Civic Stadium is burned but not forgotten.

This morning I woke up to the news that the old Civic Stadium baseball stadium in Eugene,  has burned to the ground. Built in 1938, it was most recently used by Eugene Emeralds, in different levels of minor league baseball. It held a lot of history. People played there, people worked there. I started thinking about what it meant to me……

I was saddened to hear of the loss of Civic Stadium.
Yes, as of last week it remained an empty shell, an outdated relic, built of old growth timbers. 
Perhaps not safe to occupy, of to little value to improve, yet too great of value to destroy.

I know that there are many people in the area that have memories from the stadium.
My earliest involve free day clinics on baseball where we learned how to swing, and to steal a base. 
Then the late 60s/early 70s days of the Triple AAA team of the Philadelphia Phillies, with players just one step below theMajor League. 
Some very good teams and players were there, playing exciting, quality baseball.
Those teams won championships, and electrified the city.

I’m surprised how so many memories of that era remain remain vivid in my mind. 
They player did things I had never seen on a baseball field before. Things I didn’t know you could do on a baseball field.
Larry Bowa played shortstop, a later all star with the Phillies and still managing at that level.
He once did a somersault after catching a ground ball, and still threw the runner out.
We would hang outside the locker room after the games to get autographs 
One night I asked if he had a baseball he could sign, and he told me to come back the next night. 
The next night, I did just that, and he did have one with him that he signed for me. 
The manager of the team, the late Frank Luchessi signed it as well. He went on to manage the Phillies in the big leagues.
I was able to get a few other players to sign the ball that night, and it remains on a shelf in my den to this day.
Denny Doyle was at second, who went on to play with the Red Sox.
Batting left handed he once bunted a ball which made its way in between the pitcher and the draw-in first basemen, directlyto second baseman who caught it, and just stood there helplessly since Denny had beat everyone to the bag. First time I had seen such an amazing bunt. 
Mike Schmidt at third, a MLB Hall of Famer who hit a lot of home runs.  
Watched him hit one over the top of the light poles in left.
Greg Luzinski, Oscar Gamble, Willie Montanez are some of the other guys I remember watching that later played in the bigleagues. 

Of course I was only able to see some of the games,  but the allure of the baseball being played at the stadium kept myattention, and there were may summer nights where I fell asleep listening to the games on my little AM radio.

I went to games with my Dad. 
I listened to his stories of Civic Stadium, and of Bethel Park before that.
He talked of his memories playing baseball in these stadiums.
Back in his day.

Years later, I was able to play on the turf, as our high school team made its way through two seasons of  state baseball  tournaments on our way to lose the State championships in Portlands similarly named Civic Stadium.

Many years later my final memory is of attending a Forth of July game, with the family, just a short time prior to the closingof the stadium. 
A packed crowd anticipating the end of game fireworks show, forced us to find seats at the very top of the stadium, wherethe roof meets that back wall of the stadium. 
Protected from any cooling winds, I’m pretty sure it was  over 100 degrees or more in the stands by the end of the game.  I don’t remember who won, or who they even played.
I do remember that after the game we were allowed out to the coolness of the infield to watch the fireworks. 

The stadium is gone, the memories are not.

A pleasant few days spent in the calm beauty of Key Largo.

“Saw Bogarts African Queen”Saw Bogarts African Queen

“Tiptoed around an Iguana”Tiptoed around an Iguana

“Fed Tarpons from the dock”Fed Tarpons from the dock

“Drove past Seven Mile bridge on way to Key West”Drove past Seven Mile bridge on way to Key West

“Attended a wedding on the gulf”Attended a wedding on the gulf

Trolley bridge over the Clackamas is now gone.

This bridge, over the Clackamas  River, and owned now by Union Pacific, had seen better days.
The bridge is an abandoned remnant of a trolley line that connected Oregon City and Portland It stood for more than 100 years but had not been used since the 1950s.
There were hopes that it could have been restored and used as part of the trolley trail from Gladstone to Milwaukie
SP bridge over the Clackamas river in early summer

The steel truss bridge was part of a regional trolley line that was constructed in the early 1890s through Southeast Portland, Sellwood and into Oregon City. The bridge was likely built in the 1900s, but by the 1940s weight restrictions were imposed on the structure. In 1968, the Portland Traction Co. ran its last trains from Golf Junction in Sellwood to the Oregon City paper mill. That section of the trolley track was abandoned, along with the old bridge.
The line was purchased by Southern Pacific Railroad, which merged with Union Pacific in 1996.
Also known as the Portland Avenue Historic Trolley Bridge it was located on the Clackamas River between the cities of Gladstone and Oregon City.  The river  has eaten away at the footings of the 290 foot long, and 18 foot wide structure. With a history of neglect, the bridge was pulled down, before it fell down.

