Another Day Another Conference!

Past President June Reynolds (far left) poses with Michael, Ashley, Wick and Janet at the Oregon Community School Conference in Portland. "We presented an hour and a half workshop on how to combine new and old photographs as a historical learning service project." says June.

Alto's Gasoline Engines Show

Historians June and Clyde divide their time between analyzing a Sherwood artifact (in this case, a property abstract that goes all the way back to President Grant's administration) and playing another old time song. The information being presented in this photograph roused great interest from the banjo picker. It contained quite a few details about a land fraud case that his grandparents got involved in the year they came to Sherwood, in 1892. "I knew they had to send back to Michigan for more money." he said, "But this tells me a lot more. I'd never got close to this information if it hadn't been for the Sherwood Historical Society."

No matter how hard our historian/musicians played, the antique gasoline powered bubble machine stole the show again this year.

Down the Upstair Case at Morback House

Upstairs at Morback House, apron history expert Bobbe Schafer lectures the Sherwood High School Family and Consumer Science Class (that's what they call Home Ec now). Members of the Rebekahs and the Historical Society were well represented in the audience. Schafer's topic was the history of aprons down through the ages. During the same week, an overflow crowd from Lavender Teahouse clamored up and down the staircase, while, on the main floor, an old Sherwood family (the Obersts) recorded its history.

You might say it was a pretty busy week at Morback House.

Smock House Porch Number Two

Smock House gets her front porch. It's amazing how many local Sherwood contractors have donated time and labor to bring this house back to life. We can't complain about the support we've gotten from City Hall either. It's like a barn-raising in the old 19th Century tradition! And this is just the beginning. Just wait till you see the plan President Joan has for landscaping the yard. We're going to have a water well and out-house and everything!

Back yard ramp will comply with our federal government's Americans with Disabilities Act.

High School Meets History Society Meets...

...the Rainbow Rebekahs. Sherwood Historian and Author June Reynolds came to Rebekah Hall today and introduced two of her history students. She holds a copy of her book (featured above) and discussed the History Society's busy agenda for this year. Most of the Rebekahs are already members of the Sherwood Historical Society. Later this week at Rebekah Hall:


...Sherwood Historical Society President Joan serves at the First Annual Spaghetti Feed Saturday night, March 24. Special thanks to Alice and Velma!


Rebekahs held their Thursday April 26 meeting at Morback House during the aprons show.

Robin Hood's Tree

"The Major Oak is a huge Oak tree near the village of Edwinstowe in the heart of Sherwood Forest, Nottinghamshire, England. According to local folklore, it was Robin Hood's headquarters. It weighs an estimated 23 tons, has a waistline of 33 feet, and is about 800-1000 years old." --Wikipedia Article

A longtime resident of Sherwood, Oregon U.S.A. possesses two oak trees that have the DNA of this, the most famous oak tree in the world. He would like to donate them to Sherwood but so far, no one has raised their hand. Says he: "These are two English Oaks, grand-children of the famous Major Oak in Sherwood Forest in Nottingham UK. Currently, they sit in 12 gallon tubs, but I am feeling they should be planted this year. My first preference is for the City of Sherwood to get them."

[Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.]

Friends of Old Town (FOOT)

Old Sherwood Town's leading defenders discuss the future of their business environment while snacking at The Lavender Teahouse. This morning, City Councilman Lee Weislogel (not pictured) got an earful regarding a number of history preservation issues in Old Town, including the fate of the old school house. In the foreground, Sherwood Historical Society Director Shelly scribbles furiously.

Citizen Protest!

The City of Sherwood has taken the rug out from under the Arts Commission by taking away the building they were trying to make into a performing arts venue--The Old Sherwood School in what we hope will still be Old Town Sherwood, if they don't bulldoze it down. We tried to get Mc Menamin's in on this but they are over-extended two years out. We cannot depend on them alone to save every old building in the metro area, just as our Historical Society cannot save all the buildings in town. We need to act and act fast or one of the most significantly beautiful buildings will go! Please help us save the Old School House from being torn down just so someone can build another townhouse ghetto!!

(signed)June Reynolds, Sherwood Citizen

What would Abraham Lincoln say?

Thoughts after reading Doris Kearns Goodwin's Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln. (Simon and Schuster, 2005)--

What would Abraham Lincoln say about the war that's going on in Iraq today? Would President Bush and his war on Iraq remind Lincoln of President Polk and his war with Mexico? Would he see Bush, like Polk, "...running hither and thither like some tortured creature on a burning surface, finding no position on which to settle down and be at ease..."? Would Illinois Senator Lincoln, after being branded a traitor and losing his bid for reelection because of his opposition to the Mexican War, understand the quandary of those who oppose the Iraq War today? If President Bush could have consulted Lincoln about going to war in the first place, would Lincoln have warned him against the age old deception of war: "...that serpent's eye which charms to destroy..."?

We will never know.

Barn Dance Music

This joyful sound was found in a well-worn piece of sheet music donated to Morback House museum today. It's a barn dance. As patriarch of this town, I hereby command all citizens of Sherwood Oregon U.S.A. to download and play this tune every morning on their way to work or play. Please understand: That's an order! --Yours Truly: J.C. Smock


Barn Dance at Champoeg, 2005
Click on the lyric in order to hear the tune itself:

It was "Morning, Cy! Howdy, Cy!
Gosh darn, Cyrus, but you're looking spry.
Right in line, all the time,
Jimminy Cricket, but you're looking fine.
Morning, Cy! Howdy, Cy!"
Every rube around the town would cry,
"Howdy do, Same to you."
And when they saw him coming,
It was, "Morning, Cy!"

"Morning Cy!" by Atteridge and Peters (1908).