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History
"Short History of the Little Nestucca River Valley and Its Early Pioneers" written about South Tillamook County, Oregon
The page below was written by Mrs. Hardy Rock (Alexandria LEY Rock) and published in 1949. NVMS students have retyped her history so that many may read it. Although some punctuation errors have been corrected the text remains as written by Mrs. Rock.
Note that Alexandria LEY Rock's "Short History of the Little Nestucca River Valley and Its Early Pioneers" has been republished in book form as of January 2007 and is now being offered for sale by the Tillamook County Historical Society!
p. 35 Industries continued
(This page was typed by sixth grader, Alyosha, during the spring of 2002 and edited by Dean Bones.)
A cranberry bog was planted in 1912-13 north of the present Neskowin Golf Links which furnished employment for awhile. The plants failed to grow and this industry was abandoned.
All these industries were followed before the diary business and cheese factories started.
Many years ago, wild fox glove got started and became a pest, spreading rapidly. The gathering of the leaves has become a very profitable industry for women, children ,and some men. They are packed for sale in gunny sacks and are made into Digitalis. One sackful which is quickly gathered is worth about $5.00.
Beautiful ferns are in shady creek bottoms and sold to florists, bringing excellent prices to pickers.
The tame blackberry became wild and has spread rapidly. These are picked and sold in bulk. Some are packed in barrels for shipment east. Many women and children engage in this cash industry.
In 1925 Andy Hess, of Meda, started a fox farm which he discontinued in 1936 because fur prices dropped too low to justify continuing the work.
In 1936 or 1937 Earl Porter (son of the late T. A. Porter of Oregon) bought fifteen female and three male mink to start raising mink. This has grown to be a profitable one in Tillamook County although few dairymen in Little Nestucca Section have engaged in it. Porter has a large mink village at present.
In 1946, Mrs. Martha Carver (now Mrs. Jake Gasho) began mink raising on the south side of Little Nestucca River near the dock. Others engaged in the industry are Jake and Norman Reddekopp in the Meda District.
Kelp Ore was found on the farm belonging to Grace Etzwiler but was not developed because the vein did not prove a profitable one.
The dairy industry ranks highest of industries in this section. At present, 1949-50, the cheese factory is centrally located at Oretown. It has been enlarged and modernized with latest equipment, employs several men the year round, and is the source of income upon which the dairymen depend. Large herds of cows are kept on nearly all farms; these are often tested, barns and milk houses inspected and every precaution taken to secure the very finest and best of cheese.
Jaunts for pleasure or profit were not uncommon for early settlers. Woman, as well as men, walked long distances and enjoyed it; children had to walk miles to school. The campers and tourists at Slab Creek often, even to the present time, walk to Nestucca Bay for clams. One jaunt which has come to my attention seems worthy to record here. After the cannery was built on Nestucca Bay, to get a fresh salmon, Mrs. Alfred (Rose) Bauer, of Neskowin, often walked from her home to the beach to the mouth of the Bay where she had to edge her way carefully around the narrow ledge of rock between the ocean beach and bay beach. This is where the high promontory juts out of the south side of Nestucca Bay. It is very precarious footing and has to be accomplished quickly while the receding swell of ocean water uncovers the narrow rocky ledge and before another swell covers it.
Continue to page 36 of "Short History of the Little Nestucca River Valley and Its Early Pioneers!"