Dick Knowles and Verlin Weaver
The Wilderness Village Project
The members of the Steering Committee of the Wilderness Village Foundation (formerly Project) would like to extend their warmest thanks to all the community for its past and continued support for the project.
The Steering Committee is excited that an independent, private developer has now chosen to initiate a resort plan in the City of Sweet Home that reflects so much of the intention, style and emphasis of the project reflected in the original Wilderness Village Project Feasibility Study.
The committee is working with the developer and his group to make sure that the many years of planning, design and effort put forth by the committee and so many members of the local community will continue into the future.
The developer has expressed his intent to set aside an area within his planning process to include a nonprofit museum as envisioned by the Wilderness Village Foundation.
The Wilderness Village Foundation is focusing its efforts on this museum tentatively to be known as the Oregon Timber Museum. The museum will stand as a tribute to the timber industry and the many businesses and industries that were connected to it. Similar to the ideas expressed in the feasibility study, the current plan is to have virtual reality pieces, areas for story telling and exhibits of pieces of equipment with the main emphasis being a place that will memorialize the industry and the people in it, particularly those who gave their lives in this area.
The committee is seeking input from the community at large regarding available photos, videos, voice tapes, stories or any other creative media (quilts, paintings, articles) that can be used telling the story of the timber and logging industry in the Sweet Home region.
The Steering Committee continues to meet on the first Wednesdays of the month at 7 p.m. at the high school library and would like to invite members of the community. If a visit with the group would be difficult, a phone call to Dick Knowles, chairman, at 367-7765, or Corky Lowen, Museum Committee chairwoman, 367-3864, would be deeply appreciated.