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!
Open Weeknights 'till 7:00
277 E. Main
Downtown Hillsboro, OR
(503) 648-2341