Who Owned the Molalla Pioneer
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6 MOLALLA PIONEER 100-YEAR ANNIVERSARY Opinion & Editorial Who was G. J. Taylor, anyway? eing new to Molalla, INVITED PORTLAND TO JOIN IN RAILROAD CELEBRATION Bui talked about this Centennial Year Taylor’s campaign to project has proven to bring business to be Ban exciting — and educa- Molalla. tionalB — process. But while “He was convinced researching the history of the that the Molalla area Molalla Pioneer, the city of would hold great oppor- Molalla, its citizens from the tunity with the con- past and its environs, I met a struction of the railroad lot of great people here in underway and the rail- town who were eager and road traffic that would willing to help. soon be coming through There is the city historians, town,” Bui said. “In especially Iris Riley, who addition to publishing shared photos from the the weekly newspaper, Molalla Area Historical Taylor also ran the Society and even helped me Molalla Pioneer com- Photo courtesy of Robert Bui browse through their archives, mercial printing office Gordon Taylor at his Meadowbrook cabin, 1940 and Lois E. Ray, an MAHS that catered to the area.” board member and author, Bui said that the who gave me a copy of her BACK BOW, LEFT TO RIGHT: PIONEER EDITOR G. J. TAYLOR, E. ROBBINS, G. H. GREGORY. Molalla Pioneer was a book “Molalla” to learn from. FRONT ROW, LEFT TO RIGHT: MARK. WOODRUFF, L. H. STONE, O. K. COLE, J. R. WOLFF., A family business. After Who owned the But another helpful source, COMMITTEE THAT WENT TO PORTLAND TO INVITE BUSINESSMENT TO SEE MOLALLA. graduating from Molalla after reading in the Pioneer High School, Taylor’s about this project, came down son, Walt, joined the Molalla Pioneer all the way from Vancouver, Wash. to give me some personal business as a linotype operator. history on the paper’s first editor, Gordon J. Taylor. Robert Taylor had bigger dreams than just being a newspaper pub- and Jan Bui even brought photos of Taylor and his house up lisher though. In 1918, he ran on the Republican ticket for a Here’s a timeline — some dates are approximate in Meadowbrook, which is now a historical landmark. seat on the legislature, representing the 16th district. His slo- It seems Robert Bui grew up right next door to the Taylors gan, “Better legislation, less agitation,” was printed in the The Pioneer has been around even longer than the during the 30s and 40s. April 27 Voter’s Magazine along with his platform: incorporated city of Molalla, by a few months. Why his information was so helpful is that after all my “Earnestly work for such law as as will advance the moral research into the man, all I had learned about G. J. Taylor and material welfare of the state. My first thought and effort Owners over the years had to try and fill the boots came from tidbits I found online — old newspaper articles of will be for a speedy winning of the war for liberty. I favor of its first editor, G. J. Taylor, who not only put out the times. Ironically, I learned the most about the Molalla edi- state and national prohibition. One of the greatest problems the weekly paper but spent considerable time pro- tor from his rival paper, The Oregonian. before the state is the development of the rural community. I moting the city far and wide. Judging by the length But now, with Bui’s information, I met the man. Gordon J. recognize good roads as the more important factor in this. I some owners stayed around, they must have found Taylor, who came to Molalla from the Toledo-Castle Rock will favor legislation which gives the best results in roads for area of Washington in the spring of 1913 with his wife Nettie farmers. I favor economy, the cutting down of every unneces- the job daunting. and grade school-age son Walter to start a newspaper. sary expese and salary in the state and county.” The owners were: He was an energetic man of maybe 35 who, probably I don’t think he won the election that year. But he was through no small coincidence, arrived just as the town was elected and served in the legislature in 1930 and 1931. 1. G.J. Taylor — March 7, 1913 to late 1920s beginning to grow. The railroad was coming – two different “Gordon Taylor was always interested in politics,” Bui 2. James V. Blake — late 1920s lines – and that meant prosperity. Taylor, an apparently natu- said. “In August, 1940, he hosted a picnic for then-U.S. 3. C. Leonard Ireland — late 1920s to February 1946 ral-born leader, jumped right in, taking up the reins to Senator Rufus C. Holman, who was running for re-election.” 