Sweet Lorane Community News, April 5, 2018

April 5, 2018Newspaper ColumnsA Little Bit of Lorane History, Calapooya Mountains, Cartwright House, Crow Middle/High School, Divide, Estes Ranch, Goshen-Divide Highway, Hawley Land and Cattle Company, Ira Hawley, Michele Kau, Mountain House Hotel, Parade of Heroes, Pat Dixon, Robert H. Ward, Umpqua River, Washington DC, Willamette Riverpaedwards Leave a comment

Fern Ridge Review
Creswell Chronicle
Sweet Lorane Community News
April 5, 2018
By Pat Edwards

We got the news yesterday that the Crow High School band, led by Music Director Extraordinaire, Pat Dixon, has been selected to represent Oregon in the “Parade of Heroes” in Washington, D.C. over Veterans Day weekend. According to our daughter, Michele Kau, Teacher Extraordinaire at Crow, the band is desperately needing help with funding to make the trip happen. They are accepting cash donations and have begun a fundraising effort by selling really great-looking t-shirts to commemorate the trip. The t-shirt order link can be found on the Lorane, Oregon and Crow Community Facebook pages and more information is available by calling the school at 541-935-2227. Let’s show our pride and help make this happen for our local student/musicians!

Speaking of Crow Middle/High School, we also got word that last week – sometime between Friday, March 30 and Sunday, April 1, someone broke into the auto shop at the high school and stole multiple items that belong to the school. It has been so exciting to see our schools providing vocational classes again for our students and to have this one crippled by tools and equipment being stolen over Spring Break, is very upsetting. If anyone has any information on the theft, please contact the sheriff’s office and the school.

Once again, we don’t have a lot of news to report this week. This time, I’m going to tell you a little about when the stage route that went through Lorane was changed…

A Little Bit of Lorane History:

The Divide landmark is located at the I-5 exit 170. It marks the little-noticed pass that divides the Umpqua River watershed from the Willamette River watershed—Southern Oregon from Northern Oregon. It is here where a traveler can return to U.S. Highway 99, now called the Goshen-Divide Highway, to visit the towns where the highway once brought prosperity.

At one time, there was a post office called Divide that was established on May 31, 1900 and was closed on January 15, 1921. It may have been moved across county borders, or its county designation may have changed in a boundary shift between Lane and Douglas counties.

After 1865, the stagecoaches no longer used the steep Territorial Road to cross the Calapooya Mountains, past the Cartwright House/Mountain House Hotel and Lorane on their way to Eugene City. Instead, they were rerouted by way of an old road which wound through Pass Creek Canyon. The road was poor, soft and muddy along the creek bottom and the canyon passage was narrow.

Robert H. Ward, who lived at the southern end of the new route, built a corduroy road by laying 8-foot cedar logs side by side across the road through the pass. This road became known as Ward’s Toll Road, with Ward collecting a toll from northbound travelers and Ira Hawley collecting the southbound tolls.

On the stage route, Hawley’s Station was located 10 miles north of Estes Ranch on the Ira B. Hawley Donation Land Claim. It provided a rest stop and a horse-changing station there.
“The passengers found food and overnight accommodations at the house and a big barn sheltered the team of horses on the large 4,000 acre cattle and sheep ranch. There was also a small community school on the property that served the surrounding area.

Today, U.S. Highway 99, south of Cottage Grove passes the red ranch buildings and barns which belong to the present Hawley Land and Cattle Company on the site of Ira Hawley’s Stage Station.

(From OREGON’S MAIN STREET: U.S. Highway 99 “The Folk History” [2014] by Pat Edwards)

Sweet Lorane Community News, February 1, 2018

February 2, 2018Newspaper ColumnsBrian Kau, Crow Homecoming, February, Friendship Dinner, Lorane Bread Basket, Lorane Christian Church, Michele Kaupaedwards Leave a comment

Fern Ridge Review
Creswell Chronicle
Sweet Lorane Community News
February 1, 2018
By Pat Edwards

I can’t remember when the first day of February has been so encouraging. Usually, by this time of winter, I am sick of the rain and the mud. Historically, February has always been my least favorite month of the year and I’m usually ready to seek out some sunshine. We may regret it later, but this year we have been blessed with much less rain, more strings of dry—and sometimes even sunny—days. We’ve had some sub-freezing temps, but not an unbearable amount and no snow or electrical outages.

As I write this, a strong winter sun is shining through the trees on the hill outside my window. The winter blues have not set in this year, and I’m enjoying our lengthening days of daylight… and yes, I know—I may eat those words this summer.

This week, our grandson called and said he had just completed the first of two planters he is building that will reside outside our store in Lorane. He asked me if I would bring home some flowers from town to plant in them. My first thought and comment, was… “This is not the time of year to plant flowers, Kev. If we have a major freeze, they won’t survive.” But, then I thought of the hardy, tough primroses that seem to survive whatever Mother Nature throws at them in my own flower beds. And, even though it’s too late to plant my favorite spring bulbs—daffodils, tulips, crocuses and hyacinths—I found some sturdy-looking potted hyacinths in a garden shop that were ready to bloom. They were outside and looked like they would at least put up a good fight if we have another freeze. I came home with enough to fill the new planter, and we shall see…

So, for me, this is proof that I can feel positive in February. The winter doldrums that frequently rob me of a lot of possibilities are not present this year. I’m thankful for that.

