All posts by Bill Langmaid

Live, Play

Worth the Trip – Five Day Trips From Vernonia Your Family Won’t Want to Miss

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Planning a trip to Vernonia? Why not stay for a few days and take in one or more local attractions Here are several family friendly trips that are just about an hour from Vernonia. You’ll have a fun adventure-and be back in time for dinner!


Jewell Meadows Wildlife Area–See majestic Roosevelt Elk in their natural habitat in the 2305_bull_elk_swart_odfwOregon coast Range. This 2,940 acre preserve is home to well over 200 elk that spend the winter and spring in the lower meadows along the highway feeding and resting. There are two parking areas, four viewing areas and interpretive signs. The elk are the main attraction but the area is also a great spot for birding and other wildlife viewing.

Travel time from Vernonia: 52 minutes. Distance 39 miles.

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Tree to Tree Aerial Adventure Park–Voted on of the Top 10 Zip Parks in the country, Tree to Tree offers an Ariel Adventure Park with six colored levels graduating in height and difficulty and over sixty extreme obstacles. There’s a level for just about every member of the family including a tween and children’s course. In addition take a separate zip line tour which includes a 1200′ single line as part of the adventure. Reservations are required for all adventures.

Travel time from Vernonia: 52 minutes. Distance 39 miles.

 

Tillamook Forestry Center–Located in the remote heart of the Tillamook Forest in the Oregon Coast Range, this education and recreation center is a special

Tillamook Forestry Center
Tillamook Forestry Center

place to explore. Learn about forest history, wildfires or sustainable forestry practices inside the center. Hike through the forest and see it for yourself—make sure to dress appropriately for Oregon weather. Highlights include the climbable 40 foot high lookout tower replica, a 250 foot suspension bridge crossing the Wilson River, connections to a host of trails, hands on exhibits and the award winning film Legacy of Fire. Hours change seasonally—the Center is closed December through February; open Wednesday through Sunday in fall and spring; open seven days a week in summer. Admission is free.

Travel time from Vernonia 57 minutes. Distance 38 miles.

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Steam Donkey

Camp 18 Restaurant and Logging Museum–For anyone interested in the logging and railroad history of this region, or just history in general, Camp 18 is a must go! Wander the grounds and be fascinated by the outdoor displays of huge, heavy equipment. See a Steam Donkey, a Spar Tree, a real wood-sided caboose on tracks, a large band saw and much more. Visit the Logger’s Memorial and see the displays family members have created for their lost loggers. When you’ve finished your outdoor tour, step inside the restaurant and be amazed by the size of the log beams used to construct the massive building. The Oregon coast is just another 18 miles on Hwy 26.

Travel time from Vernonia 42 minutes. Distance 32 miles

Fort Stevens
Fort Stevens, Oregon

Fort Clatsop and Fort Stevens–These two historic forts are located on the Oregon Coast near Astoria. Fort Clatsop is part of the Lewis and Clark National Historic Park and was the winter encampment of the Corps of Discovery from December of 1805 to March of 1806.   You can explore the replica of Fort Clatsop where Lewis and Clark spent a cold and wet winter with their men.   Visit the interpretive center and view two different films to learn more about the explorers of the west. Fort Stevens, part of the Oregon State park system, was the primary defense installation at the mouth of the Columbia River from the Civil War through World War II. Explore history, nature and enjoy recreational opportunities in this 4,200 acre park. Bring your bikes—there’s six miles of paved trails providing easy riding for everyone.

Travel time from Vernonia to Fort Clatsop: 1 hour 25 minutes. Distance 67 miles

From Fort Clatsop to Fort Stevens: 15 minutes. Distance 7.7 miles

 

Live, Work

Diamond in the Rough

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A visitor to Vernonia might be surprised by the quality of the small but enthusiastic art scene this community has carved out. Not only was Vernonia the one time home to Christopher Burkett, considered by many to be the greatest color landscape photographer alive, it also has a non-profit community group, the Vernonia Hands On Art Center, dedicated to promoting the arts and heritage of Vernonia. Additionally, young artists are discovering their artistic talent through Artist-in-Residence Kerri Boutwell and the Grace Fine Arts academy she has established. The annual Salmon Festival, held the first Saturday in October, is a great opportunity to see the work of local artists; this year the Salmon festival will include the work of Boutwell and others.

