2016 Edition
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These images were taken with my Nikon D810 camera and nifty fifty lens
Thick freezing morning fog didn't help the quality of these pictures any...
New Era is an unincorporated community in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States.
Its post office opened in 1876 and closed in 1940.
The New Era Spiritual Society, a religious group settled on a hill above Parrott
Creek flowing into the Willamette River above the falls, was the source of the name
for the settlement beginning to form a short distance away. As the town began to
grow, so did the name New Era as an appropriate name for the town. The rich soil
was ideal for farming and potato was the crop of choice. Shipments were made by
wagon to Oregon City, transferred to boats below the falls and on to Portland. After
a system of locks was built, boats could put in at New Era and after the arrival of
the railroad, the produce was shipped by train.
Here's an exerpt from Steven Arndt's very popular Ghost Town book:
About 1875, a religious, communal community known as the new era spiritual society
formed on the hill above parrot Creek which flows into the willamette river. In 1876,
the new era post office opened. The society found the rich soil ideal for farming and
grew many fruits and vegetables here including potatoes. Most of the produce was sold
to markets in Canby and Oregon city.
Leadership of the community began to be challenged and World War 1 erupted, causing
the New Era commune to collapse. The main grounds of the colony once housed a nudist
colony and have since been broken up into individual lots and homes.
Apparently this presumed historical fact is a sore point with at least some of the
current congregation. Within hours of posting these pictures I was threatened by a
historical revisionist about this posting..... which proves that it's not always anti-
American, anti-religion, left wing commie Liberals who are haters and opponents of
truth and free speech.
I was told that the above story is fabricated... which is certainly possible but I
have no reason to doubt the source who did a lot of research when compiling his book.
I was further informed that the New Era Church is "a beautiful spiritual community"
which also could be true but my one and only contact with this church was hardly beautiful
or spiritual..... I'm assuming that the OP of the flame post I received is a member
of said congregation.
Finally, I was threatened with legal action for defamation of character and falsifying
information.... good luck with that!
I was further informed that "the photos used to represent the nudist colony is the
neighbors house!" [sic]
I don't know what photos Ms. Flamethrower is referring to but I'm assuming that the
row of small bungalows opposite the church are the domiciles in question.
Note to little Ms. Psycho: A polite note explaining that the information in my posting
was incorrect along with facts to back up that claim would have gotten a lot more
traction with me. Anyone who knows me knows that threats only cause me to dig in my
heels.
Onviously, there was no assertion, implied or otherwise that the current membership
or church leadership is in any way involved with a nudist colony commune. Personally,
I found it somewhat amusing that a straight-laced society in ~ the turn of the century
Oregon would operate a nudist colony of all things. I am hardly straight-laced but
running around in the buff, in public, is waaaaay outside my comfort range. So lighten
up Oh Ye Holy Rollers. To the best of my knowledge, God did not create Adam and Eve
with clothes on. Eve had to learn how to sew first.....
The Original Easyrider®
Motorcycle Touring Forum
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