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Wednesday, December 6, 2023
Whoville coming to Scappoose Originally published in The Chronicle Vol. 141 November 29, 2023 WILL LOHRE Country Media, Inc.
To spark the holiday spirit, the Scappoose Historical Society has transformed the historic Watts House into a scene straight out of Dr. Suess’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Starting with a grand opening on Dec. 2, the Scappoose Historical Society will offer tours of the Watts House, which has been fully decked out in the spirit of Whoville. People can tour the home from 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. Coffee, hot chocolate, and goodies are available for purchase. The Watts House is off Highway 30 in Scappoose at 52432 SE First Street. Whoville in Scappoose Each room of the 1900sera home is filled with Grinch and Whoville-themed decorations, with much of the work done by volunteers and Scappoose Historical Society President Janet Williams. Williams said that the inspiration for the mashup between the Watts House and Whoville is an effort to bring more families to the house. “Every year, the Watts house is decorated beautifully for Christmas. They have tours, and the tours have been attended, but I would say not heavily attended,” Williams said. “Wanda Bauer and myself cooked up this idea to bring in more kids and families. Because kids come to it a couple years, see it once, and they’re bored. So we wanted to make it fun and free for everybody.” One of the reasons it felt like a good fit was that the book “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” was written in 1957, and that fit with the
Janet Williams, with the Grinch, in one of the Whoville-afied bedrooms of the Watts House.
timeframe when the Watts family lived in the house. Williams also hopes a trip to the Watts House will spark children’s interest in history. According to Williams, the event is made possible through sponsors and a $5,000 grant from the PUD. Williams has worked with local craftspeople and artists to bring the spirit of Whoville to the Watts House. One such contribution is several portraits of Whos that adorn the wall, which a local artist has painted. Converting the house has been a labor of love. Williams said she and Bauer have been working on the project for a year. Between October and November, Williams said she couldn’t even count the hours she’s put in. Williams wants the event
to bring people to the Watts House and give the community a sense of togetherness around the historical landmark. “There’s people who have been born in this town that have never been in this house. We’ve started to try and have functions and try to get people to come in,” Williams said. “Because it’s meant, just like it was when it was built in 1902, it’s like a community center. [It’s] like a hub; do fun things here for families and people.”
Historical Society’s local history museum. The Castle may be rented for special events, and both bedroom suites are available for B&B overnight stays. Call Deborah Hazen at 503-3388268 for more information.
continue, we need to increase attendance,” Hazen said. She explained that government reimbursement for the cost of the meals is significantly less than half of the cost of preparing them. Under the government restrictions on SNP, the CSC serves lunches to those aged 60 and above for a suggested $6 donation. Guests under the age of 60 are charged $8. “Even if you don’t need the lunches, please consider attending,” Hazen urged, “so that they may continue for those who do need them.” Monthly menus are published on the Clatskanie Senior Center Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/ groups/307164199881715. To avoid wasting food, those planning to attend are asked to call 503-728-3608 by 1 p.m. on Monday for Wednesday lunch, Wednesday for Friday lunch, and Friday for Monday lunch. If there is no answer leave a message. Chair yoga, cards, and other activities also are offered at The Castle’s senior center. Tax-exempt donations for the CSC meal program may be sent to the Clatskanie Senior Citizens, PO Box 383, Clatskanie, OR 97016. Checks should be made out to Clatskanie Senior Citizens with “SNP” for senior nutrition program in the memo line.