Now, on to some Lorane and Crow news…

The Lorane Christian Church will be hosting its annual “Friendship Banquet” on Sunday, February 11, at 5:30 p.m. This year, it will be held at Izzy’s on West 11th in Eugene, next to Fred Meyer. Everyone is invited and encouraged to come and share a social evening with neighbors and friends.

The Lorane Bread Basket group wants to remind anyone in the community who is in need to contact them as they offer food baskets all year round—not just during the holidays. If you know someone who could use one, please call 541-520-3643 or 541-952-7752. They will be glad to help.

Next week, February 5-9, is Spring Homecoming Week at CHS. Each day will be assigned a theme so students can dress-up each day according to the theme. Thursday is going to be Dress as Your Favorite Staff Member Day, and it ends with Spirit Day on Friday; the Homecoming Dance is that night. I personally want copies of pictures from anyone who chooses to dress up like teachers, Michele or Brian Kau, especially. If anyone does, please send them to me at paedwards42@yahoo.com for a special project I’m working on.

The project is no secret, as I had to tell our daughter, Michele, about it earlier, but I’m working on a 50th birthday album for her and hope to have it printed in time for her birthday on March 7. Anyone who would like to send a birthday greeting, memory or photo for me to include, should get them to me by February 15. I know she’s got many friends and former students out there who have some fun memories that will bring her joy when she reads her book.

Happy February, all!

Sweet Lorane Community News, January 11, 2018

January 11, 2018Newspaper ColumnsCrow Booster Club, Crow High School, Deanne Corcoran, Delores Corcoran, Gloria Edwards, Hunter Heineman, Jacob Brown, Michele Kau, Rorypaedwards Leave a comment

Fern Ridge Review
Creswell Chronicle
Sweet Lorane Community News
January 11, 2018
By Pat Edwards

I just heard that a beloved former Lorane resident, Delores Corcoran, passed away recently. She and her husband Vince lived on a 20-acre farm in the Mill Camp area south of Lorane until a few years ago when they decided to downsize. Our daughters, Gloria Edwards and Michele Kau, helped them locate a new and smaller home in town and I’d like to use some of Gloria’s words in this column today.

Delores and Deanne Corcoran

“Sadly, we lost yet another long-time resident of Lorane—Delores Corcoran. Michele and I were blessed to get to know her and we grew to absolutely love both Delores and Vinny (Vincent). I see this picture with Delores and her daughter Deanne and it makes my cry… it is SO reflective of her. She had a beautiful soul and was married to the love of her life. There was no doubt they were each other’s best friend for the 52 years they were married. It brought me so much joy to personally spend time with them during our house hunting adventures! She will be dearly missed. Rest in peace Dolores Corcoran—you were definitely one of the good ones!”

Then, from the Crow Booster Club comes this request for donations: “On December 7, 2017 our high school Cougar Jacob Brown was playing basketball with the Crow High School team at Lowell and suffered a season-ending injury. He required ambulance transportation to the hospital where he was found to have a tibia-fibula compound fracture to his leg (both lower bones in multiple breaks). This required surgical repair, hospitalization, prolonged healing with severe limitations on use and function, multiple medical visits with many more to come to be able to return his prior level of function.

According to the booster club, “We have also learned that unfortunately, many of the medical bills will not be covered by their medical insurance. The Crow Booster Club is initiating a fundraiser for the Brown family to help them through this time. We are collecting donations through the end of January. One hundred percent of all donations designated to the ‘Jacob Brown Fund’ will be provided to the family.

“Any and all donations will make a difference. Checks should be made out to Crow Booster Club and sent to Crow Booster Club, P.O. Box 1228, Veneta OR 97487 or given to a Crow Booster Club member. If you have any questions please send an email to crowboosterclub@yahoo.com or reach out to any Crow Booster Club member.”

Another local fundraiser for the young Veneta boy, Hunter Heineman, who was killed in a recent motor vehicle accident was held at Yukon Jacks in Veneta this past weekend. I have no doubt that our communities will reach out to the families of these young residents. It is so heart-breaking when our children are lost or hurt. We never know when it could be our own.

Rory On a happier note, I have been spending a few days this past week puppy-sitting our little 2-month-old “grandpuppy” named Rory. She belongs to Michele and Brian Kau who recently brought her home from Roseburg. This beautiful, happy, not-so-little soul is a combination Akbash and Border Collie. The Akbash is a large white guardian dog similar to a Great Pyrenees that are used by sheep farmers to guard their herds. She currently looks like a black and white fluff-ball with huge tan eyebrows and she enchants each of us who have gotten to know her. Like all grandkids, we occasionally get her during the days, but can send her home with “mom and dad” at night. It’s been a win-win for now until she’s old enough to be able to spend her days in the big fenced yard around Michele and Brian’s home with Duke while they are at work.

Happy January, all!