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Bohemia
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Welcome to the Spirit of BMD Celebration: A twoday tribute celebrating Bohemia Mining Days’ 65th Anniversary
Photo Credit: Curtis Irish Collection Courtesy of Debra Monsive
Retrospective: Past BMD Organizers Spirit of BMD Celebration Parade Stroll Down Memory Lane Grand Marshal Grant Johnson By Cindy Weeldreyer
Festival Coordinator 2015-2021
The Bohemia Mining Days is Cottage Grove’s most anticipated annual event for people of all ages. Generations have come and gone since it began in 1959. The tap root of many love stories began at BMD. It is the catalyst of bringing t o g e t h e r generations
Ellen Hogue
Don Williams
of families and former classmates that intentionally plan reunions around the celebration. This year marks the celebration’s 65th anniversary Sharon Jean – a feat that few communities anywhere can claim. These days, it is rare to have an all-volunteer community celebration survive this long. In fact, it has been around so long the State of Oregon now formally recognizes it as an Oregon Heritage Tradition. Bohemia Mining Days owes its continued existence to passionate individuals who have dedicated their See ORGANIZERS, page 19
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Partly cloudy. High of 96 and a low of 56
George “Grant” Johnson became a Grover in May 1948 when he was born in Butler’s Maternity Home. His family moved to California in 1950 and lived there for six years before moving back to town. He has participated in the Prospectors and Gold Diggers Club since 1964 and became a member in 1992. He is a member of the Elks Lodge, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, and the Masonic Lodge. Grant is a 1967 graduate of Cottage Grove High School and volunteers for many local organizations. He is well-known for delivering promotional flyers for nonprofit groups. He has attended every Bohemia Mining Days since it began in 1959 and, since 1964, he has helped served the George “Grant” Johnson
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The Rat Creek Cook House kept hungry miners well-fed so they could continue their laborious work. (Circa pre-1900). Cooks Pictured: Nona (VanSchoiack) Kelly, Nellie (Kerr) Pitcher and Maggie (Goff) Lockwood.
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Number 29 • 135 years
The day Jerry Lewis came to town Lewis makes BMD appearance Cindy Weeldreyer Cottage Grove Sentinel
It was a really, really big deal in July 1970. Word spread like wildfire around town, and beyond, Jerry Lewis was coming to Cottage Grove to be in the Bohemia Mining Days parade. It was the culmination of months of clever planning by BMD Committee President Bill Whiteman to orchestrate the circumstances that brought the famous comedian to town. In the spring of 1970, Jerry Lewis was on the
hunt for a national poster child for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. After looking through many photos, he selected Lane County’s poster child, eight-year-old Scotty Swift, for the honor. After the announcement was made, Whiteman recommended the committee select Scotty to be the parade’s grand marshal. “The idea really started at 2 a.m. on a spring morning,” Whitman said. “I woke up with the idea to coach Scotty to invite Jerry to join him in the parade as his guest when he was
Sentinel file photo
Jerry insisted to BMD planners that Scotty must be the focus in the parade -- not him. When they arrived at the staging area, Lewis was pleased with the sign that had the eight-year-old’s name in big print and his name in smaller print and identified as “Scotty’s good friend”.
with him in New York for an upcoming photo session. “In the morning I called Scotty’s mother, Mrs. Bill Swift (Verlene), and told her I wanted to “use” Scotty to ask Mr. Lewis to come and ride in the parade with him. She thought it was a good idea.” At the photo shoot, Verlene asked the MDA Fundraising Chairperson who said no. Jerry’s manager said no because that Saturday Lewis was scheduled to be in San Diego with the Barnum and Bailey Circus and Sammy Davis Jr. to film a segment for the upcoming telethon. Then, as he stood next to Jerry for the photos, Scotty sweetly asked him to come and ride in the parade with him. Without hesitation Lewis said, “I will be there!” Standing nearby was Lewis’ manager, Joey, who told him it wasn’t possible and Jerry told him “I’m riding with Scotty, fix it!” Whiteman said his phone started ringing to work out all the arrangements for the Hollywood star to appear See Lewis on Page 3
Courtesy of Bill Whiteman.
