Old Technology New Technology

This section of an ancient nine inch diameter water pipe (above) was found by the city crew currently excavating Pine Street East of the railroad track. It's made of cedar wood and wrapped in a wire sheath. The only question we can't agree on: When was it installed? In the meantime, here's what's being installed now (below). What a shame to hide such a delectable piece of sculpture under the soil!

Live at Morback House Museum!

We entered the world of Louis Carroll this Spring Break with the Sherwood Historical Society’s annual cultural exhibit...
All Things Tea.

Lake Oswego Tea Expert Patty Kay (far left) raving about what the
Sherwood Historical Society has on display.

The exhibit chronicled the history of tea from the Chinese railway workers to the English immigrants who settled in the Tualatin Valley. Started Saturday March 15 and continues through April 30th. The exhibit is free to the public.
Also, during Spring Break...

Above is a Totally Unrehearsed Trial Run for March 28 & 29 Event. Below? Well that speaks for itself.




The Mad Hatters Tea Party commenced at 1:00 p.m. Friday March 28 and Saturday March 29th. We staged a 3:00 P.M. Tea Party on Saturday as well. Each hour-long event included tea and treats and a performance put on by Louis Carroll’s characters, The Mad Hatter, March Hare, The Dormouse, The Red Queen, and of course, Alice herself. The cost was $4.50 per person.
The party was limited to ten participants a day, so that the audience could fit around the table along with the actors.

Only $300 American and We're Rich!

We could start another blog just to display the entertaining email we get from these scammeisters. As follows:

Hello!
I have been waiting for you since to contact me for your Confirmable Bank Draft of $800.000.00 United States Dollars, but I did not hear from you since that time. Then I went and deposited the Draft with FEDEX EXPRESS DELIVERY, West Africa, I travelled out of the country for a Months Course and I will not come back till end of February. What you have to do now is to contact the FEDEX EXPRESS DELIVERY as soon as possible to know when they will deliver your package to you because of the expiring date. For your information,I have paid for the delivering Charges, Insurance premium and Clearance Certificate Fee of the Cheque showing that it is not a Drug Money or meant to sponsor Terrorist attack in your Country. Again, I would have paid for the security keeping feebut they said no because they don't know when you will contact them and in case of demurrage.You have to contact the FEDEX EXPRESS INTERNATIONAL with the following informations:
First name:
Last Name:
Telephone:
Nationality::
Age:
Occupation:
address:

Dispatch Director: Rev. Terry Smith
Email Address: terry01.smithdept@hotmail.com
Telephone:+234xxxxxxxxxx

You are advice to contact them as soon as you receive this mail to avoid any further delay and remember to pay them their Security Keeping fee of $300.00 US Dollars for their immediate action.You should also let me know through email as soon as you receive your Draft. Yours Faithfully, Mrs.mary jones.

World Genealogy Collection Launched Today

The following is from WorldVitalRecords.com:

PROVO, UT, February 4, 2008 -- A billion names from 33 countries is coming online. WorldVitalRecords.com (a service of FamilyLink.com) released today its flagship product, the World Collection, an online genealogy database containing more than 1.5 billion names from 35 countries, including England, Canada, Australia, France, Ireland, Scotland, Hungary, and Portugal.

"All over the world there are wonderful people who are digitizing and preserving historic records," said CEO Paul Allen, "During the past year we have traveled and met with these content providers from more than a dozen countries. We are pleased today to announce that many of them have chosen to let us distribute their genealogical databases on the Internet."

Friends of History meet at Morback House

History enthusiasts from around Sherwood met in Morback House today. Representatives from the End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center, Friends of Champoeg, Oregon City, Tualatin, Tigard, Willamina, Philip Foster Farms, and Parrett Mountain Farm were present. They decided to call themselves "The Friends of History" from now on. It's a new group. Watch for more news soon.

100 Years Ago in Old Sherwood Town

Doc Saylor Brings a Matter Before the Town Council February 14, 1908

From the Minutes Book, Feb. 14, 1908 Dr. A. L. Saylor having a bill on file for $3.00 account, surgery performed on one Bud Knutson, while held for ritous and disorderly conduct on the 6th day of Jany., and it being a question by the council wheather the town was liable for this account, a motion was taken to lay the bill on the table until such a time as the matter could be investigated.

Councilman Smock reported bad condition of town sewer in Mr. Johnstons field below town, apparently being a break in the same. The Marshal [Joe Morback] agreed to make investigation of the sewer in this particular place and if possible put same in proper condition. Upon motion the marshal was instructed to proceed at once to purchase 100 6 inc tile and put the sewer in proper condition as possible.

The question of minors being supplied with intoxicating drinks in the Town of Sherwood was quite thoroughly discussed and inasmuch as the existing town ordinance covering this offense being defective, it was considered advisable to have a new ordinance drafted at once. [Mayor] Hall agreeing to look after the drafting of this ordinance and have same presented at nxt regular meeting.

[Signed] J.E.Morback, Recorder

An Important Sherwood Town Father

For More about the Left Photo CLICK HERE.
This is Matthew M. Fitch. Thanks to Sherwood Historian June Reynolds, we can look into his eyes and imagine what he might have said to us about the city we live in today. Here is what Ms. Reynolds has to say about the photo:

"M.M. Fitch is remembered most as one of our post masters. The Appointment came by telegram from Washington D.C. The appointment was confirmed by the Senate March 10, 1914. The job was considered a "plum" by many in Sherwood.

He was a carpenter by age 15, in Texas. He helped build bridges for the railroad. He came to Sherwood to be an engineer for the Portland Pressed Brick Company. He set up and fired the brick factory. He built what we now call Morback House for J.C. Smock, who sold it to Mr. Robert Alexander, one of the brickyard owners. Fitch married one of Mr. Smock's daughters, Nettie! He and Nettie have many descendents in the Sherwood area today.

Civic Ancestors

Are you new to Sherwood? Then welcome. Let us introduce you to one of your ancestors. You've probably never met him before. You've never seen this face in the family album that you study when you're with your kinfolk on holidays. Even so. Take a moment and gaze into the face. As long as you live in Sherwood, this is one of your ancestors. One of your "civic" ancestors. During his lifetime, many young people saw him as their grampa. I wonder what "grampa" would say to you if you pranced into his place of business on the corner of Main and Rail Road and flaunted yourself as shamelessly as you do now, here in the 21st Century.

Let's Dance!

The Sherwood High School Parent Advisory Council wants to enrich the Sherwood High School's curriculum. The PAC's first (annual) Black & White by Moonlight benefit auction will be held at the Tualatin Country Club, 9145 S.W. Tualatin Road, in Tualatin, February 9, 2008, between 7 to 11 P.M. The cost is $45 per person. For further information contact SherwoodHighPAC@yahoo.com

Another Photograph to Analyze

Here are enlarged details of a photograph taken (we're pretty sure) inside the Carlson & Sherk store. The tall guy seems to be Howard Smith, the same fellow we see smiling in the January 8 posting below (with everybody on wheels). But he isn't smiling at all in this picture. The length of the ladies' garments and the sales woman's Navy blouse suggests we're in the midst of Wilson's War to End All Wars!

Top: Two Sherwood ladies shopping. Middle: Probably Howard Smith and wife. Bottom: Wider view of same images. How many items for sale in this picture might still be found in someone's attic today. To analyze the entire photo for yourself first hand, please visit the Sherwood Heritage Center soon.