The Norway Project
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COOS COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY • SPRING 2021 • WWW.COOSHISTORY.ORG The Norway Project By Anne Guerin me the digital copy of the If you share an project and readers may inclination with me, locate an electronic version you would be content through the Coos History to wander the historical Museum. He noted that Norway Cemetery located they were able to locate between Myrtle Point and obituaries of 60% of the Coquille on a steep hillside people in the cemetery, bordering Highway 42 . as while others were just listed I did on a lovely spring day. with basic information. Unlike more conventional One sizeable section of the cemetery was land the graves appear to be donated by the Dement locationsrandomly with sprinkled flat ground, over Family, with pioneering the hills and amongst roots dating back to the some towering trees. It early 1850s. One will locate has a unique appeal, but it would be quite frustrating to locate has expanded and deepened that section of the compilation. a particular gravesite amongst the project to link biographical accounts their obituaries in the final 3200 people buried there since its Norway Cemetery: raising funds to inception circa 1875. And you might cemetery. The biographical sketches relocateOne finaland restore project theremains Schroeder in the locate a tombstone that intrigues, toreproduced specific burial in this sites account in the open Tomb which has disintegrated badly then wonder what other information many avenues for researching and on the steep, shifting hillside. An might be available about that person. writing family and social history. estimated $20,000-25,000 would be Until just recently, you may The Norway Project is a great boon needed to complete the memorial to future researchers and writers restoration. The Oregon Parks and burial, but no more. Two people and is a notable public service.” The Recreation Dept. may offer a grant havewith localhad difficulty roots, Darrell researching Gulstrom that Wooldridge publication referenced is to add to private funding. People and Robyn Greenlund, devoted the following: Pioneers and Incidents may donate through the Schroeder countless hours to collecting the of the Upper Coquille Valley, a prized Family Tomb Committee. Schroeder information about all the burials, book on the shelf of many Coos is a well-known name in Coos including the obituaries in digital County residents with generations of history, with the pioneers arriving form. They shared the results of their family history here. with the Baltimore Colony in 1859. project with well-known Oregon Beckham also referenced the J. Henry and Emily Schroeder historian, Stephen Dow Beckham, Norway Cemetery Association, a became prominent residents of Coos who wrote the foreword for the County. Emily Perry was one of the compilation. I quote some of what to the board if related to a person he wrote: “Darrell Gulstrom and non-profitburied in the group. cemetery. One can Beau be Allenelected, Oregon Territory. J. Henry arrived Robyn Greenlund, working with the a Coquille Valley rancher, is the firstwith childrenhis parents born and to asimmigrants an adult in Norway Cemetery Association, have current president. compiled a remarkable historical Gulstrom, a 1978 graduate creamery in Arago. He established record of the lives of hundreds of Myrtle Point High School, is a engagedan export in sawmill, farming, engaged building in the beach first and hundreds of those buried at man with a long-term interest in mining, and became superintendent Norway. Building on the efforts of genealogy and deep connections of schools. Alice Hoover Wooldridge who in with some buried at the cemetery. Should you like to contact 1971 republished obituaries and His project of good will in offering Darrell Gulstrom, you may call 503- local history accounts printed in the results of years of work is not 332-5836, or e-mail: ddgulstrom@ early local newspapers, Gulstrom a money-making effort. He gifted yahoo.com. Spring 2021 1 Exploring Education “What we learn with pleasure we never forget” – Alfred Mercier By Ariel Peasley Upcoming Events: If you missed I would like to give a shout-out Hello: We’re so glad to be open out on this year’s Local History Class: and thank you to the League of at the Coos History Museum as Lives of Our Days with Steve Greif, Women Voters for their generous we begin to see our community stay tuned for the opportunity to contribution to the Unlimited joining us again in the exhibit halls. purchase a link to the recordings of Book Club. With their help, we will While virtual programming holds these classes for a discounted price now be able to offer additional steady for now, we continue to look on the museum’s website. We have books to members and make our forward to having more of you in fantastic First Tuesday Talks coming program more accessible to all, so person soon. In