History can be found on the way to the beach

By Patrick Johnson
For Oregon.com

There is a rich history of the mid-Willamette Valley and Yamhill County is the epicenter.

That’s where the Yamhill County Historical Society comes in. This group of volunteers has three locations where people can learn about the history of Oregon, Yamhill County and even their own families.

“We are all volunteers who really want to preserve the past and help people discover how this area became the way it is,” says Marjorie Owens, a volunteer research librarian with the society.

The society operates three buildings, in two locations. The research library and historical artifacts are displayed in Layafette while more of a farm exhibit is at a site south of McMinnville along Highway 18. Between the two locations, you can spend an entire Saturday learning about the history of Oregon and wine country.

In Lafayette, the research library is located in the Miller Log Cabin, with one half being county records and other data, while the other half is a genealogical library where you can look up family history from Yamhill County.

“We have a really good library here if you want to learn about the county or your family,” Owens says. “There are a lot of records here and people are always coming in to learn. We have volunteers here who can help and a lot of people find they have ties to this area of the country.”

Next door, in the Poling Memorial Church, there are artifacts from all aspects of life in the Yamhill Valley. From World War One uniforms, to big collection of arrowheads to antique pianos and wheelchairs, there are many, many items to see and learn about.

“We have volunteers here on Saturday that will give people tours and tell them all about the different items we have,” Owens says. “It’s a nice big collection.”

But the society has grander plans than the two buildings in Lafayette.

Off of Highway 18, one mile south of McMinnville, the society is working on a museum complex that has more than four buildings and is a work in progress.

“We are always fundraising and trying to do what we can to get this place completed,” says Cliff Watts, as he walks through the 10,000 square foot workshop. “We have a master plan and it’s just a matter of finishing it up.”

Until that point, however, you can still visit and see the more than 50,000 square feet of museum – mostly tractors, crawlers, and other antique farm equipment. The equipment is in a big building that is categorized by manufacturer, and there are plaques throughout to help visitors learn about the farm history in the area.

“Some of this stuff was in my family and we sold it and now it was donated here,” Watts said. “A lot of it still runs and we use it during our festivals throughout the spring and summer. We like to have backups and so there is a real mix of things we have.”

John Deere, Catepillar, Farmall and Ford are just some of the manufacturers represented in the collection that lines the 300,000 square foot storage area.

In addition to the farm equipment, the society also has set up a small sawmill, with a antique mill and a blacksmith shop, to show what life was like back in the early 1900s.

“During the summer months we have school kids come out and see what it was like back then,” Watts says.

“It’s a great time for everyone and there is a lot going on out here in the spring and summer months.”

Plans for the site south of McMinnville include moving much of the artifacts from the Lafayette site to an addition that is currently under construction. The timing of the expansion is still up in the air due to fundraising.

“You can spend a couple of hours out here on your way to the coast and get a feel for what it was like farming in this part of the country,” Watts says. “People really like it and during our festivals it’s a lot of fun.”

What to bring: Bring a curiosity about the area and cameras with flash are a must. The farm equipment building is a low-light environment and the church can also be quite dark at times.

Season: Open year-round, mostly on Saturdays, but check the society’s Web site at www.yamhillcountyhistory.org for the latest information.

Getting there: McMinnville is 38 miles from Portland, 27 miles from Salem, or 50 miles from the Oregon coast, making it perfect for a day exploration if you are travelling from Portland to the Oregon coast. The farm equipment site is off of Highway 18, a cut-off before you get to McMinnville from Highway 99W. To reach the Lafayette site, stay on Highway 99E until you enter Lafayette, then follow the signs on the right.

Tips: At any of the locations, make sure to find a volunteer and have them share stories and point out things to see. While you can spend time by yourself just exploring, hearing how the farm equipment was used, or where they found the old wheelchair or piano is worth the price of admission.

Story by Patrick Johnson, a free-lance writer based in Canby, OR.