From VooDoo to Veneta

Portland highways are completely confusing. Not only are there highways to contend with, but numerous bridges as well that cross over the Willamette River that goes right through Portland. But we persevered because we were incredibly interested in finding our way to Voodoo Doughnuts, a funky doughnut shop Laura found out about when doing research for the trip.

Emmett (an incredibly nice and helpful guy) was our guide as he gave us a tour of their rotating doughnut case: raspberry filled chocolate covered doughnuts shaped like people (Laura’s favorite), vegan doughnuts covered in various candies and breakfast cereals, and a Memphis doughnut-a fried banana fritter drizzled with peanut butter and chocolate chips which Liz immediately recognized as a tribute to Elvis.

After buying a dozen (we will share them later with Laura’s sister and her husband who live in Portland), we were off to navigate the Portland highways again to meet and interview Ann Chick. On the way to Veneta, Oregon where Ann lives, we saw lots of open space populated briefly by pit stops and big stores like Wal-Mart and Target. (It looked a little bit like driving to Champaign-Urbana, IL) But once we got closer to Veneta we saw beautiful open fields filled with ponds and small loose forests. Liz even saw an enormous (and by enormous, we mean enormous-the picture does not do it justice) nest on top of an old telephone pole that she said was most likely an eagle’s nest. (It looked like a condo, if you ask Laura)

We got a little lost once we passed the Veneta sign, but a quick call to Ann put us on the right path again, and once we got on the right street, we were amazed at the wonderful homes hidden off behind the trees.

Ann graciously met us when we pulled into her driveway, and did not mind at all when Liz started to completely rearrange her living room in order to get the best shot for the documentary. While Liz set up the camera, Laura was once again put on picture duty (the fun part!) and got to look at all of the fantastic photos that Ann had of her Great Grandmother, Anna Germann Stenger, and her family.

We also got to see the bishop chair that John Stenger once sat in and apparently was very dear to him. Ann had thought that it was called the Bishop chair because whenever the Bishop came to the home of John Stenger in Naperville, he would sit in this chair. When Ann looked the chair up online she found out that it was also called a Bishop chair because he top of the chair has a gothic style to it and what appears to be crosses.

Ann had other items that her Great Aunt Marie Germann (the author of After 100 Years, which was a memoir of life on the Stenger farm) had told her had been in the brewery. We saw a beautiful New Haven Clock that used to sit on the desk of John Stenger. (Ann put a key in the clock to wind it up so we could hear it chime.) Ann also owns a small serving platter that Anna Elizabeth Stenger gave to her parents as a Christmas gift in 1876 when she was barely 20 years old. The Bishop chair clock, and serving tray were all beautifully crafted and just serve to remind us that the art of craftsmanship today is just not what it used to be.

The interview with Ann was wonderful as well. She drew from the well of memories that her Great Aunt Marie wrote about in After 100 Years. In this memoir, Marie wrote about John having been injured, but does not say how. Ann had heard a version different than any we have heard before, but you will all have to wait for the documentary to find out what that is.

Liz was also happy to see the Bears beat the Seattle Seahawks at Ann’s house. (Sorry, Ann!)

As we head back to Portland on I-5, we are recapping on what a great and rewarding trip this has been.

Our final thoughts will be posted tomorrow.