In other words, the arts are alive and well in Vernonia.

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Early Winter Snowfall, Colorado by Christopher Burkett

Any visit to Vernonia certainly must include a visit to Grey Dawn Gallery, which features some of the finest in northwest art.   The gallery is owned by Dan and Heidi Brown and includes, in addition to Burkett’s work, Dan Brown’s own Hardwood Originals custom wood furniture. The gallery also features artistic pottery by Jeff Patterson, also a former Vernonia resident, as well as the bronze sculpture work of Jacques and Mary Regat.

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Hardwood Originals furniture by Dan Brown

The Browns established their business in 1991 and moved it to their hometown of Vernonia in 2000 to a custom designed building at 879 Bridge Street they designed themselves. The front is home to the gallery while the back contains the workshop where Dan designs and builds his locally famous “Dan Brown Kitchens” and other fine furniture. The Browns also do custom framing for the art work they sell.

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Bronze sculptures by Jacques and Mary Ragat

Brown says he and Heidi were hoping to help revitalize downtown Vernonia following the 1996 flood by locating the gallery and workshop there. “We wanted to convey the image of what we saw as the potential for Vernonia,” says Brown during a recent visit to the gallery. “I had gotten to know several local artists and thought we could showcase our work, have space for the wood shop, and hopefully do something for the local artist community at the same time. There was kind of budding artist community at that time and it seemed like the logical thing to do.”

Burkett is considered one of the world’s foremost experts in Cibachrome printing, the process he uses to uniquely capture the color and light of his work. He has painstakingly developed his

Graceful Aspen, Colorado by Christopher Burkett
Graceful Aspen, Colorado by Christopher Burkett

system of sophisticated masking techniques over thirty years, hand making each individual print without the use of digital or computer enhancement, creating a unique and individual piece of art work. Burkett signs and numbers each of the three sizes of prints he produces and therefore controls the number of prints released to the public, usually in the low hundreds. His work has been displayed in galleries worldwide, including the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C., and has been compared to the work of the great Ansel Adams.

“Christopher’s work has, beyond a shadow of a doubt been the main reason we have remained in business over the years,” says Brown. “He has a world-wide reputation and we ship his work all over the U.S. and abroad.” Brown notes that their custom framing work has made them a sought-out source of Burkett’s limited edition work.

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Pottery by Jeff Patterson

In addition to Burkett’s work, Grey Dawn Gallery continues to show a small collection of Jeff Patterson’s work. He is no longer producing his fine art pottery. “We were sorry to see Jeff stop working,” says Brown. The bronze work of Anchorage, Alaska based Jacques and Mary Regat is focused on wildlife. The inclusion of the Regat’s work allows Grey Dawn Gallery to display and sell some of the finest regional art, and makes the gallery a must visit for anyone interested in seeing some beautiful creations.

Kerri Boutwell and the other instructors at Grace Fine Arts offer after-school classes in acrylic painting, sculpture, drawing, and watercolor. Boutwell also conducts workshops for adults. She has held two art shows locally, displaying the surprisingly impressive work of her youth students. Her instructional classes have been fun and popular and have uncovered some artists who have found talents they were unaware they possessed. Grace Fine Arts is encouraging a new generation to appreciate and participate in the arts in Vernonia.

Alongside Boutwell at Salmon Festival will be local realist Randal Harvey, potter Wanda Aszman, and Nicole Gray, who specializes in photographic portraiture and local landscapes. Coined “Art in the Woods”, this event showcases local artists but also hosts a salmon-themed art auction which funds art scholarships for local youth. In 2014 the inaugural scholarship was awarded. It is the first local scholarship offered to students interested in exploring the arts.

The Vernonia Hands On Art Center has been encouraging the Vernonia art scene through its volunteer and financial support of various artistic endeavors within the community. Hands On Art has supported community theater, the Vernonia Ballet, First Friday gatherings and the Vernonia Salmon Festival. Hands On Art has been encouraging learning environments with financial grants, advertising assistance and volunteer manpower since 1997, continually helping to raise awareness of the arts in Vernonia.

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Vernonia Schools Creates a Positive Learning Environment

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SustainabilityDay2013KidsLooking            Schools in rural towns can offer a number of benefits to students, such as modest enrollment numbers and tight-knit, supportive communities. The Vernonia School District, a small district of around 600 students, has been creative in developing unique opportunities for students to learn, grow and succeed.

