Vernonia High School - Memolog Yearbook (Vernonia, OR)

Page 9 text:

 HISTORY CF THE NEHALEM VALLEY By Veldcn Parker Revised by Ruby Condit From the early settlers, we get a picture of the Ne-helam Valley as it was in the early days. Several still reside in the vicinity and the interesting data gathered from them proves to be of great interest to the residents of the valley of today. In the fall of 1874, Clark L, Parker and his family came into the valley carrying all their belongings on their backs.They came over Green mountain and down Pebble creek. A few months later, the Van Blaricom, Adams and Tucker families located here. The latter later moved from the lovrer Nehalem to the upper part of the valley in older that they might have neighbors. In 1875,the first white child was born in the Nehalem Valley.He was Albert L. Parker who is still residing here. The first schoolhouse was made of logs and was built in 1876. It was built on what is now the S» V, Malmston place and the first school teacher was Mr. Cherington, The school, at that time, ran on a three months' basis. The valley at this time was a dense forest with numerous wild animals. People began coming in to settle, however, when they heard that a railroad was coming in. In 1878, a petition was circulated by Mr. Judson Weed and Mr, Cherington for a post office. When this petition was granted,the name Vernonia vras given to the post office. It was named after Mr, Cherington1s daughter, Vernonia. The first mail contract was let to Mr, Joe Campbell who carried it from Vernonia to St, Helens on a path made by the settlers.He made one trip a week, walking and carrying the mail on his back, Mr, Frank Baker was the first post master. About this time,settlers located at the mouth of East Fork about five miles below Vernonia, They built a sawmill and grist mill there,and called the little town Pittsburg. In 1879,the people of Pittsburg built a road to St.Helens, the county seat. The first couple to be married here was Julie Parker and John Van Blaricom. The first election vias on June 8, 1878 and there were thirty-nine votes cast.