Baker City's Grand Hotel

This week, a film crew from the Japanese TV show "Unbelievable" will be in Baker City, Oregon. The show, one of the most popular in Japan, has over 15 million viewers; and the Geiser Grand Hotel in the center of town will be featured in a special on the 10 most interesting spots on the planet. Huh?

According to the show's directior, "it's authentic, you feel real history everywhere, and it's so beautiful".  Apparently he has a fondness for the restaurant's rib-eye and remembers his first paranormal encounter with one of the hotel's ghosts.  Well, at least he is spot-on about the history and beauty!

A little over 100 years ago, Baker City was the third largest town in Oregon after Portland and Astoria. It had a larger population than Spokane, and was bigger than Boise.  The town began as a watering hole and resting place for weary travelers on the Oregon Trail. West of here, were some of the most challenging parts of the transcontinental trek: the Blue Mountains, Cascades and Columbia Gorge. In 1861, gold was discovered in nearby Griffin Gulch and Baker City was transformed into a mining boomtown. A second gold rush in the late 1890s, led to more development and the town soon earned the moniker, “Queen City of Mines.” Home to 10,000 people, it was a raucous place with the usual collection of saloons, brothels, gambling houses, and dance halls, but it also served as a cultural oasis and center of social activity for Eastern Oregon. There was an opera house, several elegant hotels, fine restaurants, and many lovely homes.

Once the mines played out, Baker City settled quietly into its role as a commercial hub serving the agricultural, ranching, and timber communities of the region. In the late 1980s, the Bureau of Land Management chose a site on the top of Flagstaff Hill, about five miles east of Baker City, to build its National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center. The new museum attracted over a half-million visitors in its first two years of operation and led to a renewed interest in Baker City’s historical heritage. Modern facades were removed from most of the downtown business buildings revealing the original brick and stone, and a restoration renaissance was underway. Today’s Historic District, one of the largest in Oregon, includes over 100 buildings.

One of the most successful projects was the remodeling of the Geiser Grand Hotel. Originally named the Warshauer House, the property was built in 1889 at the height of the region’s gold rush by local businessmen Harry and Jake Warshauer. It featured such rare amenities as electric lights, baths, plate glass windows, and an elevator (the first in Oregon), and was designed to attract business travelers from across the nation. Ornate mahogany woodwork and crystal chandeliers contributed to its reputation as the finest hotel between Salt Lake City and Seattle. The hotel’s 1905 Christmas dinner menu offered caviar, sea turtle, demitasse of clam bouillon, English pheasant, suckling pig, lobster, and chocolate éclairs with rum sauce, an impressive selection for eastern Oregon one-hundred years ago.

Over time, the property fell into disrepair and after the cast of the movie, Paint Your Wagon, stayed here during filming in 1968, the hotel closed. Pigeons took over the third floor and, at one point, the building was dubbed The Great Pumpkin thanks to a coat of orange paint.

Preservationist and developer, Barbara Sidway, assumed the daunting task of restoring the 30-room, Italian Renaissance Revival hotel to its former glory. It reopened in 1997 after an $8 million renovation that has earned many awards and accolades for its authenticity.

Rooms feature crystal chandeliers from a palace in Venice, ten-foot tall windows with views of the town and mountains, antiques, gilt mirrors as well as modern amenities. The most sought after room is the Cupola Suite located in the turreted, clock tower. The dining room, popular with locals as well as guests, is highlighted by the largest, stained glass ceiling in the Northwest. Visitors are welcome to look at the public rooms and visit the small hotel museum in the lower level.

And Now for Something Totally Different

You're in dowtown Portland, you've spent the entire day Christmas shopping and still haven't found the perfect gift....great! It's time for something totally different. While you might not think of museums as shopping destinations, you'll be pleasantly surprised at the unique and interesting selections of gifts at museum shops.

If jewelry is on your list, the Portland Art Museum offers a wide selection of unusual pieces not found in department stores. In addition you will find an array of colorful scarfs, unusual neckties, notecards, calendars,art books. and artifacts from Africa, Central America, and Asia, even a sushi-themed iphone cover.

