-,000 Population
VERNONIA EAGLE
-~r
landed, and Oh! the horrors that
creaped over me! I can feel them now
by imagination. But when we reached
the other side I felt like a hero! Yes
I did! The next morning we returned
and had to go through the tame lake.
My heroism fell to the courage of
To the Evangelical Church and Com made. What became of the member side of his body by a mere happen. a genuine eoward. Fisher launched in
munity of Nehalem Valley, assembl ship, if any, I have no means of Well! I caught the fortieth fish and to the lake. I said “If I must I must”
ed in picnic festivities, at Vernonia, knowing. However during the winter we had him for breakfast. Pardon and Oh! what horrors! But when I
Oregon. Greetings!
of this year, 1890, Rev. Marshion, this digression.
landed on the other side my heroism
Over the wire came a phone mes of the M. E. dhurch was appointed
I think thia was the year the came back to me again. I could have
sage from one of your members, Mrs. by the Presiding Elder, Rev. H. I. church and parsonage was built. At shouted.
Spencer, asking me to write up a Bittner, who did render some service, any rate they were begun. The result
The great menace to the develop
brief sketch of the Evangelical but with what results there is no of thia year was 30 convenions, and ment of the mission work in pioneer
Church doings of pioneer days in the record to show.
49 accessions to the church. The Sun days, was the almost impossible roads
Most of the years there was no way
Nehalem Valley, which I consented
During the year 1891 Rev. M. Bur day school enrollment numbered 46.
to du.
of going but afoot or horseback. But
The
conference
appropriated
$280.00
lington served as pastor. At a bush
The Nehalem Valley had its pion meeting or campmeeting in the sum from the mission funds, leaving $275 mostly it was afoot. But the more
eer day, and was a little world all mer of this year, Rev. T. S. Fisher for the local church to raise, which serious menace was the people mov
by itself, shut off by a huge timber of Portland, Oregon, as evangelist, was large, considering the financial ing out of the valley, caused by the
belt and the Nehalem Mountain from held a meeting of great and happy re condition of the society. The Presid money panic of 1893 to 1899. This
Willamette-Valley Communities, but suits. This was a memborable meet ing Elder received $38.24 for his panic worked a great hardship on the Map showing the location of Vernon ia, with reference to Portland and
is destined to become a great residen ing, never to be forgotten. Many services. Rev. Streyfeller was return church and community. The people the Columbia River. Vernonia is fifty-miles from Portland.
tial community of prosperous homes, were converted at this meeting. And ed in the year of 1893, and had a of the valley were dependent and
there was no enterprise to earn the
of which Vernonia is the hub and cen a society of 28 members was arrang fairly successful year.
»
needed money to meet the demands
ter of activities. The sunbeams are ed. This was, in a way, the real be
The
value
of
manufactured
pro-1
wonderland.
They
enjoy
a
delight
At the conference sessions of 1894 of the family. If there was a little
smiling upon the Nehalem, promising ginning of permanent results. Ver
ful climat«. Their group of states is
and 1895 Rev. G. W. Lamer was ap surplus of production of any sort ducts has increased 804 per cent.
a prosperous future. But some of you nonia became the heart and center
In every way the Pacific North-; the healthiest in the country. Their
pointed pastor. He also was a young there was no market for it being to
remember former days, when things of missionary opperations from
man first stepping into the ministry. far from market centers. Because west is growing and developing with' cities are models of up-to-date plan
were not so promising; days when thenceforth . I think if I remember!
ning. They have the best of schools,
During Rev. Larner’s pastorate, Rev. of this many families were compelled astonishing rapidity.
you were domiciled in homes sur correctly, it was at this meeting j
homes, churches, theatres, libraries,
H. Schmknect was your Presiding El to move out, leaving their farms or
To succeed in the Pacific North
rounded with dense forest trees on that the Pecks, Kieser, William j
der. It is reported to me that he will homesteads, so that many years after west is simply a matter of keeping everything that makes life finer and
every side, like a mighty fortress, Spencers, Hess, Campbells, and the
be present at your picnic festivities. the first settlement there were less pace with a great natural develop better.—We know of no better sec
forbiding you even the pleasure of Weeds—not such weeds as grown in '
He is big enough to toot his own horn than half the number of former years ment. Of growing with a rich and tion than the Nehalem valley around
seeing your near neighbor’s home. gardens and fields but real weeds— ¡
He is gray enough to tell the truth Every where discouraging scenes ap prosperous country. This is not to Vernonia. It is new. Get a farm or
Some of you well remember the plea I mean such as grow over human'
and to inspire confidence in you to peared. Even Vernonia, the heart of say that hard, serious work is not establish an industry.
sure of packing your sugar, bacon, hearts and are helpful to church and
believe all he tells you.
