U"
L ib ra ry
U n iv e r s ity o f O ogon
Eugene, drop on
Water System and Lines
DiscussedByCityCouncil
The regular scheduled meet
ing of the Vernonia City Council
was called to order by Mayor
Sherman Fisher, Monday. Sep­
tember 4. with council members,
Ed M iller. Lucille Tomlin and
Bud Atkins in attendance David
Banta was absent Also present
i t the meeting was attorney
Allan Coon
Under business from the floor.
Bud Seegar requested that his
Use Permit for Cable TV be
extended ten years to coincide
with the Land Use permit
Following Seegar, Mrs Susan
Cavinee inquired about the
slide for the swimming pool then
Mrs Essie Nance informed the
council of drainage problems on
her property Roy Sanders was
directed to check into the m at­
ter
Pat Fennell then requested
information on the opening and
closing dates for the city dump
and for sign information Tom
Hall inquired, following Fennell,
about sewer service for his
property and was informed that
the hookup was already in and
that he would be billed for
footage as soon as annexation
was complete
John Lentz, building inspector,
informed the council of the
updating of Henry Anderegg's
building permit It was moved
and seconded to approve the
updating, according to figure
submitted by Anderegg and car­
ried
It was also moved and se­
conded to refund $12 to John
Normand for a building permit
At that time Lentz was hired as
inspector for the sewer hookups
in the East Vernonia Sewer
District.
Pat Goodman then took the
floor to request that the retainer
wall at the swimming pool be
extended Roy Sanders was ins­
tructed to investigate
Under committee reports, A t­
kins stated that he and Albert
Fuller would check on an os
cillating siren then Lucille gave
the monthly police report, fol­
lowed by Fisher with the public
Fire Destroys
Evans Home
zgire destroyed the home of
Mr and Mrs Tom Evans Friday
afternoon It is believed the fire
started from a spark on the dry
shingle roof
.Although Evans and his son.
Tommy, tried to put it out with a
garden hose, there was not
sufficient pressure to control the
flames until the fire truck a r­
rived
They were able to save most of
their clothing but little else
The home was located west of
the Vernonia Golf Course, and
was partially insured, according
to reports
Mini Quilt Fair
Slated for Sat
in anticipation of the quilt fair
to be held September 14-23, the
ladies of St M ary’s Parish will
bold a M iniQ uilt F air Saturday ,
September 8 from 10 a.m to 5
p.m at the Vernonia (C liff’s)
Sentry Market on Jefferson
The mini fair w ill feature a
sampling of quilts to be shown
during the ten-day Quilt Fair.
The parish also invites any­
one having heirlooms they wish
to display at the quilt fair, to do
so Funds realized from the fair
w ill go toward replacing the 50
year old church which is now
deemed beyond repair
Evening Class
Schedules Set
Evening class schedules for
fall term at Portland State
University now are available at
the Office of Continuing and
In te rn atio na l Education in
Francis Manor, 614 SW Mont
gomery or the Office of Regis
tration and Records. 113 Neu
berger Hall, 724 SW Harrison
The evening class schedule
contains complete information
on registration, fees and tuition
More than 350 regular classes
w ill be offered beginning Sep­
tember 24
Registration is Friday, Sept­
ember 21 However, special stu­
dents. who may take up to two
courses each term adding up to
seven credit hours, aren't re­
quired to go through formal
».¿missions procedures
They may register by picking
up registration packets in Room
203, Health and Physical Edu
cation Building. 950 SW Hall
from 4 to 7 p m September 21.
Persons unable to register
September 21 still may pick up
registration packets at the re
gistration and records window in
Neuberger Hall on the evening of
the first scheduled class meeting
the week of September 24 to 28
The deferred tuition
plan
allows students to pay a third of
tuition at registration time and
two other payments during the
term plus a $3 service charge
works report for the month of
August.
