The Importance of Having Meetings
How the American Revolution came to the Pacific Northwest.


by Clyde List,
Mayor of Sherwood,
Oregon, U.S.A.
1981-2




Bibliography

Albion's Seed and Paul Revere's Ride by David Hackett Fischer (Oxford University Press)

Forced Founders by Woody Houlton (University of North Carolina Press)

Small Town America: A Narrative History 1620-Present by Richard Lingeman (Houghton Mifflin, Boston, 1980)

They Built the West: An Epic pf Rails and Cities by Glenn Chesney Quiett (D. Appleton-Century Company, NY, 1934)

Washington County Politics and Community in Antebellum America by Paul Bourke and Donald De Bats (John Hopkins University Press)
Anyone who has ever attended a meeting in small town America has to wonder at the sophistication of the event. People that you know only as brick masons and computer programmers and housewives are suddenly disputing rules of parliamentary procedure as loudly and self assuredly as any member of British Parliament or U. S. Congress. They are obviously doing something important that has been going on for a long time in America. But where did this tradition begin?

Francis Parkman met the predecessors of these modern day parliamentarians on the Oregon Trail,

...to a number of a thousand or more, and new parties were constantly passing out from Independence [Missouri] to join them. They were in great confusion, holding meetings, passing resolutions, and drawing up regulations, but unable to unite in the choice of leaders to conduct them across the prairie.
--The Oregon Trail

Earlier in our nation's history, British General Thomas Gage, whose job it was to keep the American Colonies under control, deeply disapproved of Americans holding meetings of this kind. He regarded town meetings in particular as instruments of 'democraticall despotism.' On his regular visit to London in 1774 Gage advised the Crown to abolish town meetings altogether and replace them with oligarchic British borough governments. He vowed that he wasn't going to rest until he saw "...that all town-meetings are absolutely abolished; whilst those meetings exist the people will be kept in a perpetual heat." In general, General Gage noted: "Democracy is too prevalent in America, and claims the greatest attention to prevent its increase."

On his return to America (in 1774) Gage published a proclamation forbidding most town meetings except by permission and he sent troops to a town meeting in Salem with a view toward intimidating it into silence. Gage could not have gaged the general response more inaccurately.

According to historian David Hackett Fischer, "The stubborn Salemites responded by barring the doors of their town house and going on with their meeting."

Not only did the New Englanders refuse to close down their meeting, they called an even bigger meeting in Worcester in September of that year "..and urged town meetings to organize special companies of minutemen, so that one-third of the militia would be in constant readiness to march. It recommended that a system of alarms and express riders be organized throughout the colony."

Every school kid in America knows what happened next: Paul Revere and his midnight ride. Or "rides." Revere truly earned his reputation as Colonial America's first overnight messenger service.

--Most of the information above is from Paul Revere's Ride by David Hackett Fischer, (Oxford University Press, 1994). Fischer's thesis is that the American Revolution arose from conflicts deep within England herself, and that these conflicts were carried over into American society, where they remain unresolved to this day.

Town Meetings in Sherwood Oregon


The same resources that can support trade can throw a religious influence into every part of [the West], until New England institutions are established from the lakes to the shores of the Pacific, and you may travel from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and every six miles find a New England village with its church spires pointing to the skies, and the school by its side.

-- A letter.
Small Town America
by Richard Lingeman, pg.74
To New England folks, Oregon has peculiar attractions. It is more New England than any of the states on the coast. The scenery is like that along the Penobscot.... The people are mainly from New England. The social status is Eastern. The thrift, the briskness of business all remind one of Maine.

