Your account does not include highlighter on images.
Searches Highlighted on Image
National Sponsors
| January 5, 2011 The Sun Paper |  |
|
©
The Sun Paper. All rights reserved. Upgrade to access Premium Tools
PAGE 5 (5 of 10 available) PREVIOUS NEXT Jumbo Image Save To Scrapbook Set Notifiers PDF JPG
January 5, 2011 |
|
|
Website © 2025. All content copyrighted. Copyright Information Terms Of Use | Privacy Policy | Request Content Removal | About / FAQ | Get Acrobat Reader 
|
Wednesday, January 5, 2011, The Sun 5
By Daniel Crawford
Correspondent, The Sun
To truly appreciate what a
craftsman is all about, first you
have to think about everything
that you use in your daily life.
From the complexity of the
kitchen sink to the simplicity of
the bobby pin--someone was
behind those ideas and devel-
oped a way to make it practical
and functional.
Many of us take a lot of
common items we use daily for
granted and others wish we
would have thought of the idea!
Living here in Sheridan is an
82-year-old man named Ed-
ward "Tessie" Wilson. He is
one of those marvels in the fad-
ing world of the true craftsman.
His story begins as a depres-
sion-era child who was bom in
Sheridan. He was the baby of the
brood of seven children to hard
working parents who didn't
have much to give. Wilson
learned at an early age to make
the most out of the things he
possessed became there was no
guarantee more was to come.
At the age of 25, Wilson met
and married his wife Pat after
three months of courtship.
They have been together for 57
years and have three children,
six grandchildren and 10 great-
grandchildren.
Wilson received his nick-
name from an older sister who
felt he needed a colorful name.
The name stuck and he is rarely
called by his first name any-
more. 19, fact, Wilson's wife Pat
tells a funny story about how
using his first name caused the
family some "social problems."
"We made the mistake of
listing our name in the phone
book asjmt 'Ed Wilson.' For a
year we hardly received any
phone calls so the next year we
listed our names as 'Ed and Pat
Wilson' and that cured our so-
cial problem! Everyone in town
knows him as Tessie and now
our phone rings all the time,"
Pat said while laughing.
Wilson spent most of his
working years at a plywood mill
in Willamina. After spending a
day around lumber, Wilson
Edward "Tessie" Wilson displays
made from his own hands.
would gather inspiration from
the day's experience and go into
his shop and create items that his
family could use such as a chest
of drawers and tables.
"I never used any kind of
blueprint or drew up any kind
of plan. I had these ideas in my
head and I would just grab
some boards and just go do it,"
said Wilson.
Most of his creations main-
SALES SERVICE
ACCESSORIES
Chain Saws o Brush Cutters
Blowers. Hedge Trimmers
Concrete Saws
Wire Rope and Rigging
IRTHWEST
SUPPLY, INC.
(503) 472-4115
2330 Stratus Ave.
McMInnville
Photo by Daniel Crawford
a snow meter he
tain the credo that "nothing
goes to waste." Wilson has
turned trash into treasure for
many years. Some of the arti-
facts that seem to draw the most
attention are his yard ornaments
such as windmills or spinning
weather vanes made from dis-
carded pastry molds mounted
on rod iron and spin on marbles.
His fishing chairs are very
popular because not only are
they hand-crafted but they con- too much work for him. top pickers. He even created his
rain welded holders for a fish- "I did all the work and spent own brand of step ladder with a
ing rod and beverages, all the money to make my pat- mounted handle on the top rung
Wilson balks at the notion ents a go then these corporate so he could support himselfwhile
thatheisamodem-dayPicasso, types tried to step back and working.
He is too humble for that. He make a buck off of me. I just Most of Wilson's work has
does take pride in his work that told them all to put this idea into been made as gifls for fiiends and
has made life easier. He once file 13 became I like to enjoy family. He regularly donates
created a wire spray can trig- myself," said Wilson. items for charity auctions at the
ger that assists the painter in de- ToWilson'file lYisaplaceDallas school where his grand-
pressing the button with a rela- of unlucky fortune that is lik- daughter Carolyn Davis is em-
tive ease while shielding the ened to a scrap pile. ployed as a second grade teacher.
spray splatter. Aperson could spend a whole Wilson is now legally blind
Wilson holds three patents day at his home and only scratch and at the insistence of his fam-
forhisinventionsbutsooncame the surface ofhis creations. There ily he is starting to work on
to the realization that trying to are interesting items like a sit- projects that do not require
make money from his work was down ski board and apple tree- power equipment.
in the
A
publication
featuring Businesses
in The West Valley
will publish January 26, 2011
Tell your business story
to the West Valley
Last day to reserve your space is Jan. 13.
Business Name Phone
Contact Name Phone
To reserve your space call Paula at 503-843-2312 ext. 202
or bring this form to our office: 136 E. Main, Sheridan
or Fax to: 503-843-3830 or email to: advertising@sheridansun.com
136 E. Main Street P.O. Box 68 Sheridan, OR 97378
Phone (503) 843-2312 Fax (503) 843-3830 E-mail: advertising@sheridansun.com
II
i
WHS student Ashley Slaughter gives blood with support from (in front)
Rebecca Glass, (and in back) Teresa Byrd and Demi Prescott,
WHS Blood Drive ay Ashley Marler, WHS Student
The WHS blood drive took place on Dec. 3, 2010 and was put on by WHS senior, Teresa Byrd.
When asked why she chose the blood drive as part of her senior project she replied, "I like to
donate blood and it's a great cause, plus I have O+ which helps premature babies, and who doesn't
love babies."
Thirty-nine students and staff members from WHS donated blood. Five people did a double red
cell donation. To be able to donate double red cells you have to have a positive type of blood, which
caused some people to be unable to donate double red blood cells.
"It's just a simple thing I could do to give back and help save lives," said WHS junior, Cody
Coblentz. He also made it clear he would definitely donate again if he got the chance.
As for the competition, Sheridan High School had 33 units of blood donated compared to WHS
39 units. This means; WHS IS THE WINNER OF THE 2010 BLOOD DRIVE COMPETITION!
Better luck next year SHS.
Please call 503-560-4970 for an appointment.
Donating blood is quick, simple, and safe and a wonderful way to give the gift of life to
a patient in need. On behalf of family, friends, and patients, the American Red Cross
would like to thank past blood donors for their generous contributions and
encourage new donors to give today. You can give the gift of life if you are in good
health, at least 17 years of age and weigh at least 105 Ibs. Students who are 16 years
old can donate blood with parental consent.
message is brought to you by the following community minded sponsor
c, Ka b9 Georg e.
YAMHILL COUNTY
THE COMMISSIONER
D! LPHIAN Contact me about your .^-b "^1
SCHOOL" concerns with county3U.l-'t.l"t-13U
(503) 843-3521 government georgek@eo.yamhill.or.us
Please call with any questions
or concerns you may have
about City government.
503-843-2347
City o$
Will, m
WiUamina, Oregon 97396 " (503) 876-2242
The
Sun Please thank our Community Page Sponsors Your name could be here!
for caring about our communities!
If you'd hke to be a
iill ATTENTION ADVERTISERS: Sign up now for the Community Page Sponsor
136 E. Main . P.O. Box 68 Sheridan, OR 97378
Phone(503)843-2312 e Fax(503)843-3830 2011 community pages/ Call Paula, at503-843-2312 ext 202 call Paula, at 503-843-2312 ext 202