L ib r a r y
U n iv e r s i t y o f » e g o n
E u g en e, Oregon
Demoni a Eagle
VOLUME 43, NUMBER 52______________________________VERNONIA. OREGON
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 30, 1965
1965 Events Tabulated from Files
Vernonia began the year of 1965
on a new trend as the first wo­
man to hold a seat on the city
council, Mrs. Launee Cousins, was
sworn in at the January 4 meet­
ing. Tragically, she did not get
to complete even the first year of
her term due to illness to which
she succumbed in October. Up to
that time, she took an active part
in city affairs.
Countywise, on January 4 Earl
Seawright was sworn in as county
judge and Don Kalberer as district
attorney.
Darrold
Proehl,
elementary
school principal, was named as cit­
izen of the year by the Vernonia
Chamber of Commerce at their an­
nual meeting held January 11. Ser­
vice on the chamber, with the
county planning commission, the
Lions club, on United Fund and
other philanthropic drives and to
fraternal and church groups in ad­
dition to his many activities in the
education field all figured in his
selection.
At the city council meeting Feb­
ruary 1, the council accepted the
offer of the U. S. National Bank
of $10,000 for the building they oc­
cupy which they previously rented
from the city.
Countywise, the first week in Fe-
ruary brought the announcement
that Shell Chemical company
would build a 10 million dollar
plant on highway 30 below St. Hel­
ens on an 800 acre tract which
includes the present Columb i a
county fair grounds.
A county-wide meeting w a s
held at St. Helens February 3 to
discuss the “court house question.”
Later in the month, the court an­
nounced plans for an election April
23 to ask allocation of funds for a
new court house and to designate
one of four sites, the present court
house site, the Flat Iron site, the
Violette tract or the Neuman sub­
division. In March, the election
was called off after the attorney
general handed down the deciision
that the $400,000 court house fund
had reverted to the general fund.
The “court house question” is still
unresolved as the year ends.
In March, the PTA presented a
revue, A Night at the Palace,
which packed the high school gym
with a capacity crowd and re­
vealed a wealth of talent in the
community. Over $300 was cleared.
March 2, Bill Rundle was named
as chairman for the 3965 Jambo­
ree and plans were started for
the annual celebration.
April 17, the Jaycee boat races
were hampered by low water in
the Nehalem river.
Another April event was the
first Nehalem Valley Coin club
show held at the high school
which drew dealers and hobbyists
Long-Time Owner of Business
Taken by Death December 21
from a wide area.
April also saw the tri-county
homemakers’ conference held here
for the first time. It drew over
200 women from Columbia, Tilla­
mook and Washington counties.
May 1, two Vernonia high school
boys, Mark Medges and John
Jackson, won the Plymouth trouble
shooting contest at Lloyd center
which gave them a trip in June
to Detroit to enter the national
contest which they came close to
winning.
Sunday, May 2, the first “drive-
in grocery” in Vernonia drew much
interest. A pickup trashed into
Linn Grocery and put it out of bus­
iness as a result of damage done.
In May, Vernonia high school
was broken into and money from
several school funds taken. A safe
was broken open and ruined in the
process and a vending machine
was damaged. The same week end,
a car stolen in Indiana was aban­
doned near the lagoon and the
Albert Kriegers’ pickup was stolen
from their garage. It was later
found abandoned in Vancouver.
In May, William Ambrose was
hired as superintendent of district
47 schools to replace Joey Acai-
turri who had resigned.
Mrs. Harry Sandon retired after
34 years of teaching, most of it
in this district.
On June 1, ownership of the Ne­
halem Valley Laundromat was
transferred from LeMoine Todd to
Wayne Hathaway.
June 24, Mrs. Wilbur Davis was
installed as worthy grand matron
of Oregon, OES, in elaborate cer­
emonies in Portland.
The fireworks sponsored and put
on by the Vernonia Volunteer Fire
Department with financial help
from merchants and organizations
drew a large crowd to the high
school field July 4.
The ninth annual Friendsh i p
Jamboree July 23, 24 and 25, drew
a large crowd for all events.
Christine King was crowned as the
queen. Princesses were Claudia
Carter, Nancy Skidmore, Kathy
Minger and Rory Workman. The
float of Vernonia Milk Farms took
sweepstakes honors in the parade
and Gene Odam was high point
man at the logging show.
In August, Henry Anderegg was
named as chairman for the 1966
Jamboree and began planning for
that event.
At the Vernonia Society picnic,
Mrs. Olive Powell, aged 95 took
honors for oldest woman present.
