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ADVANTAGE FEB/MAR 2024

SILVERTON • MT. ANGEL • SCOTTS MILLS • GERVAIS

Celebrating 120 years of local service

HISTORY

LOCAL HISTORY

SAVOR THE FLAVOR

The Story of Chocolate

Black Pioneer Daniel Drew

Fortune Cookies

Silverton Community Advantage Magazine FEBRUARY/MARCH 2024

Published by

Active Media Publishing Group PO Box 672, Aurora, OR 97002 info@ActiveMediaUSA.com 503.825.2111 ADMINISTRATION Matthew Nelson, Publisher Catrina Nelson, CFO Tara Weidman, Executive Assistant

PRODUCTION Jeremy Okai Davis, Art Director Donovan Darling, Content Manager Kate Astle, Copyeditor Kaity VanHoose, Social Media Manager

BUSINESS FEATURE Direct Link

SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Hilary Berg Sean Carver Dani DeGraw Brittany Jungenberg Morgan King Justin Nelson Shawn Schmidt CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Patti Jo Brooks Olive Gallagher Angie Helvey Lucas Holmgren Robert Matsumura Dennis McNabb Edward Novak Kelly Romo Gretchen Van Lente Ty Walker Alice Williams Kerry Yu CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Laurel Bice Carly Carpenter Tyler Francke Angie Helvey Malaina Kinne Lisa Kuhlman Kara Langley Tayler Lundquist Andrew Sambuceto Henry Schifter Hayley Starkey Brittney Waterman ADVERTISING SPECIALISTS Don Ormsby Bill Kistler Stephanie Baker Peggy Jacobs David Long Chris O’Brien John Zobrist Brad Marti Shelley Zeman Tina Toney Darren Dwyer Lynnette Scott

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HISTORY The History of Chocolate

10 LOCAL HISTORY Oregon Black Pioneer Daniel Drew

26 COVER PHOTO BY ANDREW SAMBUCETO

SEASONAL

HOLIDAY FUN

Valentine’s Day Weirder than you think!

St.Valentine

in 496 AD Pope Gelasius outlawed the pagan festival of “Lupercalian” and renamed it The Feast of Saint Valentine, to alentine’s Day incites cliché images of roses, cartoon be celebrated on the 14th of February. Cupids, heart-shaped boxes of chocolate and mushy Fast forward to the late 15th century, when the word romantic comedies. While these days we harmlessly “Valentine” was used to describe a lover in poems and songs celebrate with candy, expensive jewelry and candlelit dinners, the of the day, such as this translated line by French poet Charles origin of the holiday isn’t as cute or d’Orléans: “I’m already wearied by love, my very marketable as you would think. As far sweet Valentine.” Later in the 1840s, Esther A. as we know, the history of Valentine’s Howland, known as the “Mother of the Valentine,” Day dates back hundreds of years to sold the first mass-produced valentines in America, pagan rituals in ancient Greece and elaborate creations with lace, ribbons, and colorful the Roman Empire to greeting cards pictures. Her early valentines pioneered the in the 19th century. commercial tradition of buying and gifting fancy In ancient Rome, when Emperor cards to loved ones on Valentine’s Day. According Claudius II decided single men made to current data, an estimated one billion Valentine’s better soldiers than married men, he Day cards are sent each year, making Valentine’s Day outlawed marriage for young men. the second largest card-sending holiday of the year. Valentine, a priest, realized how Over the centuries, Valentine’s Day has been a unjust this was of the Emperor, so in religious celebration, a ritual full of violence and defiance of the Emperor he performed warding off evil spirits, poor health and infertility, marriages in secret. Eventually and is now a sappy his rebellion was discovered by commercial holiday. The authorities and he was sadly executed, mysterious and complex later recognized as a martyr and St. origins of this holiday Valentine. The life of a saint, am I allows the meaning of right? As the story goes, he left his daughter a note signed Valentine’s Day to be “Your Valentine.” truly whatever you want The modern holiday is celebrated on the same day every it to be. You can skip the year, February 14 (so don’t forget!), but the ancient Romans celebrations completely, and Greeks had celebrations this time of year even before buy yourself some St. Valentine. Unlike Valentine’s Day, however, the Roman chocolate, wine and Greek god Pan holiday Lupercalia was a bloody, violent, and (ahem) sexual flowers and find a good celebration full of animal sacrifice and random matchmaking romantic comedy to watch with pizza. Or you can express your and coupling in the hopes of warding off evil spirits and love (and platonic love!) and appreciation for the people in your infertility. The Festival of the Arcadian Lykaia, held on February life, whether they’re spouses, family or friends. 15th in ancient Greece, celebrated the god Pan’s founding of Some of us love Valentine’s Day, and some of us love to hate his temple, a day when the city was cleansed of evil spirits and it. If you’re wondering what to do on Valentine’s Day, just know people’s souls were purified, bringing health and fertility. As that there are no rules: It’s a new era, and you can celebrate the often happened when many pagan festivals were renamed, day of love however you want, even if it’s just through self-love.

