Troutdale Depot Rail Museum and Caboose

Troutdale founder John Harlow pushed for a rail depot in a way that reminds me somewhat of Jesse Settlemier's insistence on getting the rail through Woodburn.

Transportation is important for the development of a town. 

Sometimes that is easier to see with rivers, which spur the development in the first place, but that is only the beginning of infrastructure.

We visited three connected Troutdale historical locations. (More posts to follow.)

We had amazing tours at the other two, so the depot -- where our time was self-guided -- did not stand out as much.

I suspect it is different if you are on a field trip, and maybe if you are really into trains.

However, it is still a part of the local history and has many artifacts.

This includes reminders of the many produce shipments that originated here.

It may also act as a bit of a local hub, with an event calendar and information handy.

COVID: It is all indoors, though there is a connected park with trails. I masked while there.

Accessibility: The building is split level. While there is a ramp that could allow access to part of the building, it is not accessible as a whole. It is a small building, and older, which I am sure is a factor.

https://www.troutdalehistory.org/depot-rail-museum

Woodburn Historical Museum and Bungalow Theater

The biggest draw was the bison skeleton.

It is not hard to get us to check out local museums, and we had already visited the nearby Settlemier house, but now it was time to check out the museum.

A train display in the front window did catch our eye. Insistence on the necessity of a train was part of Jesse Settlemier's vision for the town, and instrumental to its early history.

That history included a lot of agriculture. 

While perhaps best known as the world's berry center, Woodburn also grew vegetables that were frozen for companies like Birds Eye. 

There is old equipment and packaging for that, and for work with hops and timber.

That affected the growth in population and culture of the town, and the people who came and their history is treated to.

As interesting as the history is, it was the pre-history that drew us.

Near Woodburn High School, there is an oxygen-free layer of much that has produced many well-preserved bones and plant remnants.

https://www.opb.org/news/article/bones-woodburn-oregon-school-paleontology/

While the bison may create the most impressive display, the smaller creatures and the bogberries tell more about what the area was like.

Plus it provides great experience for the students.

It has even produced a new species, the Teratornis woodburnensis.  

An extinct bird of prey similar to condors, the La Brea tar pits have produced more teratorns, but Oregon's is bigger.

Next door and connected is the historic Bungalow Theater.

Currently it has some memorabilia, but there are hopes it can be used for screenings and gatherings as well.

This is a new museum, with new programs forming under a brand new curator.

There are already impressive displays, including a collection of scrapbooks and some interactive activities.

It looks like it is on a great track.

COVID: Everything is indoors, including the route to the theater. Masking makes sense.

Accessibility: Navigation seems like it should be fine.

Something else I appreciated was that the signage (with QR codes) was all in English, Spanish, and Russian. As well as honoring their history, that accommodates many residents.

https://www.woodburn-or.gov/museum

Canby: Puddin' River Chocolates

We recently went to check out Puddin' River Chocolates in Canby.

We had not initially realized it was in a residential neighborhood, so passed by and needed to double back.

There are signs that it is a business.

The type of space may be part of why there a comparably small amount of retail display. That goes along with the boutique feel.

The pricing does as well, though there was seasonal clearance.

They do seem to enjoy the different seasons,

Part of the Oregon Farm Loop, the store's offerings celebrate Oregon's agricultural heritage.

(Technically, that is a collection of four loops: https://oregonfarmloop.com/) 

Part of what that means is that for almost everything with nuts, the nut in question is hazelnuts.

I found myself tempted by what I thought were some chocolate covered peanuts, but they were not.

With many event notifications and a track record of donations, Puddin' River seems like a a good member of the broader community as well as the farm community.

Even the name ties it in geographically.

COVID: It is a small shop, and while business was not heavy it seems steady. Masking is valuable in these situations.

Accessibility: The shop size could affect navigation, but you can also place orders through their web site. There may also be allergens related to tree nuts.

https://www.puddinriverchocolates.com/