SP bridge over the Clackamas river in early summer
Heavy equipment yarded it up on to the bank where it was torn apart section by section, and hauled away.
SP Bridge over Clackamas is nearly broken down and hauled away
All trace of the bridge, and its 1,000 tons of iron, steel, and concrete are now gone.

Trolley themed bike rack on Milwaukie waterfront


Trolley Bike Rack

Milwaukie has installed a new bike rack in the middle of what is slowly becoming a waterfront park area.

So…… Here is what Milwaukies web site says about it.
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The Milwaukie Riverfront got a touch of whimsy this week with a new artistic bike rack by sculptor Ben Dye. The bike rack—shaped like a trolley station—celebrates the adjacent Trolley Trail path and the history of transportation in the region. The project also aligns with the Trolley Trail Public Art & Amenities Guide and provides functional art for cycling enthusiasts.
The rack features a station platform for playing on; trolley wheels for securing bikes to; and a station bell which will display refuse from the River inside as an educational component. The Trolley Trail logo is also featured, designed by artist Carrie Moore.
A “test bike” will be secured to the rack for several months so users know its OK to use the sculpture as a bike rack.
The City has received the bike rack as a gift from We Love Clean Rivers and the project was managed by Clackamas County Arts Alliance.
The bike rack is one of three made from materials reclaimed from the Clackamas and Willamette Rivers—highlighting the need for keeping our rivers clean and our transportation green.
Funded through a grant from Clackamas County Tourism & Cultural Affairs, three original racks are to be placed within the three cities along the River—Milwaukie, West Linn and Oregon City.
A dedication celebration will be held in Milwaukie in the spring.
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Now……. Honey and I disagree slightly on our opinion of this as a functional, as well as artistic installation. Lets guess who likes and who doesn’t.

My word: “Nice”
Honeys word: “Hideous”

Elinar Arnold Skovbo (1924 – 2014)

Elinar Arnold Skovbo (1924 – 2014)

Einar Arnold Skovbo passed away January 4, 2014; one day after his 90th birthday. He was born January 3, 1924 in Eugene Oregon to Peter and Hannah (Andreasen) Skovbo and resided in Junction City his entire life except for military service in World War II.

He married the girl of his dreams, Marilyn, in 1947 and they had 66 years together raising a family of three sons, who joined them in the founding and operation of Viking trailer sales in Junction City.

Einar was a happy Dane! God blessed him with many talents which he shared enthusiastically with many. In retirement he was a woodcarver, daffodil hybridizer, wooden boat builder, community worker, philanthropist, volunteer at the Eugene Air and Space Museum, and sports fan. He was a man of great faith. Dancing through life with Marilyn was his great joy.

Einar is survived by his wife and sons David (Doneta), Brad, Greg (Brenda), three grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

His was a life well lived and lived to the fullest.

A Celebration of Life will happen at a later date.

Memorials may be sent to Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church, 29357 Lingo Lane, Junction City, OR 97448.

Published in Eugene Register-Guard on Jan. 10, 2014

Springwater deer are out

We have been seeing the deer out along the Springwater trail almost every day this week.
This morning the parents were out with their little one, just strolling along the tracks, enjoying the early morning sun.
For us, riding the bikes along the river,  and seeing the deer all before we get to work is a great start to the day.

Springwater Deer

Springwater Bunny


SpringwaterBunny2

For several days, I have seen this little white bunny along the bike path by Oaks Park. It seemed unusual to see a white one in the wild.  Then one day it wasn’t out,  and I mentioned my new little friends disappearance to Honey. She worried that it may become prey of the feral cat community that exists along the track.

Do not fear Honey, this morning I see  my little friend is still fat and happy, enjoying the sunshine.

Portland Roasting picked as official Academy Awards coffee

The 85th annual Academy Awards won’t begin until Feb. 24 this year, but we already have our first winner.

Celebs up at zero dark thirty for pre-Oscars hair and makeup will perk up with java from Portland Roasting Coffee, selected as the official backstage coffee of this year’s awards show.

The Southeast Portland coffee roaster, founded in 1996, will offer their (organic) Tanager’s Song and (decaf) Vienna blends to winners, presenters and media in the show’s green room.