By Newberg Resident Kyle Jordan
NEWBERG, Ore. — Woodworking is a time-honored craft — a blend of utility and artistry made by hand. While woodshop classes have traditionally been part of the public school curriculum, that option isn’t always available. In Yamhill County, residents have another resource to learn the trade: the Chehalem Valley Sawdusters Association.
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Informally known as the Sawdusters, the group is made up of hobbyists and craftsmen based in Newberg. It officially formed in 2011, beginning as a handful of members at the Newberg Senior Center who had been working from their garages and backyards. The group originally came together to build wooden toy cars for the fire department’s Toy & Joy program.
For 10 years, they operated out of Chehalem Valley Middle School under the umbrella of Chehalem Valley Parks and Recreation District. When that partnership ended, they began looking for a new location — and found it at the Chehalem Valley Mills building at 303 N. Main St. in Newberg.
“We went to CPRD and asked, ‘Have you got a space for us to utilize?’ Unfortunately, they said, ‘No, not really,’” said Sawdusters member Ken Dana.
The group then reached out to Loni Parrish, who offered space in the Mills building and had it finished for them. Additional support came from a grant by the Austin Family Foundation, and SawStop in Tualatin donated a new table saw.
“That really helped,” Dana said. Some of the equipment previously used belonged to the school and could not be moved.
“What [the new space] means is we’re not restricted as to when we come in here,” Dana said.
The Sawdusters offer woodworking classes and mentorship for all ages and skill levels, including access to tools and machinery. The new space allows them to extend their time beyond the usual two-hour class period. Their goal is to maintain a 2-to-1 instructor-to-student ratio.
In addition to their usual Wednesday hours from 3 to 5 p.m., the group has added Saturday sessions from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the new shop. Dana said they hope the expanded space encourages more people to join and becomes a lasting community resource for those “interested in the skills and the enjoyment of the art of woodworking.”
The group opened to the public on Sept. 27 with an open house that drew a lot of interest and several new members.
The Sawdusters are the first tenants at the Chehalem Valley Mill, which has been closed for several years after the Newberg Area Habitat for Humanity ReStore moved to its current locaion on Meridian. The building has been undergoing repairs over the past year.
The Chehalem Valley Mill building has been under various stages of rennovation for the past few months. Parrish said other spaces are under construction for future tenants, but there is not a clear timeline.
Learn more about the Sawdusters at their Facebook page, and contact them at cvsawdusters@gmail.com