Situated on the edge of the Oregon Coast Range and surrounded by trees, Vernonia is instituting a new approach to learning by creating a sustainability curriculum. The new learning model takes advantage of the community’s surroundings, the cutting edge design of the new K-12 school facilities and campus which opened in 2012, proximity to natural resources, logging heritage, local resources and partnerships to create a multitude of living laboratories and natural classrooms.

Following the example of its community over the years, Vernonia Schools has made the most of its locality, history and resources. The new curriculum uses human relationships to the natural world as its foundation, and features three levels of forestry education by which students are taught plant identification, proper forest management techniques, trail building proficiency, and watershed enhancement procedures. In addition a logging skills team competes against other regional schools working closely with several local logging companies and governmental agencies.

As part of the sustainability curriculum, the school oversees the management of the ‘Old Mill Marsh’ wetland area. This 8.2 acre wetland mitigation project was developed on city land in exchange for wetlands that were impacted through construction of the new school campus. Each year students remove invasive species, plant native plants and map and build trails. A greenhouse supported by a grant through the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) was constructed on campus and is shared with the local Upper Nehalem Watershed Council (UNWC), providing a space for students to raise native plants.

“The sustainability curriculum encourages all our teachers to find ways to include the natural world and our region’s surroundings into daily instruction,” says Vernonia School Board Chair Bill Langmaid.

Each year all K-12 students participate in several ‘Sustainability Days’ when learning is focused on concepts that include the life cycle of native salmon populations, the impact of invasive species, and sustainable forestry practices. Students spend at least part of the day doing field work, including riparian restoration projects, tree planting, and wetlands maintenance.

As part of the sustainability curriculum, Vernonia is developing a Career and Technical Education program. A new shop facility is being constructed in 2014 and the District has developed partnerships with several local entities including the UNWC, BLM, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, the OSU Extension Service and Stub Stewart State Park. As part of an internship program, high school students worked on maintenance projects, utilizing Geographic Information System mapping techniques, trail building, using customer service skills and enhancing local watersheds and riparian zones.   Students received valuable, real-life work experiences all while receiving a summer pay check.

Vernonia’s small size is actually be a benefit when it comes to education. Katie Cook and her family moved to Vernonia a year ago. Her school age children had previously been enrolled in the Hillsboro and the Beaverton School Districts.

“We moved from extremely overcrowded schools where students became numbers,” said Cook. “All my family described it as ‘suffocating.”

“Initially, the small school in Vernonia caused concern but, within a few weeks I knew the staff and they knew my kids,” explains Cook. “My daughter, who was failing some classes in her previous schools, became a straight A student again. In her own words, ‘My teachers know me and it helps me want to do better.’ Unlike in larger schools the teachers here are connected to their students and there is time to teach each one of them and, if encouraged and with the support of parents, there is time for these great teachers to make up the difference where the education system lacks.”

Another attribute that makes an education at Vernonia Schools extremely unique is their robust Foreign Exchange Student program. In each of the last half-dozen years, approximately 20 students arrived at the end of each summer from all over the world to spend the school year in Vernonia. The students live with, and become part of, local families giving students, families and the entire community firsthand experiences with other cultures, lifestyles, languages and perspectives. Students from countries as diverse as Germany, Kenya, Romania, Taiwan, Italy, Kurdistan, and Norway spend the year in Vernonia becoming teammates, family members, and lifelong friends. Past students regularly return to visit their ‘American families’ and Vernonia students often go to visit their friends in faraway countries. The Foreign Exchange Student program gives Vernonia’s schools and the community a truly international feel.

The Vernonia schools have also experienced success in other endeavors. The school band program earned a State Championship in 2011 and finished 3rd in 2012. Mentored by local volunteers, the robotics program has competed in Oregon FIRST Robotics programs for the last three years, and has seen great success for such a small and newly created program while competing against all sizes of schools from throughout the Pacific Northwest. In 2012 the Loggerbots finished third in the qualifying rounds and reached the semifinals in just their second year.

Vernonia’s sports teams, the Loggers and Lady Loggers, compete in the state’s 2A division. Recent successes include four individual state champions in track and field in 2012, a fourth place finish at the state tournament in boys’ basketball in 2010, back-to-back league championships in girls’ basketball in 2013-14, three straight years of qualifying for the state tournament in volleyball in 2012-14 and a league championship in softball in 2014.