They Built the West
by Glenn Chesney Quiett
The early history of Oregon fits between two seismic events: the California Gold Rush of 1849 and the American Civil War of 1861 (Oregon became the 33rd State in the Union in 1859. There was only one more State added-- Kansas-- before the War began). Aftershocks of this turbulent decade may still be felt in towns near Sherwood.Just as teams of inspired, optimistic, self confident Englishmen arrived on the East Coast during the 1600's, so Americans landed on the West Coast during the 1800's... with equal determination to prove whose vision of the future was right. New England established Forest Grove and Portland. The Mid Atlantic States established Newberg. The South established Hillsboro, Tualatin, Wilsonville and Scholls (named for founder Peter Boone Scholl, a kinsman of Daniel Boone). Near Hillsboro, an argument between a Yankee emigrant and a Son of the South cost the Southerner his life. The topic of the argument: Slavery. The casualty is counted by some as the first of the Civil War. Sherwood and Newberg were not established until after the Civil War, but loyalty was still a hot topic all across the western frontier as the 19th Century drew to a close. As if to make sure the world clearly understood which country they belonged to, Sherwood town fathers kept a carefully hand written record of their public meetings. There is no ringing declaration of intent in these pages. (The Town Charter, Oregon Senate Bill 36, outlines the quaintly 19th Century problems that needed to be solved.) Even so, certain passages from the Town Minutes reveal the seriousness with which this project was undertaken. What follows is a surprisingly intimate account of the building of the first town hall and of preparations for the first Town of Sherwood election.

Building the Town Hall and Jail

From Minutes of June 20th, 1893
Text rearranged for clarity.

Motion made that the Recorder Make out Bill of Lumber for Town Hall and Jail size 20 X 30 ft X 10 foot High and to send a copy to each of the Saw Mills, Requesting them to submit Bids for furnishing. Same bids to be in by June 26. Motion carried. Motion made that the recorder be instructed to advertize for Bids on Carpentry Work on Hall and Jail. Bids to be in by 5 Oclock PM, July 3.

The Bids for furnishing lumber for the Town Hall and Jail were opened.. Bids wer as follows. Samuel Westfall $135.00, Wm. Vincent $79.98. Motion made and second to accept Mr. Vincent's Bid and the Contract of furnishing the Lumber Be awarded to him the same to be paid for on or before Nov. 1st 1893. Motion Carried.

The Recorder was instructed to Make out Bill of All Nails Hardware and Tin needed on building and give the same to J.C.Iler to fill.

Motion made and second that C.G.Reisner Purchase the best terms possible the Doors Windows Moulding & Shingles for building and present Bill for the same to procure said Bill on 90 days time if possible. Motion Carried.

On motion of Iler the Bid of J.E.Young of $59,75 for the carpentry work on town Hall and Jail was accepted and contract of Building the same awarded to said J.E.Young the vote being as follows Yes Iler + Meeks and Eyman.

Bill of J.Chapman for iron work on Jail amount 6.25 was cut down to 4.05 and on Motion of Smock that amount was ordered paid. [NOTE: The 20th Century's inflationary spiral begins about now. All over the world, people are baffled by the phenomenon.]

Bill of F.M.Buyer for 3 days work on Foundation @ 1.75 per day amounting to 5.25. Motion to accept Bill not Carried. On Motion F.M.Buyer's Bill was cut down to $4.50 and the same ordered paid.

Bill of J.E.Young for $59.75 for Carpenter work on Town Hall and Jail on Motion of Eyman the same was alowed. Bill of A.E.Beach and Co. for shingles $15.60 was called up and on Motion of Smock was laid over until next meeting and Mr.Eyman was Instructed to see Mr.Beach in regard to the same. Bill of James Carr for Brick work on Town Hall and Jail 10.00. On Motion of Eyman the above bill.was.Allowed.

On Motion it was desided to build a wood Shed on the Back End of the town Building siz 10X 18 feet said shed to be sided up on South End and West side with [surfaced?] Boxing, the cracks to be Battened with 1X4 in Dressed Battens, the North End to be left open so as to Admit Light to the Cell Windows in the Jail.

On Motion the recorder was Instructed to Draw plans and specifications for the Wood shed the vote on this Motion Stood as follows. Hogan No, Reisner No, Eyman Yes, Alexander Yes. There being a tye in the Council president J.C.Smock voted Yes.

On Motion it was desided to build the Wood Shed that had been ordered built At the Back End of the Jail Separate from the Jail Building and not Closer than 18 feet of the Jail Building. With the End of Said wood Shed facing on the Alley and the Recorder was Instructed to order Enough Lumber to finish said Shed in accordance with the new plans.

Bill of J.C.Smock for Nails & Shingles amounting to $3.20 was ordered paid.