Albert Parker, aged 90, was the
oldest man and Beulah Parker
Burkhart of Thorne Bay Alaska
was from the greatest distance.
The Vernonia
Golf Course
changed hands September 15 when
Gordon Reed sold to Beaver
Sports Properties, a corporation
formed by Roy Critser, Ken Nan-
son and Dave Gambee.
First day registrations at District
47 schools were slightly under 1964.
Funeral services were held ganize. This was a forerunner of
Thursday of last week, December the Vernonia Chamber of Com­
23, at 2 p.m. at the First Chris­ merce. He was always striving for
tian church for Ed Salomonsen who the betterment of the community
passed away December 21 at St. which he had watched grow from
Vincents hospital in Portland where a small farming community to a
he had been for several weeks fol­ busy industrial hub while the mill
lowing surgery and subsequent was in full operation.
complications.
He had the first car sales agen­
Reverend Robert Sargent, pastor cy in Vernonia for the Star auto­
of the church, officiated. Mrs. mobile. Later he sold Dodges and
Larry Jones was soloist and Mrs. in 1935 acquired the Chevrolet ag­
L. H. Thomas, organist. Lodge ency which is still held by the bus­
rites were under the auspices of iness he established.
the Vernonia Odd Fellows Lodge
He also had been a member of
No. 246.
the Odd Fellows lodge for many
Concluding rites and interment years and was active in its work.
were at the Vernonia Memorial
In 1918 he was married at As­
cemetery with Arby Mills Charles toria to Maude Cole. She preced­
Sundland, Vern Sykes, Wilbur Da­ ed him in death in Arizona in
vis, Tom Bateman and Ben Brick- 1961. He is survived by his wife,
el as casket bearers. Arrangements Mrs. Zoe Whitsel Salomonsen to
were entrusted to the Fuiten-Frie- whom he was married in 1962. Al­
sen Mortuary.
so surviving are his daughter,
Mr. Salomonsen was born Sep­ Mrs. Jam es (Margaret) Davies,
tember 10, 1892 at Clark, South two grandsons, Craig and Scott
Dakota where he spent his early Davies and a brother, Sigurd Sal­
days. About 1903 his family moved omonsen of Astoria.
to Astoria. When he became old
enough he engaged in commercial
fishing for some years, then in
1918 he went to the community of
Neverstill as a machinist for the
railroad.
In the fall of 1922, when all eyes
were turned toward Vernonia be­
A series of 10 programs about
cause of the promised boom due techniques of first aid beginning Jan­
to the building of the railroad and uary 4 on Oregon’s two educational
the mill, he came to this commun­ television channels can make both
ity and in partnership with Perry young people and adults capable of
Harvey and Pete Saara, cleared caring for an injured person in a
brush to build a blacksmith shop time of crisis. William McGrath, tele­
where Ralph’s Chevron Service is vision program manager for Oregon
now located. At that time there Educational Broadcasting, notes that
was no Rose avenue and that sec­ the weekly series Tuesday evenings
The cancelling machine at the
tion of town was mostly covered at 7 p.m., covers information on how Vernonia post office was kept busy
with brush. The highway at that to treat most of the common acci­ during the Christmas mailing sea­
time followed much the same dental injuries.
son as it tabulated a total of 37,-
course as the railroad does now,
548 cards and letters during that
Oregon Educational Broadcasting’s
entering town on Weed avenue.
period. This is 1460 more than were
In a few months, Salomonsen and Channel 7 (KOAC-TV, Corvallis) and cancelled in December of 1964
his partners added a machine shop Channel 10 (KOAP-TV, Portland) when 36,088 passed through the
and the business became known are televising the series in coopera­ machine.
as Vernonia Brazing and Machine tion with the Oregon Trail Chapter
No count is kept of letter mail
of the American Red Cross. Tele­
Works.
coming in for distribution here but
In 1924, Saara died and a few viewers can earn their Red Cross it is estimated that the volume
months later, Mr. Salomon s e n First Aid Certificate by pre-register­ would somewhat nearly approxi­
bought out Mr. Harvey’s interest ing for the course through their lo­ mate that sent out.
to become sole owner, but he soon cal Red Cross chapter prior to Jan­
Parcels mailed out of Vernonia
took another partner, Cecil Bate­ uary 4.
were slightly under last year’s
In addition to viewing the ten pro­ volume but 130 more packages
man who was associated with him
until 1935 when he sold his inter­ grams, McGrath says, the Red Cross came into the post office for lo­
est to Ed Bollinger. In 1936 they will require use of a textbook for cal patrons than a year ago.
bought out the former Gilbey Mo­ the first aid study, completion of
Postmaster O. T. Bateman and
tor company and moved to the workbook exercises and attendance his staff expressed appreciation for
present location of Vernonia Auto at two work sessions at local Red the good cooperation of local pa­
Cross chapters to practice skills and trons who mailed earlier this year
Company.