By Donovan Darling, Staff Writer

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The History of Valentines

Stream these movies where available, or rent from your local movie store, library or rental kiosk.

Valentine’s Day is a strange holiday. Its murky origins are based on the legend of the martyred St. Valentine, who supposedly married Christian couples secretly in the 3rd century, as well as the belief in medieval England and France that “love birds” paired in mid-February, as seen in the writing of Geoffrey Chaucer and William Shakespeare. Industrialization then brought mass-produced greeting cards, candy and the holiday hubbub we’ve come to expect. However you celebrate (or don’t), here are a few movies for couples, pals, gals and the whole family to warm your heart.

A League of Their Own (1992)

Napoleon Dynamite (2004)

The Princess Bride (1987)

“There’s no crying in baseball!” Young men have been called to war during WWII and left baseball fields empty everywhere. In an attempt to save baseball from total financial ruin, an all-female professional baseball league is started in the Midwest by businessman Walter Harvey. Scouts are sent out across the country and find two women in, of all places, the Willamette Valley. Eventually a ragtag team is formed, coached by Team Manager Jerry Dugan, a drunk and former MLB player who’s embarrassed to even be there. Unsurprisingly, the team unites in the spirit of friendship, womanhood and feminism in an era steeped in patriarchy, even winning over Dugan. Starring a huge cast, including Geena Davis, Tom Hanks, Madonna, Rosie O’Donnell and many more. Rated PG for language and wartime stress.

“You ever take it off any sweet jumps?” Napoleon Dynamite’s iconic deadpan, off beat humor and ’80s style surprised us all in 2004. The movie takes place in rural Idaho, following awkward and eccentric 16 year-old Napoleon and his close friends, family and his quiet little life. Living with his older brother Kip and grandmother Carlinda, with his less-than-kind Uncle Rico visiting, we get to see Napoleon’s home and school life and hobbies, such as riding bikes, drawing cartoons and working on his dance routine for the school talent show. While seemingly simple and ordinary, it’s very much an understated slice-of-life story, with themes of friendship and love. Starring Jon Heder, Efren Ramirez, Tina Majorino and many more. Rated PG for thematic elements and language.

“Hello, my name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.” Endlessly quotable, clever and hilarious, this movie is based on the 1973 book by William Goldman. This fantasy-comedy and fairy tale parody follows a sword-wielding farmhand named Westley who must rescue his true love, Princess Buttercup, from the evil Prince Humperdinck. Very much a parable, with The Grandpa reading and explaining the story to The Grandson, most characters are faced with questions of what it means to be a good friend, parent or partner. Westley navigates challenge after challenge of swords, fists and wits to prove his love and loyalty. Starring an iconic cast, including Cary Elwes, Robin Wright, Mandy Patinkin, André the Giant and many more. Rated PG for scary scenes and violence.

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The History of Chocolate Ancient, delicious and divine

By Robert Matsumura, Contributing Writer

hen we hear the word “chocolate,” most of us picture a bar, ice cream, baked goods, or a confection of some type. Typically eating chocolate, not drinking it, and a sweet taste is usually associated with chocolate rather than a savory one. However, for approximately 90% of chocolate’s extensive history, it was primarily a beverage, and sugar didn’t figure into the equation at all. While the terminology can be a bit puzzling, most contemporary experts refer to “cacao” as the plant or its beans prior to processing, while the term “chocolate” refers to a product made from the beans. “Cocoa” is the term for chocolate in powdered form, though across the Atlantic, the British frequently use the word “cacao.” “Chocolate” has been traced by etymologists back to the Aztec word “xocoatl,” which described a bitter beverage brewed from cacao beans. The Latin name for the cacao tree,

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Theobroma cacao, translates to “food of the gods.” Historians today estimate that chocolate has been around for at least 2000 years, but recent research suggests it may be even older. Although it’s difficult to establish an exact date for the origin of chocolate, it’s evident that it was valued from the very beginning. For many centuries in premodern Latin America, cacao beans were actually used as currency. A single bean could buy one tamale, while 100 beans could be traded for a good turkey hen, as noted in a 16th-century Aztec document. Both the Mayans and Aztecs considered the cacao bean magical and sometimes divine. It was commonly a part of sacred rituals of birth, death, and marriage. It wasn’t until Europeans discovered the Americas and became familiar with the native cuisine that chocolate made its entrance on the world stage. According to legend, the Aztec king Montezuma welcomed the Spanish explorer Hernando Cortes with a feast that included drinking chocolate. Although chocolate didn’t initially agree with the European palate, once it was mixed with honey or sugar, it rapidly grew in popularity throughout Spain. By the 17th century, Europeans had embraced chocolate as a glamorous drink, reputed to possess medicinal, nutritious, and even aphrodisiac properties — rumors suggest that Casanova was a

big fan of chocolate. But it remained primarily a drink of the upper class until the invention of the steam engine revolutionized chocolate production, resulting in chocolate becoming available in mass quantities to society at large. It was in 1828 when a Dutch chemist devised a method to create powdered chocolate by filtering out approximately half the natural fat (cacao butter) from chocolate liquor, pulverizing what remained and introducing a mixture of alkaline salts to negate the bitter taste. This product, known as “Dutch cocoa,” eventually led to the development of solid chocolate. Joseph Fry, in 1847, is credited with the creation of the world’s first chocolate bar. Fry discovered that by adding melted cacao butter back into Dutch cocoa, the result was a moldable chocolate paste. Within 20 years of Fry’s discovery, the now famous company Cadbury was selling boxes of chocolate candy in Britain. Soon thereafter, another recognizable name, Nestle, pioneered the creation of milk chocolate in Switzerland.

During the Revolutionary War in America, chocolate was so valued that it was included in soldiers’ rations in lieu of wages. Most of us today wouldn’t likely settle for payment in chocolate over dollars, but that doesn’t mean the

humble cacao bean isn’t a potent force in the economy. In the U.S. alone, chocolate is a four billion dollar industry, and the average American consumes at least half a pound per month.

In recent times, a chocolate revolution has swept across the globe, marked by a burgeoning interest in high-quality, artisanal chocolates and sustainable, efficient cacao farming and harvesting techniques. Due to this shift in consumer tastes, large corporations like Hershey’s have developed artisanal chocolate lines by acquiring smaller premium chocolate producers, and independent chocolatiers have proliferated as well. Here in the Pacific Northwest, artisanal chocolate has exploded in recent years. One of the first chocolatiers on the Portland scene was Moonstruck; though recently sold to a larger company, Moonstruck helped establish a market for gourmet chocolate in the city. Currently, there are a plethora of artisanal chocolatiers in the local area. Missionary Chocolates in Northeast Portland, founded by a doctor with a passion for chocolate, produces delicious dairy-free, gluten-free, vegan chocolate and non-allergenic truffles.

A Yen for Chocolate was founded and is operated by Cristina Yen, a chocolatier who has brought her multicultural experiences from around the globe to Northwest Portland, where she handcrafts mouthwatering chocolate creations for a growing clientele. Named in honor of the Wildwood Trail in Portland’s Washington Park, Wildwood Chocolate sources the finest ingredients and crafts masterfully blended ingredients such as cardamom, honey and berries with chocolate to create award-winning confections.

So, the next time your sweet tooth has a hankering for chocolate, know that this wonderful treat has a history stretching back to indigenous peoples of South and Central America, and that the tasty chocolate morsels available in your local supermarket are the result of centuries of trial, error, and innovation. And if you wish to sample the cutting-edge creations of local chocolatiers, be sure to visit some of the artisanal producers featured above, or the myriad of other producers in our country’s continually evolving chocolate landscape. READ MORE AT CITYHANDSHAKE.COM 11

BUSINESS FEATURE

TREES PLUS

The Art of Tree Trimming Experts protect your trees, family and home

By Dennis McNabb, Contributing Writer Photos by Carly Carpenter

ne of the great benefits of living in the beautiful Pacific Northwest is the abundance of lush woodlands. The problem is that we take a lot of it for granted — we assume mature trees require less maintenance — and that’s not always the case. Mature trees, just like shrubs and bushes, require regular maintenance. Fortunately, we have professional tree care specialists like Trees Plus, who specialize in this kind of work. Owners Maria and Leo Cervantes have 15+ years of experience in forestry. And Leo is a firefighter! Together, they lead this team of residential tree experts on a mission to serve homeowners and business owners throughout the community. And it’s not just about keeping your trees healthy and beautiful — that is their priority — but it’s also about protecting your family, property and investments. According to an OSHA report, there are over 100 landscape and tree fall fatalities every year. We could reduce that number if everyone did regular pruning and maintenance with companies like Trees Plus!

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In their natural state, forests are complex ecosystems with millions of interdependent organisms working to keep a healthy and sustainable balance. That said, trees are still susceptible to diseases, beetles and other pests, drought and more. Deep in the woods, none of that poses a problem to homeowners — trees fall, it’s part of the cycle and circle of life. But when those trees are next to homes, they can be incredibly dangerous. One call to Trees Plus can not only save the lives of your trees, it can save the lives of your family! Tree care and maintenance for residential and small commercial properties, pruning and removal, brush clearing and removal, storm debris cleanup, stump grinding — they do it all and more! That dead tree on your property, or even that healthy tree with the diseased limb — don’t wait for it to fall on your house! This is the kind of job that requires years of experience and expertise, and you want to use someone who has a proven track record and a reputation you can rely on. Trees Plus is quick to respond, highly professional, detail-oriented and respectful of both you and the environment – they will always do right by both. And Trees Plus is growing! They are looking to bolster their team with qualified individuals. Local certified arborists and estimators are needed, as well as tree climbers. So if you fit that bill, now is the time to join. Call Leo and Maria today, and sleep better knowing that you’ve done your due diligence to keep your family and property safe. And for Spanish speakers, Leo and Maria are bilingual! At Trees Plus, the customer and their trees always come first! Give Trees Plus a call at 503-979-5050. Email them at support@treesplusnw.com. Or check out their website for more information at treesplusnw.com.

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CELEBRATING 120 YEARS Decades of the Month: 1910-1929

DirectLink is celebrating 120 years in 2024, as the Canby Location was established in 1904. Read on to learn about the origins of the Mt. Angel location.

Above: 1915 photo of a telephone installation

1904-1919 DirectLink is best known as an internet and voice service provider for the Mt. Angel and Canby communities, but did you know that the cooperative began in the early 1900s when local farmers pooled resources to purchase telephone equipment? Every other month this year starting in February, DirectLink is going to take you on a journey through the cooperative’s history as it unfolded alongside the technological and social developments throughout the country. From party line telephones all the way to high-speed internet powered by fiber optics, innovation and quality have always been the guiding principles for rural co-ops like DirectLink.

Early Beginnings At the turn of the 20th century, the need for reliable telephone service in Mt. Angel had reached a tipping point. At the time, Interurban Telephone Company served customers in both Silverton and Mt. Angel. It was founded by Percy Brown, who also owned and operated Silverton's first electric power plant alongside his father, Matt, and brother, Carl, using the flowing water of Silver Creek.

Marquam Mutual Telephone Association also had subscribers in Mt. Angel, but since they were on a different system than that of the Browns', customers of the two companies were not allowed to talk to each other. Necessity breeds innovation, and Mt. Angel Telephone Company was born in 1910 when local dairy farmer Henry Berning successfully convinced city leaders of the need for their own independent telephone company. Articles of incorporation were filed on March 26, 1910 by C.R. Houghan, Henry Klinger, and G. D. Ebner. By this time, there were about 5.8 million telephones in operation in the U.S.

The story continues in the April edition of the Silverton Advantage.

Above: a directory from Mt. Angel’s archives

503.845.2291 • DirectLink.coop

STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS ARE OPEN Canby Rotary Foundation, Don Peterson Memorial, Maureen Ernst Memorial. Percy L. Brown setting up the first electric pole in Silverton, just before starting his telephone venture. Photo Credit: Oregon Independent Telephone Association

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threats

That’s how many online threats were blocked by OMNI’s built-in security features in December. Security: one of the many reasons to love OMNI. To learn more about OMNI, call us, scan the QR code below, or go to DirectLink.coop/internet. Party lines were local telephone circuits that were shared by multiple subscribers. They were a much lower cost than an individual line, but there was a good chance of overhearing other people’s conversations. If you remember party lines, we’d love to hear your stories about them at DirectLink.coop/story.

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BUSINESS FEATURE

DIRECTLINK

From Four-Line Switch to WiFi 2024 heralds 120 years of local service

Thomas C. Bauman (left) and Ivo Bauman at the Bavarian-Themed main entrance c. 1981

By Patti Jo Brooks, Contributing Writer Photos by Andrew Sambuceto

taying connected is the ultimate goal of every telecommunications network. The Mt. Angel DirectLink location, formerly known as Mt. Angel Telephone Company, takes this task to heart by providing local residents and businesses with the efficiency of fiber optic lines and expanded high-speed internet. The Mt. Angel office is the oldest continuously operated business in town, serving the local community for well over a century. DirectLink operates as a cooperative (a company owned by its subscribers and guided by an elected board of directors), and today shares its communication network with approximately 8,000 members throughout Mt. Angel and Canby. If you’re searching for a quality communications provider in the area, let DirectLink be your first call. Their commitment to every member of the co-op is second to none; in fact, according to a 2022 survey, 92 percent of the members would recommend DirectLink service to their family, friends or neighbors. Living a rural lifestyle is a dream for some and a family tradition for many others. Whether breaking away from the

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hustle and bustle of the city and suburbs or maintaining the family farm, residing in rural areas often means making due with limited services. DirectLink made sure communications was not one of those limited resources. The co-op was started “by just a few farmers who hung some wire from posts so they could communicate,” says Paul Hauer, president of DirectLink. Statesman Journal 1970 “Back in the day,” he continues, “the large telephone companies didn’t serve the rural areas, so these small co-ops were cropping up all around the Willamette Valley.” The co-op meant that farmers were then able to access the markets so they could sell their crops and livestock in the bigger cities. On January 14, 1904, what was to become Canby Telephone Association (CTA) dba DirectLink started out as a 4-line switchboard in the Macksburg area. In 1907, it moved to Canby with 15 lines. Meanwhile, two competing providers – Interurban Telephone Company and Marquam Mutual Telephone Association served different areas of Mt. Angel but did not allow their customers to call one another. So local dairy farmer Henry Berning convinced Mt. Angel city leaders to start a new, independent phone company. Mt. Angel Telephone Company (MATC) was founded on March 26, 1910, and soon boasted 45 customers. John T. Bauman took over as manager in 1925 and the company remained under Bauman family ownership until its sale to CTA nearly a century later. Thomas C. Bauman, MATC President from 1989 until its sale in 2006, now serves on the DirectLink board of directors. “We are proud to be recognized as a hometown company with a dedicated staff committed to quality,” said Bauman in a 2004 company press release. At that time, CTA served over 11,000 telephone lines and MTA had around 2,200. CTA’s rebranded as DirectLink in 2016, and in 2018 Mt. Angel customers were merged into the DirectLink co-op. Over the last fifteen years, DirectLink has been laying fiber optic cable in Mt. Angel and Canby, with a more concentrated effort over the last seven years, to reach all the rural areas. With the onset of cell phones and the internet, setting everyone up with a direct connection to fiber, so they have access to Gigabit speed, has been the company’s ultimate goal. Providing state-of-the-art services and supplying

superior broadband to its higher stake in the company than 8,000+ members remains any other member. “We’re always DirectLink’s primary focus. looking out for our co-op members,” DirectLink has always comments Mr. Hauer. “It’s really been a leading-edge company, about serving the community and not only in the Northwest giving the community what it needs,” but across the country. The he explains. During orientation, pandemic highlighted the the Member Services Team helps necessity of staying connected. individuals select the best plans and “It opened a lot of people’s services to suit their needs, as well as eyes,” relates Mr. Hauer, “including those of the federal government.” It became clear how important the internet was, particularly in telemedicine and for school children who needed to complete their studies from home. In keeping with the nature of a co-op, DirectLink has always been member-focused. The board of directors are elected by the members; they’re part of the DirectLink's Mt. Angel Service Area. Green indicates active fiber internet service; orange is intended fiber service growth in 2024. community and don’t have any

checking eligibility for government assistance programs. They also host free community classes on how to use today’s communication devices, technology, and apps, as well as how to stay safe and secure online. “It’s all about working together,” says Paul Hauer. “We cooperate with other co-ops and we share human resources.” DirectLink also promotes a Builder Program for new housing construction; they oversee and inspect communications wiring before the walls go up, so homeowners can have access to the best internet experience possible right from the start! Call DirectLink today at (503) 845-2291 for all your communication needs! Visit the website DirectLink. coop for information on plans and community news.

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