On Motion of Mr.Leo It was desided that Any one having A contract for putting down Street Crossings must Clean Up and Burn All the Old refuse Lumber and chips and remove the new Lumber left over if any to the towns Lots, and they shall also deliver all the Spikes Left over if any at the Jail Building before the Job will be Accepted and paid for.

Sherwood's First Election

In Excerpt from December 1893 Minutes.

"On Motion the recorder was instructed to Advertise for Bids to furnish Material and Paint the outside of Town Hall, Two coat work, one third of the contract price to be Paid When first coat is finished and the other 2/3 when Job is completed Provided that the Last Coat must be put on in dry weather. The Council to be the Sole Judges as to when it is fit to paint on the Last Coat. Bids to be opened Dec. 18th, 1893."

"On Motion the Marshal was Instructed to procure Bunks and Blankets to be used in Cells of Town Jail and to bring in Bill for the same at the next regular Meeting." (The jail is attached to the Town Hall. It will be used by the election officials during the election. The only other furniture at Town Hall is a handmade table and chairs.)

"On Motion the Marshal was Instructed to procure one Rick of good 18 in. Wood for town Hall.

"On Motion J.E.Young was Instructed to make a ballot Box for the town, the same to have a good Yale Lock and to be ready for use by the time set for holding the annual Town Election.

"On Motion Iler was Instructed to procure an American flag to be raised over Town Hall. Flag must not exceed 5.00 in cost."

On December 18th the Council met to discuss bills and accounts. "Bill of McConnell and Iler [General Store] for Flag, Lamp & Oil, amount $8.65, was alowed and ordered paid. Bill of B.L.West for wood, amount $1.00, was alowed and ordered Paid. Bill of Geo.Seeney for beding for Town Jail, amount $3.25, was alowed and ordered Paid. On Motion of Smock, J.E.Young was awarded the Contract of Painting Building for $15.50. Motion By Eyman to Fence town Property [fails after lengthy discussion]. Motion to Adjourn to meet Tuesday January 2d,1894 at 7:30 Oclock P.M. [Signed] J.E.Young, Town Recorder"

Everything was ready at last. Except that two of the four election judges dropped out and another quick meeting had to be called on the third Friday of December to appoint new ones.

Sherwood's first annual election went off without a hitch. The winners of the January 2, 1894 election were pretty much the same people who had served in 1893. However, the Town fathers did successfully portray themselves as the legitimate authority in the Oregon Country: a part of the world that had been regarded as a haven for American expatriots less than a century earlier.

Town Hall was a brand new building in 1893, on a plot of ground the City had just purchased that same year: On the corner of First and Main. Today the site has no structures upon it except for the veteran's memorial. Town Hall stood between the memorial and the alley. The building served many different uses over the years and was finally torn down in 1982 by a brain dead City Council.

Ordinance No. (1) One

The people of the Town of Sherwood do ordain as follows.

That all Children under the age of (16) Sixteen years old are prohibited from being on the streets or at any public business place after the hour of (9) Nine Oclock P.M. from April (1) first, Eight (8) Oclock P.M. Unless sent on business or accompanied by their parents or Guardian.

Penalty first offense, One (1) Dollar fine, or twelve (12) hours imprisonment, second offense to be double this amount of fine.

Approved, Apr. 6th, 1893

C.G.Reisner, Pres't

J.M.Haynes, Recorder

Compare with: "Morally Insane Children"

Sherwood Forest Comes to Oregon

Highway 99W northbound to Sherwood. The primordial forest still threatens the town's main transportation route.


The Sherwood area was the last part of Washington County to be settled, owing to its nearly impenetrable swamps and forests. We were known as Cedar Creek District before we were known as anything else. The forest was the primary restraint on commerce. However, the care and protection of trees had become a national past time by the end of the century. "In the 1880s the Nebraska legislature created Arbor Day to encourage the practice of planting trees, and so many states followed suit that it became a national holiday." [Lingeman, pg. 292-3] All across the country, public speeches and newspaper editorials glowed with enthusiasm for the concept. As follows:

In a few years hundreds of towns will become cities. Now they have the country in their very streets; soon it will be gone-- unless the parks are set apart and space for trees is left on either side of the new streets and extensions of streets. No town is too small or too far away....
     1890's New York editor, quoted by Lingeman.

