Vernonians and visitors alike can appreciate the amenities of this little town, so it’s pretty neat to see the product of another’s appreciation. Lance Reis has written a nice article about our gateway trestle, the focal point of the dramatic climax of the movie “Ring of Fire”. He’s also made us aware that a great little piece of drone film is available that shows off the Mitchell’s “chip shed” building.
Read his article here or just go straight to the drone footage.
Congratulations VHS Track Team! Below is a report from Coach Byron Brown.
Vernonia Boys’ Team finishes 4th in State! The 4×100 relay team set a new state record at 43.57—the only team in State 2A competition to run under 44 seconds. Jared Medearis handed off to Steve Burns, who quickly separated from the other runners to give the Loggers a significant lead; Clay Sullivan lengthened it out some more, and Rob Connor finished it off, winning by about 40 meters and setting a new state record, eclipsing the 2011 record set by Central Linn. Clay Sullivan won the high hurdles in a big upset, leading from start to finish. Clay also finished 4th in the 300 Hurdles and 8th in the Long Jump. Rob Connor finished 2nd in the 100 and 5th in the 200 meter dash, competing with a strained hamstring. Francesco Mian placed 8th in the High Jump. The Loggers needed every point as they beat Nestucca by half a point for the 4th place trophy.
The Vernonia Loggers boys basketball team have advanced to the finals of the OSAA 2A State Championship in Pendleton, after defeating Bandon 51-39 on Friday night, March 4.
The #2 seeded Loggers will face #1 Regis on Saturday, March 5 at 8:15 pm in the final.
The Loggers were led in their defeat of Bandon by Tristan Adams who scored 19 points on 7 of 10 shooting from the field, including 5 of 8 from beyond the three point line. Adams was named Player of the Game for the Loggers. Robert Conner added 8 points and 7 rebounds, Brett Jones had 8 points, and Clay Sullivan added 5 points and 7 rebounds for the Loggers.
Head coach Devid Weller used his deep bench with 9 players seeing significant minutes for the Loggers during the game.
The Loggers advanced to the semifinals with a 44-42 win over Burns in the tournament opener on Thursday night. Sullivan led the Loggers with 15 points and 8 rebounds and was named Player of the Game. Brett Elliot scored 8 for the Loggers including 3 clutch fouls shots to give the Loggers a 43-42 lead with :41 left in the game. Arne Schiemann added 8 points, Francesco Mian had 7, and Conner scored 6 for the Loggers.
[This is a living document and will be updated as new information comes in]
On December 8th, 2015 it rained again. And again. Over the past 2 days the town of Vernonia has seen 6″ of rainfall onto an already waterlogged town. This is certainly bad news, but the experience gained during previous floods means this is no tragedy.
All one has to do is look on the various community bulletin boards on Facebook to see what type of person lives in Vernonia. Compassionate, giving, caring. People helping people.
The Red Cross is setting up an evacuation center at the Vernonia High School and the Food Bank has relocated their essential services to that site as well. Homeowners in outlying areas are clearing culverts and posting when streams are over-topping roads. Hundreds of people in town are offering help, shelter, rides, storage, whatever is needed to calm the nerves of people already stressed by the weather and now frightened by the dark.
Offers of help are already pouring in from people living outside the area. They know why Vernonia is a great place to live, and that their assistance is well placed. If you want to help, please contact the Vernonia Rural Fire Protection Department at 503-429-8252, they would welcome the assistance.
Built in 1922, the Vernonia Pioneer Museum was originally the headquarters of the Oregon-American Lumber Company. The men and women in the building oversaw the harvest of 2 billion board feet of old growth timber over 31 years, and shipped finished lumber of various grades and cuts all across the country. The innovative mill not only kiln dried the lumber to save shipping costs, they also custom milled lumber to fill large orders from home builders in the mid-West.
Following the acquisition of the company and lands by Long-Bell Lumber Company in 1953 which then merged with International Paper in 1956, the lands and property were slowly broken up and sold off, with the company headquarters donated to the city in July of 1961.
Preceding that donation, a group of Vernonians gathered to discuss possible uses of the building that would fulfill the stipulation of it being used “for the common good” and were most excited to hear that there was interest in using it as a historical society or museum.
