Camp Sherman Store celebrates 90th year

The Camp Sherman Store will mark its 90th Anniversary on July 5, replete with birthday cakes, raffles and fly tying demonstrations from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

A special holiday barbeque starts at 5 p.m. featuring a performance by Sisters songwriter Dennis McGregor and the Blue Makers from 6 to 9 p.m.

The birthday party officially begins at 7 p.m. with the introduction of former owners and their descendants.

The evening's events cap a full day of activities, including music from Tony Lompa and the Pine Needle Baskets from 2 to 4 p.m.

There will be beer tasting in the late afternoon and John Judy, steelhead fishing guide and author, will represent Scott Rods.

Owner Roger White is the 13th owner of the store. He remembers the first three years in business when, like all new business owners, work was round-the-clock and every day. They were only closed three days a year, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day.

When Roger and Kathy originally bought the store, they had to choose between Camp Sherman or Hawaii as a place to settle down with their young family. Ultimately, it came down to which location would be better for the education of their children.

In the early days of the store's existence, supplies were brought in from Sisters in a horse drawn wagon. Customers could get their sow belly lard and sugar right out of the back of the buckboard.

After 1915, and the passage of an act allowing private citizens to lease Forest Service land for recreational purposes, the store graduated to its tent stage. In 1916 development really started happening. They put a platform under the tent. The next year walls and a roof were added.

The structure burned down. A year later, half the current store was built. The post office was contained within the store. A few years after that the house was added.

In the mid-1970s Kathy White worked at the store during the store's expansion. She remembers falling in love with Camp Sherman and thinking this would be a great business, not realizing the series of circumstances that would lead to her and her future husband's purchase of the store.

Their own children grew up working there, which White says helped them mature and helped their independence. Daughter Lauren commented that it really helped her math skills.

The store carries better-than-average fare consisting of many gourmet food offerings, quality T-shirts made from a "green" brand of fabric, and a full fly fishing area at the back of the store.

White said they like to try things they've seen on their trips. They both do the buying. Kathy goes to food trade shows.

Mark Pyle handles the fishing section. He has worked at the store over eight years and has been coming to Camp Sherman since childhood. He explained that the bugs that appear on the Metolius River always come at the same time of year. Golden Stones start in July and appear until September. Green Drakes are around now, ready to party along with the rest of Camp Sherman.