Stella historians present Remnants of the Past

The Stella Historical Society will hold their annual Remnants of the Past program on September 10 from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.

Visitors will find a small post office--now a museum--which served the farmers and loggers living in the area. Inside are items pioneers used before electricity was available.

A blacksmith shop is next, housing logging equipment and one of the last working forges in Washington state. Jo Schnotala and Rochelle Hams of Grays River will be demonstrating their skills as blacksmiths that day.

A third building houses farm equipment, usually pulled by horses for planting potatoes, etc., and a threshing machine, used to separate the grain from the stalk, the grain then used as flour for bread making.

Outside, visitors will find an old school bell to ring, calling children to a one-room school house that existed so many years ago.

As visitors drive away, they will follow an old wagon trail to Germany Creek Road to continue the trip down memory lane. The road leads along a creek where salmon still come up in the fall to spawn. Continuing up the road an old red barn built in the 1800s will appear which housed horses in the winter and stalls for milking cows. Winter hay is still stored there to feed farm animals.

Turning left onto Sherman Road still stands the Bunker Hill School house, now weeds growing around the windows and doors. No longer the sounds of children laughing, or teacher’s scolding voice can be heard. Across the road stands the little Stella Lutheran Chapel with tall fir trees hovering over. There visitors will find a farmers market selling freshly baked goods and apples picked from neighbors’ trees.

Inside will be a display of pictures showing families, homesteads, school houses, logging camps, and many more activities that made Stella so unique.

The Stella Chapel Bell Choir Ensemble will perform at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. At 2 p.m., Darrel Johnson and his group will play bluegrass until closing at 4 p.m.

Visitors may also enjoy a Stella dog on a bun with sauerkraut or chili. Ice cream and pop will also be on sale.

Stella is located along the Columbia River near Germany Creek, 14 miles east of Cathlamet.