In the spring of 1962, 25 Vernonia area residents met to discuss the formation of a Nehalem Valley Historical Society and establishing a museum in the former O-A headquarters building. Included in this preliminary discussion were items such as cost of glass cases, utilities to heat and light the building, and the cost of a museum curator. They also discussed the possibility of combining the library with the museum.
Several months later, presumably after the proposed historical society failed to materialize, the Columbia County Historical Society gladly accepted the city’s offer of the headquarter building for use as the county museum. Thirteen months later, after extensive remodeling and a fresh coat of paint, the museum had its grand opening during the 1963 Vernonia Jamboree.
The museum curator was able to live onsite because the city adapted the sales offices in the back of the building to accommodate living quarters. Over the next year various skilled members of the county historical society built the glass display cases and typed the artifact tabs which identified not only the item and its origin, but also the donor.
The curator was able to keep the museum open 6 days a week for two years, but cut back to four days a week at some point in 1964. The museum played host to many field trips of school children from the Willamette Valley who got a good glimpse of the hardships of pioneer life and the tools of taming the wilderness.
The decision was made sometime in the 1990s to no longer employ a curator, and that the museum would have to operate entirely with volunteers, who continue to do all the work involved with running the museum to this day.
During those first 30 years of activity, the collection of the museum swelled from a few hundred items to over 5000, all housed in 3500 square feet of space. For most visitors the highlight is the catalog of pictures showing various aspects of mill life. Many also marvel at the period dresses and menswear including a wedding dress and two wedding coats. This eclectic collection will find you admiring a square piano, a stuffed moose head, World War 1 and 2 militaria, and a rock collection, all in short order.
Several walls are covered with depictions of cutting crews, steam donkeys and the locomotives that transported raw logs to the mill and finished lumber out of the Nehalem Valley. The General Manager’s office now plays host to a diorama that shows the various activities that take place at a logging operation, including a spar tree, haystack boom, and a temporary plank road used by log trucks.
While there isn’t a specific display which makes the collection noteworthy, it is an important and impressive collection of ordinary life objects from the time of 1880 through 1960 that make this county museum a worthwhile stop for both residents and visitors to Vernonia.
The building itself, built in the Craftsman style, was recognized for its significance by the National Park Service in 2002 by being placed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was one of only three lumber mill offices that remained standing in Oregon.
The museum is open weekends from 1-4pm all year, and Fridays in June through mid September. Visitors can also arrange for private tours by calling 503-429-3713 at least 3 weeks in advance of your visit.
Our Community Treasures…We are rich beyond words!
The Nehalem River, Rock Creek, and our little lake
We’re surrounded by water, for goodness sake!
Right through the middle and down the length of our town
These streams of ours sure get around!
It’s the perfect time of year to get out the drift boat
As the sun rises, make an early morning float
They just stocked the lake, I know you can’t wait
Grab your fishing pole and some earthworms for bait
From the sounds of the frogs, I’d say it’s perfectly clear
In our little town, springtime is here!
The trees are in blossom, a sight to behold
Though in the morning, it’s still a bit cold
Our little neck of the woods is coming alive
We made it through winter! Once more we survived!
This year wasn’t bad, except for the snow
But it makes some great memories for the kids, you know
Spring has sprung! The golf course has been waiting
They’ve been working hard, anticipating
You should go play a round and stop in for some lunch
The people that work there are a nice, friendly bunch
Get out of the house! Take a stroll down the street
Grab a cup of coffee, Black Bear’s can’t be beat
Browse through some stores while you sip on your brew
I’m sure Out on a Limb has some treasures for you
Go for a bike ride, we have a great trail
All paved and so flat, hardly a hill
Visit our museum and see history unfold
Learn about our mill and our days of old
There’s so much to do in our quaint little town
Get up off the couch and take a look around
Don’t let this good weather just go to waste
Make some plans now to explore this great place
Our parks are perfect! Go play with your kids
At the end of the day, you’ll be glad that you did
They’ll fall into bed worn out from their play
You’ll know for sure some great memories were made
Take a walk in the woods, take your camera too
I bet you see wildlife looking right back at you!
