Editor:
I owned Trash to Treasure for 13 years, first downtown across from A&W and then I moved out to the old Radiator Supply building next to O&M Tire.
I do not know any details about how or why this is the last year for the Oregon Jamboree But I will share what it meant to me as a business owner in Sweet Home.
Our business doubled and even tripled in income during the Oregon Jamboree weekend. It was also the only Sunday I ever stayed open.
We had a great time with the fans as they came into town. We had contests. We decorated our entire store for the weekend. We stood out on the sidewalk on Wednesday and waved at the Oregon Jamboree fans as the pulled into Sweet Home with their RVs.
We had red signs on a pole, made saying Welcome Jamboree Fans, and we put the pole in our flagpole holes up and down Main Street and Long Street.
We decorated our windows and the Jamboree offered a contest for best window (Trash to Treasure won one year, when we did Red Solo Cup.)
We stocked up on cowboy hats, cowboy boots, denim skirts and anything country we could sell! I made baskets for the auction they would have at the Oregon Jamboree, I had fans come and buy furniture ( yes furniture) and hold it for them until Monday when they rolled out of town after the event, I had fans donate items to me each year when they came back for the Oregon Jamboree.
I also know of many businesses that depended on the Oregon Jamboree to keep their business a float.
This will be difficult on our community! Not maybe but will.
Again, I do not know all the reasons for closure of the Oregon Jamboree, but I do know it hurts very badly and we will miss it.
Nancy Patton
Sweet Home