The Artifact - Lane County Historical Society and Museum

The Artifact 

Fern Ridge Reservoir, Then and Now 

The Fern Ridge Reservoir, a part of the Long Tom 

watershed is a product of damming the Long Tom 

and Coyote Creek to prevent annual flooding. 

Prior to its construction, the area was historically 

used by local tribes for food and hunting, and by 

later residents for seasonal stock grazing. It was 

poorly drained, swampy, and frequently flooded 

the nearby buildings and residents. 

As of 1940 only 34% of the two-hundred and fifty 

land tracts had been built upon. That year a plan 

for the dam began. Construction started in 

September 1940 and was completed in the fall of 

1941. This US Army Corps of Engineers piece was 

the first dam of the Willamette Valley Project to be 

completed. It did not inundate the area towns, 

travel routes or railroads, though some roads 

were relocated; buildings dismantled, relocated or 

burned, and families paid cash settlements for 

their homes. 

Long term results have been flood prevention, 

irrigation, and recreational opportunites. Over the 

decades the reservoir area has increased in 

popularity. The Eugene Yacht Club and Triton 

Yacht Club, along with many other public users, 

enjoy the area’s many recreational features. But 

this is not without some droughts and changes 

afforded by nature. 

A 2002 study presented earthquake hazards due 

to the “structural integrity of the earthen dam 

which has a sandy base. There was noted 

potential for seismic shaking and liquefaction.” 

Toe-drain pipes at the base were thought to be 

broken, leaking into the dam itself and creating 

visually apparent settling or sinkholes on the 

north side downslope. 

The US Army Corps of Engineers and elected 

representatives took steps for funding and 

repair—which would involve drawing down the 

water supply. Throughout the process, there was 

much local concern for the potential impact on 

regional crop irrigation, fish and wildlife habitat, 

sailing, recreation, and tourist revenue. With 

cooperative efforts from local farmers, other 

citizens, contractors, extra spring rains, and 

breakthrough funding—the project orginally 

thought to extend over a few years and 40 million 

dollars, all came to an efficient conclusion within 

six months and 22.4 million dollars, in Fall 2005. 

Resources: News clippings, government 

documents, photo of the LCHM archives, and 

articles from the West Lane News. —Nora Hagerty 

LANE COUNTY 

HISTORICAL 

SOCIETY 

& 

MUSEUM 

September 2006 No. 181 

PHOTO: The 1965 "Thistle Regatta" on Fern Ridge Reservoir, west of Eugene. Dick Brust of Salem, Oregon 

and 2 crewmembers have their weight to port side as they shift sails on the “Windrush,” August 29, 1965. 

FERN RIDGE RESEVOIR STATS: The rolled earth embankement dam is 6,330 feet long and 44 feet tall, 

with a gated concrete spillway. The reservoir holds 9,000 acres of water, is 93 acres in dimension, 40 feet in 

depth, and has a normal summer pool level of 373.5 feet.

September 2006 

The Artifact newsletter of The Lane County Historical Society & Museum 

History in Motion at the Fair 

There were over 2,100 visitors to the Museum during this year’s fair! Plenty of locals and some from as far away as 

Arizona, California and even Georgia. Thanks to our steadfast volunteers and craft demonstrators for making our presence 

in the Fair a success. If you would like to volunteer or share a demonstration at the Museum during next year’s fair please 

contact (541) 682-4242, or volunteers@lanecountyhistoricalmuseum.org. Volunteers: watch for upcoming news of our 