We live in a rainforest and it’s coming awake
You’ll come back with some photos you just had to take
Take the time to enjoy our community treasures
A day in the outdoors brings nothing but pleasure
That’s what it’s about, that’s why we live here
In our small town, we have so much we hold dear
Our pioneers knew when they first settled down
There was something special about this little town
We’ve been blessed by this valley tucked back in the woods
If you’ve lived here a while, you know we’ve got it good!
Written by: Kala Cota
Lucky Kids!
Seriously, we’ve got it so good!
Who else has this in their neighborhood?
A place at the river where kiddos can wade
A good spot to skip rocks from the bank in the shade
A little waterfall, just the right size
They can walk along top, these little guys
Wading in the rapids, looking for crawdads
It’s the best fun that I’ve ever had!
Oh, the memories they’re making, they can’t be beat!
A great place to escape the hot summer heat
I have the same memories, I remember that spot
It’s where we’d all head when it got hot
I think I’m jealous, I wish I could do it again
Hang out at the river with my childhood friends
These are the places that stick with us like glue
If you grew up in Vernonia, it’s in your memory too!
Written by: Kala Cota
Photo credit to Kelli Krieger
Have you ever wondered about the life of a pioneer in Vernonia? At 6pm on Thursday the 25th of June there will be a 1 hour presentation in the Vernonia Public Library on the first and second generations of the Weed Family. This will trace them from the Civil War period to their efforts in carving our a life in the Nehalem Valley wilderness.
The presenter, Tobie Finzel, has been a member of the Vernonia Pioneer 
Museum Association for over 10 years and has been writing regular articles on Vernonia history for the local newspaper for just as long. The talk will include information about the Weed family, their impact on life in Vernonia, as well as pictures of the family and their environment.
This presentation is part of the VPL Summer Reading Program, and is part of a regular series of events that are happening this summer.
Looking for place to hold a quaint wedding and reception in the country? How about a business meeting or some type of retreat ? Do you have a family reunion, bridal shower, or surprise birthday party you need to plan?
Vernonia has several venues that might be just right for your upcoming event.
The Cabin in Vernonia, formerly known as the Scout Cabin and managed by the Friends of the Scout Cabin, is a beautifully restored log cabin nestled among huge trees in Vernonia’s Hawkins Park. The Cabin has a full kitchen, river rock gas fireplace, wrap around deck with tables and seating for 100 people. Hawkins Park features a gazebo perfect for taking your wedding vows.
The Cabin in Vernonia is also accompanied with a wonderful story about its history. Built in 1928 and used by local Scout troops for decades, the cabin was obtained by the City of Vernonia when it fell into disrepair in the 1980’s. It sat unused and was then further damaged in 1996 by a severe flood. A group of local volunteers, spearheaded by longtime resident Shirley Daughtry, organized the Friends group, developed a business plan, raised funds, and rebuilt the cabin over a three year period. The end result is a handsome and functional community center that hosts youth activities, town meetings, and other special events. The Friends of the Scout Cabin rent it out and continue to maintain the venue with the proceeds.
Cedar Ridge Conference and Retreat Center sits in the hills just outside Vernonia on twenty-eight acres along Rock Creek. Originally constructed in 1963 as a basketball camp, this staffed full service facility boasts a kitchen and dining area, a 1200 square foot conference center, lodging, a swimming pool and lots of open outdoor space. Owned by formed Portland Trailblazer and 1977 NBA Champion Larry Steele, Cedar Ridge continues to host basketball camps each summer, along with corporate picnics, weddings, retreats, youth camps, and more.
The Steeles are particularly proud of the outdoor wedding chapel located at the north end of their property. “That section of the facility has always stayed pristine,” said Larry, noting that he only recently decided that the best use was as a natural chapel. The giant cedar and Douglas fir tower overhead, allowing sunlight to filter through while still creating a foliage roof. Parking is convenient, and the facilities for pre- and post-wedding activities sit just out of sight of the chapel.
2014 was a very good year for real estate sales in Vernonia. According to local agents 2015 looks like it will be even better.
“The real estate market in Vernonia has changed dramatically since 2013” says Sharon Bernal, a local broker with John L. Scott Realtors. Bernal handles numerous Vernonia properties each year as well as other properties around the tri-county area.
In 2014 a total of seventy-seven real estate transactions took place in Vernonia and Bernal says she had her best year ever, closing sixty-six transactions; thirty-four of those were in Vernonia.