Unfinished business included
approval of the resignation of
Olivia Brickel, city librarian,
effective December 20, 1973 It
was then moved and seconded to
ammend Section 6 of the Right of
Way Easement and license for
Vernonia CATV to read, "The
rights and privileges herein
granted shall cease and be te r­
minated 15 years after Decem­
ber 1, 1968 unless otherwise te r­
minated" and the motion car­
ried
It was moved and seconded to
reject all bids on water system
improvements and water line
improvements following a leng­
thy discussion on the subject
Motion carried
Applications were received for
the position of sexton at the
cemeterv under new business
with five applicants applying for
the position It was decided to
refer all applications to the
Cemetery Board
It was voted to deposit $100,000
T.D in the checking account for
construction costs for the sewer
district in lieu of Bancroft Bond­
ing A voice vote resulted in four
yeas, 0 nayes
It was also voted to approve
the request of the fire depart­
ment for five gallons of de­
tergent for tanks, two m irrors
heads 5” x 16" and ten spanner
w renches and to put out bids for
four complete sets of turnouts
Atkins moved and M iller se
conded to bring up at the next
budget meeting the slide for the
swimming pool and the motion
carried
Also discussed during the
council meeting was a letter
received from an attorney,
Shulte, of the Portland-area
regarding an auto accident
which happened in December of
1972. The one-car accident re­
sulted in the death of a Goble girl
and the injury of the other three
occupants.
Following the payments of
bills the meeting was adjourned
at 11:15 p.m The next meeting of
the city council w ill be at 8 p.m .
Monday, September 17.
J A IM E REYNO SO , new foreign exchange student fro m Mexico,
w ill attend Vernonia High School as a senior. H e is staying
w ith Howard Hopkins fam ily.
Educational Courses
Offered By U of P
Photography, powder p uff
mechanics, a home movie work
shop.
and
conversational
French, German and Russian
are among 34 credit and non­
credit classes being offered in
the University of Portland's con­
tinuing education program
starting September 10.
Most classes are in the evening
and open to any interested
persons Continuing Education
catalogs and details are avail­
able by phoning 283 7269
A two credit course in animal
behavior and learning w ill be
taught by Bruce and Katheryne
Johnson at the Portland Zoo­
logical Gardens
Jaime Reynoso
Begins School
Jaime Reynoso arrived F ri­
day, August 31 to start his year
as foreign exchange student at
Vernonia High School Jaime,
who comes from Mexico City
w ill be staying with the Howard
Hopkins fam ily for the next
three months
The youngest in his fam ily,
Jaime has two brothers, 19 and
21 years of age He enjoys
football or soccer as it is known
in Mexico - and dancing.
The son of Señora Luz Maria
Gomez de Reynoso, Jaime has
finished preparatory school in
Mexico and plans to attend the
University at Mexico City when
he returns home. He is studying
in the field of industrial re­
lations
CARC Sponsors Benefit For
Handicapped Children, Adults
The Columbia County Asso­
ciation for Retarded Children
w ill sponsor a "Country F a ir,” a
benefit for local programs lor
handicapped children and adults
- Saturday, September 8 fom 10
a m to 6:30 p m
PCC F all Schedule
Otters New Classes
Department of l^ibor estimat­
es that over 30.000 air condition
ing and refrigeration specialists
w ill be needed in this country
between now and 1980, have led
to inclusion of two classes in
Portland Community College's
fall schedule
One of the classes w ill provide
an introduction to refrigeration
and air conditioning, and will
include instruction in piping, in­
stallation procedures, and the
function of multiple systems
A second course, Electricity in
Air Conditioning and R efrig­
eration. w ill emphasize wiring
diagram circuits and w ill pro
vid«- instruction in single phase
motor theory and testing
Both three credit classes w ill
be held evenings at PCC Syl
vania, 1200C S W 49th Avenue,
and are aimed at persons in­
terested in careers in this grow
ing field
For further information con
tact Glen Fors, Portland Com
munity College, 244 6111
NOTICE
The “ Breath of L ife ” cam
paign for Cystic Fibrosis house
to house appeal is scheduled for
September 10 through the 16
Demoni a Eagle
The fair, which w ill take place
at Rieger's Park, three miles
west of Clatskanie on old high
way 30, across from the Bear
Tavern, w ill feature c ra ft
classes in clay modeling and
driftwood, sea shells, pine cones
etc.