Still looking? Walk across the street to the Oregon Historical Society. The Mary Mark Museum Store offers an extensive collection of Northwest books and Native American-themed, handmade jewelry, accessories, household goods and clothing. There's a good selection of Portland t-shirts and the ultimate stocking stuffer, a tube of wild huckleberry lip balm. Check out their online photo shop where you can order prints or instant downloads of over 1650 historical prints, some by the region's most famous photographers.
For kids and budding scientests, young and old, the OMSI gift shop's gadgets, gizmos, games, and kits make an exciting alternative to the run-of-the-mill toy store selections.
Musuem admission fees are not required to visit any of these shops, plus, your purchases provide profits for running the museums' important programs and exhibits.

Albertina Kerr Center: A Holiday Tradition

Where can you go to enjoy a holiday lunch with friends, shop for gifts, and know that everything you spend goes to support programs benefiting some of the area’s most vulnerable citizens? Many have already discovered this popular, seasonal tradition at the Albertina Kerr Center. The Center’s programs serve severely abused children, families in crises, at-risk teens, and adults with developmental disabilities.

Beginning life almost 100 years ago as the Pacific Coast Rescue and Protective Society, the Center has changed its name and function several times, but was largely known for its years as an orphanage and nursery. Alexander Kerr, of canning jar fame, was an early financial supporter, and his new bride, Albertina, was particularly concerned about the needs of children. In 1911, after the birth of their first child, she contacted typhus and died at the young age of 21. In her honor, Alexander Kerr donated the family home in west Portland to the agency to be used as a respite and day care shelter for single mothers and their children. It was named the Albertina Kerr Nursery Home. The need for this service was so great that the nursery soon outgrew these quarters and a much bigger one was required. With Kerr’s financial help, a large block at 424 NE 22nd Avenue near the corner of Sandy Boulevard and Glison Street was purchased, and in May 1920, the cornerstone was laid for a new nursery.

The Georgian-style brick building served for almost 50 years as an orphanage and respite care center for infants and pre-school children. Over time, however, the philosophy of child care evolved away from institutionalization to programs encouraging foster home care and adoption. In 1966, The Oregon Welfare Commission essentially banned orphanages and the nursery closed its doors in 1967.

The beautiful building, now listed on the National Register of Historic Buildings and an official Portland Historical Landmark, fell into disrepair and became a neighborhood eyesore. However, a group of enthusiastic volunteers and board members created a plan to renovate the Nursery and establish a restaurant, gift shop, and resale shop to help fund the center’s works. The businesses were opened in 1981 and became an immediate success. Today, Albertinas’s Restaurant, Kerr Gift Shop, and Kerr Economy Jar occupy the entire first floor of the building with the agency’s administrative offices located on the second floor.

The cheery dining room of Albertina’s evokes the ambiance of an English tea room with its floral wallpaper and wrap-around windows. Three course, gourmet lunches including a soup or salad, entrée, and dessert are offered with an emphasis on fresh, seasonal, Oregon-grown produce. Smiling volunteers serve the meals while others model fashions from the thrift shop during lunch. Set menus are posted months in advance on their web site, www.albertinakerr.org. Reservations are a must and can be made by calling 503-231-0216. Albertina’s serves lunches Monday through Saturday at two seatings: 11:30 am and 1:00 pm. The gift shop, conveniently located at the entrance to the restaurant offers an array of interesting gifts and handcrafted items. During the holidays, it is stocked with charming Christmas ornaments and decorations. The shop also sells Albertina’s Exceptional Recipes, an excellent cookbook featuring recipes of the most requested dishes served in the dining room. Down the hall is the Kerr Economy Jar, a consignment shop offering high quality merchandise including antiques, china, glassware, jewelry and other vintage collectibles. Also on the grounds, is the Kerr Thrift Shop where gently-used household goods, books, and clothing provide some great bargains.

The shops as well as restaurant are staffed by volunteers and all proceeds, even tips, go to support the center’s programs. That way, every gift gives twice; once to the recipient and once to the center’s clients.

The 4 T Trail: Portland's Unique Urban Excursion

The 4 T Trail is an only-in-Portland experience offering visitors and locals an opportunity to enjoy the city’s urban forests and extensive public transit system. The namesake four Ts include: trail, tram, trolley, and train.



