Category: The Germaine Truth

Main category for the Germaine Wiki

Ansel Johanssen Murder

In February, 1913, Wobbly labor organizer Ansel Johanssen was shot and hung from a juniper tree. Johanssen had settled in Germaine a few years earlier with his wife and two children. He went to work at the Van Bibber Mill and soon became fed up with inequities he saw around him. When a Wobbly organizer passed through town in the summer of 1912, Ansel signed up, and immediately began organizing the other men at the mill. After a one-day strike in February of 1913, Isaac Vernon Van Bibber, owner of the mill, fired several men, including Johanssen. But Johanssen returned the next day and began agitating the remaining workers. He was driven off by armed security guards, but vowed to organize a protest the following week, backed up by an IWW group in Portland. Alarmed that the town was about to be overrun by “Anarchists” and “Criminals,” a group of…

Applegate, Faith Chastity

Faith Applegate was born in Germaine, Oregon at the beginning of the Great Depression to Timothy Applegate and Celia Bradford. An accomplished musician and vocalist, she graduated from Old Paiute High School in the class of 1948, and attended music school at the University of Oregon. Charles Sevigny Lafontaine In 1948, Faith Applegate gave birth to a daughter, Rochelle, fathered by Charles Sevigny LaFontaine, a black man who was subsequently murdered by town bigots. Birthplace: Parents: Partner: Children: Achievement: Go to Germaine Index

Applegate, Howard

Owner and editor of the family-owned newspaper, The Germaine Truth. He is one of a long line of newspaper editors and a respected member of the community. Birthplace: Parents: Partner: Children: Achievement: Back to the Wilbur County Index

Applegate, Susie

Susie Applegate was born in Germaine, Oregon, the only child of Howard and Margie Ann Applegate. She is the star reporter for The Germaine Truth newspaper, and writes a blog, The Applegate Trail. Birthplace: Parents: Achievement: Go to Germaine Index

Applegate, William Henry

One of the founders of Germaine, Will Applegate brought the first printing press to Germaine, all the way from Independence Missouri, in 1845. Birthplace: Parents: Partner: Children: Achievement:

Arratola’s General Store

Owned by John Arratola, Arratola’s General Store is the place to go for any kind of hardware and dry goods. Open Tuesday through Sunday, 7 am to 6pm. Go to Germaine Index

Arratola, Angie

Born Angela Jane McCoy on April 21, 1960 in Germaine, Oregon. Angela Arratola is a successful real estate agent and owner of New Dawn Realty, which has been credited with the multi-million dollar sale of the old lodge at Lake Germaine. The remodeled lodge and the new owners, Red Nation Enterprises, have not been without controversy, but there is now doubt they’ve brought in a huge number of tourist dollars to Wilbur County.

Black Bear Mountain

The highest point in Wilbur County is Black Bear Mountain, in the northwest corner of the county. Back to Places Index | Back to Main Index

Broken Axle Butte

Broken Axle Butte, elevation 4,568 feet, is the site of an abandoned fire watch in the heavily forested area of eastern Wilbur County.