For a small, rural school district, Vernonia is working hard to create unique and exciting learning experiences for its students, helping propel them to success in careers, university studies, and life.

Live, Play, Work

Vernonia: A great place to Live, Work and Play

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Rich in history, bountiful forested hillsides, and a thriving small town culture, the town of Vernonia offers both visitor and new residents a warm welcome. Travel through the trees, over the streams and under the railroad trestles and you’ll find a small, tight knit community that is ready to be discovered.

            Vernonia is a small town of just over 2,000 people, nestled in the Upper Nehalem Valley in the foothills of the Pacific Coast Range. It sits at the confluence of the Nehalem River and Rock Creek and is surrounded by forests. Less than an hour from from SW Portland and Hillsboro employment centers, Vernonia is also just 60 minutes away from the Oregon Coast.

            Known for it’s logging history, Vernonia is remaking itself as a outdoor recreation destination as well as a great place for those looking to escape the hustle and bustle and relocate to the peace and quiet of the country.

            We invite you stop by for a visit. Come see why Vernonia is such a great place to live, work and play.

Live – With a charmingly old-fashioned downtown and a brand new school, life in Vernonia is a mix of old and new.

            The new Vernonia K-12 school offers a green design, two gymnasiums, new computer labs and a natural resources curriculum that connects to an eight acre wetland just across the road. The high school robotics class has earned awards at several competitions!

            The walkable downtown core offers shopping, a full service post office, grocery store and two hardware stores. The town has eight restaurants; seven are in the downtown area.

The Vernonia Pioneer Museum is a collection of artifacts from throughout the county including items from the local Native American tribes, early settlers and logging.

            The community library offers after school and summer reading programs for children. A chess and stamp club meet there regularly as well. The Vernonia Library is also a favorite stop for Oregon Humanities special programs.

            A brand new Health Center has broken ground and is scheduled to open in the fall of 2014; a new Senior Center and Food Bank is also in the planning stages at the same development.

Vernonia has a very active Lion’s Club, a PTA and a Booster’s Club that supports children’s activities. There are eleven active churches in town.

Work – Known for the huge trees that once grew in the area, Vernonia’s nearby forests still support both large and small natural resource-based businesses. But today you are just as likely to bump into a computer programmer or high tech fabrication plant employee when stopping to fill your tank and grab your morning coffee at the Mini Mart.

            Vernonia is the ultimate small-town bedroom community for the high tech industry. Intel employees who have moved to town get the best of both worlds – high tech opportunity a short drive from a quiet, safe and friendly small town to raise their families.

            Local business is another key element in the employment market in Vernonia. Full time, part-time and seasonal jobs are available; some of the larger local employers include the Vernonia School District, Sentry Market, Photo Solutions and Cedar Ridge Conference and Retreat Center.

            Numerous home-based businesses have become successful; those with an entrepreneurial streak may find an opportunity in Vernonia. Work-from-home is also an option for some  as high speed cable internet service is available in town.

 

Play – Vernonia is an outdoor enthusiast’s dream, with multiple parks, trails, streams, rivers and logging roads to explore.

            We are proud of our city Park system which includes full hook-up RV camping at Anderson Park and primitive camping at Airport Park. Both parks are set along the Nehalem River and offer river access. During summer months, we also enjoy an old-fashioned swimming hole at Hawkins Park.

The 42 acre Vernonia Lake is regularly stocked with rainbow trout by ODFW and anglers can also catch largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill and brown bullhead – there may even be a steelhead or two! The lake features a paved trail, a wheelchair accessible fishing platform, restrooms, drinking water, and on-site bait shop/concession stand during the spring and summer months.

            Vernonia, once the terminus of several logging railroad lines, is now the terminus of two great area recreation trails. The Banks-Vernonia Trail is 21 miles of paved multi-use trail that is now included as part of the Tualatin Valley Scenic Bikeway. The trail is accessible from six trailheads. The Crown Zellerbach Trail travels from Vernonia to Scappoose and offers over 20 miles of multi-surfaced trail more suitable for fat tire bikes, hikers and horseback riders.

