Clear Cut: The Story of Philomath, Oregon
Encyclopedia
Clear Cut: The Story of Philomath, Oregon is a 2006 documentary film
produced and directed by Peter Richardson. It was filmed in the city of Philomath, Oregon
. The film made its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival
in January 2006.
. It shows a rural community, Philomath, Oregon, that is making a large transition from once being a dominant force through an "old time" profession, the timber industry
, to one that is dominated by professionals and techies, the "information age
". This is shown by the drastic decline of lumber mills in the area. In 1980, there were twelve mills around Philomath, but twenty-five years later there were only two. The largest employers are no longer the lumber mills but Oregon State University
in Corvallis
, which is about six miles from Philomath, and a Hewlett-Packard
center involved in engineering ink-jet components.
The roots of the community go back to a man named Rex Clemens, who lived from 1901 to 1985. He was actually a high school dropout who became wealthy through the lumber business. Due to his wealth, Clemens setup a foundation in 1958 that helped support school functions, construction, and progress while also providing a four-year scholarship to anybody who graduated from Philomath High School
.
After several decades, other people started immigrating to the area and a new school superintendent, Terry Kneisler, was hired from Chicago
. He moved to modify many traditions and as a result, aspects of the timber industry were questioned, a Gay-Straight Alliance
group for students was formed, and the school's mascot, the "Warriors", was challenged as well.
Many people who had lived there for years, some for their entire lives, began to object to these changes. Three of these people happened to be Rex Clemens' nephews, who were now in charge of the foundation their uncle set up. Steve Lowther, one of the nephews, led the traditionalists in their battle against Kneisler. After the two sides have multiple disagreements and conflicts, Lowther tells the school board that Kneisler or the foundation must go. Later, Kneisler did leave.
Lowther amends the foundation so that students who come from timber, agricultural, or mining families are eligible for the scholarships. The students must also go on to pursue a career related to one of these fields of work. In 2008, the Lowthers once again amended the scholarship plan—the program would limit its grants to students who are at least second-generation residents of Philomath, Alsea, Eddyville and the Eastern Oregon town of Crane, and that the awards can only be used at private colleges or trade, vocational or medical schools.
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
produced and directed by Peter Richardson. It was filmed in the city of Philomath, Oregon
Philomath, Oregon
Philomath is a city in Benton County, Oregon, United States. It was named for Philomath College. The population was 3,838 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Corvallis, Oregon Metropolitan Statistical Area.- History :...
. The film made its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival
Sundance Film Festival
The Sundance Film Festival is a film festival that takes place annually in Utah, in the United States. It is the largest independent cinema festival in the United States. Held in January in Park City, Salt Lake City, and Ogden, as well as at the Sundance Resort, the festival is a showcase for new...
in January 2006.
Synopsis
This documentary depicts a vivid example of America's current culture warCulture war
The culture war in American usage is a metaphor used to claim that political conflict is based on sets of conflicting cultural values. The term frequently implies a conflict between those values considered traditionalist or conservative and those considered progressive or liberal...
. It shows a rural community, Philomath, Oregon, that is making a large transition from once being a dominant force through an "old time" profession, the timber industry
Logging
Logging is the cutting, skidding, on-site processing, and loading of trees or logs onto trucks.In forestry, the term logging is sometimes used in a narrow sense concerning the logistics of moving wood from the stump to somewhere outside the forest, usually a sawmill or a lumber yard...
, to one that is dominated by professionals and techies, the "information age
Information Age
The Information Age, also commonly known as the Computer Age or Digital Age, is an idea that the current age will be characterized by the ability of individuals to transfer information freely, and to have instant access to knowledge that would have been difficult or impossible to find previously...
". This is shown by the drastic decline of lumber mills in the area. In 1980, there were twelve mills around Philomath, but twenty-five years later there were only two. The largest employers are no longer the lumber mills but Oregon State University
Oregon State University
Oregon State University is a coeducational, public research university located in Corvallis, Oregon, United States. The university offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees and a multitude of research opportunities. There are more than 200 academic degree programs offered through the...
in Corvallis
Corvallis, Oregon
Corvallis is a city located in central western Oregon, United States. It is the county seat of Benton County and the principal city of the Corvallis, Oregon Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Benton County. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 54,462....
, which is about six miles from Philomath, and a Hewlett-Packard
Hewlett-Packard
Hewlett-Packard Company or HP is an American multinational information technology corporation headquartered in Palo Alto, California, USA that provides products, technologies, softwares, solutions and services to consumers, small- and medium-sized businesses and large enterprises, including...
center involved in engineering ink-jet components.
The roots of the community go back to a man named Rex Clemens, who lived from 1901 to 1985. He was actually a high school dropout who became wealthy through the lumber business. Due to his wealth, Clemens setup a foundation in 1958 that helped support school functions, construction, and progress while also providing a four-year scholarship to anybody who graduated from Philomath High School
Philomath High School
Philomath High School is a public high school in Philomath, Oregon, United States. Philomath High School was built when the old high school burned down in the mid 1950s. There are 32 Full/Part time Teachers at the High School.-Academics:...
.
After several decades, other people started immigrating to the area and a new school superintendent, Terry Kneisler, was hired from Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
. He moved to modify many traditions and as a result, aspects of the timber industry were questioned, a Gay-Straight Alliance
Gay-straight alliance
Gay–straight alliances are student organizations, found primarily in North American high schools and universities, that are intended to provide a safe and supportive environment for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth and their straight allies .-Goal:The goal of most, if not all,...
group for students was formed, and the school's mascot, the "Warriors", was challenged as well.
Many people who had lived there for years, some for their entire lives, began to object to these changes. Three of these people happened to be Rex Clemens' nephews, who were now in charge of the foundation their uncle set up. Steve Lowther, one of the nephews, led the traditionalists in their battle against Kneisler. After the two sides have multiple disagreements and conflicts, Lowther tells the school board that Kneisler or the foundation must go. Later, Kneisler did leave.
Lowther amends the foundation so that students who come from timber, agricultural, or mining families are eligible for the scholarships. The students must also go on to pursue a career related to one of these fields of work. In 2008, the Lowthers once again amended the scholarship plan—the program would limit its grants to students who are at least second-generation residents of Philomath, Alsea, Eddyville and the Eastern Oregon town of Crane, and that the awards can only be used at private colleges or trade, vocational or medical schools.
External links
- Clear Cut: The Story of Philomath, Oregon, official site