From Salem to Newport

On Friday Dad and I had a full day planned with reasonable expectations. Find brunch in Salem, meet with Tracey one last time, and head to the coast.

We met with Tracey at her office and she handed over the most recent documents she had discovered in the archives, mainly legal proceedings between Aaron L. Chamberlin and his wife Martha. Looks like there were a few fireworks in the family background! Once we decipher the lawyer's impossible handwriting we can get the whole story. It was great to see Tracey one last time and we left promising we would be back to Salem some day soon...

There were two more quick stops to make before heading out of Salem, one to the house of Plenty Lafrances (sister of Clarde Chamberlin) and one to John Heffley's house to drop off a gift. Unfortunately on our first stop we were unsure exactly which house belonged to Plenty due to an apparent house numbering change. Her death certificate indicated 2350 Myrtle Ave. but the numbers went from 2348 to 2370. We felt it was the big grey house (2370) but there was a chance it could have been the smaller one next door (2348). There will definitely be some further investigating required on our next trip.




The big house was being renovated so we took the opportunity to chat with the present owners. They sure had their work cut out for them and it reminded me of the old house in Victoria (see 2007 posts)...I won't be taking on a reno that big ever again...




Due to our difficulty in connecting with John the last two days we felt we would be dropping his gift at the door and carrying on but it was a very pleasant surprise to find both Charlotte and John at home and very happy to see us. We were invited in and John opened up his binder of family history.




We learned some incredible history of the area and the story of how the Heffleys came to acquire the Chamberlin property. Needless to say the details are too lengthy to go into right here but it is safe to say that John and Charlotte feel a deep connection to the former Chamberlin Donation Land Claim and are committed to keeping it and the Chamberlin Cemetery intact. John has his own history on that land, his father acquired it in the 1930's, and it feels good to know more than one family has benefited from the obvious special nature of the place. We had a very, very enjoyable afternoon with John and Charlotte...




From there is was to Starbucks and their free wireless to plot our voyage to the ocean. Our Priceline bid failed but we were feeling adventurous and set out to see what Newport had to offer.



As we reached Newport the timing couldn't have been better...what a spectacular re-introduction to the ocean...








As soon as the sun went down we realized we were hungry and in need of lodging. We crossed the bridge to the south side and quickly found a suitable hotel. The front desk informed us of a great pub located in a brewery down the road, although we were warned everything in Newport shuts down at 9PM so we had to move fast. Move we did, and what a great find that pub was...excellent food and a view like no other.

One had to walk through the brewery to get to the restaurant.




The weary travelers enjoying a bite and a beer...



And last but not least the view like no other...




Tomorrow it is the Oregon Coast south to Crescent City, California. If the weather continues to hold we are in for a real show. California here we come!

Coming Home

At least it felt that way. I suppose Oregon is just one stop in our overall family history but it is a very significant one, and sometimes I think you find a place in your own history to feel at home. Where the time and the place just seems right. The Chamberlin Cemetery, on the site of our original 640 acre claim, is one of those places. And the time is certainly right, at least from my own personal perspective. And it really is a personal thing after all.

As Dad and I travelled to the cemetery the weather was unpredictable, alternating frequently between sun, cloud, and rain. It would be anyone's guess as to the conditions upon our arrival. This weather somehow had the effect of bringing out the rich colours of the lush green fields and dark and light foliage of the fir and maples, and the sun truly brought those colours out as we arrived...

Joe had opened the gate and smoothed the approach. The rest of the journey was about a hundred yards up between the young fir trees.



Looking down was not bad for a view...



As we hit the top of the hill the first marker I saw was the one in the cemetery with the most significance to Dad and myself, that of Catharine (Viles) Chamberlin.






She was the wife of Aaron Sr and the two of them staked their claim and raised their six children within view of where they now rest.




Unfortunately the headstones of many of the Chamberlins that are known to be buried here were missing. The Collins markers seem to have fared better...perhaps they had access to more durable material?




Colleen pointed out some of her family to us, although we are still not certain of the connection and hope to discover that as we progress with our research.