He retired from active business evaluate abilities developed during and made it easier tor them to
in 1948 and has since enjoyed many the video classes. A final examina­ handle the increased volume of
winters in the sunshine of Arizona tion will be given.
mail. It was noted that many peo­
but he was always glad to get
The ten films should be informa­ ple were using zip codes and were
back to Vernonia.
tive for a general viewing audience, placing the Vernonia zip code on
He has always been active in McGrath says. All stress the need return addresses so that they
civic affairs. He was the first for immediate action in certain in­ could be added to addresses. Bate­
president of the Vernonia Lions juries where first aid knowledge man urges everyone to get into
club and also of the Vernonia means the difference between life the habit of using zip codes on
Booster club which he helped or- and death.
all mail.
Red Cross TV
Series Offered
Office Handles
Heavier Load
There were 191 at the high school,
393 at Washington school, 73 at
Lincoln and 33 at Mist for a total
of 690. A week later it had risen
to 727.
October 16, a record crowd at­
tended the West Oregon Electric
cooperative annual meeting.
November 1 Deri Roberts was
appointed as city councilman to
replace Launee Cousins who had
passed away.
In November, in the contest
sponsored by the Vernonia Hunter
Safety Council, James Brewer took
first place honors for his blacktail
deer rack and Frank Reed for
mule deer taken in Eastern Ore­
gon.
Ownership of another business
changed at the end of November.
Mrs. Esther Ring sold her Mar
Lee Beauty Salon to Mrs. Juanita
Morford who renamed it the Cut
and Curl Room.
December 4, the Lions club held
a diabetic clinic for the Nehalem
Valley at which over 200 persons
were tested. Funds for it had been
raised in October at the annual
hotcake feed.
December also brought solution
to one mystery with the identifi­
cation of the skeleton found in
September in the Oak Ranch creek
area as Norman Anderson of
Qunicy. Original discovery of part
of the skeleton was made by Ed
Siedelman while cone picking.
A white Christmas was recurring
snow flurries to keep things beau­
tiful and enough melting to pre­
vent it from getting too deep, and
the increased Christmas lighting
created a pleasant holiday season
as the year drew to a close.
Baskets Given
To Individuals
Through the cooperation of many
organizations and individuals, hol­
iday cheer was extended to many
Vernonia homes.
Wednesday evening of last week,
representatives of the Vernonia
Lions club, Gerald Russell and Bill
Horn, delivered about 20 fruit bas­
kets to senior citizens who are
more or less alone. This practice
has been carried out by the club
for several years.
Several other oganizations also
sent fruit baskets to shut-ins and
elderly people.
There were about 12 complete
Christmas dinners delivered to
families for whom Christmas might
have been rather bleak this year
without this assistance. These were
filled through the donations of in­
dividuals and organizations under
the direction of the civic commit­
tee of the Vernonia Study club
with Mrs. Charles Minger as chair­
man.
Toys for baskets to families were
donated by the Lions club. These
had been taken to their Christmas
party in lieu of a gift exchange.
Business Moves
The E & B Drycleaners and
Laundry operated by Ed Bredeau
moved last week end to its new
location at the corner of Bridge
street and Jefferson avenue in the
building which was last occupied
by the Montgomery Ward sales
agency. Bredeau indicates that he
expects to expand services in the
new locations.
Blood Call
Cancelled
Due to the current epidem­
ic of colds and flu in this ar­
ea, the visit of the Red Cross
Bloodmobile scheduled for Jan-
uarry 17 has been cancelled
and a later date will be an­
nounced when the visit is re­
scheduled. The change was
made on the advice of local
physicians who feel that many
prospective donors would be in­
eligible at present due to the
prevalent illnesses.
Chamber Lists
Program Topic
For Meeting
At the Monday evening meeting,
the directors of the Vernonia Cham­
ber of Commerce expressed their
pleasure that so many people il­
luminated their houses with Christ­
mas lights and had displays in
keeping with the holiday.