Climbing to Council Crest

 The trail, which is well signed, begins at the Oregon Zoo train station. After crossing noisy Highway 26, the path proceeds uphill through thick fir and alder forests to Council Crest, the highest point in metro Portland.

Mt. St. Helens and Mt. Rainier from Council Crest

On clear days, you have a four-volcano view including Mt. Hood, Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Adams, and Mt. Rainier. The trail leads downhill where you can follow city streets (Fairmount and Gibbs) or continue on the Marquam trail through a fern-filled, forested ravine concluded by a steep uphill climb. Both routes end at the Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU) campus. The total hiking distance is roughly four miles.





The tram connects OHSU with the South Waterfront


Round tram signs mark the route to Kohler Pavilion (espresso and bathrooms) where you board Portland’s newest form of public transit and the second of the Ts, the tram. Head to the north side windows for spectacular views of downtown Portland and the Willamette River bridges. Connecting the campus with the new South Waterfront area, the aerial tram travels 3300-feet and drops 500-feet in elevation in three minutes. It’s as good as Disneyland and absolutely free of charge for the downhill ride.


Great views of Portland from the tram.



At the base station, usually waiting for passengers, is the trolley, the third T. Upon boarding, you will need to purchase and validate a ticket (good for two hours).

The trolley winds through the Portland State campus and down 10th St. Exit at 10th and Alder. If you have worked up at appetite at this point, try some of the food carts across the street, or for something more elegant, there’s Jakes Grill at the same intersection.

The third T, trolley.

The train takes you back to the beginning of the hike.

One block south, at 10th and Morrison, board the train (MAX, red line in the Beaverton direction) and ride this fourth T a few stops to the Washington Park station. At 260-feet below the surface, it is the deepest transit stop in North America! An elevator whisks you to the top, where you emerge back at the Oregon Zoo, completing the full circle.

Tillamook Forest Center

Mention Tillamook Burn today and the image of a charred, grilled cheese sandwich might come to mind. However, 77 years ago, it meant one thing: fire.
On a hot, dry day in August, 1933, a wayward spark at a logging site in the Coast Range west of Forest Grove, Oregon, set off an intense inferno. Fueled by strong winds and low humidity, the raging fire burned over 250,000 acres and destroyed 12-billion board feet of prime, old-growth Douglas fir in one week. Smoke darkened the skies from Portland to Astoria, charred needles rained on the coastal town of Tillamook, and ashes fell on decks of ships 500 miles at sea.

The fire set off a six-year jinx with reoccurring fires in 1939, 1945, and 1951. Collectively they became known as the Tillamook Burn. In 1948, Oregon voters approved $12 million in bonds designated to restore the fire-ravaged forests. These funds initiated one of the largest reforestation projects ever undertaken. For the first time, helicopters were used to drop millions of seeds. School groups, volunteers, forest workers, and prison inmates planted over 72 million Douglas fir seedlings, much to the delight of the local deer and elk population. Burnt wasteland began to transform to a lush, green forest, and in 1973, the area was dedicated and renamed the Tillamook State Forest.
The tragedy of the fire and the success story of the reforestation come alive at the Tillamook Forest Center on Highway 6 about 50 miles west of Portland, and 20 miles east of Tillamook. Opened in 2006, the center sits in the middle of a narrow gorge along the Wilson River. The building uses many recycled and green materials, and eco-friendly building techniques. For example, the water pond outside collects rainwater to cool the building, flush the toilets, and fill the fire-sprinkling system.

A visit to the center should begin with a viewing of the award-winning film, “Legacy of Fire.” Through dramatic film footage, photographs, and interviews, it tells the story of the Tillamook Burn in a riveting and fascinating 15 minutes. In the museum, interactive exhibits, artifacts, oral histories, and life-size displays convey the past, present, and future of the forest and highlight both the natural and human history of the region.

In the rear of the building, an attractive, pedestrian suspension bridge spans the Wilson River and provides access to a number of hiking trails. In the front of the center is a replica of a forest fire lookout tower similar to the one that first spotted the fire in 1933. A climb up 72 stairs leads to the top of the tower where interior displays show what life was like for fire spotters in the early 1900s.