the valley, instead of thrift and as essential here as elsewhere, But
bedsteads, coukstoves and flour on society—came into the church organ
Brother Lamer had a successful growth, carried the hoar of age and its rewards are quicker, surer and A FEW FACTS OF INTEREST ALL
packhorses or mules over the Nehal ization. Rev. Fisher returned to Port
OREGON CITIZENS SHOULD
pastorate all things considered. The dilapidation.
larger.
em mountain. Some of you well re land with glowing clora and immort
EXPLOIT
first year there were some 50 con
But
a
better
day
has
dawned,
and
member the exceeding great pleasure alized Vernonia in the Evangelical
A fufare Asserod
versions and 29 accesion. The enroll as the sun is rising to her noonday
of riding over the mountain, going church. I cannot furnish you with re
ment of the Sunday school kept creep meridian the present enterprises of
Portland is not only the leading
Nor is this growth of the Pacific
and coming, on an auto composed sults of this year because the sta-
ing upward during his pastorate and the Nehalem will bring forth encour Nortwest a “boom” growth. It is lumber manufacturing, but also the
of two shoe soles, propelled by hu tisticc were reported jointly with was very encouraging.
aging returns, thrift and growth. The rooted deeply and firmly in the tre leading lumber evporting port in the
man gas and prespiration, and how Columbia mission which was also
At the conference session of 1896 church will rise in the strength of mendous natural wealth and econom world.
you puffed until you got over the served by Rev. Burlingham.
Rev. Geo. McElroy became pastor. her master, lift the moral character ic advantages of the country itself.
Portland is the leading wheat ship
hill! How glad you were when you
At the conference session of 1892 He was succeeded by Rev. F. M. Fish into a higher plain«, lead many to
ping
port for American wheat in the
The Pacific Northwest today has—
were trrough with the jolts of Soft
er in 1897 and 1898. Campmeeting the gateway of the land of many
United States.
Rev.
R.
D.
Strayfeller,
a
young
man
The
greatest
reserve
of
standing
mud, a half dozen inches deep, and
was held each year of his pastorate manshions, a land of thrift and per- timber in the United States—960 bil-
Portlan dis the leading flour ex
arrived in your humble, but sweet just stepping into the ministry, was
and proved to be a great power and petual sun shine. With beat wishes. lion feet.
porting port on the Pacific Coast.
appointed
pastor
to
serve
the
mis
home. Ah! those were days of true
Portland is the leading apple ex
spiritual uplift. Souls were converted
Very respectfully
More than half the nation's water
heroism. Had it not been for your sion, and Rev. H. I. Bittner was the
Presiding Elder. A campmeeting was and others entered into deeper Christ
N. Shnpp. power resources—26,000,000 hone porting port on the Pacific Coast and
undaunted courage and the prospec
is also a shipping point for large
power.
held on the north bank of Rock Creek ain experiences. Brother Fioles had
tive outlook of a thrifty future as it
quantities of dried fruits and canned
up a little further than your perman eight preaching points. All the way
Millions
of
acres
of
the
world
’
s
now has.
ent ground later on. The meeting up the rim at the North appointment FHE LAND OF A LARGE CHANCE richest farm, fruit and stock lands. goods.
Portland is the leading export in
was a great success spiritually. Allow down to Jewell. Some fifty miles in
But to Church Activities
Mineral riches almost illimitable
In the struggle to get ahead, most with mines now producing $1,000,- the Pacific Northwest.
What inspired the Oregon Confer me to tell you a fish story, not a length. At one of my quarterly meet
Pirtland now has 54 steamship
ence to begin missionery opperations fishy one, but a real occurance at ings he arranged 11 services for me men ask no more than this: an even 000 a day.
lines
giving regular service to the
and
that
in
mid-winter,
which
re
break.
that
meeting.
I
was
invited
in
frim
Ports
now
handling
more
ocean
in the Nehalef Valley, I do not know.
To such men this announcement is tonnage than all the rest of the Pa principal ports of the world.
But at the Annual Conference ses Portland, Oregon to aid in the meet quired 142 miles on horseback from
Portland handled last year a total
sion of 1887 the Oregon Conference ing. One evening after the meeting the time I left Houlton until I re addressed. It has no thought of lur cific Coast ports combined.
of
nearly 4,000,000 tons of cargo in
turned.
And
roads!
Ach!
Ach!
Ruin
ing
you
upon
a
wild
goose
chase
A
splendid
system
of
highways
Bro.
Bittner
and
I
resolved
to
get
up
of the
Evangelical Association
(church) planted a mission, named before sunrise the next morning and every step of the way and a cold rain after easily won success. Its only reaching through the region in every ocean going vessels and 7,413,000
tons in all including that freight
•'Nehalem Mission” including all of go up the creek and fish down the at that. Just before we reached Jew purpose is to set before you certain direction.
moved by river steamers.
established
facts.