For the quarterly dinner meet­
ing, the chamber has asked City
Chief of Police Earl Ray to pro­
vide a program on shoplifting. Ev­
en a small town is plagued by
this problem at all times so the
topic should appeal to all mer­
chants and others, also The din­
ner is planned for January 24 at
Wales Wood, vice-president and the IOOF hall.
manager of the Columbia county
The chamber is departing from
branch of Title and Trust company,
St. Helens, today announced that all its usual custom of awarding a
necessary regulatory approval had plaque to an outstanding citizen of
been obtained for the merger of Ti­ the year. Instead it will honor two
tle and Trust company with Washing­ citizens, one of whom will be a
ton Title Insurance company (Wash­ woman. In past years many wo­
ington) and Union Title company men have been nominated for that
honor so it was felt a member of
(Indiana).
that
sex should receive recognition.
He stated that the merger will re­
sult in the creation of an entirely The awards will be presented at
new title insurance company which the dinner meeting.
will be in a position to expand its ti­
tle services on a nation-wide basis.
The name of the new company will
be Pioneer National Title Insurance
company, a California corporation.
The three companies being merg­
ed, which are all wholly-owned sub­
The cost of telephone service will
sidiaries of Title Insurance and Trust
be
reduced by seven per cent on
Company of California, now provide
services through their own offices January 1, West Coast Telephone
and affiliated companies in eight company reminds its customers.
The reduction comes via the first
states and the territory of Guam.
Wood said that basically, the mer­ step of the gradual elimination of
ger will affect only the name and the federal excise tax on telephone
the size of the company and that its service.
The bill to repeal the excise tax
operations, people and policies will
remain unchanged. He added that on telephone service, which was
the merger will bring to Title and imposed as a so-called “luxury”
Trust customers the fullest possible tax during World War II, was pas­
range of title services into addition­ sed by Congress and signed into
al areas under one company name, law by President Johnson in June.
and policies of title insurance back­ According to the new law subse­
ed up by capital, surplus and re­ quent reductions of 1 per cent will
be made on January 1 of 1967,
serves in excess of $11 million.
Title and Trust company has fur­ 1968 and 1969 when the tax will
nished title insurance and escrow be eliminated completely.
In reminding its customers of
services in Columbia county through
its St. Helens office since 1932 when the tax reduction, West Coast Tele
it acquired the Columbia County Ab­ phone pointed out that it applies
to both local and long distance ser­
stract company.
The Title and Trust Division of vice. In addition, the tax on many
Pioneer National Title Insurance business telephone services, such
company will furnish title insurance Private Branch Exchanges, sound
through branches and agents in 22 and paging systems, and intercom
Oregon counties. The employees of channels, will be eliminated Jan­
the local office, in addition to Wood, uary 1, 1966.
are Lois L. Anderson, L. Jean Buck,
The 1966 telephone excise tax
Hazel M. Evans, Sherryl M. Griffin, reduction will save West Coast Tel­
Mary K.Marson, Fred C. Morton and ephone customers in excess of
Ruth M. Wood.
$1.9 million.
Title and Trust
Firms to Merge
Telephone Tax
Reduction Due
Weather Records Show Decrease in Rainfall
Weatherwise, 1965 was a rather uary of 1964.
gust. The lowest temperature for
dry year for Vernonia, along with
In January of this year, snow the year was 15 degrees this month
the rest of the state which record­ was on the ground much of the on December 17. There have been
ed the least rainfall since about month. The greatest depth meas­ 18 days in December on which
1890. Records kept by Mrs. Helen ured was 11 inches. December of mercury dipped below the freez­
Spofford at her home on Corey 1964 had snow on the ground most ing point. The high and low tem­
hill show 37.89 inches of rain so of the days from December 11 on. peratures by months in 1965 were
far this year. In 1964 the total Greatest depth in that mor’h was as follows: January, 56 and 24;
was 59.04 inches and in 1963 it 16 inches at the end of the month. February, 64 and 26; March, 70
was 48.19 inches. Mrs. Spofford
Measureable snow this month has and 19; April, 77 and 23; May,
stated that over a long period the been slightly over 6 inches but due 78 and 26; June, 88 and 33; July,
year average was around 65 inch­ to melting no great depth was 98 and 38; August, 98 and 35;
reached at any time.
ef.
September, 84 and 27; October, 81
Dryest month of 1965 was Sep­
During the summer there were and 31; November 59 and 23; De­
tember when only .07 of an inch a greater number of hot days than cember, 53 and 15.
fell. July bad .42 of an inch and usual, though the hottest recorded
One thing that is the same for
June, .39. Wettest month was Jan
on the official thermometers on the weather every year is that it
uary when 10.96 inches fell. This Corey hill was 98 degrees at the is always a good topic for con­
is compared to 14.95 inches in Jan- end of July and the first of Au- versation.