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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 6, 2008)
Page 10 The INDEPENDENT, November 6, 2008 2008 White House Christmas commemorative ornament now ready The 2008 White House Christmas ornament honoring the presidency of Benjamin Harrison (1889-1893), the twenty-third president of the United States was inspired by the Harrison family’s Victorian Christmas tree, the first record- ed tree to decorate the White House. The ornament, the 28th in a series started by the White House Historical Association in 1981 presents the White House as a family home. Christmas stands out in White House memory as a spe- cial time for the Harrisons. Ac- commodations were tight, with six adults and three grandchil- dren sharing the second floor family quarters. The president doted on his grandchildren and Pet of the Month Columbia Humane Society in St. Helens has a variety of wonderful pets available for adoption. Find the pet that’s right for you in the shelter at 2084 Oregon Street. Phone 503-397-4353 Open Mon - Fri 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, 11 am. to 5 pm. Limited time offer, adult cat adoption special $20 Hi, I’m Tiger. Don’t I look cute and lovable? I may have a few years on me but that just helps me know how to be a great cat! Yep, there’s a lot of life left in this fur and I’d love to spend time relaxing with you as my new family. I’m altered, up to date on all my shots, and come with a 2-week local free vet check, so you don’t worry about that stuff. Just come get me so we can go home and start enjoying each others company. Tiger needs a home The Columbia Humane Society is a No-Kill non-profit shelter dedicated to helping friends find each other since 1985. This Adopt a Pet is Sponsored by: Senator Betsy Johnson went to great lengths to amuse them. He said, “We shall have an old-fashioned Christmas tree for the grandchildren up- stairs, and I shall be their San- ta Claus.” To the delight of the children, the tree was laden with decorations and innumer- able toys and treats. Mrs. Harri- son had made sure each mem- ber of her husband’s staff was remembered with a personal token and all the domestic em- ployees were called in to re- ceive gifts from under the tree. Inspired by the Harrison’s Victorian Christmas tree, this year’s gold finished ornament is an interpretation of the first tree. Beneath the tree are the presents the Harrison grand- children received: a toy train and a wooden sled await Ben- jamin, Mary’s rosy-cheeked doll sits on a tricycle, and nearby is Marthena’s much wished for dollhouse. A three-foot high Santa Claus completes the season’s spectacle. Twenty previous White House ornaments honored presidents, starting with George Washington. The 1989 ornament pays tribute to the bi- centennial of the American presidency, and 1992 honors the laying of the White House cornerstone in 1792. The bi- centennial of the White House as home of the president was commemorated in 2000. In 2002 the ornament honored the centennial of the restoration of the White House and the build- ing of the West Wing. The cost of the ornament is $16.95 plus packing and deliv- ery and can be ordered from the White House Historical As- sociation, P.O. Box 96586, Washington, D.C. 20090-6586, or you can call toll free 1-800- Pet Supplies & Gr ooming 10 am - 7 pm Mon. - Fri. 10 am - 6 pm Saturday Closed Sundays www.creaturespetshop.com lissaedgar@yahoo.com 503-429-PETS (7387) 736 Bridge St., Vernonia 555-2451, or visit online at www.whitehousehistory.org. Each of the 27 ornaments (from 1981-2007) is also available, along with educational bro- chures. The White House Historical Association was established in 1961 as a non-profit organiza- tion to enhance the under- standing, appreciation and en- joyment of the White House. All proceeds from its trusts and sales of ornaments, publica- tions and other association products are used to fund ac- quisitions of historic furnishings and art works for the perma- nent White House collection, assist in the preservation of the public rooms, and further its ed- ucational mission. Topic of recent poem is Vernonia Mildred “Millie” Thacker Graves, formerly of Vernonia, has written a new Vernonia poem and sent it in to us to share with our readers. My Home Town Vernonia, Oregon is my kind of place It is peaceful, and calm, away from the rat race It’s death was predicted but that was not the case Upon my return, I feel, I’ve reached Home Base. In the past the town was known because of the mill The O-A Lumber Compa- ny, up on the hill And loggers and mill work- ers with pockets to fill ‘Til 1957 when the saws were still. Vernonia has evolved dur- ing all these years There was a time of only gloom, doom and tears It has survived, in spite of everyone’s fears It has diversified and now we hear some cheers. We look to the future but remember the past How the timber came down and the boom didn’t last We couldn’t believe that it happened so fast Men and women, young and old, were all aghast. I’m proud of Vernonia, so come take a peek There’s the lake, the rivers – Nehalem and Rock Creek The fish are just awaiting and they’re mild and meek You’ll find the quiet and solitude that many people seek. Come on over and meet the people and its land Come and see the families, walking hand in hand The loggers, the Axmen, and their mighty band Living in the coastal moun- tains, oh, so grand. There are all kinds of trees reaching for the sky Seeking and searching for sunlight, giving it a try Of course, you’ll see spot- ted owls, often on the fly They changed the lives of loggers, even made some cry. The movie, Ring of Fire, was our claim to fame We thought that Vernonia would never be the same It soon became peaceful and quiet and much too tame But that was a time much before the Axmen came. It has been a joy to see the town blossom and grow To put the floods behind us with the rushing waters flow To return to peaceful wa- ters as the current finally slow But minds still replay those times when we see rain and snow. All joined forces when the water swept the land bare And we showed a tough- ness of which we were un- aware It brought us all together to find we really care Now a rainbow has ap- peared and the weather – it is fair! All Rights Reserved 2008.