Let those public grounds be adorned with trees, that when a few years hence you may assemble to commemorate the two hundredth anniversary of this town, you may have before you the promise of future beauty, and when your children's children may assemble to commemorate the three hundredth anniversary, they may rise up and call you blessed.
     New England architect Henry Sykes in 1868, quoted by Lingeman.

And so to keep up with the times, "Smockville" became "Sherwood". The ink was hardly dry on the Town Incorporation papers before the Sherwood town fathers enacted Sherwood's first tree planting ordinance: Ordinance Number Thirteen.

August 7, 1893 -- In order that the town in later years may have shade trees, it is hereby ordained that all property owners shall set out maple trees in the parking along their property. Such trees shall be set out not less than ten feet above the surface of the ground, and they shall have some kind of protection around them to keep the stock from breaking down.
     Sherwood Valley News, April 27, 1939

Trees did not drop down from the sky, as the ordinance seems to imply.

On the night the draft ordinance was brought up for discussion--July 10, 1893--there was a citizen complaint "in regards to stench from Hogpen." That was a clear violation of Ordinance Number 4. The aroma was so appalling that Mayor Reisner "...was Instructed to procure a pair of Hand Cuffs for the use of the Marshal."

Another year went by before the Town Marshal finally had time to enforce Ordinance 13. It wasn't because he had nothing else to do. When Marshal Seeney submitted his bill for the shade trees he'd planted around the Town House, the March 1894 invoice tactfully included a charge "...for 3 arests @ 1.50, amt 4.50, and $1.00 for Boarding Prisoners...."

Was he suggesting that his preoccupation with the tree ordinance was responsible for a rise in the crime rate? Not exactly. The shade tree ordinance was only part of the Let's Clean Up the Streets program. There was also Ordinance Number 1 to consider: placing a curfew on children. And Ordinance Number 2 and Number 4 forbidding dogs and hogs to run wild on the streets.

This being the Wild West, it was not unexpected that the owners of kids, dogs and hogs might register their protest with the town fathers by violating Ordinance Number 3: Forbidding the discharge of firearms within the Town Limits.


Property owners pose with and without trees in Old Town

It seems that armed resistance to the cleanup drive became serious enough for the Council to take further action to enforce the Shade Tree Ordinance on April of 1894. One month after ordering the Marshal to plant trees around Town Hall, the Council "...desided to pay the Marshal a salary of $10.00 per Month for the Months of April May & June 1894 in Order that he might better Afford to take time to look after those persons more closely that wer in the habit of Violating Town Ordinances." The Marshal was also "...Instructed to procure A Star for Depty Marshal."

Meanwhile, Sherwood was beginning to have problems that no amount of shade trees could cover up. Owners of town lots were putting their water wells and their privies side by side in their backyards. In those days, all across America, the smell of raw sewage was considered healthy. Drinking contaminated water had to be even better for you. To put it bluntly, the more emigrants attracted to Sherwood's healthy environment, the greater the risk of dying from cholera and typhus. By the end of 1894, people were getting put on the train for the ride to "the Hospital." The final straw comes when the town fathers were getting called upon to pay the train fare. In January of 1895 a certain woman told the Council a heart rending tale of how she had spent most of her life's savings nursing a gentleman in her home and how she had hoped the Council might reimburse her for taking a sick person off the streets until he was well enough to be sent to the poor farm. The penny pinching council coldly rejected the request out of hand... and then changed its mind a few minutes later and paid half the amount.

Progressive government in Sherwood was born.


Dale's Barber Shop in Oldtown
Smock's General Store is gone, but arguments that started there
100 years ago are still going on here.

Along with the health threat, the town had no fire protection. Except for some ladders that were proudly displayed on the Town Hall building each election day, there was nothing you could call a fire department. No one knew where the ladders had disappeared to during the Fire of June 1, 1895. On that historical occasion, a spark caught in a chimney flue and burned down the entire block between Washington and Main, Railroad and 1st. The flames were so intense they destroyed the train depot which the Southern Pacific Railway Company had just finished building on the other side of the tracks. The fire took out the McConnell and Iler store and ruined Iler. He left town a few years later, without bothering to resign his Council position.

