Oregon Movies, A to Z

Oregon Movies, A to Z reader Gus Fredrick announced today there will be a screening of an early Oregon film at the December meeting of the Silverton Historical Society.

Doors Open First Sunday at 5:00 – Presentation at 5:30 – Business Meeting to Follow

As part of the Silverton Grange’s monthly lecture series, we start off each of our meetings with a Potluck Dinner Program. For the Sunday, December 4 meeting, we will feature a presentation on the Silverton High School Vocational Agriculture program from the 1920s, featuring a showing of the recently digitally restored movie by SHS VocAg teacher, Warren Crabtree.

This 24 minute film was originally shot between 1927 and 1929 by Mr. Crabtree to highlight Silverton High School’s Smith-Hughes Vocational Agriculture Program, a Federally funded project designed to instruct rural students in the latest modern agricultural techniques. Crabtree, an amateur filmmaker and photographer, documented his students progress, with this film as well as an extensive scrapbook of photos and clippings.

The original footage was shot of 16mm Black and White film, with prints made from it. The reels were provided by Mr. Crabtree’s daughter, Doris, who still lives in Silverton. An earlier analog transfer was created in the early 1980s as part of the Silverton Cable TV Show, “Under the Oak.” The new digital transfer, by Pacific Imaging of Amity, is much crisper, with a vast improvement in image quality.

Additionally, several of the still images that Crabtree filmed as part of the production, were in his scrapbook.  These were scanned and included to replace the 16mm static shots. Doris Crabtree donated her father’s scrapbook to the Silverton Country Museum, which formed the basis for the information in the presentation. The original scrapbook can be viewed at the museum by special arrangement. The original movie was silent, so a supplemental sound track of period popular music was added.

In January Rick Heucherty, a Fire Fighter EMT-B from the Silverton Fire District, will give us an overview of our Fire District’s activities and capabilities, as well as some home fire prevention safety tips. Additional details forthcoming.

Doors Open First Sunday at 5:00 – Presentation at 5:30 – Business Meeting to Follow

The Silverton Grange Hall is located at 201 Division Street, Silverton. From Main & Water downtown, head south 1.7 miles on Water Street towards Silver Falls State Park, and turn left on Division Street. There is a large State Highway sign for the Grange Hall on the corner.

Gus Frederick; Lecturer
Silverton Grange No. 748
http://SilvertonGrange.org/

For those of you who are not accustomed to attending grange hall meetings, yes, there is a meal first. Potluck, so bring a dish.

Sneak preview for those inclined to travel to Silverton to see history trapped in amber: