Old Sherwood Town Partners

The Sherwood Historical Society hasn't been the only history project in town. Since the Society was established only five years ago, other organizations have flourished. Pictured here is Rebekah Hall on Washington Street in Old Town. It started out as a silent movie theater in the 1920's. A few years ago it had become a dark, cold place where the Methodists had their coffee hour once a week (and still do, in fact, every Saturday morning) and where five ladies met twice a month to discuss the bleak future of their lodge. Today it's a bright warm setting with a reinvigorated Rebekahs Lodge (34 members suddenly, and counting). Receptions and special events of all kinds are happening. In short: The place is humming! When you ask people why they joined the Rebekahs or why they chose Rebekah Hall for a special occasion, they are likely to respond: "Because we want to help save Sherwood history!"

What We Did in 2006

During January and February:
* The Sherwood Historical Society took part in the Crystal Rilee Foundation charette.

* Clyde List portrayed famous historical figure, Joel Palmer, at Gaarde Elementary School, Tigard.

* Wick Ashley and his high school photography class interviewed Clyde List and Margaret Umland, and worked with June Reynolds on a then-and-now ("rephotography") project. This was a service learning project that took six weeks from start to finish.

* A service learning student, Jamie Goss, and President June Reynolds worked in the attic at Morback House sorting and storing artifacts.

During March and April:
* March 11 was the opening of our first Art in History show. Local artists depicted key scenes and icons of Sherwood.

* The Society had a booth at the annual Antique Gasoline Power Show.

* Sherwood: A Sense of Time and Place, Volume I was published. Author June Reynolds held her first book signing at the Public Library April 8, 2006

* The Sherwood School District hosted a roundtable discussion for 60 people at the Statewide Community Education and Service Learning Conference. This happened on April 27, 28, and 29. "We were the only people to present a historically based program." says June.

* The youth of the Sherwood History Club worked after school Wednesdays and Thursdays all during April and May, scanning pictures and going to Margaret Umland’s farm, Gibbs School, and Schlichting Farm as well as other sites in the Sherwood area.

During May:
* There was a Heritage Farms and Gardens display at the Heritage Center. We planted herbs and plants that pioneers used.

* The Sherwood Rotary Club spent several weekends renovating Smock House and landscaping the grounds.

During June:
* Over 600 4th Graders from the three schools visited the Morback House as part of their Pioneer Day.

* We held an Open House during the Car Show (June 10). June signed some more books.

* Our in-house band, "The Folks,” played for the Lutheran Women’s Conference in Portland June 17 .

* Clyde and June manned an information table at the Snyder Park Summer Solstice Party June 22 .

* June 26-30 saw History Camp.

During July:
* We held another Open House during the annual Robin Hood Festival. 12th Century Mummers marched in Parade. June signed some more books.

* We hosted Japanese Students from Edogawa City July 25, for half a day to teach them about Oregon history and Service Learning.

During September and October:
* During the city's Art Festival, we hosted an antique appraisal during which we handed out “Golden Tickets” for Trail Days.

* Trail Days was held September 30 and October 1. There were four tours of Old Town and re-enactments. The Masons assisted the Historical Society for the first time.

* During Onion Festival, Oct. 14, we performed our “Onion Farmer” skit on stage for the event. Then "The Folks" hastened to the Tualatin Historical Society’s Harvest Festival, being held the same day.

* Our first Ghost Tour around Old Town was held Oct. 27 and 28 .

During November:
* 160 Hopkins Elementary School 3rd Graders took the “My Community” tour Nov. 1 and Nov. 3

* General Membership Meeting and Potluck at the Rebekah’s Lodge was held Nov. 11.

* Our annual History Workshop was held Nov. 18 at Morback House.

In December:
* Esmerelda, the Christmas Cow marched in the Christmas Parade Dec. 2. Open House was also held.

The 2006 Christmas Parade

Sherwood Historical Society Secretary Clyde List and his milk cow Esmerelda came to town again this year. Of course, things have changed a lot since Sherwood was a farm town and Es was just a calf, but she was up to the challenge. She brought a whole shopping cart full of things she had purchased at Victoria's Secret, just to prove how citified and sophisticated she has become since the building boom started, just like the rest of us Sherwood old timers.

Life at Morback House

Past President Reynolds Putting in Her Usual 110%


January is time for house cleaning at Morback House, But the Museum will remain open Wednesdays and Saturdays,
1:00 - 4:00.





Meanwhile, Guitar Lessons Continue Uninterrupted Downstairs.

Clyde List Editorial

Our esteemed affiliate, The Oregon Historical Society, has been experiencing financial difficulties over the past few years. Politicians are debating the importance of the organization. As though history were a phenomenon that can be called off at will. In Exodus 32:9-14, even God trembles before history. He almost decides to erase His chosen people from the face of the Earth, and then realizes that with no one to worship Him-- He Himself will be erased. We historians do not claim to know the mind of God, but we do know that it is not unusual for mortals, immortals, saints and sinners, governors and peons alike-- to follow in the footsteps of that historian mentioned in the Book of Isaiah:
"Take a harp, go about the city, o forgotten harlot. Make sweet melody, sing many songs, that you may be remembered."
    Isaiah 23:16

Dear Blog-Meister...

Here is an "unknown" picture that you might be interested in posting on the Sherwood Historical Society blog site. This picture was found in my grandmother Mrs. Roy "Jennie" Harrington's belongings. I do not recognize the individuals in the photo, but believe that it may have been taken in Middleton, possibly at the Middleton Baptist Church. If you would like to post it and see if anyone can help identify these individuals, I would appreciate it.
--Anne (Harrington) Watson

Amazing Find at Smock House

1896 was a bad year for Sherwood. The brickyard went bust and people were insulating their walls with newspaper instead of wallpaper. As a result, the top floor of Smock House has the news of 1896 pasted all over its southern exposure. Past President June Reynolds was making a close inspection of these newspapers when this poem jumped out and bit her on the nose. The poem was interesting to look at as well as to read. It was hand lettered in a political cartoon. She hasn't been able to decipher the artist/poet's name yet, but it's not half bad! (I wonder if anyone would describe Portland's polluted, concreted and creosoted riverfront this way today!)

Softly Flows the Blue Willamette
Copyright 2006 by Sherwood Historical Society

Softly flows the blue Willamette
Hazy hills slope gently down
Where the heaving sighing waters,
Lap the ash trunks gray and brown.

Slender wind-swung weeping willows
On the river's low banks grow...
Ev'n the lightest summer breezes
Gently sway them to and fro

Fragile, bent and broken rushes
Lean far out and kiss the tide!
Neath the green pads of the lily,
Silver mirrors flash and hide

Lo, a scarlet sun is sinking
In a gleaming, golden west
And the blinking stars lie mirrored
On the blue Willamette's breast.

Hear Clyde List's Rendition of this Song!

Brick Kiln Redux

Here is what our blog discussion uncovered about
OREGON HISTORICAL SOCIETY PHOTO #53001 (BELOW)

SMOCKVILLE BRICK KILN     CIRCA 1890According to Ronald Sherk's 1936 History of Sherwood: "In 1890, four Portland business-men: Dr. Edgar Poppleton, E.T. Johnson, J.H. Smith, and Robert Alexander decided to place a brick yard in Smockville. Matt Fitch was sent here by the Kennedy Co. of Chicago, manufacturers of press brick machinery. He set up the plant and turned out one kiln of brick. Then he turned the brick yard over to the owners." The business was called The Portland Pressed Brick Company


DETAIL 1: We decided the man on the far left must be Matt Fitch. According to fellow bloggers: "Matthew M. Fitch and his wife Nettie are found in the 1910 Census living in the West Cedar District on Middleton Road. His occupation is listed as a farmer. Their children are listed as Ray and Ivy. His wife Nettie was the daughter of J.C. Smock. He built the house that they call the Morback House today, starting in 1890. He built it for J.C. Smock who sold it to Robert Alexander. Matt was an engineer who liked to draw designs and build. Washington County marriage records compiled by The Genealogical Forum of Portland, Oregon state: M.M. Fitch & Nettie M. Smock, both of Washington County, married 11 June 1890 at the house of J.C. Smock. Witnesses: F.A. Olds & Rosa B. Smock. Minister: H.C. Plummer. Smockville, Washington County." (The Smock residence mentioned here was a large building located across the railroad tracks from Old Town. It burned down in the 1930's. "West Cedar Creek District" was our political designation before Sherwood was incorporated.)


DETAIL 2 & 3: Judging merely from the way he's placed in the photo, the man on the left is assumed to be Robert Alexander. He was from Sherwood, Michigan (See Nov. 5, 2005 Posting) and suggested the name "Sherwood" for our town. The middle figure is a good candidate for David Alexander, who makes a colorful appearance in the 1897 town minutes. (After the brick yard closes, he donates brickbats to the Town, but charges a hefty fee to transport the brick!) The fellow on the far right remains a mystery.



DETAIL 4: The man on the far right just has to be Dr. Poppleton. The other two would be Johnson and Smith. According to a blogger: "Edgar Poppleton is listed in the 1880 Census in Lafayette, Yamhill County, Oregon. He was living with his wife Nancy and his five daughters, Adalaid, Minta, Illda, Augusta and Nellie. Edgar's occupation is listed as M.D. His age is listed as 48 on the 1880 census, so he would appear about 58 years if he was included in the photo taken circa 1890."

Christmas Card

Piano Player at Morback House     December 2, 2006No matter what you do at Morback House, history is watching.

Sherwood Chorale at Morback House

Following the annual Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting, the ghosts at Morback House were entertained by The Sherwood Renaissance Singers, AKA The Sherwood Christmas Chorale. Naturally the Historical Society's Sacred Cow (far left) wandered in, thinking it was the "Christmas Corral."