The independent., April 04, 2002, Page 2, Image 2

Page 2
The INDEPENDENT, April 4 2002
O a I l Y H ÎÎ/€Î>AMC 0pAil6f/tT.
Vandals will not be
be successful here
Those vermin of the night, vandals, tried again to de­
stroy some improvements made by volunteers in the
community. This time they struck the welcome sign at
the south entrance to Vernonia, covering it with black
paint. Fortunately, for the community, and unfortunate­
ly for the vandals’ sick sense of satisfaction, Vernonia’s
Public Works crew cleaned it up with little damage to
the sign.
There is a reward for information leading to the ar­
rest and conviction of the vandals, because both Ver­
nonia Pride and the Vernonia Chamber of Commerce
maintain funds just for that purpose. With a little help
from anyone else who would like to foil these nocturnal
cowards, donations to increase the reward money may
be sent to Vernonia Pride. Contact Donna Webb, 503-
429-5201, or Enid Parrow, 503-429-8134, if you want
to help.
Museum’s operation
needs some review
An unfortunate and divisive atmosphere has devel­
oped in the Columbia County Historical Society and it
has had a negative effect on operations of the local
museum.
Local volunteers, some with many years of experi­
ence, feel that they have been unjustly accused of
theft. The society’s president has changed locks on
some of the museum doors — even though it is local
volunteers who are called when people want to visit the
museum, or when emergency personnel need access
— and apparently plans to change more of them. This
is neither sensible nor wise.
The museum was also closed for three months dur­
ing the winter because the furnace needed repairs.
This shouldn’t have been neglected for so long be­
cause damp, cold conditions can be harmful to the col­
lection, especially old photographs.
A group from Vernonia will attend a Board of Com­
missioners workshop, April 9, to discuss the situation.
Anyone wanting to attend, should contact Vernonia
City Hall for time and location.
nasty
peeos
Ike Says...
By Dale Webb, member
Nehalem Valley Chapter Izaak Walton League
Many of you have read my adventures on the
Nehalem River in a plastic kayak. For me, the
trips were an adventure in a modern and ma­
neuverable craft, with the real world just a short
distance away in the form of a highway and peo­
ple. Now go back in time to when these luxuries
did not exist, but the thirst for adventure was as
great as it is today. Here is the story of five young
men who started out on one of their life’s great
adventures. The expedition took place when the
tall timber grew, men were tough as leather and
when getting home was counted in days, not in
hours. Frank Serafin, of Vernonia, was gracious
enough to lend me a diary of this adventure so I
could share it with you.
Ike’s notes: Most of these men were in their ear­
ly twenties when this trip was made. Glen Hawkins
was a night watchman at the Oregon American mill;
Archie Adams was the owner of a logging company
and worked for Clark and Wilson; Frank Serafin,
who didn’t know how to swim, was a pitman for a
shovel, cutting railroad grade for Clark and Wilson;
Loel Roberts was a clerk for the Vernonia Bank;
Emil Messing was U.S. Postmaster in Vernonia.
The boat “Nancy Lee” was made from marine grade
plywood, the “Hersprus” had plywood sides with a
bottom of tongue and groove planking. Jerry, the
dog, was a Cocker Spaniel and belonged to Glenn
Hawkins.
Ed. note: The diary has been shortened be­
cause of space limitations; there is also some para­
phrasing, but most of the story remains in the words
of the author, Emil Messing. Items in brackets [ ]
were not in the diary, and are meant only for clarifi-
palinn
I
Down the Nehalem River in a Boat
The party that made this trip, consisted of
Glenn Hawkins, Archie Adams, Frank Serafin,
Loel Roberts, and Emil Messing, not to mention
Jerry the dog, who chiseled into the party one
half mile down the river from the start of the trip.
Loel Roberts and the writer had long wished
to make this trip by boat down the Nehalem Riv­
er, from Vernonia to the ocean. Some time in the
spring of 1932, we decided to do so. Glenn
Hawkins was told about the contemplated trip,
and at once decided to build a boat and go
along.
His first partner was Harold Shipley. It turned
out that Harold could not go, so when the start
was made, Glenn had as partners Archie Adams
and Frank Serafin. After many days of planning
and boat building, the start was made at what is
known as the Mile Bridge, June 3, 1932, 4:45
a.m. Using two boats, Glenn, Archie, and Frank
in the “Nancy Lee,” and Loel and the writer in the
“Hersprus.” [Probably a variation of “Hesperus,"
the evening star.]
After gathering at the starting place, all de­
clared that they had not slept during the night on
account of the keen interest the trip afforded.
Glenn’s statement to this effect could not be rec­
onciled, as Vem Adams had to wake him up
when he went to the house. But Glenn laughed
this off by saying that he had just fallen asleep.
Frank hadn’t anything to say, he just laughed,
maybe he wasn’t acquainted with the bunch yet.
We finally got the outfit gathered together at
Please see page 15