In 2017-18 we received generous support from the Clark County Historic Promotion Grants Program to create a Talking History of Venersborg. Work began in 2017 and continues through the end of 2018, gathering stories and remembrances of the old times.
Listen to long time residents Merle and Miles Kollberg, BJ Schulte, Brenda Wilson, Barbara Henrikson, Norma Bodine Kennedy, and Doris Forsgren LaCount. Brenda’s videos on the animals of Venersborg are grouped together at the end of this list.
Merle & Miles Kollberg: Born on the Same Day , Grandfather built the schoolhouse, merging two churches.
BJ Schulte: The Swedish Land and Colonization Company, original ownership and marketing of the town.
BJ Schulte: The Venersborg Schoolhouse, early teachers and students.
BJ Schulte: Origins of the Venersborg Community Club, the sewing club, the homemakers club.
Barbara Henrikson: The Henrikson family moved to Venersborg in 1911.
Barbara Henrikson: Logging and Farming, earning a living.
BJ Schulte: The Schoolhouse becomes a Historic Landmark, outhouses to bathrooms.
Miles & Merle Kollberg: Gathering Donations for flowers for deceased villagers, cookies for youngsters.
BJ Schulte: The Yacolt Burn, tales of survival.
Barbara Henrikson: The Columbus Day storm of 1972, damage to the orchards.
Merle & Miles Kollberg: Adelma Peterson tutors Cliff Kollberg during his illness.
Miles & Merle Kollberg: Young boys at the Community Dances at the schoolhouse.
Barbara Henrikson: Courtship for farmers, finding a wife.
BJ Schulte: The rough road to town, the long ride in to school in Battle Ground.
BJ Schulte: The Clark County Fair, ribbons won by members of the homemakers club.
Doris Forsgren LaCount’s family was one of the original Venersborg settlers. She talks about growing up in the community.
Doris Forsgren LaCount: Venersborg Harvest dinners
Doris Forsgren LaCount: The Venersborg Fair sponsored by the 4H club held at the schoolhouse also had a fashion show.
Doris Forsgren LaCount: The $800 corner — How the two Venersborg churches became one.
Doris Forsgren LaCount: Her Swedish ancestry, traveling from Sweden to settle in Venersborg. Her young single grandmother traveled by ship to marry her grandfather.
Doris Forsgren LaCount: A seasonal first job for Venersborg kids was picking and drying prunes, the sawmill, the Strom family’s cattle, the Battle Ground store.
Doris Forsgren LaCount: Commuting to Portland (one hour) for work, the WW2 draft.
Doris Forsgren LaCount: Haying season, Esther and Elsie Forsgren, Carleen Moberg, Alice Abrahamson, sleeping in the hay barn.
Doris Forsgren LaCount: The Venersborg 4H club was the centerpiece of the community and provided a social and educational organization for young people.
Norma Bodine Kennedy: Daughter of Lester Bodine and Colleen Johnson Bodine. Lester was born here on their farm, youngest of three (brother Fred, sister Phronie). Colleen’s family came to Venersborg to be near Esther Kohlberg. Lots of wonderful family photos from early Venersborg days, and the early schoolhouse.
Norma Bodine Kennedy: Her mother Colleen stole Lester’s heart during a sledding party. Lester’s first car that he bought with money he saved during his time in the service. Early pix of Miles and Merle Kollberg.
Norma Bodine Kennedy: Her mother Colleen became a nurse through a government training, but the war ended before she graduated. A big secret about her marriage where true love blooms.
Norma Bodine Kennedy: Fascinating story about her dad Lester’s service as supervisor of the school district transportation department. Colleen was nominated for Citizen of the Year. Caring and sharing bring happiness.
<–bear
<–bobcat
<–beaver
Brenda Wilson: Flying squirrels, coyotes, river otter slides, nutria, muskrats, raccoons.
<–muskrat
<–porcupine quills
<–foxes