1948, A Year of Change and Community

Let’s take a look back on the leap year that was 1948. First up, Gary Alden Saxton welcomed the year as the New Year’s baby, as stated in The Canby Herald.

Sadly, John Ray Vinyard died of a heart attack — he was the mayor of the Canby for 13 years from 1933 to 1946. Mayor A.S. Markee issued a statement requesting all stores and businesses be closed from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. on Friday, out of respect for Vinyard’s memory. Known as Ray throughout his life, he was appointed mayor on Dec. 14, 1933 upon the death of Dr. H.A. Dedman, and he was reelected to the mayoralty every two years and served constantly until Jan 6, 1947.

Vinyard was born Dec. 30, 1887, in Marion, Kansas, and came to Canby at the age 4 with his parents. Canby remained his home until his death. He worked at L.H. Wang’s grocery and general merchandise store around 1904. In 1917, Vinyard bought a partnership with Mr. Wang, and after two years, took over full ownership, leading business institutions in southern Clackamas County. In 1914, he married Hazel Philips (who survived him at the time of his death).

Because of the diversity of his activities, he was one of the most popular men in the lower Willamette Valley. Vinyard was a member of numerous organizations, including the Masonic Lodge, the Shrine, Old Fellows and the Canby Rod & Gun Club, to name a few. He was a charter member of the Kiwanis Club and held the record of perfect attendance.

Also happening in Canby in 1948 … Chris Kraft, Jr., Canby city councilman and businessman, purchased the Owl Garage and modernized the structure — the building was the old Feeney Store, which moved from NW First and Grant in 1926 by R.C. Duke, prior to Kraft purchasing it. It would later become a Chevrolet dealership; today it is the Les Schwab Tire Store.

With the lengthening of summer days, many families in the farming community utilized their daylight hours on their farms. Getting into town before the grocery stores closed was burdensome, so Canby grocers started to stay open until 8 p.m. Carlton & Rosenkran’s, Monahan’s, Cutsforth Market and Vineyard all decided to add an extra hour during the spring and summer months.

Phyllis Batteson of Canby, a mezzo-soprano, was contracted to sing on the Canby programs over station KGON every Monday evening at 6 p.m. The year of 1948 saw the birth of KGON, which, at the time, was the only Clackamas County radio station, though not located in Canby but Oregon City.

A class of 61 students graduated from Canby Union High. The biggest flirts were Wayne Yoder and Mary Jayne. On February 5, 1948, the Canby Union High School FFA notably purchased two new tractors at the cost of $2,996.05.

The Canby Herald annual subscription was only $2.50, and the Canby Police raked in fines of $4,408 in 11 months, the majority from speeders. There were 444 arrests made for traffic violations — the majority of those arrested posted bail and then forfeited it. The Chief of Police at this time was James F. Hudson.

At Cutsforth’s corner, Greyhound “Silversides” Super-Coach buses started to serve Canby, which was a luxury with its air conditioning. This was also the year that an ambulance service would start to serve the Canby area.

Glenn Eliss Pottratz married Barbara Ann Stephani on Sept. 11 at the St. Patrick’s Catholic Church. Glenn Pottratz worked at Publisher Papermill in Oregon City. Barbara would become a mother of eight children. They lived on N.E. Third Street, where there are apartments today. Many of the Pottratz children are prominent citizens who still reside in the Canby community. Carol (Pottratz) Barrow works at the William Knight School and the Canby Historical Society. Connie (Pottratz) and Wayne Austin live on Macksburg Road, home of the legendary wolf in the window. Connie is now retired from the school district, while Wayne was the owner of Austin Body Shop but has since sold it to his son, Tim. Charlie and Gerri Pottratz; Calvin and Brenda Pottratz; and Larry and Cindy Nail still reside in Canby. Craig Pottratz lives in Dickey Prairie and Michael and Colleen Haill live in Kennewick, Washington. Their brother, Clyde, died on April 22, 2009. To date, the family counts 19 grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren.

If you have any story ideas or are interested in sharing your family’s history, reach out to Dawn Coleman at canbyhistory@gmail.com.