            Hunting and river fishing are two other popular pastimes that beckon Vernonians into the nearby hills. The Nehalem River, which runs 90 miles to the Oregon Coast, is a premier spot for wild native salmon, steelhead and cut throat trout.

            The Vernonia Golf Club offers a nine hole course and year-round alpine golfing.

 

Other Nearby Attractions:

            The Jewell Meadows Wildlife Area is a 1114 acre refuge for Roosevelt Elk. Open pastures border the highway, offering excellent

views of elk during winter and spring. There are two paved parking areas, four viewing areas.

  1. L. Stub Stewart State Park is just 10 miles south of Vernonia and offers camping, and day use areas for hiking, biking and equestrian riders. 25 miles of trails, RV and primitive camping, 18-hole disc golf course, mountain bike riding area, cabin village, and equestrian camp make

this a family-friendly and fun vacation spot.

            The Oregon Coast is just an hour away from Vernonia with easy access to Cannon Beach, Seaside and Manzanita. Portland, Beaverton and Hillsboro offer shopping, entertainment and sporting events ranging from Single A baseball to MLS soccer to NBA basketball.

 

Whether your interest is finding a new home, a new place to open a business, or just a new spot for a favorite hobby, Vernonia offers all that in one charming package. Give it a try, and be amazed at what you find. Come visit Vernonia, and stay a while.

 

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Equestrian Sports are a Favorite in Vernonia

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            Vernonians love their horses. The town has a great equestrian history and numerous opportunities for both young and old cowboy and cowgirls to take part in equestrian activities. Whether it’s trail riding, horse gaming, 4H or high school competitions, Vernonia has something for everybody. We even have our own rodeo queen!

Barrel racing in Anderson Park
Barrel racing in Anderson Park

The Vernonia Ridge Riders are a long standing community group who organize gaming days at the Vernonia Horse Area located at Anderson Park right in town. They also hold regular trail rides throughout the summer. Their biggest annual event is their Play Day which takes place on the Sunday of the Vernonia Friendship Jamboree and Logging Show during the first full weekend in August. The Ridge Riders are also always a favorite when they ride in 4th of July and Jamboree parades each summer.

            Vernonia has an active Equestrian 4H group which participates in the Columbia County Fair each year. High School students can compete as part of Vernonia OHSET (Oregon High School Equestrian Team). This year the Vernonia team qualifies six of their riders for the state meet.

MacKenzie Carr, Miss Rodeo America
MacKenzie Carr, Miss Rodeo America

In 2012, Mackenzie Carr of Vernonia was was crowned Miss Rodeo America in Las Vegas at the MGM Hotel and Casino, at the culmination of the week-long Miss Rodeo America Pageant held in conjunction with the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. At the pageant, Carr won a landslide victory taking home individual honors for Horsemanship, Personality, Appearance, and Speech. Carr, a 2008 graduate of Vernonia High School and class Valedictorian was previously crowned Miss Rodeo Columbia County and Miss Rodeo Oregon. As Miss Rodeo America Carr spent a year traveling the U.S. as an official spokesperson for the sport of professional rodeo, appearing at approximately 100 rodeo events as well as schools, civic groups and other special events during the year of her reign. Carr returned to Oregon State University following her year of Miss Rodeo America and is completing a Bachelors Degree in Speech Communications.

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Downtown Vernonia: An Old Fashioned Main Street

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It has been called quaint and picturesque. It has been compared to Mayberry, North Carolina, the fictional television town of Andy Griffith in the 1960’s.

In an age of strip malls and big box stores, downtown Vernonia is a throw back to a by-gone era where the person working the counter is often the owner of the shop.

Downtown Vernonia certainly has it’s own special appeal and small town charm. The boundaries are unofficial but most locals consider the flashing light (and the only traffic light in town, another bit of small town charm) and the Rock Creek Bridge to be the borders of downtown.

The downtown features the usual rural amenities: a post office, a grocery store, two hardware stores, a dentist office, a bank and a credit union. There is also a laundromat, a handful of real estate agents, two bars and a couple of second hand stores.

What you might be surprised to find in this bucolic setting is the Grey Dawn Gallery, which specializes in fine northwest art and features a collection of work by renowned color landscape photographer Christopher Burkett. Owners Dan and Heidi offer custom framing services; Dan also runs his custom furniture making business, Hardwood Originals from his shop in the back of the building.