Famous Comedian Jerry Lewis’ popularity drew thousands of fans to Cottage Grove. Traffic on I-5 was backed up to the rest area north of town. The Lane County Sheriff’s Office estimated it was the largest mass gathering in the county up to that time.
Cottage Grove remembers Lemati Grange shootouts Cindy Weeldreyer Cottage Grove Sentinel
Talk to any Baby Boomer who lived here in the late-1960s to mid-1970s and they will enthusiastically tell you their most favorite aspect of Bohemia Mining Days was the Old West theatre troupe of outlaws known as the Lemati Gang. David Spriggs and George Snyder, members of the Prospector and Gold Diggers booster club, laid the foundation for the formation of this nonprofit organization in 1967 by orchestrating a train robbery of the free excursion train that made two daily trips on the Saturday and Sunday of BMD. During the winter of 1967-68, the idea of organizing the theatre troupe ignited passion in about 25 individuals, some of whom had horses.
TODAY’S EDITION
History In 1968, the Lemati Gang (LG) was incorporated as a nonprofit organization. Officers were elected and a constitution and by-laws were adopted. The main purpose of the troupe was to promote
Weather — 8 Obituaries — 4 Opinion — 5
BMD prior to the third weekend in July and foster better relationships with other communities by participating in their events. The name “Lemati” (an Indian name meaning peaceful valley) was chosen because in 1887, a group of citizens living on the east side of the river decided to secede from the west side of town and created their own town with this name. This running “feud” lasted 14 years, until a Lemati voters agreed to “bury the hatchet” with Cottage Grove (nicknamed Slabtown) and the two towns reunited in 1901. The original membership was limited to 15 members and in 1972, it was raised to 30 and divided into two groups, mounted and on foot, that worked together in harmony. Members had to be at least 21-years-old, furnish his own outfit, weapon and carry medical insurance. The troupe members were encouraged to develop a unique character. Weapons and dress had to represent the period of The West between 1875 through the early 1900s.
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Cindy Weeldreyer / Cottage Grove Sentinel
Several individuals gladly took advantage of the Community Center’s Cooling Center when temperatures soared above 100-degrees on July 5-7. Pictured left to right are visitors Patrick Flannery and William Poor with volunteer Valeria Clarke.
Scorching heat triggers opening of Cooling Center JEREMY C. RUARK CINDY WEELDREYER Cottage Grove Sentinel
David Spriggs the LG’s show director. He took them from the pages of romantic western heritage. Shootouts, hangings, jail breaks, bank robberies, etc. While these events
A strong and persistent heat wave that began July 4, seared towns and cities from British Columbia, Canada to the California Mexico boarder. Temperatures have soared into the low 100s during the day in Cottage Grove and across Lane County. The National Weather Service issued an Excessive Heat Warning for much of Oregon, urging people to take precautions. Statewide, at least 16 deaths had been recorded by July 12 associated with the heat wave. The deaths occurred in Multnomah, Washington, Coos, Douglas, Jackson, and Klamath counties, according to state medical examiners. A Cooling Center was established at the Cottage Grove Library and Community Center. It operated at the library during the day and then it was offered at the the
See Lamati on Page 3
See Heat on Page 4
Courtesy photo
Wanted posters, like this one from 1970, appeared all over town in anticipation of Bohemia Mining Days. The Lemati Gang had shoot-outs in the middle of Main Street and even pre-arranged robberies of local businesses, including the First National Bank, giving customers quite a surprise.
It operated under a very strict set of rules. Alcohol use was forbidden prior to show time and maintained a high level of gun safety for themselves and their audience. The shows were primarily written by
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