Megan Sanderson
For The New Era
Sweet Home historian Mona Waibel has created the next chapter in her series of books about the history of the area.
Waibel released her third book in the series, “Sweet Home’s Good Old Days, Vol. III,” just before Christmas.
The books are compilations of columns Waible has written for the 55 Plus section of The New Era since February 2006..
The first volume was published in 2008 and the second in 2009. Waibel said she has sold over 4,000 copies, selling them from within Sweet Home, Lebanon, Albany, and mailing them out to people as far away as the East Coast.
Waibel said that she was inspired to write her books because she loves history.
“I have always been interested in Sweet Home history,” she said. “ I’ve always lived in Sweet Home with my grandparents and parents.”
Her family first came to Oregon in 1882 and has lived here ever since.
Waibel said wanted to write about the other families here in Sweet Home. In her first book she themed the stories around the pioneer families that traveled from all over to Sweet Home. In the second book, the theme was of the logging families.
In her third book, Waibel has included stories about hunting and fishing families and pictures of their kills and catches. She also has included stories about the wrecks and storms that Sweet Home has encountered throughout the times. She also included stories about the Kalapuya Indians who lived here. She said many artifacts remain in the area from when the Indians were here, including trees they worshiped and arrowheads.
“I thought it would be neat to remember them,” Waibel said.
Out of all three of her books, she says she’s most proud of the latest.
“Each book is unique,” she said. “(Longtime resident) Billie Webber likes the first book best because it has her family. Loggers really like the second one.”
Within her books, Waibel said, she likes to write the stories like she talks.
“Some people say that’s not good. I thought it was because I’m the one writing the stories. I like putting my opinion into the books.”
Her stories include those of pioneer farmers, the Sportsman’s Holiday, loggers, truck drivers, and many more.
Waibel said she reads reads newspapers and cuts out articles and pictures that she thinks would make a good story. She’ll also go to The New Era and the Sweet Home Genealogy Center to look through old records and newspaper stories. After cutting the stories out, she’ll file them away in a file folder and once she feels she has enough information on the topic, she will the write a story on it.
She is already working to complete her fourth book, which will include stories about the schools around Sweet Home – Hawthorne, Foster, Oak Heights, and others that are no longer around.
Her books books are for sale for $15 each at 14 different locations in Sweet Home, including The New Era, Cedar Shack, Sweet Home RV and Foster Lake Mall.
Waibel said she splits the profits from the books between herself and the stores that sell them.
“My idea is not to make money, but to share the history,” she says.