Figure 37
Entrance to Philomath with Mary's Peak in
the Background
Philomath,
like Corvallis, was born of education. Philomath College, still a landmark
building whose symbol adorns the City letterhead, was begun in 1865 as a co-ed
school. It was closed in 1929 after serving 6000 students. Philomath was named
after the college. Philomath College was vacant in the 1970s and there was talk
of tearing it down. People mobilized to prevent that, and it has become the
Benton County Historical Museum.
Philomath
has been a timber town:
"We were a timber town
until the mid-1980s. Now we have some high tech coming in."
"I was born and raised here. My grandfather and
father were in the timber business - that's all there was."
"This was a blue-collar town but now it has
become commuters."
In
the last several years, people who work elsewhere have found Philomath a
desirable place to be. Newcomers are said to be people from Corvallis or Albany
seeking a better quality of life, more affordable housing, the preferred
schools of Philomath, and a slower pace.
The
homes going in are high-end homes. The blue-collar history of the community is
giving way to commuting suburban dwellers.
"Philomath and Corvallis
have become one economy but they are still two communities. There used to be
cheap property here but that is no long true."
"I live on a farm near here that used to be my
parents. Since the mid-'50s. Of course, I don't farm."
South
of Philomath is the small, dispersed and old settlement of Bellfountain,
surrounded by green farms, and in the Greenberry Road area, a number of rural enterprises - Tyee
Wine Cellars, Inavale School, the Forest Service Seed Orchard, Oakridge Farm
and Cemetery, Davis Farm.
Publics
The publics of
Philomath include traditional families that characteristically have made their
living in forest work and timber production. An emerging professional class of
people has begun working in the community, although a greater share of them
commute to the urban areas. A large segment of Philomath residents now commute
to the urban labor markets of Albany, Corvallis, and Salem.
Networks
See Section Two.
Work Routines
Philomath is a
community undergoing transition from a timber town to one oriented to the labor
markets of Corvallis, Albany, and Salem.
"Traffic has changed direction. Used to be Corvallis
people would drive out here and work in the mills. Now people here drive to
town for work."
A number of stores
tell the story of the decline, tenacity, and continued presence of the timber
industry. A timber supply store, Weist Logging, in a small storefront, Miller
Timber Services, and Georgia Pacific still operate in the community. Local
residents thought that Georgia Pacific was stable and would be around for a
while. Other timber operations or wood products businesses have gone - Tree
Source (it had three operations including Philomath Forest Products), and
Smurfit newsprint.
Major timber
owners are Starker Forests, Weyerhaeuser (taking over Willamette Industries'
lands), Georgia Pacific, Simpson toward the coast and Thompson's, off Mary's
Peak. Starker and Thompson's have the reputation of longer rotations and
thinning management programs.
Some mills still
depend on larger trees, such as the Hull-Oakes operation in Bellfountain,
Georgia Pacific (sawmill and planing mill) in Philomath, Swanson Brothers in
Noti, as well as the Weyerhaeuser (formerly Willamette Industries) mill east of
Lebanon. Small diameter operations are not very plentiful - Cascade Pacific
Industries near Toledo and the mill in Cascadia that does 6-12 inch logs. A
Swanson Group operation for small diameter recently shut down near Junction
City.
A number of
comments by loggers and their family members show the attitudes and lifestyles
of this public:
"We need logging. Trees grow old and die. Old growth
is rotten on the inside, it must be harvested, too."
"One good thing is that we were forced to replant.
If you look at 30 year old stands, now they need thinning."
"My folks had 100 acres. We had to sell it when they
died. All we ever did was thin. We'd go in there every 7 or 8 years and thin it
again. When it was sold, the new owners cut everything and planted Christmas
trees."
"Family saw mills built the town - the new fire hall
in the '70s. The high school was built by sawmills."
"There are no jobs left. When I grew up there was a
sawmill in every canyon."
"We wouldn't even use Forest Service roads in
winter; they were too muddy. The roads were seasonal, then they went to rock,
and some went to blacktop!"