The Center, owned and operated by the Oregon Department of Forestry, is free of charge and offers an active program of interpretive events. It makes a worthwhile stop on the way to the ocean or as a day trip destination.

Ridgefield Wildlife Refuge: Birders Paradise

Swimming in circles

If you think you have noisy neighbors, pity the poor mallards, herons, and red-tailed hawks living year round at the Ridgefield Wildlife Refuge. They are about to receive a visit from tens of thousands of Cackling/Canada Geese, Tundra Swans, Sandhill Cranes, and assorted waterfowl as they stop here on their winter migrations along the Pacific Flyway. When the Corps of Discovery overnighted here in November, 1805, Captain William Clark complained in his journal that he couldn’t get a wink of sleep thanks to all the geese, swans, and ducks: “…they were immensely numerous and their noise horrid.”

The refuge, located in the flood plain of the Columbia River about 10 miles downstream from the Portland/Vancouver metro area, covers over 5000 acres of marshes, wetlands, and woodlands. It was established in 1965 partly as a result of the devastating earthquake in Alaska the prior year. The area around the Copper River Delta was lifted over 6 inches, severely altering the only summer, nesting habitat of the dusky Canada goose. To save the breed, efforts were made to protect their winter habitats along the Columbia River and in the Willamette Valley.
The refuge is divided into several areas, but the most accessible are the River “S” and Carty units, both near the small town of Ridgefield, Washington. To reach the River “S” unit, follow Interstate 5 north of Vancouver to exit 14. State route 501 leads west 2.5 miles to Ridgefield; turn left on 9th Avenue at the flashing school zone sign. It’s approximately one mile to the wildlife refuge sign on the right. A graveled, one-way road provides a scenic, four-mile loop through wetlands and forests. In winter, visitors are not permitted out of their vehicles except in a few areas, but there are numerous pull-offs and wide spots in the road for viewing wildlife. Between May and September, hikers can enjoy spotting songbirds, woodpeckers, and herons along the easy Kiwa Trail.
To reach the Carty unit, return to route 501 and turn left into downtown Ridgefield, a charming town and ideal place for a coffee warm-up. Follow Main Avenue a short distance north of town to another refuge sign on the left. This area is only accessible by foot and includes a short climb over an arched bridge across railroad tracks. On the other side, is the recently completed Cathlapotle plankhouse.

For thousands of years, people as well as birds have inhabited this area along the lower Columbia River. In their journals, Lewis and Clark described a large, prosperous Chinook village here called Cathlapotle and documented over 900 inhabitants and 14 plankhouses. These long, cedar buildings were central to the Chinook culture and provided a place for sleeping, cooking, working, and celebrating. The explorers met and traded with the natives and camped nearby on both legs of their journey.

To commemorate this historic event, volunteers have built a full-scale, Chinook-style, cedar plankhouse to serve as a classroom for interpreting the natural and cultural heritage of the area. It took over three years and 3500 hours of volunteer labor to complete the 2800 square-foot building and it is the only Chinook-style plankhouse replica in existence. Since it is staffed by volunteers, the building is open only periodically. To view their calendar, check the website  to confirm open hours. Even if the building is closed, it is still interesting to view from the outside. Near the plankhouse is the trailhead for the Oaks to Wetland Wildlife Trail winding a little over two miles and passing lakes and a wide variety of habitats.

Sampling Southern Oregon

If you go to Costco simply to graze on the food samples, you are going to love Southern Oregon. Since the early 1900s, the area has been famous as a top fruit producer and was home to some of Oregon’s first wineries. Today, the Rogue River Valley produces 10,000 acres of pears and is the headquarters of fruit distributing giant Harry and David. There are also dozens of local artisan food producers, wineries, and organic farms that contribute to this region’s reputation as a gourmet Garden of Eden.

Begin your tasting tour in Grants Pass. When you reach the downtown section and the huge banner sign proclaiming, “It’s the Climate!” roll down the car window and sniff the air. If conditions are right, you should get a strong whiff of freshly popped corn and who can resist? The source of this enticing aroma is Blind George’s Popcorn located in an old-fashioned newsstand on historic G Street. Started in 1922 by George Spencer, who really was blind, this tiny shop’s popcorn has become a Grants Pass tradition. You can sample an amazing array of flavors from banana to jalapeno cheese, but the plain, old-fashioned buttered popcorn is hard to beat.