Bernal says she expects that trend to continue. “I think Vernonia is going to have a fabulous year in 2015.”
According to Bernal, the region’s real estate market reached it’s peak in 2006 and then hit bottom in January of 2013 during the recession. During that time Bernal says homeowners lost forty percent of their property values. “We never thought it would go down as far as it did,” says Bernal.
The market has been slowly recovering through 2013 and then really turned around in 2014. In general, prices in Vernonia are usually lower than the rest of the tri-county region, a trend which tends to drive buyers to the Vernonia area when prices start to rise.
“One of the problems we have today is there are not a lot of sellers with equity,” says Bernal. She explains that sellers with equity everywhere, not just in Vernonia, jumped in and sold when the market rebounded in 2014. “That’s part of the reason we had such a good year.”
Bernal said the average price of properties she sold in Vernonia in 2014 was $160,000.
According to Bernal this year there are emerging a few sellers in western Washington County and the rest of the region that have equity in their properties. Quality homes that go on the market at a reasonable price are receiving multiple offers. Bernal says buyers are getting tired of finding the right home and deciding to make an offer, only to end up being outbid. “I just had a client out here last weekend that said, ‘We don’t want to play that game anymore.’”
Vernonia is close enough to Hillsboro and the jobs in high tech and other industries, making the thirty-five minute commute with almost no traffic very appealing. “Our problem in Vernonia now is having enough listings,” says Bernal.
It’s not just the short commute to work that makes Vernonia a desirable location for buyers. Most lots in Vernonia are fifty by 100 feet or larger, which is much more space than buyers will find elsewhere. “I’m seeing a movement of people wanting to go back to a simpler lifestyle,” explains Bernal. “People are loving Vernonia because even if they buy in a subdivision or a city lot, they are getting a whole lot more space to garden or have animals.”
Bernal says another draw is the local school. She says families are tired of their children being just a number in the large districts and find the personalized attention and involvement of staff in the smaller district setting as “a difference of night and day.” The new LEED platinum, energy efficient campus is also a selling point to younger families.
Easy access to outdoor recreational activities makes Vernonia a great choice for families and young adults as well, with rivers, streams, timberland, parks and trails practically in the backyard. “They can get on their bikes or motorcycles and go,” says Bernal.
Although Bernal says young families make up the majority of her buyers, the new health clinic facility and twenty-four hour ambulance service also makes Vernonia appealing to retirees.
Property taxes are much lower in Columbia County, which is an additional bonus. “There is no comparison to the tri-counties,” says Bernal.
The close knit community is also a surprise to some new residents. “Everybody talks about that,” says Bernal. “They come out of these subdivisions in Portland and Beaverton and they don’t even know who their neighbors were. They say, ‘Vernonia is so friendly,’ and it is.” She says the attractive downtown corridor draws potential buyers at first, but the level of community engagement seals the deal. “We have so many committees and opportunities to get involved and make a difference.”
Purchasing and living on acreage is also a motivation for some buyers. According to Bernal bank lending on bare land has loosened up and is currently more readily available. Bernal noted that she had some recent clients in their fifties who were both raised on a dairy farm. They were looking at an early retirement and considering starting a farm in Vernonia. Bernal said she asked them, “Why Vernonia?” “They said the prices were still reasonable and the weather was perfect for a dairy farm,” said Bernal. She added that the most desirable properties – one and two acre lots – are hard to come by, but five and ten acres parcels are starting to make their way back onto the market.
There are several small, new developments being constructed in Vernonia right now which are attractive to some potential buyers. “New construction seems to be moving pretty good,” says Bernal. As an example she mentioned a new home in the Knickerson Ridge development, a custom four bedroom home on a 7,500 square foot lot with plenty of parking and an oversized two car garage, listed at $229,000. “That house in Hillsboro would be listed at $289,000,” says Bernal. “People are driven to come out and look at that property.” Other small subdivisions with new homes are located on Fourth Avenue and in Roseview Court.
Bernal says there are some attractive commercial properties available in Vernonia which have been drawing recent attention, including several in the previously mentioned downtown corridor. “People are interested and they are looking,” said Bernal.
Bernal’s enthusiasm remains constant whether she’s discussing homes, bare land or commercial spaces. “I think it’s going to be a great year for real estate in Vernonia.”