"Those towers can cost $1 million. You have to have
armed guards out there. They're going to lighter machinery every day, quicker
harvest."
"In the past, there were three mechanics shops
servicing the logging industry. They're still here but with just a few
workers."
Changes in the
timber industry are affecting future options in this area. Starker Forests is a
well-known company that developed through the gradual accumulation of 63,000
acres of timberlands initiated by the patriarch, T.J. Starker, who was an OSU
forestry professor for many years. The company does not process its logs but depends
on marketing them to area mills. It has focused on longer stock rotations,
thinning, and lighter touch forestry. The longer rotations, with a higher-grade
dimension product as the outcome, have not always proven themselves in the
marketplace. The market is going to "oriented-strandboards," using low-grade
material for chips. Smaller logs and quicker rotations work well for this
market. Specialty products are commanding more market attention than the
dimension products of the past. Certification processes to affirm sustainable
forestry practice have not yet realized a price premium, although Starker is a
member of the American Forests' program. A possible trend may be that
certification may be necessary to even get into the market in the future.
The presence of
the new economy can be discerned as well. An old rusted warehouse now has a
sign, "Architectural Salvage"; Sunrise Bakery and Bike Path have new and used
books in addition to bicycles. The Oregon Education Association is located by
the school administration building. A number of Hispanic businesses can be
observed, notably two small restaurants.
City officials and
residents have made some efforts to develop a new job base. An industrial park
was begun and Gene Tools, a company doing genetic research, has located there
and is apparently happy. Leaders hope that other similar companies will locate
there also. An old mill site of Willamette Industries has been vacant for 20
years. The 80 acres may go to development soon. Officials do not believe contamination
is a problem at the site. Generally, the economic development efforts have been
oriented to high technology, so-called "greener" companies.
The rural areas
around Philomath seemed filled with home-based businesses - vineyards and
wineries, horse stables, dog breeding, glass studios, and many others. Folks in
the very rural areas reported a general decline in agriculture and an
inmigration of medical people, as in Kings Valley, and other professionals
commuting to the urban areas.
City administration
reported the major employers for Philomath residents, along with the number of
employees, to be:
Hewlett-Packard
Co., Hand held calculators: 5,800
Evanite Fibert,
Battery separators, plastic: 244
Philomath Forest,
Lumber: 150
Georgia Pacific, Wood
products: 125
Smurfit, Wood
products, paper (now gone): 75
Source: Community
Profile, Oregon Economic and Community Development Department, 2002.
Support Services
People in the
Philomath area pride themselves on having an active community that knows how to
get things done. The development of the library is seen as a volunteer
"barn-raising" type event.
Philomath is known
for "great" schools. The Clemens Foundation was started by the timber family
and aids local schools. Residents said the foundation offered free college to
Philomath for students who graduated high school in the community. Apparently,
there was so much attraction by other families who moved to the community to
take advantage of the offer that officials had to increase the requirements.
After being re-stipulated that all high school years must be spent in the
community, the requirement was changed again to say that students must attend
Philomath from the 5th grade in order to get free college. Its
current director, a nephew of the founders, was in the news recently stating
the foundation may discontinue the program because the timber industry is not
respected and the program has attracted "welfare" thinking (Medford Mail
Tribune, 7/1/02).
A number of youth
facilities are located in Philomath. In addition to the Philomath Middle School
on the south end of town is Clemens Primary School and the Philomath Youth
Activities Club, a large, new building.
Bus service was
recently begun that links Philomath and Corvallis.
Philomath Community Foundation is a non-profit organization
that catalyzes community improvement projects.
Mary's River Grange remains a viable grange dedicated to
agricultural lifestyles.
Philomath is known locally and regionally as a community with
lots of volunteer labor. Everyone had a story about how this was done, or that
place was built, using local residents, and often, local dollars. Timber
companies are attributed with establishing a climate where it was considered
normal to do your part for your town. So many of the companies made
contributions of money, labor, and materials to develop the community. The
Hull, Clemens, and Starker families were known as philanthropists who gave
locally first. The fire hall and library are attributed to the community spirit
developed over the years.