In addition to health and safety problems Sherwood was beginning to see the effects of a serious global recession by 1894. The recession took out Sherwood's only industrial employer --The Portland Pressed Brick Company --in 1896. There was also an outfit called the Tualatin Valley Telephone Company that walked off with $130 of the Town's assets in 1895 and was never seen again.

All of this happened within the first three years of incorporation. Shade trees just kind of slipped off the agenda. The topic doesn't come up again until June of 1896, when a certain Reverend A.B.Whitmore ventured before the Council to offer "..a few Well chosen Remarks in Regard to Internal Improvements toward the beautifying of streets by shade trees..." The Council responded with some well chosen remarks of its own. After a lengthy discussion "...no Deffinett Action was taken in the matter."

Old time Sherwood was like one of those Victorian mansions of the era: Beautiful on the surface, but seriously lacking in structural detail. Virtually everything the early Town Council did to improve Old Town's infrastructure (most noteably, the Sherwood water tower) fell apart within a few years of their completion.

Today, Old Town Sherwood streets are graced by rows of seedlings that might actually provide shade someday ...if only Sherwood can secure the tranquil social setting that has eluded it in the past.

Sherwood's First Barbeque

The following is taken directly from the Town Council Minutes. (By the way, if your name is "Lamont" please report to City Hall.)

Sherwood Oregon Nov.1st,1895.

Common Council of the Town of Sherwood met in regular session members all present at Roll Call.

Minutes of Last town meetings Read and approved.

Mr. John Lamont President of the Willamet Valley Telephone Company asked permission of the Common Council to let the Company's Telephone polls and string its wires along the streets highways and public Thoroughfares of the Town of Sherwood.

On Motion the president declared a Ten Minute Recess.

Council called to order.

Ordinance #28 was Introduced said ordinance was for the purpose of granting a franchise to the Willamett Valley Telephone Company to set its poles and construct a telephone Line on or across any and all of the Streets Alleys and Public Thoroughfares of the Town of Sherwood and to perpetually maintain the same.

Read for the first time and on motion the word "Exclusive" was stricken out of section three (3) making said section thru Read as follows:

The right hereby be granted to the Willamette Valley Telephone Company shall be perpetual and to its successors and assigns.

On Motion ordinance #28 was taken up and Read for the second reading before the Council there being no more corrections said ordinance No.28 was taken up for its third and Last Reading and placed to a final Vote. Yes: J.C.Smock, J.E.Morback, H.H.Eyman, J.W.Spencer. [NOTE: The Town Charter required a proposed ordinance be read three times before signing. However, reading it all three times during the same meeting was unprecedented.]

Ordinance #28 carriade and was signed by the president and ordered posted. ... On Motion the Recorder was Instructed to prepare a certified copy of Ordinance #28 and Deliver the same to Mr. John Lamont, President of the Willamette Valley Telephone Co.

On motion council adjourned subject to call of the President.

[Signed] J.E.Young Town Recorder

[THE NEXT DAY]

Sherwood Oregon Nov. 2nd, 1895

The Common Council of the Town of Sherwood met in called session for the purpose of considering the matter of taking Stock in the Willamette Valley Telephone Co. [Next seven words crossed out:] Mr. John Lamont president of the Co Members all present at Roll Call Except E.G.Hagey City Marshal. The president stated the object of the meeting.

Mr. John Lamont President of the Telephone Company made the following proposition That in consideration of the Town of Sherwood taking 13 shairs of the Telephone Co. Stock said Company would Run the Main Line through the town, open an office, and maintain the same.

Mr. H.H.Eyman moved that the town take 13 shares of Willamette Valley Telephone Company Stock @ $10.00 per shair. Amount $130.00.

The motion carried by the following vote Yes: J.C.Smock, J.E.Morback, H.H.Eyman, J.W.Spencer.

On Motion a Warrant was ordered drawn for the Sum of $130.00 to pay for the 13 shares of Stock purchased by order of the Council.

Council Adjourned subject to call of the President.

[Signed] J.E.Young Town Recorder.

(...Mr. Lamont and the Willamette Valley Telephone Company
and the $130 were never seen again!)
Map of Oregon with Hotbutton to City of Sherwood Homepage.

Map of Oregon, U.S.A.