It didn't take long to feel the tranquility of this spot. The view would be prime if the trees were cleared, but the lush growth and resulting privacy is what makes this place truly special.




Some were very young when they died, although we have been surprised during our research how few of the young perished considering the challenges of those times.





The research continued while the weather held...




...although in this place there is always time to stop and reflect.





Eventually we had to say farewell until the next time. For Dad and myself we said goodbye to Catharine...and all the other Chamberlins keeping a low profile on the hill.



We all headed downwards as the hail and rain encouraged our departure...



...but around here the sun never seems gone for long.




And so tomorrow we depart this part of Oregon that holds so much history, that of the Chamberlins and so many others. The people we have met while here have left as big an impression as the incredible landscape, and we feel privileged to have made so many new acquaintances and friends. Thank you specifically to Colleen and Tracey, without you both we would be two confused Canadians lost in a field somewhere. Now we are still two confused Canadians, but we now know the exact field in which we can truly lose ourselves...

Lots of Answers - More Questions

It was a heck of a productive day today. We met up with Tracey for breakfast...I can't believe the portions here but somehow I soldiered through all those blueberry pancakes! She provided us with a concise compilation of her research and we had a great visit. We also learned that she does all her research for free...she is a 5th generation Oregonian and just enjoys giving back to the region by donating her time in terms of historical research, in particular that of the many pioneer cemeteries. She and her husband are often found foraging through brush and battling poison oak to locate overgrown cemeteries and cataloguing the occupants.

While Tracey was on her way out Colleen arrived and we extended our breakfast a bit. Colleen is a Collins and we are still unsure exactly if we are related through marriage or if the Collins and Chamberlins were just good friends. The Collins had a Donated Land Claim next door to the Chamberlins.

This is a photo of us with Tracey:



Colleen, Dad, and myself then headed to John Hefley's house to see if he was available for a visit. Colleen took the opportunity to show us the sign that will be put up at the Chamberlin Cemetery site to mark it as an official historical cemetery.



Unfortunately John was not home so we decided to carry on to the Polk County Museum to start our research. We were a bit early so cruised around and checked the story-boards outside.





Once inside we hit the books hard. There was so much information that we were truly overloaded but it is much better having too much info than not enough and we had a very productive afternoon.



Here is a tree tracing our relatives back to the late 1500's. This is so interesting. Looks like my great, great, great, great, great grandfather was an officer in the American Revolution. There is much more to investigate but we haven't had a chance to really dig deep yet...








This map shows the journey the Chamberlins made along the Oregon Trail from Missouri in 1845:




In here somewhere are the maps of the Donated Land Claims belonging to Aaron C. Chamberlin and his sons Andrew and Joseph...



This is a map of all DLC's in this area of Oregon...



And a survey map of the original DLC taken by Aaron C. Chamberlin. This piece of land is where we went to right after the museum and is the location of the Chamberlin Cemetery...



A photo of the original Chamberlin homestead:



One last photo of the intrepid investigators before heading out to the countryside...



We are definitely in farm country!



We headed south of the museum at Rickreall and towards Corvallis. The old Chamberlin DLC (containing the Chamberlin Cemetery) is now owned by John Hefley and is located part way between Monmouth and Corvallis on Hwy 99W...





The countryside is really quite striking, a combination of lush fields and rolling hills with a mix of coniferous and deciduous trees...I hope to get some decent pics in the coming days. We pulled up and spoke with Joe, the person renting a residence on the property.



We were quickly pointed to the gate leading to the Chamberlin Cemetery. It will be a bit of a climb tomorrow...



After making arrangements with Joe we called it a day. On our way out Joe's pet goat entertained us...although the sticking out of the tongue was uncalled for!







On that note we headed back to the ranch (read: thin-walled hotel) and had a light dinner of crackers and cheese...these American breakfasts and lunches certainly render the last meal of the day superfluous. Well, another day of adventure ahead tomorrow...hopefully we will get to connect with John Hefley as he will hold more than a few answers to some of the bigger research questions that arose today.