,
ell
and
about
night
fall
we
came
to
a
The
Pacific
Northwest
has
within
stream
and
catch
fish
for
breakfast.
the Nehalem Valley* Where the
Portland is the gateway of an em
These facts pertain to acountry itself the raw materials with which
preaching points were located I have It was a well known fact that I could freshet lake of about 30 rods across
pire
containing 264,000 square mil es,
which
offers
unique
and
exceptional
it,
and
deep
enough
to
swim
a
horst
to
continue
to
build
an
ever
greatei
not
catch
fish.
I
could
fish
but
not
no menns of knowing. Rev. M. H.
Jackson, who had come into the Ore catch them It seemed that when I part of the way. I said I cannot pass opportunities to any man who is ser future with ever greater opportunit with ten railway lines including five
transcontinental ilnes, giving service.
gon Conference from the United took hook and line to fish, the fish through thia lake, I am a coward in iously concerned with the business ies for its people.
Ships of the principle marintime
of
his
own
advancement.
The Proof of Opportooity
water
and
have
not
sense
enough
to
assembled
in
convention
and
resolved
Brethern Church, was the first mis-
You owe it to yourself to weigh
But there is no greater proof of nations of the world indydiny
sionery with an allowance from the not the bite at my bate. At any rate swim if any thing should happen.
the opportunities offered by the Pa largest freighters afloat are nr
mission fund of $75.00. No other re they never did, no matter when and We parlied. Brother Fisher said, and consider them carefully.
Wlsat the Pacific Northwest
cific
Northwest than the prosperity ing the Columbia River chano
“
there
is
no
possible
way
around
it
”
where
I
attempted
to
fish.
They
seem
sults of his labors are reported than
Offers Yoe
of the people who make their home« Portland to the sea.
that he received fifteen persons into ed to laugh at me and say “Shopp is I said “you go on and fill my appoint
Portland ha sfour munici
About the Pacific Northwest, the there.
no fish catcher”. But for once I fool ment at Jewell, and I will go back
church fellowship.
■nals,
thirteen private lun»
basic
truth
is
this;
it
offers
you
a
Their
per
capita
income
is
not-
and
stop
all
night
at
the
first
house
ed
them.
That
morning,
fishing
down
For the years of 1888 and 1889
ten
private
grain and f
abel
higher
than
the
average
foi
great
opportunity
to
get
ahead
be
I
come
to”
.
He
said
“
it
is
ten
miles
Rev. James A. Ray, who had come stream until in sight of the camp,
seven
private
general >
the
nation.
The
number
of
home
cause
the
Pacific
Northwest
itself
is
back
to
the
road
there.*
’
“
Then
I
will
Rev.
Bittner
then
placed
the
fishpole
into the Evangelical Church from the
.nfail
Free Will Baptist Church, was ap- into my hands saying now you catch sleep out here”. He said “You will getting ahead at a rate almost phe- owners is 24 per cent greater. Fif as well as a number oF
teen per cent more of them own ity docks, and the mar
painted missionary. I think Rev. Ray the fortieth fish. Of corse I was freeze to death, having no blankets nomenal.
»iiich
' s
Consider these few facts. In the automobiles. They spend per child er docks.
had taken up a homestead in the val game! I took the pole and threw the to cover you.” Then I remembered
<s as-
almost^ twice as much for education.
ley and lived there. He received the hook and line into the water and that I was not only a coward in wat past 20 years—
Christmas day begins in the mid-
Population has more than doubled. In the past ten yean their savings
first year of his pastorate $98.30 for then gave it a quick jerk as I saw er but also in the woods because of
die of the Pacific ocean, and there
Foreign commerce has increased deposits have trebled.
the
Cougars
and
bears.
Then
I
said
Rev.
Bittner
did,
and
to
my
surprise
his salary.
And not only are these people is where Santa Clause starts and end
In the year 1890, being the year there was a fish on the hook. The fel “You go ahead and I will follow. If more than 500 per cent.
more
prosperous, but they get more his great and only journey of the
The
number
of
farms
has
more
you
go
down
under
the
water
I
’
ll
atop
of division of Conference, there was low did not bite at the bate, but I
out
of
life. They live in a natural
than
doubled.
fooled
him
by
hooking
him
on
the
if
I
can
before
going
down.
”
We
no appointment nor appropriation
EVANGELICAL CHURCH ACTIVITIES
OF PIONEER DAYS IN NEHALEM
GENERAL LAYOUT OF THE PLANT OF THE ORE-
GON-AMERICAN LUMBER COMPANY AT
VERNONIA, OREGON
Sawmill Building
92X354
Power House
82X116
Fuel House
36X100
Timber Sizer Building
Timber Dock or Crane Run
76X512
Stacker Building
84X412
Lath Stacker Shed Addition
Front Kiln Platform
Twenty-eight Dry Kilns, each
34X48
156X328
4
11X110 I
Back Kiln Platform —.............
156X328
Dry Sorter Building
180X888
Two Rough Sheds, each
258X584
■ Planing Mill Building
Dressed Shed
Machine Shop Building
Transfer to Stacker
Monorail Repair Shop
1
120X288
„108X728
70XJ
■J-
¡SI