Muffy’s is another surprising business that’s made their home in downtown Vernonia. Muffy’s is the ultimate source of saddle shoes (that’s right, saddle shoes!) and believes they have the largest retail selection in the world for women, children and men. When costume designers in the film industry need to recreate a bygone era they turn to Muffy’s and so can you. Their new stock comes from current manufacturers. Muffy’s also carries more than just new saddle shoes; their stock includes work boots, dress boots, one-of-a kind pre-worn shoes and more.

Out on a Limb features gifts, décor items, and antiques. Providing one-stop shopping for cards, gifts for any occasion with a country theme.

One unexpected treat about Vernonia are the numerous restaurants. Downtown Vernonia has seven places you can eat, with a wide variety of choices, all within a few blocks of each other. From American grill to Mexican to Middle Eastern food, Vernonia just about has it all.

Gretchen’s Saddlery makes high quality, handcrafted saddles, tack and leather items, including belts, wallets handbags and more, all at affordable prices. It’s a craft from another era brought back to life in small town Vernonia.

Natural Path Health Services is a Naturopathic and Chinese medicine clinic.   Dr. Carol McIntyre treats patients using a combination of different modalities including Acupuncture, spinal manipulation, nutritional and herbal therapies and more.

Work

Vernonia Added to Enterprise Zone

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The City of Vernonia has been added to the South Columbia County Enterprise Zone.

Working with the Columbia County Economic Team (CCET) in the spring of 2014, the City of Vernonia successfully applied for the expansion of the zone to include Vernonia. Traditionally a community of commuters and blue collar workers, Vernonia is seeing a an increase in the manufacturing sector and is working to meet those demands through zoning and other changes.

The State of Oregon and local agencies within Columbia County, including CCET, offer a range of public incentives and financing options that strengthen the competitiveness of local firms by reducing the costs of doing business and providing access to capital. Most of these programs are geared towards manufacturing, logistics, processing, and other “trade sector businesses”.

The South Columbia Enterprise Zone currently offers three to five years of property tax exceptions for new investments in plants and equipment for eligible business firms.

Local business owner Brad Curtis has already seen an immediate benefit from the Enterprise Zone expansion.   Curtis is the owner of Photo Solutions, a small manufacturing firm servicing the global high tech industries . Curtis recently expanded his business, purchasing $200,000 of new equipment. “I see a lot of possibilities for firms to do business out here, especially for businesses where location doesn’t matter.” says Curtis. “The enterprise zone expansion helps level the playing field.”

Curtis’s manufacturing plant was damaged in the 2007 flood and the incentives available may allow him to move his business to higher ground at the California Avenue industrial site currently under development in Vernonia. The high school recently was awarded a grant to help them expand their career and technical education curriculum, and is working on partnerships with Oregon businesses to equip students for careers in these technical fields. The Governor’s office has been making it a priority to create a workforce that is able to meet the needs of our growing economy, with particular emphasis on the creation and retention of living wage jobs.

 

For more information visit the South Columbia County Enterprise Zone.

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Recreating History: Vernonia Family Brings an Old Farm Back to Life

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On the east side of Highway 47, just south of Vernonia sits a wooden barn with an old windmill standing next to it. When the wind blows, the windmill spins, just like it did in the old days. A handful of sheep and goats wander and graze in the small pasture behind the barn. In the summer the gardens are overflowing with produce.   It looks like a Norman Rockwell painting from the 1940’s.

It looks like the 1940’s but in reality it’s a modern day, operating, small scale, family farm.

The property is owned by Jeff and Susan Ely. The old barn was rebuilt by Jeff after collapsing in 2007 . The old Star windmill was installed by the Ely’s, with the help of some friends.

The Elys have been purposely rebuilding this small-scale family farm complete with livestock, large producing gardens and most recently the installation of the windmill. And of course, there is that magnificent barn that they revived.

Reviving the old farm is, in part, educational for the Ely’s three children; Bradley, Meagan and Lauren all participate in 4-H and raise the livestock living on the property. The reconstruction of the barn was necessary because the family needed a place to keep the livestock and store hay and machinery. It also provided an opportunity to preserve some history.

Plus, it all looks really great!

