Editor:
How soon we forget!
Regarding Sean Morgan’s article in the Dec. 5 New Era concerning the Sweet Home Economic Development Group’s plan to buy 66 acres for the Jamboree, I think if everything works out for both sides, it will be a very good home for the Jamboree.
My reason for writing is more about logistics. Mr. Morgan wrote that the property in question is located on the old Willamette Industries Santiam Lumber Mill site east of the water tower. The property is east of the water tower but is the site of the former Santiam Plywood not the lumber mill.
I drove down 24th Avenue and worked at the Santiam Plywood site for 25 years until the plant was shut down in late 1994.
There is a narrow gravel road beginning at 24th Avenue parallel to the railroad track that led to the lumber mill. The main entrance to the Lumber Mill is on Tamarack Street where Willamette Forest Products is currently located.
There was a suspended walkway over the pond east of the tower that connected the two sites.
The area at the top of the photograph in the yellow circle was once part of the pond system where all the logs from the trucks were dumped until it was eventually filled in and made into a cold deck for logs.
Totman’s Renewable Resources is using the former plywood site area. I hope they get help in relocating when the time comes to move.
Roy E. Vallard
Sweet Home