A DAM WAS BUILT,
A LAKE WAS FILLED,
NOW LOGS WOULD BE MILLED.
ROADS BUILT, RAILROAD TRACKS LAYED.
THEN CAME A LUMBER MILL,
THEN THE TOWN WAS MADE.
THIS TOWN IN THE VALLEY OF THE SILETZ,
WAS THEN NAMED VALSETZ.
THEN THE SCHOOLS CAME,
THEN THE COUGAR FAME.
IN A VALLEY WITH TREES SO GREEN, AND WATER RUNNING SO BLUE AND CLEAN.
THE DRIVE TO VALSETZ
WAS 16 MILES,
UP, DOWN, AND AROUND
ON A WINDING GRAVEL ROAD.
SNOW IN WINTER, DUST IN SUMMER.
A TRIP OVER THE HILL,
COULD BE QUITE THE THRILL,
OR A BUMMER.
AND NEAR THE TOP, COLD SPRINGS,
A DRINK OF COLD WATER,
WAS A FAVORITE STOP.
HITTING THE FLATS,
BROUGHT BIG SMILES,
KNOWING, VALSETZ WAS NOW
ONLY A FEW MILES
PAST THE OLD SWIMMING HOLE
BEYOND THE COUNTY BRIDGE AROUND THE BEND AND OVER THE RIDGE
IN THE TOWN YOU FOUND
VALSETZ STREETS WERE DIRT OR GRAVEL
AND CADILLAC WAS
THE MAIN STREET OF TRAVEL
THE SIDE WALKS AS THEY SHOULD
WERE ALL MADE FROM WOOD
PHOTOS BY Lou Blaser
Jim Oneth
& others
AS TOLD IN THE PAST,
VALSETZ COULD NOT LAST.
COME THE YEAR 1984, WAS
WHEN DOORS CLOSED, AND THE TOWN
VALSETZ WAS TO BE NO MORE.
RAILROAD TRACKS WERE REMOVED,
ROADS CLOSED,
THEN BUILDINGS BURNED & DOZED.
THE DAM WAS REMOVED, AND THE LAKE DRAINED,
NOW A LAKE WOULD NO LONGER BE FILLED,
THERE WOULD BE NO MORE LOGS MILLED.
TO MOTHER NATURE, VALSETZ HAS BEEN RETURNED
TO THE VALLEY OF TREES SO GREEN,
WITH WATER RUNNING SO BLUE & CLEAN.
By JERRY BLACKWELL
REMEMBER TRUCK # 23 ?
BOB ENDECOTTS "PUSS"
LAST DRIVE DOWN VALSETZ STREETS
NOW DRY VALSETZ LAKE - 2002 or 2004
From Ron Jorgenson's collection
POWELL'S HOME AT CAMP ONE
CLICK ANY RED LINE TO RETURN TO TOP
COLD SPRINGS.
Click on Bob's truck to return to top
Dry Valsetz Lake bed
THE OLD SWIMMING HOLE