We had the pleasure of visiting with the Elys, who also invited the previous property owners, Del and Kathy Allen, as well as Jack Finzel, who helped with the windmill installation. It was a beautiful fall evening and the group of us sat on the back patio the Elys constructed, soaking up the atmosphere. We talked about the history of the property and the changes the Elys have made as the sheep grazed nearby and goats nibbled on the trees. It was just about perfect.

The Elys moved their family to the Vernonia area from Hillsboro in 2006, purchasing the five acres from the Allens. According to the Allens, who bought the property in 1979, the land is part of one of the original handful of homesteads in the region.

It is a historically significant piece of land and many families have lived or worked on parts of it over the years. Both the Allens and Susan Ely tell similar stories of strangers stopping by to talk about past friends or relations who used to live there. “People stop here a lot!” says Ely. “It is not unusual. People have a lot of memories, anecdotes and stories about things that happened here, way back when.”

Like most homesteads in the area, the property was originally logged and then farmed.   The property also had an orchard; the remnants remained when the Allens owned the place.

In addition to the home improvements, the Elys have done some other major work on the property since they acquired it. They moved in around Thanksgiving of 2006; in February of 2007 the old barn collapsed.   For the Ely’s, the barn (and the barn owl that lived inside) was a major selling point when they decided to buy.   “When we came to look at the place it was a perfect fall weekend and there were apples on the tree, the leaves were all turning, and it just looked so perfect with the old barn that even had a barn owl looking down on us.” The Elys were hooked and moved in soon afterwards. Then the barn collapsed.

Jeff Ely and his brother had some experience building barns when they were younger, and so Jeff rebuilt this barn himself. Ely used new wood for the interior structure but used the original barn boards for the outside and reused the old tin roof as well.   Ely says he reoriented the barn on the property and also built it wider and not as tall as the original. They have also used some of the hand-hewn wood that was left over in projects around the property, including handrails in the barn and patio furniture.

The Star windmill that the Elys installed was built by Flint & Walling and is a ten foot model number 1937, built somewhere between 1937 and 1953. Jack Finzel, who has an interest in antique steam engines and other old machinery, found the windmill (which did not include a tower for it) and purchased it at a swap meet in Brooks, OR several years ago. He recently found out that the Elys were looking for one and sold it to them. He then helped them install it. Jeff Ely built the tower and raised it with the help of Dennis Weller of Weller and Sons Logging. The windmill is fully functional and could operate a pump on a well; the Elys just like it because it looks good and don’t have any plans to use it for anything else.

Finzel equates it to a type of yard art. “There’s a certain ‘cool factor,’” he says.   ”Every time I drive by here and I see it spinning it puts a smile on my face.”

The rudder has original printing on both sides and includes the manufacturer, Flint & Walling as well as the retailer, Mitchell, Lewis and Staver, which, according to Finzel, was a west coast hardware distributor. It even says Portland on it.   All of the original lettering was repainted by hand with enamel paint to give it a few more years of visibility.

According to research Finzel has been able to uncover, the windmill has a unique shaped blade. “Apparently this company had a wind tunnel available and did some experimenting with blade styles,” said Finzel. “And they claimed that this particular blade style is 30% more efficient than the squared off edged ones that had previously been built.”

The Ely family has raised lambs and sold plants in addition to raising meat rabbits and chickens for eggs. They also have a horse and two Nubian goats, which are considered pets and entertainment. They are also growing strawberries, tomatoes, beans, peas, cucumbers, potatoes, onions, peppers, basil, spinach, lettuce and huge blackberries!

The Elys have re-created their own version of a homestead in Vernonia and are enjoying and sharing the fruits of their labors. For them it’s a little slice of history and of heaven.

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Vernonia Becomes a Biking Destination

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The town of Vernonia is attracting visitors because it finds itself at the epicenter of two regional trails.

The newly established Tualatin Valley Scenic Bikeway (which includes the decades old Banks-Vernonia State Trail) and the Crown Zellerbach (CZ) Trail are bringing visitors, especially visitors on bicycles, in droves during the spring, summer and fall. These trails are making a Vernonia a popular destination that is just being discovered.

In 2013 the Oregon State Parks and Recreation Commission formally approved the Tualatin Valley Scenic Bikeway as the tenth designated bikeway in the state. The bikeway features the best of the northern Willamette Valley, from friendly downtowns to fertile farmlands and lush natural areas. Set in the heart of Washington County and traveling into Columbia County, the Bikeway runs for 30 miles one way, and connects with, and includes, the Banks-Vernonia State Trail, traveling another 21 miles from Banks to Vernonia.