There w ill also be a rock shop
with polished tumbled agates,
jasper, crystal and a few pieces
of finished jewelry All items are
donated by local rock hounds
Rieger w ill demonstrate the
sawing of rocks during the event
There w ill also be hiking trips,
a cakewalk, games including
horseshoes, badminton, and cro­
quet and “ pick-pocket” clown
Children may pick his pockets
for surprises.
VOLUME 51, NUM BER 36
V E R N O N IA . O R EG O N »7064 — 10c P e r Copy
THURSDAY, SEPT. 6, 1973
Camp Wilkerson Dedication Event
Scheduled for Sunday, September 9
It was cold that November
night in 1970 when a large
number of teenagers descended
on the lodge at Camp Wilkerson.
With fingers and toes partially
numb from the nippy air that
had accompanied their "beer
bust" in the surrounding forest,
the kids began to break up
benches and boxes to secure the
wood lor the roaring fire they
huilt in the big stone fireplace.
Once they had the blaze really
going, they began to heat up fast
Everyone was feeling good
Suddenly someone yelled,
"hey, let’s cut out,” and as
quickly as they had come, they
were gone, leaving the flames
leaping brightly up the chimney
in the now empty lodge.
A piece of wood popped; a
spark flew out, landing on the
floor It smoldered for a while
then a tiny draft and it became a
quick lick of flame devouring the
floor.
It still wasn't too late for help
yet, for the boys and girls were
coming back, feeling the cold
once more and ready to warm
up Instead they burst into the
room to find it ablaze
Some tried to put it out at first,
but by now, what was needed
was professional firefighters;
not a bunch of half-stoned kids
As their efforts proved futile,
the first seeds of panic were
planted and. as it swept through
the group, they bolted for safety,
piling into the cars, gunning the
motors as tires spun and they
roared away along the narrow
winding road that led back to
civilization.
Camp Wilkerson was named
for Judge J B Wilkerson - a
former principal of Vernonia
High School, and later a Colum­
bia County judge - just prior to
his retirement Wilkerson had al­
ways taken an active interest in
the youth of the area, advocating
the need for more parks ar.d rec­
reational areas for them.
The site was donated b ,‘-'ept-
ember of 1940 - part of the Oak
Ranch Creek site - with the
Columbia County court setting it
aside for youth activity and the
Columbia Council of Boy Scouts
originally named to administer
the area.
During the next three decades,
groups of boys and girls from the
Boy and G irl Scouts, the Camp­
fire Guls, 4-H and other youth
organizations used the 280 acres
for camping and nature study
with the lodge a favorite spot
For the past seven years the
lodge had also hosted the Co­
lumbia County Outdoor Nature
School v ith groups of grade
schoolers camping out overnight
while learning of nature and
ecology from specialists in their
fields
The lodge, which was built in
late 1940, i;?d suffered only one
really m ajor disaster prior to the
fire, and it was quickly repaired
In the winter of 1950, heavy
snows caved in the roof, doing
some damage to the room below
but it was ready for use in the
same summer.
It was early Monday morning
when the sheriff's department
was notified of the ultimate
vandalism By m id m orning
members of the park commis­
sion and other officials had
gathered to view the remains.
" I was just sick," said Jay
Ahlborn, Columbia County Com
missioner and Chairman of the
Park Commission, his face grim
at the memory. “ I just couldn't
believe such wanton destruc­
tion.”
built lodge was rubble, and
twisted metal, the scorched and
blackened fireplace standing
like a lonely sentinel amid the
ruins.
In the first shocked moments
of discovery some thought to let
the area go back to wilderness
then determination took over.
Ahlborn continued, " I remem­
ber standing there and, after I
got used to the sight, my first
thought was how can we rebuild
and how soon.” He smiled. "The
county didn't have the funds for
it; the state would possibly help
but we would have to match their
funds. Where would it come
from '’ ”
In early December, 1970, a
meeting was held with members
of the Board of Commissioners,
the Park Commission and many
interested citizens, attending.
Also represented at the meeting
were the Boy Scouts, the 4-H,
and county extension agents.
Using plans drawn by Matt
Thompson, an architect em­
ployed by a Portland firm , but
living in Scappoose, the building
was ready to begin. Thompson
volunteered his time and abil­
ities to revise and incorporate
ideas submitted by Glen Haw­
kins and Stuart Johnson, so that
the maximum beauty and u tility
might be realized from the
natural resources of the area. It
was hop«»d that the bulk of the
materials would come from the
forest itself.