annual Volunteer Recognition Holiday Gathering. —Nora Hagerty 

— Thank You 2006 Lane County Fair Museum Volunteers! — 

Guest Services and Security 

Audrey Bradshaw 

Rodger Gamblin 

Bunny Lawson 

Hattie Mae Nixon 

Gene Pierson 

Karen Pierson 

Bob Wiltshire 

Kathy Wolf 

Keith Wolf 

Vintage Craft Demonstrators 

Jack Birky, antique woodworking tools 

Jenny Bonynge, quilting 

Dee Brown, large loom weaving 

Shirley Canning, Oregon Genealogical Society 

Denise Crawford, quilting 

Megan Davis, tatting 

Monika Dinsmore, spinning 

Ida Duncan, quilting 

Maryon Ferguson, quilting 

Barbara Ganzel, quilting 

Joyce Garrett, quilting 

Marilyn Graham, quilting 

Emily Guilland-Larson, large loom weaving 

Kathy Hensel, bobbin lace making 

Margie Ingebretson, Oregon Genealogical Society 

Terry Kessinger, quilting 

Sandra Lawrence, Oregon Genealogical Society 

Keren Levine, bobbin lace making 

James Long, flint knapping 

Clara Long, beadwork 

Melody Morrell, finger weaving 

Sandie Olson, large loom weaving 

Ann Pfender, quilting 

Jeanne Remiro, large loom weaving 

Lois Scott, quilting 

Helen Sills, Oregon Genealogical Society 

Barbara Singer, spinning 

Donna Smalley, bobbin lace making 

Joanne Snyder, cornhusk dolls 

Lois Scott, quilting 

Marie Wiles, large loom weaving 

Betty Williams, Oregon Genealogical Society


Picnic Enjoyment 

Over 100 people attended the revived Society picnic, held at Copper Windmill Ranch on June 11. 

LEFT: Food and conversation abounded. RIGHT: Hanson Family Singers performed. 

Learning Through Play 

Over 1,000 people attended the grand 

opening of RiverPlay in Skinner 

Butte Park along the Willamette 

River in Eugene, July 8. The Society is 

a donor to the project which contains 

many creative, natural and historicstyle 

play items highlighting 

Kalapuya and Pioneer history. It 

remains busy with many curious 

visitors. Additional features will be 

added. The plan also awaits 

development of a companion 

playground in Alton Baker Park next 

year. More info at www.eugeneor.gov; 

click on Parks and RiverPlay. 

—Nora Hagerty 

“What Is It?” 

The object at far right appears to be some kind of agricultural tool. It is constructed of wood, with a 

hand-forged iron screw plate that secures a central crosspiece. It is 37 inches tall, 14 inches wide at 

the top, and 2 inches deep. 

A steel point, about one inch long and not terribly sharp, protrudes from an iron sleeve at the base 

of the implement. The object bears traces of red paint, and the handle at the top is well-worn, 

especially toward the center. 

Between the crosspiece and the handle, two seven-inch-long strips of iron are bolted to the wooden 

frame at an angle of approximately 30 degrees. Both strips of iron appear to have been broken off at 

each end. 

We have pored over countless catalogs of historic tools, and have been unable to identify it. Can 

you help us? If you have an idea, please call Amy at the Collections Office, 

(541) 682-7365; or visit www.lanecountyhistoricalmuseum.org. Thanks! —Amy Gamblin 


Park enthusiasts search for buried 

relics in RiverPlay’s Ancient 

History Sand dig on opening day.


Oral History: Log Drives 


The Oregon Department of Navigation (as noted on the transcript) interviewed Hallie Hills Huntington in an investigation 

into the navigability of the Willamette River. The date of the interview is lost, but not the stunning detail. Interestingly 

enough, Hallie wrote down many of her memories, and there are fragments of the oral history that appear word for word in 

the 1984 publication written by Hallie, “All The Way West.” 

Here is an excerpt from the interview with Hallie Hills Huntington (b. 1898, daughter of Jasper B. Hills). 

HHH: The last log drive my father drove was in 1906 down the Middle Fork [of the Willamette River]. 

Q. From how far up stream did he drive those? 

HHH: Directly across from Oakridge. He had a contract with Booth Kelly for 14 million feet to be delivered at their mill 

in Springfield. And they established a camp across from Oakridge by fording the river and setting up camp 

there. Logged during the winter, and in the spring after the first sort of high water was pretty well over they 

rolled their logs into the river and drove them down to the mill. It was about a six week drive, as I recall. 

