La Center
The Columbian
St. Helens, Oregon
January 18, 1882

The steamer Manzanillo had an excursion on Sunday from Portland to La Center. Our family, along with quite a delegation got on board at St. Helens. It was a delightful day, and we never enjoyed ourselves any more. The site of the Kinder place was the finest we passed. We noticed the hut of Isaac T. Jenny surrounded by his beautiful orchard of peach trees. The scenery is grand, and all lacking to make it more beautiful than Europe is a few castles or ruins of that kind. The many-hued foliage gave the landscape a decidedly aesthetic appearance. 

La Center is a quiet little burg. It looked lively, however, then, with its three steamboats, Dew Drop Latona and Manzanillo. A fine bridge across the river is in process of erection. We called on Dr. Davis and he kindly showed us some of the treasures he is gathering up for a museum. He has a fine collection of ancient coins. He showed us the knee buckles and shoe buckles of Benjamin Nason of York Co. Maine, worn in Revolutionary times. 

He has a splendid collection of stuffed birds, but the greatest curiosity of all was a tree fungus big as a safe. It beat anything in that line we ever saw. The Doctor has a fine apothecary establishment, and is a much bigger man intellectually than many give him credit for. It isn't every numbskull that can appreciate talent. We called on George Barr, the miller, he has a grist mill and sawmill, and is a live man of business. 

His wife is a very pleasant cordial lady, and Mrs. Adams liked her much. They have two beautiful little girls who did their best to entertain our children. Before we made our last call, we had gone on the top of the hill, and in a delightful cool grove eaten our lunch. We never saw a nicer place for that purpose than the grove on the hill above La Center. We had almost forgot to mention our visit to Miller & Gaither's store. 

Mr Miller has returned from Indiana, and brought back a brand new wife. He kindly showed us around the store which is full of first class goods, The children would not forgot to thank Dr. Davis for a bountiful supply of candies and nuts. On the boat we met many old acquaintances from Portland, Mr. Bushwhiler, Mrs. Waud and two beautiful daughters, Robert Caples, Mr. John Finnen, Mr. S. Herman and Mr. J. M Reddick who has been logging on Coal Creek. 

He was accompanied by his brother-in-law, Mr. Whittle. There were many beautiful girls, on the boat, but none handsomer than the St Helen delegation. There were quite a number of the Milton Quarry men who went, a very quiet, gentlemanly set of men. Altogether the excursion was refreshing. It rested us. The officers of the boat, had everything move along just like clockwork