The forest began to sing with zation. company or group in the
the music of saws and mach­ area, and from many in Wash­
inery as the old road was closed ington County, M ultnom ah
off and a new one laid, under the County, Portland and clear into
engineering guidance of Crown the state of Washington.
Zellerbach and Longview Fibre,
"They come to work here. The
while donations started to flow
Seabees
and the N ational
in.
Guard; the 4-H groups and the
"W e’ve received about $3300 to
Scouts; the Lions Club, Riwanis,
date,” said Ahlborn, who has
the garden clubs; even members
personally supervised much of
of the Longshoremen’s and
the rebuilding He smiled, blue
Brick layers unions; all working
eyes crinkling as he said, “ it
together
to build something for
really makes you feel good
the kids.” Ahlborn smiled in
though when you get a letter like
admiration as he added, “ we
the one from the lady in Cali­
couldn’t begin to buy what these
fornia who wrote that she re­
people have given so freely.”
membered camping at Camp
By 1972 Camp Wilkerson was
Wilkerson when she was a g irl
back in operation although the
then apologizing for only being
lodge still hadn't been com­
able to send $10. She cared.”
pleted. Once more the fragrance
“ And the donations of time,
of wood smoke mingled with the
labor and m aterials,” he con­
scent of towering green trees as
tinued, shaking his head in
the sound of children rang
amazement. “ I t ’s wonderful. I ’d
through the grounds, th e ir
hate to try and say just how
laughter underscoring the
many thousands of dollars have
sounds of nature.
been contributed in materials
In this day of not-gettipg-in-
and labor from over 80 different
volved and letting-George-do-it,
companies, not counting individ­
people from every walk of life
uals who come out to w ork.”
had united, both old and young,
“ You know,” he confided,
rich and not-so-rich, in a com­
“ you can probably raise money
bined effort to give not the cold­
for a good cause but when people
ness of money - but the warmth
give themselves, that’s really
of themselves in the spirit of
something. I t ’s the kind of spirit
days that are now only a
we use to see in this country but
memory.
seldom do now.”
On Sunday, September 9 Camp
“ Why the first day we had over
Wilkerson w ill be dedicated in
150 loggers out there clearing the
roadway and there’s been people ceremonies to be held at the
from just about every organi­ Lodge.
F O R T H IR T Y Y E A R S Camp Wilkerson was a
mecca for youth groups throughout the county.
The original lodge, built in 1940, entirely by hand.
O N L Y T H E burned and blackened fireplace re ­
mained standing, following the fire which des­
troyed the lodge in Novem ber, 1970—a lonely
had been the site for m any local area camp-
outs including Boy and G irl Scouts, 4-H groups
and outdoor nature schools.
sentinel standing guard over the twisted rubble
that was left.
All that was left of the hand-
The
CARC
sponsored
"Country F a ir” w ill also have
wandering minstrels, balloons
and other items of interest
Time, talent, rock items, in
fact, everything has been do
nated or at retailer's cost for
this project and it is hoped that
residents of the county will
attend and enjoy the fair.
Handicapped Get Bus
There is bus transportation
available to handicapped child­
ren wishing a way back and forth
to Portland to attend special
classes The bus w ill travel the
highway betw«»en Scapp«xise and
Astoria picking up students
Sunday afternoons, taking them
to Portland and making a return
trip Friday afternoons For fu r­
ther information call Mr Ray
Godsey at the IED Office in St
Helens, 397,0028
T H IS N E W lo d g e -b u ilt by volunteer labor and donated funds—
w ill be dedicated Sunday, .September 9, in «eremonies at Camp
Wilkerson. The lodge, located In the hills west of Deer Island,
Is the result of three years and over 2000 volunteers of labor,
cash, gifts, thousands of dollars worth of donated m aterials, and
—most Im portant—love.
The new cam p consists of six c ra ft
centers, 25 adlrondacks, support roads and buildings, w ater
lines, and the new lodge, a ll using as much natural m aterial
as was feasible. See m ap on page 4 for lodge location.