What is remarkable about the volunteerism of Philomath is that
is was at its strongest in the 1990s, five to ten years after the decline of
timber, when one would expect the town to be reeling with economic hardship.
There has been talk in the community about an improved
highway - "55 from I-5 to the sea" is the motto. Residents are concerned because
this highway would by-pass Philomath and hurt the town economically that
depends increasingly on highway traffic.
Recreation Activities
See Section Three.
B. Citizen Themes and Issues
Related to Community Life
Citizen
Themes
1. "We lost our
job base." This theme permeates community life. People are still adjusting to
the decline of timber and to the newcomers in their community who work
elsewhere.
2.
"Environmentalists moved in and ruined everything." The same gentleman said,
"We were overcutting, but they went too far."
Citizen Issues Related to Community Life
Community and
Economic Development
"There's a big push to do industrial lands
conversion. People want cleaner and greener enterprises."
"Benton has to change. We need something more than the
college and Hewlett."
"Now the taxes are high, I don't see how anyone can
live here." [Especially for long-term families]
"Salvage trees should be taken. Look at all that bug
kill on [Highway] 58 in the McKenzie. It's just sitting there."
"We need thinning sales!"
"Farmland is being lost to houses. The best farmland
is along the river and that is becoming houses."
A community civic center is one of our goals."
Section
Two:
Communication
Strategies
A. Informal Networks and Communication
Paul's Diner;
young families; the owner is involved in restoration activities.
Terry Selby at the
High School does outdoor education.
B. Formal Groups and Communication
Figure 38
Organizations With Interest in Public Lands in Philomath
|
Organization
|
Contact Information
|
Mission
|
|
The Oregon Trail Riding
Association
|
Amy and Barry Krohn
(541) 754-3266
|
Horse trail development
|
|
Philomath Community
Foundation
|
(541) 929-5166
|
Catalyzes community
projects
|
|
Mary's River Grange
|
|
|
|
Association of Oregon Loggers
|
Salem
1-800-452-6023
|
Advocates for interests
of timber workers
|
|
Philomath Chamber of
Commerce
|
2395 Main St.
Philomath, OR 97370
|
|
|
Mary's River Watershed
Council
|
Sandra Coveny
611 NW 17th
Avenue
Corvallis, OR 97330
(551) 758-7597
|
|
|
Willamette Restoration
Initiative
|
|
PO Box 13026
Salem, OR 97309 (503) 375-5686
|
|
|
Funding land tour on
sustainable practices
|
Section
Three:
The
Public Lands Perspective
A. Uses of and Orientation to Public
Lands
Recreation is both
a pastime and an economic activity. While the timber and blue-collar town
engaged in social activities, "make do" recreation, and active uses of the
outdoors, the commuting town is more oriented to "entertainment" and organized
events and activities. It is a more educated population with more income.
"Recreation
is big and will stay big."
Fishing remains
extremely popular.
"A lot of people use the boat ramps on the Siuslaw
River, especially in winter."
A number of
facilities cater to horse interests. The Tanglewood Tack Shoppe features
eastern and western riding. Crescent Valley Stables, Harmony's Training Center,
Inavale on Airport Road, OSU Equestrian Center, and the Oregon Trail Riding
Association. The facilities seem mainly oriented to breeding and trails, with
the trails being on private lands or on industrial timberlands. Horse people
typically go on a periodic basis, perhaps yearly, to wilderness areas or other
high country sites for extended trips as well. Their interests with public
lands relates especially to maintaining access.
Local nurseries
say the demand for native stock is rising and is unlikely to go away. Native
perennials are the hardest to get. Nursery grown natives are preferred in the
market than native stocks gathered on site, so it appears public lands are not
directly related to this economic activity. However, continued education about
the importance of using native species through Forest Service programs is
desired.
The Oregon
Department of Forestry has a district office in Philomath. It has a reputation
of direct community involvement and it is active in offering technical support
to Watershed Councils.
The Corvallis
Municipal Watershed is located on Mary's Peak, and the City draws on Willamette
River water as well.
A logging program
is still going on in the schools where students are offered instruction in
forest employment.
