s. It was in di rect competition with the Joy Theater for the kids’ pennies and nickles. In the Riverview area, on the corner of Hwy. 47 and Cherry Street, there was a large wood en building that was used for a while as a skat ing rink. This was before it became an auto re pair and wrecking yard in the late thirties. On Capitol Hill, off what we call Noakes Road today, still stands an old chicken barn the owner converted into a rink when egg produc tion wasn’t profitable. This, I think, was in the 1950s. The old Vernonia High School gym, on Washington and A Streets, was used for many things after the new school was built in the ear ly 1950s. One such use was rollerskating. I have heard that the old Legion Hall, twice as big as the one there now, was used for rollerskating too. I know there are readers out there, long time Vernonians, who know some of the details about the old roller rinks. I would like to get that information and set the record straight. Give me a buzz, please, and let me know! When the weather was good, I remember, we had strap-on type roller skates. Up and down the sidewalks we would go, struggling along, leaving many a knee sore and bleeding. But today, with the modern in-line rollerblades, I see kids going up and down the streets and sidewalks and around the millpond, at speeds we didn’t dare try on those old metal clunkers. Check this out, if you haven’t already seen it on the Internet. April 4th, 3-4 miles north of Vernonia, a cat tle farmer found one of his animals dead, and another missing. The dead cow had been muti lated by satanists, he thought, as the eyes were cut out, he saw fang marks on the neck, and it had been drained of blood. The farmer thought it curious that there were no footprints visible in the damp ground. That evening he went out, looking for his missing cow. His vehi cle had two powerful search lights which illumi nated a creature 25-30 feet away. It turned and hissed at him and he saw it had reptilian-look ing eyes, like a snake, only they didn’t reflect the light, like mammals. Badly shaken, he said the small gargoyle-like, green creature was only about four feet high and had wings on its back which it didn't unfurl. After about 15 sec onds it ran off into the trees. The creature has not been seen since, and there have been no further problems with the cattle. Those in the field of collecting weird phe nomenon classify this mysterious creature as a Chupacabra. If you have any weird fact or history to share, give me a call. Nehalem Valley Pioneers and their descendants are en couraged to attend and bring class pictures, school memo ries, and tributes to teachers. Pictures of the old schools at Natal, Fishhawk, Vine Maple, Sunnyside, Elsie, Vesper, Deep Creek, Spruce Run, Keasey, Timber, or the old school on the Burn are espe cially welcome. Personal invitations will be mailed to as many teachers as possible, or their descen dants. Send the names and addresses of teachers who should be honored to: Verne Ferguson, Nehalem Valley Pi oneer Association, 14563 Vernonia High School’s Annual Spring Sports Potluck will be held Tuesday, May 27, at 6:30 p.m. in the Washing ton Grade School cafeteria. All baseball, golf, track and softball athletes and parents are invited. Bring a main dish, salad or dessert. This event is spon sored by the Vernonia Boost er Club. For additional information, call Debbie at 429-2180, or Randy at 429-1093. Logger's Cafe Great Food! New Specials Weekly CHONG CRADIT, OWNER Highway 202, Mist, OR 97016 as soon as possible. Hours Mon-Fri 5 am-2 pm Sat 6 am-2 pm • Sun 7 am-2 pm 736 Bridge St., Vernonia • 429-3057 L a H a ies M an's Shop PRE-CONSTRUCTION REDUCTION SALE S A VE MAY 2 7 - JUNE 7 J u s t in tim e fo r G raduation & F a th e r's Day! Every Suit or Sportcoat WRINKLE FREE COTTON PANTS R E D U C E D !!! CÄäUipltL. All wool, Double Breasted Suit by Bagir. Reg. $345 ‘Ahhhhh.” Melvin was born and raised in Vernonia. Following his discharge from the U.S. Navy in 1946, he worked for the Vernonia Eagle as a lino type operator until it closed its doors in 1975. They then moved to Aloha, where he worked as a typographer at the Valley Times until retiring in 1982. Jean graduated from Ver nonia High School and after marriage she remained a homemaker until 1966, when she went to work at Tektronix. She retired in 1985. The Schwabs now reside in McMinnville, except for “snowbirding” in California during the winter. VHS spring sports potluck slated Museum W inter Hours (Oct. thru May): Friday and Saturday noon to 4:00 p.m. Sundays, 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. By appointment. Phone: (503) 429-3713 Address: 511 E. Bridge St., Vernonia Nehalem Valley Pioneer meeting slated The Nehalem Valley Pio neer Association will meet Sunday, June 8 at 11:00 a.m. in the Natal Grange Hall. This year’s honorees will be school teachers, past and present. Former Vernonia residents Melvin and Jean Schwab will be honored on their 50th wed ding anniversary with a buffet reception on Sunday, June 1 from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m., in the Parish Hall of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Vernonia. Their four children — Kathy Leatherwood of Alaska, Karen Wilder of New Mexico, Rick Schwab of Hillsboro and Marty Schwab of Portland, — invite all friends and family to join in a celebration of toast ing, roasting and stories. No gifts, please. Melvin Schwab and Jean Peasnall were married in 1947 at her parents’ home on Capitol Hill (now Noakes Road). Summer Sport Shirts Now "2 3 9 !!!^^, Solid Black or Green 100% Wool Navy Blazers reg. s210 BIRKENSTOCK Vow only $179!!! SAVE HILLSBORO 20- 40% 256 E. Main • 640-5866 ASTORIA 239 14th • 325-3972 SEASIDE " T/te Comfort Specialists 600 Broadway • 738-9491 M,T,9-6; W,Th,F9-7 Sat 9-5:30; Sun Noon-4 aC Dress Slacks Reduced!! As low as *39/ ¡ every nüü .o na i es Reg. *55 to ‘ 125 MAN S SHOP •’ REDUCED! 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