4. Monroe Sweetland — February 1946 to May 1, 1948 encourage fellow Molalla businessmen to start a Commercial The Taylor family lived in downtown Molalla, and they 5. Charles F. Burger — May 1, 1948 to late 1948 Club (early Chamber of Commerce) and promote the town. built a summer house on Milk Creek at Meadowbrook in 6. Howard Durfee — late 1948 to December 1952 He led groups of men to Portland to drum up interest in 1925. During the depression, they sold their home in town and 7. Paul F. Ruud — December 1952 to Sept 9, 1971 Molalla and promoted the town’s many wonders far and wide. moved into the “cabin” at Meadowbrook. 8. Bruce Keys — Sept. 9, 1971 to mid 1970s His editorials in the Molalla Pioneer, especially those first “My father bought an adjoining property in 1929, and we 9. Roger Eddy — mid 1970s to Jan 22, 1976 few years, prodded his fellow citizens into action. became good friends with the Taylors,” Bui said. “After sell- 10. Orrin Carhart — Jan 22, 1976 to mid 1980s. His slogan “Make Molalla Move” became known far and ing the paper in the 40s, both Gordon and Walt worked in 11. Eagle Newspapers — mid 1980s to Jan. 1, 2013 wide. And the city did move, throwing up new homes and Salem for the state of Oregon.” 12. Pamplin Media Group Jan. 1, 2013 to the present businesses and schools to meet the demand. — Peggy Savage Of course, a prosperous town would mean more prosperity for the owner of the local newspaper. Letters to the Editor Maybe Rep. Schrader forgot how he ended up spending ($7 much. Let ‘em stay home all year; at least that way we would It’s time to think about Relay for Life trillion) in five years over and above the regular unbudgeted know for sure we were being cheated out of our money To the editor: budget. For a minute there, I thought Rep. Schrader was a instead of just believing that to be the case. The 13th Annual Relay for Life of Molalla is coming soon. closeted Tea Party person, he was so agitated about the debt The relay will be held on the weekend of June 22 & 23 at that he caused. The buck stops with you, son, and you can’t Michael J. Early Heckard Field. This events runs from noon on Saturday until wiggle out of it. Mulino 10 am on Sunday. The theme this year is “Remember the George Abbott Past...Celebrate the Future!” The theme honors the 100th Molalla anniversaries of the American Cancer Society and Molalla. Coltonites need to step up and file At this time we are looking for teams to join the relay. You To the editor: can have an unlimited number of members for only $75. This Colton-ites: Become Engaged! Our next local election is is a great event to show support to your loved ones who have Congress doesn’t do any useful work May 21, with candidate filing date being Thursday, March 21. fought the fight with cancer. We are also hoping to celebrate To the editor: Check out and bookmark: http://www.clackamas.us/elec- 100 survivors during our survivor’s lap, luncheon and dinner. It occurred to me this morning while standing in the show- tions/. Click on May 21 Election, then “Open Positions.” Survivors do not need to walk on a team, but are encouraged er, that all of us would be better-off if the Federal Congress Colton Water has three positions open; Colton Fire has two to sign up early online to assure the correct t-shirt size. Mark did the same; nothing. positions open; and Colton School has three positions open – your calendars now to come and celebrate at this wonderful Not a soul in the United States of America would miss their and, at the time of my writing, no candidates have filed. community event. The excitement is growing! Go to grand-standing, self-aggrandizing, patronizing and generally Colton-ites need to step up and file! We want to give our www.relayforlife.org/molallaor to register a team, sign up as a useless machinations. They don’t do any useful work; the community choices. We do not want our boards to appoint survivor or find out more about the Molalla Relay. For more laws on the books already are such a mess that no one can vacancies after the election. information, please contact 503-209-7721. pull them together into a working document that could be Download the simple 1-page “SEL- 190” form, complete, Roxie Smith used to govern the nation, so why do we need more? sign, and mail it with the $10 filing fee. If you need assistance Molalla They stand on the steps of the Congress so as to look with the fee cost, contact me after the election and I will help important while some slick-haired TV reporter feeds them you with that.