New signage ahead: Aging Vernonia sign on the way to the Oregon coast sees much-needed update

A familiar sight on the way to the Oregon coast along Highway 26 may not be so familiar anymore, thanks to some much-needed updates.

The welcome to Vernonia sign, located at the junction of Highway 26 and Highway 47, has been greeting motorists for years, but it has been steadily in disrepair. All that has changed, as a new sign will be greeting motorists, according to Wela Negelspach, administrative and program manager for the Columbia Economic Team.

“The old sign was falling apart,” Negelspach said. “It was actually just disintegrating by the day. I think it was made out of wood, so it had seen its time.”

Negelspach said a group of volunteers in Vernonia called the Freewheelers decided to raise money to get a new sign.

“We had funds from Travel Oregon that we had to spend,” she said. “It just kind of all came together fluidly … We worked quite a bit with the Freewheelers to get from them what they wanted Vernonia to be seen as.”

A timberland theme was designed for the new sign, according to Negelspach, and the sign will be updated with seasonal event signs that the Freewheelers will maintain and change out.

The new sign, which was unveiled at the Fourth of July Parade in Vernonia, was fabricated locally by Pacific Stainless in St. Helens. Work on the project was also done by Digital Graphiti out of Scappoose.

“The feedback seems to be pretty positive,” Negelspach said, noting the total cost was over $40,000. “It was a combination of in-kind time and labor, as well as the $36,000 that was the grant from Travel Oregon,” she said.

Negelspach hopes the new sign will entice folks to drive to Vernonia.

“I certainly hope that people on their way to or from the coast will decide to take a side trip and visit Vernonia and see all that it has to offer,” she said. “It’s a terrific, cute little town. They have great shopping and antiques.”

Negelspach added, “They have some great restaurants, and we hope people discover Vernonia”