The Newberg Scroll: A Brief History of Newberg’s Holiday Decorations

NEWBERG, Ore.—“Random question: just curious about the Christmas pole decorations that line the streets in downtown Newberg… they look like they have been around for a number of years with lights missing or dimming. New ones would be a welcomed update… is the city not able to get new ones?”

On Dec. 2, 2024, a member of the Newberg-Dundee Community Facebook Group posted this question about the garland-covered, curved decorations affixed to Newberg’s downtown lamp posts. The decorations, while in need of repairs, hold an important place in Newberg’s history, says Brian Love, a Newberg resident and owner of Krohn’s Appliance Service.

“We see messages like that [on social media] about once a year,” Love said. “Most people don’t know about the history of those decorations or their significance in Newberg. If they did, they might be more likely to want to fix them instead of replacing them.”

The Newberg Scroll decorations, as they are officially called, have been a fixture in town during December for decades. According to a Nov. 19, 2013, article in the Newberg Graphic by Gary Allen, titled “84-year-old tradition seeks financial help,” the scrolls date back to 1966. That year, the Newberg Fire Department installed the decorations, which were designed and approved by a committee of local organizations. Love says they were created by Forsyth Decoration Display in Clackamas, Oregon.

Rich Vezzani, owner of Vezzani Enterprises Inc., which purchased and operated Forsyth Decoration Display in 1980, said the Newberg Scroll was a consistent part of their catalog for years—well before he was involved.

“I remember talking with Al [Blodgett] every year about those scrolls,” he said. “Sometimes it would be ordering new lights—red, green, or clear. Other times it would be to do some repair work. It was always great to hear from Al.”

The Newberg Fire Department’s holiday decoration tradition began during the Great Depression in 1929. During a challenging time nationally, firehouse volunteers staged and decorated a large tree in the middle of town. The event grew year after year, eventually leading to the creation of the unique decorations.

The scrolls measure eight-feet wide by four-feet tall and include three illuminated candle sticks. The only changes since 1966 are lights in the garland, which were previously glass and upgraded to LED lights in 2013. 

“Al would tell me stories about how it became a sort of young-buck initiation or training for the fire fighters,” Vezzani said. “The metal frame alone was 25 to 30 pounds. With all of the extras, it was probably around 50 to 55 pounds. These young guys would practice lifting and climbing on ladders with the Newberg Scrolls. If they could do that, they had a better chance of being able to lift a body out of a burning building.

Al Blodgett, Love’s late uncle and a retired fire chief, led efforts to create and preserve the decorations. The original Newberg Scrolls were destroyed in the Newberg Bowling Alley fire of 1986 but were replaced using funds from an insurance settlement.

“They were burned down to the metal frame,” Love said. “They burned in August, and they were on the light poles in December. They were rock solid. Forsyth stepped up to the plate.”

Vezzani said December decorations almost always need consistent repairs and updates—a cost of doing business during cold, rainy, icy winters. Most commonly, lights give out and need replacement. Fiberglass candles can crack and break. Plastic garlands endure a month of wind, rain, and ice. Wiring can also be damaged, causing lights to short out.

“They survive several seasons but eventually need some care,” Vezzani said. “December is a tough month. If you think about it, we spend less time outside during this month for the same reason.”

The Newberg Volunteer Firefighters Association successfully raised money to repair and update the 69 scrolls and 40 wreath decorations in 2013, according to the Newberg Graphic article. However, after 10 years, the scrolls may be due for another round of repairs. Al Blodgett died in 2019, but his nephew has picked up the torch for the time being.

“The last time Al did the fundraiser, we raised enough to get them all fixed up,” Love said. “We want people to be proud of these decorations as part of our history.”

While the Newberg Fire Department is no longer active—it was replaced by Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue in 2018—volunteers like Love continue working to preserve this piece of Newberg’s history.

Vezzani said he would need to quote the cost of repairing or rebuilding the Newberg Scroll decorations today to determine the expense. Decorations like the Newberg Scroll require skilled tradespeople to shape metal tubing, powder coat, and apply wiring—all of which have become more expensive.

Love suggested forming a volunteer work party to tackle repairs or improvements to the scrolls locally to save on costs. He’s unsure about the specifics of the repairs but believes some, if not all, of the work could be done by dedicated volunteers.

That could include design changes as well. Love is considering ways to make the decorations brighter, such as replacing the plastic garland with tightly woven green LED lights, adding bright, flickering lights to the candle elements, and upgrading the red candlestick with vibrant red LED lights.

Potentially a lot of work, but there’s a whole year between now and next Christmas, he said. 

“I don’t know what it’ll look like until I do one,” he said. “It may look stupid, but I think we’ve got to try this. Yes, it’s probably a pain to work on, but it’s our town, and I think that’s worth it.”

This is the start of an investigation into the history of the Newberg Scroll. If you or your family have photos, news clippings, or information about the scroll’s design, the history of the Newberg Fire Department’s holiday decorations, or other related topics, please email editor@newsberg.org.