The trail provides views of the Coast Range, farms, vineyards, and natural areas near quaint downtowns. The primary natural feature is the Tualatin River and the surrounding river basin, which is dotted with wetlands and forest stands. Farm produce stands, farmers’ markets and a winery along the route offer a wonderful seasonal mix of activities.

The connection to the Banks-Vernonia Trail provides riders with a is a multi-use trail paved over an old railroad grade. The trail is suitable for walkers, joggers, bikers or mounted equestrian riders. The trail allows riders to get off the roadway and enjoy a 21 mile tree-lined, easy-grade pathway. The trail has 13 old bridges crossing swift streams and wooden trestles rise up from the past.

The Banks-Vernonia Trail can be accessed at any of 6 points along its progression – including trailheads at Manning, Buxton, Tophill, and Beaver Creek, as well as at Banks and Vernonia themselves – and permits only non-motorized use at a safe, slow speed.

With trailheads in Vernonia and Hillsboro, the Tualatin Valley Bikeway begins on mostly rural roads with terrain ranging from plains to rolling hills, with the middle portion of the state trail featuring a climb of about 600 feet. The Scenic Bikeway is rated as a moderately challenging ride and can be enjoyed by a wide range of cyclists.

With the route’s layout, cyclists have many overnight options for multi-day rides, while day trips covering sub-sections of the route are easy, too. L.L. Stub Stewart State Park is adjacent to the State Trail and offers camping, as does Vernonia’s Anderson and Airport Parks. Hillsboro, Forest Grove, Banks and Vernonia offer lodging, dining and other services. The route’s northern and southern hubs are public parks, each with parking, restrooms and drinking water. Several other parks on the route offer picnic shelters and restrooms. Transit connections are available in Hillsboro, Forest Grove, Banks and Vernonia.

Paved trails in and around Vernonia give families a chance to ride together as well. The connection from the Banks-Vernonia Trail to Webb Way at Anderson Park takes riders to Vernonia Lake and is a flat and easy ride for even the youngest cyclists.

The Crown Zellerbach Trail is a different ride altogether and is Columbia County’s newest jewel.

Spanning the twenty miles from the outskirts of Vernonia to Chapman’s Landing on the Columbia River in Scappoose, the trail is accessible to all non-motorized traffic, including bikes, horses and hikers and is maintained by Columbia County. The trail is mostly hard pack, with some areas of gravel, and follows logging roads and abandoned rail lines. It is accessible at several locations along Scappoose-Vernonia Hwy.

The CZ Trail gives users a new opportunity to experience the beauty and history of Columbia County. The rougher style of the trail makes it attractive for mountain bikes and bikes with wider profiled tires as well as equestrian trail riders and provides a great alternative to the paved Banks-Vernonia Trail.

Speaking of mountain bikes, Stub Stewart State Park, just 10 miles south of Vernonia, has a new Free Ride Skills Area that is open to the public. A session/training area includes options for beginner to advanced Free Ride mountain bikers. Initial construction has focused on beginner and intermediate level trails but construction in the area is ongoing.

Following IMBA guidelines for trail layout, the Free Ride Area is geographically “remote” to create a natural barrier of access to inexperienced riders.

All trails within Stub Stewart Park are open to mountain bike riders. There’s more than 15+ miles of natural surface, shared-use trails and several miles of mountain biking specific trails.

As you can see, it’s no wonder Vernonia is becoming a destination for bicycle riders of all types.

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Student Art takes center stage at the annual Jr. Salmon Auction

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JrSalmonChair            Each spring the Vernonia Hands On Art Center, the local non-profit arts and culture support group, presents their annual Jr. Salmon Auction.

A fundraiser for the Vernonia Schools arts programs, the auction features the amazing salmon creations of Vernonia art students. The students are supplied with blank pressboard salmon on which to craft their own unique visions. In addition to salmon, students have worked their magic on small furniture items that are also to be included in the auction.

The event is held at the Vernonia Schools on Missouri Avenue. Salmon are auctioned off with a minimum starting bid of  $10.00. Profits go to support Vernonia School Arts and Hands On Art programs.