the meantime, we up soon including “The History consider joining today. We have hope you will stop by and say hello and Mystery Behind the Egyptian also partnered with the Coos Head or visit us online for our virtual Theatre” with Kara Long and “The Food Co-Op and many other local First Tuesday Talks, Unlimited Book Return of Sea Otters: Considering organizations to celebrate with Club, and Explorer’s Club activities. the Ecological and Cultural you not only Earth Day, but Earth We believe the quote above could Dimensions of Restoration” by John Week! Stop by the museum on April not be more true; and we hope Goodell and Peter Hatch. Don’t 22nd to pick up a free Nature Kit forget, there will be no First Tuesday for some exciting Earth-friendly whenever you visit, or join us in Talk in July, but come back in August activities. You can also join us online youour adventures.find fun, joy, Thank and engagement you so much to help us kick off the second half of at any time during Earth Week to for sticking with us through these the lecture series season. Keep an participate in an Hour of No Power eye out for the start of the annual to share some creative ideas on how Don’t forget to check our website Writer’s Day competition beginning to care for our amazing planet while difficultcooshistory.org/education/ and ever-changing times. for in April and mark your calendars for also having fun. Visit our website updates, and as always, feel free to the Writer’s Day event planned for cooshistory.org/earth-week/ for email the Education and Community October 16th. Join us for more fun more information. Engagement Coordinator, Ariel and learning with our free Second Peasley, at education@cooshistory. Saturdays, Juneteenth Celebration Coos County Historical Society org with any questions, comments, and more upcoming programs. Staff or suggestions. Featured: First and foremost, Executive Director: Marcia Hart Curator: TBA Education Coordinator & Community Welcoming Bechtold & Walker to the Board Engagement: Ariel Peasley Coos Bay resident Larry Walker all. Ultimately, I attended law school Store Manager: Valerie Caskey is interested in history and how we and (keeping this narrative to a brief Visitor Services Assistant: Becca Hill continue our education through two paragraphs) moved with my Bookkeeper: Terri Knight learning of the past. He is a man husband Bob Laird to Coos Bay to Board of Trustees of many and various volunteer begin our law practice in Empire. Two President: Ryan Hogan commitments: Bay Area Hospital daughters and 18 years later, I became Vice-President: David Laird Auxiliary, Jazz Festival, Prefontaine a judge and served for 22 years in the Secretary: Anne Guerin Youth Run, Boys and Girls Club, OSAA courthouse annex in North Bend. Treasurer: John Bacon basketball referee, Core 10 Fitness Trustees: Jessica Bacon, summer of my life here I took a course Paula Bechtold, Steve Greif, Don Ivy, Courtney Krossman, an active committee member in the at theStill college love history! about the The local first tribes. Bill Mast, Tina Mendizabal, Alonzonon-profit Tucker manager. Remembrance Larry has Project.been Have taken almost all of Steve Greif’s Alissa Pruess, Sara Stephens, He is a retired military policeman, classes and almost all the history Larry Walker whose photo we hope to carry in our tours that have been offered. So much Museum Admission summer issue. still to learn! In my retirement Open Tuesday thru Saturday, 11-5 Paula Bechtold has I have continued with my Zonta Adults = $7, Children 5-17 = $3 offered a self-introduction: activities, including advising Family Maximum: $17 I grew up in Portland – AARP, AAA, and senior discounts proud graduate of Jefferson Club. Otherwise, I have resisted Free to members and active-duty High School. Loved history overcommittingthe Marshfield High my timeSchool – but Z service so that was my major in how could I say no when asked 541.756.6320, www.cooshistory.org college at Lewis & Clark to serve on the museum board? but discovered teaching was not my calling after chance to explore the archives. Maybe I will finally have a 2 Spring 2021 Marcia Hart Executive Director’s Note development to the north, our Celebrating Coos History-130 years entrance has changed. Instead On November introduced HB 2168 to establish of entering directly off of North 5, 2021, we will Front Street, visitors can enter our celebrate our 130th On June 19, 2021, we plan to dedicate parking lot from the newly opened anniversary as the Juneteenththe EJI historical as an markerofficial stateon our holiday. Greenwood Ave. We also have a new second oldest historical society in grounds and host a celebration. middle island with a 125-year old the State of Oregon. What an amazing Earlier in the week we also plan to Douglas Fir stump and native plants milestone and one we can all be host a SPECIAL EDITION Tuesday from our area which are used by our proud of attaining, especially after tribal partners.