[Section deleted] 

Q. When he set up his logging camp at Oakridge, did he use any splash dams, or… 

HHH: He didn’t on the main river, no. He used splash dams on the smaller tributaries, on Lost Creek and on Winberry 

he built dams, but not on the main river. There was sufficient water there to handle the logs, so it was not 

necessary to build a dam. 

Q. When you say the main river, do you mean the Middle Fork? 

HHH: Yes. 

Q. But he did have to wait until the high winter flows subsided before… 

HHH: They waited until the chances of high flooding, you see in the driving business, if the water is terrifically high 

the logs run out and hang up along the way and it makes it very difficult then when you come along with the 

rollers and the horses to drag those logs back into floating water. 

[Section deleted] 

You might be interested to know it’s said that a river driver was never dry from the moment the first log hit the 

rollway until they scaled them out at the mill. They were in the water constantly. 

How they did this drifting. We are talking now about getting ready to roll the logs into the river. 

Somehow the logging finally got done and great stacks of fine old growth fir logs were decked just ready for the 

proper time to be rolled over the high bank after the greatest danger of high water was past. This was a tricky 

business for high water left the logs high and dry on gravel bars or down numerous sloughs where they were 

difficult to get back into floating water. The gamble was indeed great for it was necessary to have enough water 

to keep the stubborn logs from hanging up on rocks and other obstructions. You can understand how that 

would be. 

A crew of boomers went ahead by boat to block off as many sloughs and bad channels as possible. This was 

accomplished by fastening logs together by cables to form a buffer when the free logs reached them, and thus 

keep the free logs to the main channel where they would travel best. 

There was great excitement when the drive was finally ready to move out. A bedroll boat carried the scant 

belongings of the men. With any loose articles like a spare pair of boots tied in a blanket of the owner. This was 

long before sleeping bags became a necessity. The cook boat, the second boat carried the supplies and cooking 

equipment, plus the beds of the cook crew. A small tent and a fly for protection of the cooking fire in case of 

rain. Usually the cook rode the cook boat, and it was very often my small mother. She was the cook. I rode the 

cook boat. If there happened to be a bull cook whose duty it was to build fires, cut wood and keep the water 

pails full and do any other tasks to help the cook, he usually manned the oars of the bedroll boat. 

These boats followed the rollers. It was their job to find all the logs that had hung up in the secret places as though 

trying hard to resist the sharp teeth of the mill saws. Here the tall and sturdy teams were used to pull the 

reluctant logs back into floating water. It was a thrilling sight to see a dogger mount a horse-drawn log and ride 

it until it was waterborne. His skill was amazing, together with expert timing and nerves of steel. As the great 

log swung into the current he rapped the dogs smartly (and do you know what dogs are? they hooked into the 

front end of the log) at the proper instant, with his steel shod peavey. This released it from the team. Then 

watching his chance he either jumped from the bounding log holding his peavey high over his head for balance, 

often into chest deep water and waded ashore. If he made a mistake in judgment and did not hit the water at the 

exact moment of release, his reward was a hair-raising ride down through the rough water. 

[Section deleted]



Q. I’ve read someplace they that they barked these logs in order to make them easier to handle. 

HHH: They did bark a lot of them. 

Q. Was that primarily the larger logs? 

HHH: The larger logs. Well, they tried; of course they did more or less selective logging in those early days. They 

didn’t have to clear cut and the logs were big… 

Q. How big were those logs? 

HHH: Oh, there were a lot of them up to four or five feet. The liked to pick for a drive log, one that was not too big and 

too pitchy and had too heavy a butt. You remember how they used to springboard up so they wouldn’t get-their 

saws were a little bit short for the logs of those times…a lot of times they didn’t even take the butt section 

because it was hard to drive…too big to handle. 

Hallie goes on to describe the horses working the banks, the boats carrying tools and equipment to shoe the horses and 

supply the men, and the pay received for working the drive, the clothing worn and the price of the logs at the mill. Of 

special note is that one thousand feet of log was worth $4.00 and a pair of socks a quarter. 