Also located in Grants Pass is Cary’s of Oregon, producers of superb English toffee…think Heath Bar only a thousand times better. Cooking maven Rachael Ray chose it as her favorite snack food. The toffee, based on a family recipe, is available plain or with various combinations of dark and milk chocolate, hazelnuts, and almonds. The small retail room offers samples, as well as one-pound bags of seconds at a discounted price.



Applegate Valley

 From Grants Pass, Highway 238, follows the Applegate River south and east towards Jacksonville through some gorgeous countryside. Sunset Magazine described the Applegate Valley as “wine country the way it used to be,” an acknowledgment of its idyllic setting and rural ambiance. The Siskiyou Mountains protect the region from coastal influence and create a unique grape growing region much warmer than the Willamette Valley. Heat-loving varietals like Cabernet, Syrah and Temparnello do quite well here. More than a dozen wineries in the valley welcome visitors and offer an opportunity to sample wines.

Be sure to visit Schmidt Family Vineyards, a new winery with a spectacular tasting room. Designed in the craftsman style, it resembles a ski lodge with its stone fireplace, soaring ceilings and wooden, open beams. The grounds are filled with herb and flower gardens; a large pond, and beautiful landscaping make it a perfect place for a picnic.

If you have worked up an appetite after all this wine tasting, and are adventurous enough to try a rustic, out-of-the-way roadhouse, stop at the McKee Bridge Restaurant and Store, south of Ruch, along the Applegate River. Extremely popular with locals and fishermen, the restaurant has been serving its famous fried chicken and big, hearty breakfasts for over 70 years. Just outside the restaurant is the McKee covered bridge with a pretty, shaded picnic area along the river.

In Jacksonville, you will find Gary West Smoked Meats. Here you may sample an assortment of hickory-smoked steak strips, jerky, and sausages made from a recipe that traveled over the Oregon Trail. This is not your gas station jerky, but flavorful and tender strips of beef, buffalo, or elk meat seasoned to perfection.

In nearby Central Point, are two culinary gems located next to each other in a nondescript industrial area. The first is the Rogue Creamery where milk from grass-fed, local cows is transformed into international award-winning cheeses. Their famous blue cheeses as well as cheddars and curds are available for tasting in the small retail store. Next door is Lillie Belle Chocolates. Jeff Shepherd began concocting chocolates in his own kitchen using organic berries from his farm. Today, his homemade artisan caramels, truffles and bon bons come in a variety of unusual flavors. Not only do they taste great, but they are artistic masterpieces almost too pretty to eat.

Blue cheese and chocolates!

Down the road in Phoenix, a little north of Ashland, is Rising Sun Farms. The owners started raising organic basil and creating fresh pesto sauces over 25 years ago and now offer a variety of cheese tortas and vinegar drizzles as well. Their retail store showcases these products along with a wine-tasting bar.

This is just a sampling of the food scene in Southern Oregon. There are many more artisan food producers, wineries, farmers’ markets and restaurants to enjoy. Check out this web site for links to these and other edible delights: http://www.oregonwineandfarmtour.com./

Where the Columbia Meets the Pacific

Most major rivers spend a leisurely time reaching the point where their waters empty into an ocean. Like the Nile, Mississippi, Danube, or Ganges; they meander through a complex of channels and waterways, depositing their sediments and creating vast deltas, rich in nutrients and wildlife. Not so for the Columbia River. It heads full bore into the Pacific Ocean bringing the force of 1300-miles of accumulated water and debris into an ocean not as placid as its name suggests. Here, at Astoria, this dramatic meeting of river and sea has created one of the most treacherous bars in any ocean. Since 1792, nearly 2000 ships have sunk in the area and thousands of lives have been lost, earning it the title “Graveyard of the Pacific”.

The story of the river and its rich maritime past is told at the Columbia River Maritime Museum located in Astoria along Highway 30 on the east side of downtown. Look for the building with a roof shaped like a giant wave. Considered one of the best maritime museums on the West Coast, it is the official maritime museum of the State of Oregon.

