Next to the Luckiamute Falls

Falls City park dedicated to former city clerk
(August 31, 1977, Itemizer/Observer)

     Under cloudy skies and inbetween rain showers, Falls City residents gathered for the dedication of Michael Harding Park last Sunday with Mayor Bruce Peet presiding over the 2 p.m. ceremonies.
     Harding was killed at the age of 29 in an auto accident approximately a year ago on August 6, 1976. He is well remembered not only in Falls City but also throughout the entire county. He came to the small community in 1973 at which time he began his duties as city clerk. He had been employed at this position for two and a half years and, at the time of his death, was the Democratic candidate for county commissioner in the 1976 November general election.
     Peet noted in his speech that Harding was especially remembered by the senior citizens in the community for his part in locating funds for transportation to and from Dallas and for getting a health clinic into the area.
     The site for the newly dedicated park, on the south side of the Little Luckiamute River by the falls, is also a reminder of Harding's efforts. According to Patsy Jose, former city council member and chairman of the parks committee, Harding was responsible for the initiation of youth corp members into the city to work on the park. Previous to this time, they had not been working in Falls City at all.
     The Falls City Garden Club donated their small area of the park for the new plaque while Bill Williams, Don Jose and Dennis Sickles poured the concrete for the granite inscription and the 1 1/2 foot thick log. Bob Grenier routed Harding's name on the log. The garden club plus other interested residents will continue to maintain the area around the plaque.
     Family members attending the dedication were Harding's sister, Melody Ogilvie and husband Mike from Hillsboro and brother Warren (Gerry) Harding from Sacramento, California.
"Michael did a lot of significant paper work which most people did not realize was directly responsible for receiving federal and state monies, plus making the city run smoothly."


FALLS CITY PARK DEDICATED - What has been known as the New Upper Falls Park is now the Michael Harding Park in memory of the late city clerk who did much for the city and especially for the senior citizens in the area. Mayor Bruce Peet gave the dedication speech and recited a poem which Harding wrote while living in the small community.
(Photo by Krista Hildebrand, August 31, 1977, Itemizer/Observer)

MICHAEL HARDING PARK DEDICATION
SUNDAY, AUGUST 28, 1977
ADDRESS BY MAYOR W. BRUCE PEET
    It is my honor and pleasure to welcome you to this dedication of Michael Harding Park. (Introduce Michael's family in attendance, Warren Harding, Melody Ogilvie and husband Michael, and their family.) Three weeks before his 30th birthday, Michael Harding died. In recalling his death, there are many sad feelings. But in recalling his life, there is a lasting feeling of warm and genuine friendship that was shared by many people.

    We remember Michael Harding as energetic and progressive, a man going places, actively seeking the experiences of life, and growing accordingly. He was a student, a soldier, a public servant, a politician, a poet, a singer of folk songs, a man who loved the outdoors. But for most of us he was, foremost, a friend. Today it is good that we remember that friendship for because of it, we here today share a common bond of friendship among ourselves.

    We are gathered today to dedicate this place to be known henceforth as Michael Harding Park. There is a story about this place and how it came to be Michael Harding Park. Some of you may already know the story, but it bears repeating, and I would like to share it with you. Many people are a part of this story, and Michael Harding is one of them.

    The original idea for a park at this place came about several years ago, in order to have a public place that all people could use safely to come and see the Falls. The city council discussed and approved the idea, but beyond putting up the chain link fence for safety, there were no funds. So people began to volunteer their time and effort to bring the park into reality. Carl Wagner brought his crawler tractor down here to clear blackberry bushes and level the ground. The city crew brought in the grader and backhoe. George Kitchin and Glenn Bathke spread gravel and prepared the site for trees and landscaping.

    That summer some real progress was made. Because of Michael Harding's efforts, the City was able to employ young people for the summer in a special program to beautify this park. Patsy Jose, Parks Chairperson, supervised that program. With the work of Jane Renner, Larry Sickles, Kevin Case and Connie Schultz, under George Kitchin's supervision, the park was fenced, landscaped, and maintained. Michael Harding used to come here during his lunch hour to talk with the youth workers, or to write poetry here by the Falls. By then it had already become a popular spot to view the Falls.

    The park was completed shortly after Michael's death, and here the story changes a little. Because of Michael's services to Falls City, his help in getting new and needed services, such as the Senior Citizens Transportation Program, and also because of his work in helping to get this park started, the Senior Citizens presented the idea of dedicating this place as Michael Harding Park. This idea, too, was discussed, found to have support in the community, and was approved by the City Council. Donations and contributions were collected and entrusted to the garden club. From these gifts, Olaug Evenhus and Mary Ellen Ellis purchased the plaque for the dedication, and the Garden Club provided plants and the space for the plaque in their area of the Park. Bill Williams, Dennis Sickles and Don Jose contributed their time and skills to construct the pedistal, with more help from Art Baxter and Ray Husted. Boise Cascade Corporation donated the lily pad in which Bob Grenier carved the letters. This year's Summer Youth workers, Connie Schultz, Kevin Case and Robin Donahou, also helped prepare the Park for this dedication. The services of all these people was ably coordinated by Patsy Jose.

    And so today, we here gather to recognize the contributions of many people, and to celebrate the many things shared between ourselves and our mutual friend, Michael Harding. It is in that spirit of shared friendships that we dedicate Michael Harding Park.

    In closing, I would like to read for you one of Michaels poems. This poem is like a photograph of the man who was a friend to so many. In it he expresses some thoughts that are worth remembering today, although it is titled 'Late September 1970: (The poem is read at this point)

    Ladies and gentlemen, friends of Michael Harding, I welcome you all to Michael Harding Park.


      LATE SEPTEMBER 1970

      With the wind shooting through
      me, it's cold
      And the ocean's waves roaring at
      me, it's restlessness.
      I walked along the beach free
      from nothing nor
           tied to anything.
      The mist was easy
      And as the darkness came with
      the clouds gathering,
      I knew that this night I would
      sleep easily.

      As the morning appeared with
      the soft breeze and warm sun,
      I arose to join the open blue
      sky
      And vast endless sea.
      Again I walked along the beach
           only freer and less tied
                than before.
      I roamed more this new day
      And stood gazing as the
      first one to ever behold an ocean.
      Searching for nothing over
      the magnitude of water--
           finding everything.
      Turning around seeing the mountains
      and forests--
      Roaming on through deserts and
      plains;
      over all the land--
      Knowing that at this moment I was
      The first--
           --and last--
                --To Love!

      Written by
      Michael Harding

James Reed Syron, son of German immigrant Jacob Syron, came to Oregon in 1852 with 56 people and 22 wagons each drawn by a Yoke of oxen. 10 of his children were with him. They settled in the Willamette Valley near Sheridan, Oregon. He lived to be 103 years old.

One of his children was Peter Adolphus Syron, born on Christmas day, 1824. After his sawmill, located near Sheridan, Oregon, burned and a spring flood washed his logs away, he moved to Falls City, Oregon. There he took up a timber claim at the age of 70. His wife, Mary Jane Franklin Syron, said he was a howling Methodist and an avid hunter. He and his wife were laid to rest in the Falls City Cemetery. He died on January 15, 1905.

One of his sisters was Amy Elizabeth Syron (Gilstrap) (Leonard) who was a direct ancestor of Michael Lee Harding. This is the same Michael Lee Harding that you have honored with the Michael Harding Park in Falls City, Oregon. Michael was not aware that relatives had previously lived in the city he found and fell in love with.
Warren Harding, brother of Michael Harding.