The Oral History Collection has several interviews on log drives from the memories of those who participated. All are 

accessible to the public by appointment through the Museum research library. Call (541) 682-4242, or complete a research 

form at www.lanecountyhistoricalmuseum.org.—Virginia Sherwood 

Meeting History 

Glenn Mack visited the Museum 

during this year’s Fair, with 

daughter Sheryl Braun (left). Mack 

was once a logger who in fact 

worked on spring boards such as 

those pictured in this historical 

photo from Museum’s collection, 

currently on display (right). Note 

the use of springboards at the base 

of the tree referred to in the 

interview above. 

River drivers break up a log jam on the 

McKenzie River. Men with horse 

teams block downstream movement 

while several other loggers ride the logs 

and attempt to guide them with poles. 

c. 1909. Lane County Historical 

Museum Collections.


Welcome New Staffer, Nina Katz 

LCHM Education programs and the Museum store are now 

overseen by new staffer Nina Katz. Having started June 21 

this year, she has already been busy reorganizing and 

ordering books and other materials for the gift shop displays. 

She is showcasing interesting books about Lane County in 

numerous subjects, and will promote them in The Artifact 

newsletter and elsewhere. Nina is looking forward to 

coordinating the Assistance League/Oregon Heritage 

Volunteers Oregon Trail tours, pre-school and kindergarten 

tours, and the Hands-on-History trunk and roadshow 

programs. 

After receiving Master’s Degrees from the University of 

Wisconsin and the Teachers College at Columbia University, 

Nina and her husband Paul moved from New York to Eugene 

26 years ago—where Paul completed his Masters Degree at 

the University of Oregon. As many people say they “liked it 

so much, they decided to stay.” Their three children were 

born here in Lane County. 

Nina wanted to return to permanent work after being at home 

Think Outside the “School-Box,” 

Class Tours Available at LCHM 

If you know of some eager young learners who would like to 

learn more about their local history, we have Museum 

volunteers and Assistance League volunteers ready to guide 

student groups. We also have the Hands on History program, 

which the Museum hosts in cooperation with Lane ESD and 

Willamalane Parks and Recreation District. This program uses 

interactive presentations with costumed professional 

interpreters and artifact trunks in the local school districts. The 

interactive presentations focus on Westward Migration, the Civil 

War, and Lewis and Clark. Three artifact trunks (Westward 

Migration, the Civil War, America’s Emergence as a World 

Power) are available for loan to teachers. Contact Nina Katz at 

(541) 682-4242, or educator@lanecountyhistoricalmuseum.org 


with her children. Nina comes to this position with experience 

as a Program Coordinator in Continuing Education at the 

University of Oregon where she coordinated Grace Morris’ 

NW History Lecture Series, as well as other programs. She 

also taught exercise through the City of Eugene Recreation 

Services. 

Nina likes the mission of the Museum, as well as the idea of 

working with children during educational programs, and she 

enjoys the challenge of the Museum’s retail gift shop. She 

likes the historical atmosphere and finds the staff friendly. 

She loves the people contact this job provides, as well as 

exploring different historical books and items. Nina looks 

forward to working with students in the tours and 

introducing them to what is in the museum, to Lane County 

history and to getting them excited about history and their 

roots. 

We welcome Nina! Her patience, enthusiasm, organization 

and communication will contribute well to the Society and 

Museum’s work. 

Museum Store Highlights 

Some new titles you might like to peruse: 

Lifting Oregon Out of the Mud describes the building of the 

Oregon Coast Highway and is full of photos of the period. 

Ezra Meeker’s Oregon Trail is the story of the man who came 

west on the Oregon trail in 1852 and then 54 years later 

worked tirelessly to preserve the legacy of the trail. 

Backwoods Teacher examines what life was like at school, as 

well as at home, in the days of the one room schoolhouse in 

Oregon. 