Inside, interpretive exhibits trace the area’s maritime history from fur-trapper days to modern Coast Guard rescues. The hands-on, interactive displays allow you to take a spin at piloting a tugboat, walk across the deck of a WWII Navy destroyer, view a Coast Guard rescue operation, and observe real-life river traffic from floor-to-ceiling windows. Also interesting is a look at the importance of the salmon canning industry which attracted workers from all over the world to Astoria. At one time, there were over 30 canneries in town and nearly one-third of the population of Clatsop County was Chinese. A good worker could clean and gut a fish in eight strokes and 45 seconds.

A new exhibit installed this year is “Crossing the Bar: Perilous Passage” and explores the infamous entrance to the Columbia. During winter storms, waves can crest as high as 40-feet and it takes special skills and knowledge to navigate in these waters. Videos taken by the US Coast Guard and Columbia River Bar Pilots are displayed on widescreens, and the effect is so realistic you may need a dose of Dramamine to keep from getting seasick.

Berthed alongside the museum and included in the admission is the US Coast Guard Lightship Columbia. This ship served as a floating lighthouse at the river’s entrance between 1950 and 1979, when she was replaced with a mechanized buoy. The ship’s interior is unchanged since its retirement and you are free to walk through the living quarters to get a good flavor of life onboard, a world described as “a long stretch of monotony intermixed with riding out gale force storms.”

Across the street from the maritime museum in the old city hall is the Heritage Museum. Like many seaports, Astoria has a salty past and all its dirty laundry is on display in a second-floor exhibit called “Vice and Virtue in Clatsop County: 1890 to Prohibition”. There’s no sugar-coating of local history here as you learn about bootlegging, prostitution, drugs, and political corruption. A reconstructed Astoria saloon offers an opportunity to spin the roulette wheel; it’s all legal and G-rated. On the first floor, exhibits provide a look at the area’s tamer side including a display of artifacts from Clatsop and Chinook tribes as well as the Scandinavian and Asian immigrants who worked in the shipping and canning industries.

If all this salmon business has made you hungry, hop on the Astoria Riverfront Trolley and head downtown. There is a trolley stop in front of the maritime museum, and for the grand sum of $1 you can travel in style in a 97-year old, restored trolley car. While there are several good seafood restaurants in Astoria, for something totally unique and tasty, try the Drina Daisy on Commercial Street which serves up traditional, ethnic dishes from Bosnia. The cuisine, a blend of Mediterranean/Greek and Eastern Europe is well-prepared and presented. Selections on the wine and beer list include an assortment of difficult-to-find delights from the former Yugoslavia.

Burroughs Mountain Trail: Up Close with Mt. Rainier

Now that there is a distinct feeling of autumn in the air, it’s time to celebrate summer on Mt. Rainier. Between the end of August and the return of snow flakes exists a narrow window of opportunity to hike on the park’s higher elevation trails. The snow pack has at long last melted from most of the trails and the weather is often sunny, cool, and clear.
One of the most dramatic, knock-your-socks-off vistas can be found from the Second Burroughs and this seven-mile, 900-foot elevation gain trail is well worth the huffing and puffing. The trail, named for the 19th century naturalist and essayist, John Burroughs, begins at the Sunrise Visitor Center parking lot. From here, it climbs steadily up a meadow and along the Sourdough Ridge to Frozen Lake (1.5 miles) offering some pretty views along the way. From the lake, the trail leads upwards across an exposed, rocky slope to the First Burroughs (7200’). While the vista from here is photo-worthy, don’t give up! Continue the extra mile up to the Second Burroughs (7400’) where you will be rewarded with a breathtaking, 360-degree panorama including Mt. Rainier (so in your face), the Emmons Glacier, largest in the lower-48, and the Selkirk Mountains in British Columbia.
Here are some photos to motivate you!

The long slog to Second Burroughs

Mt. Rainier emerges from the clouds.

At the top of Second Burroughs

Picnic with a view!

Avoid the abyss!

Worth the effort!

Clackamas County Fair

The Clackamas County Fair is on now until Sunday, Aug. 22 and it’s a wonderful opportunity to experience rural, small town Oregon within a short drive from Portland. As urban encroachments make traditional, rural lifestyle a disappearing part of the Portland area landscape, it’s great to see events like this fair thriving. If you can make it out to Canby this weekend, here are my favorite top five things to do:

5) Watch teenagers pamper pigs. Well, not just pigs, but sheep, llamas, cows, goats and roosters are looking sharp and smelling great in the livestock barns and show rings.