Holiday Lights and Sights contest The grand opening also coincides with the kick-off of the Scappoose Holiday Lights and Sights decorating contest. The Lights and Sights contest is something
that Williams and the Historical Society started last year to try to engage the community in the holiday spirit. Participation in the competition has grown since last year. Williams said that after having 12 participants last year, 27 houses signed up around Scappoose will be competing to be the most festively decorated home. The contest is free to enter, and votes on the best decorations will be accepted until Dec. 31. “The response that we got from people last year was overwhelmingly good. They [would say], ‘I loved driving around with my family and voting as a family; it was so much fun,’” Williams said. “I just thought it was really a good community project.” Cash prizes will be
Will Lohre / Country Media, Inc.
awarded to the houses receiving the most votes. This year’s prizes are $500 for 1st prize, $400 for second, $300 for third, $200 for fourth, $100 for fifth, and $50 for honorable mention. Grand opening and more As part of the ongoing event, tours of the converted Whoville House will be offered throughout December. At the grand opening Dec. 2, the ShoeString Community players will be performing as Whoville citizens to bring the house to life. Tours will be available on weekends 5 p.m. - 8 p.m. and Wednesdays 3 p.m. - 7 p.m. There will also be two special events that Williams is excited about. On Dec. 9, from 5 p.m. - 8 p.m., the Grinch will be
making an appearance at the Watts House. Kids will have a chance to meet and take photos with the Grinch. The other special event is a Whoville costume contest on Dec. 16 from 5 p.m. There’s no need to sign up; participants are encouraged to come down in costume, tour the house, and see who’s the best Who. “Show up in your Whoville hair and costume, and you’ll get a number and a photo release form,” Williams said. “We’ll have them come through the house, we’ll take a picture, and then we’ll vote and have prizes and gift certificates for them.” Though the event is free, there will be an opportunity to donate at the end of the tour. Proceeds will go directly to the Scappoose Historical Society. These funds will be used to help pay for the Historical Society’s projects, like the development of a newly reimagined museum in the Watts House basement. Proceeds will also be used to address some of the projects that need to be done at the house. There will also be two barrels to collect donations for the food bank if people want to make donations of canned or nonperishable foods. Williams said that if all goes well this year, they hope to make the Whoville Watts House takeover an annual event. Throughout the process, Williams said that the community has rallied around the event. She expressed gratitude to the close-knit feel of the community for helping bring her idea to life. “Even though our community has grown so much, it still has that small-town feel. So many people, I have asked for things, and they have stepped up,” Williams said. “There’s been so many people I can’t even name them all.”
Christmas at The Castle Open House
Originally published in The Chief Vol. 132 December 1, 2023 SUBMITTED BY THE CLATSKANIE SENIOR CENTER
A visit to a Victorian Christmas will be offered during open houses at the Thomas J. Flippin “Castle” in Clatskanie from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 9 and 10. The public is invited to the beautifully-restored 125-yearold Castle, which is listed on the National Historic Register and is owned by the Clatskanie Senior Citizens (CSC). The Castle is located at 620 SW Tichenor Street, with additional parking in back of the mansion off SW Bryant Street. Santa Claus will be present from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 9, and children are invited to attend and tell the “Jolly Old Gent” their Christmas wishes. Parents are encouraged to take pictures. The Castle, on which construction began in 1898, features a salon, music room, study, dining room, kitchen, and bedroom suite on the main floor which have been authentically restored and furnished. The top floor includes another bedroom suite and five rooms which comprise the Clatskanie
Donations needed for Senior Meal Program There is no admission charge for the open houses, but donations will be accepted for the CSC Senior Nutrition Program (SNP) - the lunches served Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 12 noon sharp in the ground floor, handicapped-accessible, “Castle Cafe.” As part of the restoration project, the Castle Cafe was remodeled during the closure due to the Covid pandemic, however attendance at the lunches has not rebounded since Covid, according to Hazen, a member of the CSC board of directors. “The lunches are not just for people in financial need,” she explained. “They are for all senior citizens and their guests of any age to get together for good, nutritious meals and fellowship.” The Castle also delivers hot meals three days a week to about 20 house-bound seniors in the Clatskanie area. “If the lunch program is to
Courtesy photo from the Clatskanie Senior Center
Donations will be accepted for the Clatskanie Senior Citizens’ meal program.
Courtesy photo from the Clatskanie Senior Center
Holiday decorations and furnishings reminiscent of a bygone era will greet visitors to The Castle on the weekend of Dec. 9 and 10.