We also have some new crafts books on knitting, weaving, 

dyeing and quilting, as well as some new children’s activity 

books—including sticker and coloring books on antique cars , 

Victorian houses, small mammals of the northwest and even 

a book that gives children the opportunity to write their own 

stories. 

Presently featured are books about WOMEN OF THE 

WEST—including: 

A Foot in the Door —Reminiscences of Lucile McDonald, 

journalist, historian and author. 

Conversations With Pioneer Women—Oral histories of 

Pacific Northwest Women 

Ladies Were Not Expected —About Abigail Scott Duniway 

and women’s rights. 

Maude Irving Kerns —A biography of Maude Kerns. 

So Far From Home—Letters from an army bride of the 

western frontier 1865–1869. 

Through My Window —Poems and short prose by Lois 

Barton. 

True Story of a Mountain Girl —Life of Oregon settler Pearl 

Montgomery. 

Come and explore! —Nina Katz


The Director’s Corner Bob Hart, LCHM Director 

I wish to publicly congratulate the Museum staff for their efforts to 

assist in making the Society and Museum more visible in our 

community. The activities began in April with the annual Pioneer 

Quilters quilt show, followed by the historical museums conference, 

continuing in June with the Society picnic, July’s Masonic 

Sesquicentennial Cornerstone celebration, August’s Dorris Ranch Living 

History Festival, the after-hours tour for the state county clerk conference, 

and our County Fair. Of these seven events, only the Quilt Show and County 

Fair were participated in during 2005! So kudos to a great Museum staff who 

have suffered through an extraordinary amount of schedule bending to 

allow the Society and Museum come out smelling like a rose! 

The law enforcement exhibit will have a closing reception, now planned for 

Thursday evening, September 28th. The Museum has not had a shindig for 

some time, so mark your calendars and come on out and rub elbows with 

other history-minded folks and public figures. 

Stay tuned for the late fall rollout of the diorama of the Eugene park blocks 

by the exhibit firm, “Moments in Time,” aka the Snyder family! 

The oral history program has begun to hum with the first World War II 

home front interview (Maryon Ferguson) and the first two interviews for a 

Don Hunter life history. The Museum is also preparing for a series of 

interviews having to do with the Skinner Butte Cross controversy of the 

1960s through 1990s. Transcriptions of the interviews are keeping Museum 

Specialist Virginia Sherwood quite busy! 

The Clerk’s Building underwent some structural repair and cosmetic surgery 

in late July. The structural repair problem was noted during the emergency 

reproofing project in 2004. The cosmetic surgery removed the modern 

electrical conduit and fuse box that adorned the south and west sides of the 

building. This National Register gem will become an indoor exhibit piece in 

a new museum facility. 

It is the time of the year to consider supporting the Oregon Cultural Trust, 

whose support of cultural organizations throughout the state remains a 

model for the rest of the country. The process is simple: donate to your 

favorite non-profit cultural organization(s), donate a like amount directly to 

the Trust, and take a tax credit (not a deduction!) for the amount given to the 

Trust. This is your opportunity to direct the state how to spend some of your 

taxes! For more information, call the Museum. 

Volunteers Wanted 

For a volunteer application, contact Nora: 

volunteers@lanecountyhistoricalmuseum.org , (541) 682-4242. 

Carpenter: Experienced carpenter to assist in preparing exhibit furniture for 

our temporary and renewed permanent museum exhibits, and possibly to 

prepare professional grade furniture for a redesigned museum store. 

Museum has a workshop area and basic tools. Must be available during 

normal Museum operating hours. 

Bridge Photographer: Project specific. Requires a vehicle for reimbursable 

local travel, a photographer’s eye and digital camera skills. Involves 

rephotographing Lane County’s twenty covered bridges to update the 

Museum slide show. 

Pre-school/Kindergarten Education program Docents: Training provided. 

Bring your enthusiasm. If you are interested, please contact Nina at 

(541) 682-4242 or educator@lanecountyhistoricalsociety.org. 