 

4) Take a ride. The carnival grounds are full of tummy-turning rides and others not nearly as scary as the looks on these kids’ faces would suggest.

3) Admire the talents of your artsy-craftsy neighbors. The main pavilion is stuffed with quilts, paintings, photos, knitting projects, canned beans, and doilies.

2) Tap your toes. The fair offers a wide variety of music from fiddlers to Sinatra crooners, all included in the price of admission.

 

1) Eat some pie. You might think of corn dogs and curly fries as the quintessential fair food, but check out the dozen or so pie selections offered by the Canby Methodist Church ladies. YUM!

Oh, and there is a rodeo every evening as well!

Have fun!

Woodburn: More Than a Mall

The back-to-school shopping frenzy is in full swing, and many folks will be making the trek to the Woodburn Company Stores, off I-5 between Portland and Salem. With over 100 stores, it is Oregon’s largest outlet center and the perfect place to pick up bargains.
Most shoppers rarely venture over the freeway to the east side and the town of Woodburn, and that’s a shame. They’re missing one of the most culturally diverse communities in Oregon, where the Chamber of Commerce welcomes people in English, Spanish, and Russian.

Settlemier House

The area was originally settled by Calapooya Indians and retired French-Canadian fur trappers, hence the name French Prairie. But it was the arrival of Jesse Settlemier in 1863 that led to the development of the town of Woodburn. Settlemier purchased land and established a nursery specializing in fruit and ornamental trees. When the Oregon and California Railroad arrived in the early 1870s, he platted the downtown section near the tracks and offered a city lot to anyone who would put a building on it.
The town of Woodburn grew quickly and Settlemier thrived as well. In 1892 he built a stunning, 14-room, Queen Anne Victorian home reflecting his wealth and status in the community. The property stands on a large, wooded lot on Settlemier Avenue and is owned and cared for by the French Prairie Historical Society. The home is open to the public on the first Sunday of every month.

President Obama ate here!

Agri-business has always been the life blood of Woodburn. Originally, the local economy was based on farm products including berries, hazelnuts, hops, and other fruits and vegetables. Today large nurseries and greenhouses dominate the scene and their labor-intensive operations have created a demand for year-round employees. Seasonal Mexican workers have been replaced by permanent laborers and their families. The Woodburn schools are now over 70% Hispanic and the downtown area is filled with thriving businesses catering to the needs and interests of the Hispanic community. In between the bakeries, shops, and taquerias (be sure to check out Luis's) on Front Street, is the Woodburn Historic Museum. The entrance is surrounded by a replica of an arch touting Woodburn as the World’s Berry Center, and inside is a collection of the town’s memorabilia from World War II recruitment posters to high school class photos. The museum is open Saturdays only.

Down the street, in the shadow of the water tower, is a delightful surprise for railroad buffs. Engine 1785 is a vintage, 1902 Southern Pacific steam engine beautifully restored by the Oregon Railway Historical Society. Engines like this once carried freight and passengers up and down the West Coast, and Union Pacific trains still whiz through the center of town.
In addition to its sizeable Hispanic population, Woodburn is also home to a large group of Russian Old Believers. These traditionalists broke away from the Orthodox Church during a period of reforms, and, for years, were persecuted by Tsarist and Communist Russia. During the Cold War, charities were instrumental in assisting Christians in migrating from Communist countries and over 10,000 Old Believers ended up in Oregon, mostly in the Woodburn area. South of town, their onion-domed churches are scattered across the farmland. The one at the end of Bethlehem Road with its gold domes and brightly painted façade is strikingly beautiful.

Nearby, on Howell Prairie Road, is the Bauman Farms store, a 4th generation family farm and garden center. In the summer, the grounds are a riot of color with display gardens and greenhouses full of flowers and humongous, hanging baskets. Inside, the season’s bounty of fruits and vegetables, homemade jams and jellies, and fresh bakery products may be purchased.
A visit to the town of Woodburn should certainly be on every outlet shopper’s list.