Mary's River
Watershed Council meets in Philomath and appears made up equally of local
landowners, natural resource professionals, and townspeople. The group seemed
to have good working relationships and a history of successful projects. The
Willamette Restoration Initiative funded its June land tour of sustainable practices.
The Council has a small grant program for helping landowners and groups, and
conducts data collection, analysis and monitoring of certain watershed
functions. They draw on OWEB and EPA funding. It also recently co-sponsored a
"Watersheds, Wetlands, and Wineries" celebration at Tyee Wine Cellars. Benton
County Soil and Water Conservation District has been active with the Council.
The Forest Service reportedly has not been. Finally, the Council has been in
communication with other nearby Watershed Councils (Long Tom, Luckiamute, and
others) and they are exploring regional coordination for some projects.
Forest Service
ties did not seem extensive with the exception of Mary's Peak management.
"I'm not too sure where the closest Forest Service
office is. I know Alsea's closed and I don't know if Corvallis has an office or
not." [Storeowner]
"We haven't used Rural Assistance dollars for
a few years. I think the last project was to improve north 13th
street 6 years ago." [City administrator]
People from
Corvallis and Philomath have felt included in the management of Mary's Peak,
and other nearby lands. For signage, vandalism, winter closings, historical
preservation, citizens feel consulted and supported.
"This has been an active relationship."
B.
Citizen Issues Related to
Natural
Resource Management
Many people,
particularly those involved in outdoor education and youth activities of one
kind or another, consistently brought up their interest in more outdoor
education in the region by the Forest Service.
Residents who have
traditionally engaged in timber management practices have a number of
criticisms about Forest Service management. The general argument is that
environmental voices have too much influence, and that conflicting laws and
changing administrations prevent effective management.
Because timber
receipts in the past came back to local counties to support roads and schools,
timber people feel that the "payments to counties" program of the last couple
of years is "hush money" because it de-couples timber production from financial
support of communities. Of course, the big item is that the Forest Service does
not put out timber sales.
"We
tried advisory committees to develop timber sales after the [Northwest] Forest
Plan, but they didn't work. Access to the courts is too easy."
"The
Siuslaw can produce 300 MMBF [million board feet] a year that could be cut. Our
hope is that federal forests will come back to a reasonable level of cut."
"If
current management doesn't change and some timber harvest allowed to happen, it
is a recipe for fire, insects, and disease."
"Frivolous
law suits hurt. Environmentalists infiltrate the Forest Service and meanwhile
dead and dying material is not harvested."
Smaller timber
production facilities:
"The biggest problem with the decline of federal
timber is that the big boys dictate supply and demand. Isn't it ironic that
they have in common with environmentalists an incentive to keep things shut
down?"
"Big timber landowners control the supply. The
Forest Service trees in the past helped smooth the price curves. As a
medium-sized company, we are barely holding on."
"The
timber sale process is too cumbersome, too structured. It is cost prohibitive.
'Must build 5 miles of road,' 'Must do own environmental report.' The system is
bogged down in paperwork."
Some residents
have valued the more recent timber management philosophy of the Siuslaw:
"Siuslaw timber sales maybe shouldn't return. These
soils are more sensitive than most and slides in the past were common. The
Forest shifted to lighter touch management and it's a good thing."
Mary's Peak
"Signage at Mary's Peak was a real problem. They
finally got them up and then vandals did them in. They had to do them again.
When the toilets were vandalized, the community was outraged."
"Nobody liked it when they closed the peak [Mary's
Peak] in the winter. Once people understood the costs, then it was OK."
On the proposed
move the Siuslaw National Forest Supervisor's Office (see chapter on
Corvallis):
"The move is bad. Keep managers close to the land.
It sends the wrong signal. They already closed Alsea. The Siuslaw Forest is
600,000 acres - an area that size deserves its own administrator." [Timber
industry representative]
General
"The Forest Service could really push education on
native species. People still don't get why that's important."
C. Management Opportunities
The last chapter
on Final Recommendations outlines opportunities to address interests in timber
production and in outdoor education.
Previous Chapter