Oral History Workshop 

Monday, September 18, 9:00–3:00 at 

Benton County Museum, Philomath LCHS. is a 

co-sponsor of this event. Instructor: Donna 

Sinclair, former oral historian, Oregon Historical 

Society. Limited to 30 participants (LCHS and 

guests get 15 slots). Cost: LCHS members, 

$20.00. Non-members, $30.00. 

LCHM Fall 2006 

Speaker Series 

These events are free and open to the 

public. They take place at the Eugene 

Garden Club, 1645 High Street, in Eugene. 

October 29, 2:00 PM, “From Fish and Rice to 

Meat and Potatoes”, George Katagiri, Oregon 

Nikkei Legacy Center, Portland. Plus an 

update on the Eugene Japanese American Art 

Memorial project by Circuit Court Judge 

Cynthia Carlson. 

November 19, 2:00 PM, “Lewis and Clark 

and the International 

Competition for Oregon”, Dr. 

Mark Eifler, University of 

Portland. Oregon Council for 

the Humanities Chautauqua 

program. 

Regional Events 

of Historical Interest 

ArchaeologyFest Film Series, Sep 2, Sep 15, 

7:30-9:30 PM, DIVA 110 W. Broadway 

Eugene 

Centennial Celebration for Hendricks Park, 

September 10, Wilkins Picnic Shelter, 

2:00-5:00 PM 

Covered Bridge Festival, September 16-17 

Pioneer Park, Stayton, 

Office Covered Bridge Lighting Ceremony, 

December 2, Westfir 

Oregon Aviation Hall of Fame Inductions 

October 8, invitation only, Oregon Aviation 

Historical Society, Cottage Grove 

Just In Time for Gift Giving 

Looking Back Lane County II: 1940-1969 

The public was invited to bring their photos taken 

in Lane County between 1940 and 1969 to the 

Museum in early August for review and possible 

inclusion in this upcoming book, along with select 

photos from the Museum’s archives collection. 

Look for publication and distribution late fall.

Lane County Historical Society & Museum 

740 West 13th Avenue 

Eugene, OR 97402 

Membership Benefits 

• Receive tri-annual “Historian” and 

quarterly newsletter “The Artifact” 

• Free admission to museum exhibits 

• Invitation to new and traveling exhibits 

• Discount on museum gift shop purchases 

• Discount on research requests in archives 

To join, please contact us at the Museum. 

Museum Information 

• Phone: (541) 682-4239, 24 hr recorded info 

• Office: (541) 682-4242 Tue-Fri 9–4 

• E-mail: info@lanecountyhistoricalsociety.org 

• Website: www.lanecountyhistoricalsociety.org 

Gift Shop Oregon Trail and local history books, 

watercolor prints by local artists, note cards and 

postcards, gift-wrap, quilt gifts, old fashioned toys 

Museum Hours 

Tuesday–Saturday 10:00 A.M.—4:00 P.M. 

Admission 

Adults $2.00, Seniors 60+ $1.00, 

Youth (3-17) .75¢, Members Free 

The Artifact is produced quarterly and 

distributed to members of Lane County 

Historical Society and Museum. 

Museum Wish List 

Professional grade compact disc player 

and headset. The library and archives now offers 

the opportunity for researchers to read oral history 

transcripts. We need a professional grade compact 

disc player and headset for use by researchers. 

Marantz PMD 502 Stereo Cassette Deck, 

professional grade. 

NONPROFIT ORG 

US POSTAGE PAID 

EUGENE, OR 

PERMIT NO. 658 

Upcoming Events 

• Now through September 2006 The Human Face of Policing: 

Law Enforcement in Lane County. Final reception Thursday 

evening, September 28th. 

• Opening in October 2006: What Style Is It? A Survey of 

American Architecture, A Smithsonian Institution 

Traveling Exhibit 

• Annual Volunteer Holiday Recognition Party, 

This December. More info to come. 

• Speakers , history news and events, and more... 

Thanks to our volunteers and members. Your support 

greatly helps the museum’s efforts. 

Oregon / SW Washington Program

The Artifact - Lane County Historical Society and Museum

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