Creffield and the Holy Rollers made page one headlines from 1903 to 1907. When I was researching Holy Rollers: Murder and Madness in Oregon’s Love Cult I spent months transcribing hundreds of articles. I’m not sure why I was so obsessive. Maybe it was my way of immersing my self into a cult without joining one. Anyway, I’m posting them all for those who are really interested in the story, or are interested the history of journalism, or are interested in how a scandalous story played out in the "media" in a by gone era. Since I no doubt made typos and unconsciously corrected papers' typos, these web pages should not be cited in anything serious (e.g. your dissertation). For such projects they should only be used as starting points and you should refer to the original sources. If you want a shorter version of the story, buy my book. Enjoy.

April 8, 1905: Life In Corvallis Returns to Normal

 

1905 Coca Cola advertisementCorvallis Times 4/8/05 p4

--Frank Hurt is down from Seattle for a week’s visit.

 

 

Corvallis Gazette 4/26/05 p4

--Lewis Hartley arrived Saturday from Cottage Grove, accompanied by his daughter, Miss Sophia and Warren Hartley and baby. Warren Hartley arrived yesterday.

 

 

Corvallis Times 5/10/05 p3

--A nine year old boy is ill at the home of Louis Hartley with diphtheria. The child is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Winnings, who recently arrived from the East. The case was reported to the police Monday morning by Dr. Farra, who had just been called in the case for the first time. The attack is a severe one, but the chances favorable for a recovery. It is not believed that there have been exposures. The place is under quarantine. Mr. Hartley resides on Fifth Street between Washington and A.

 

 

Corvallis Times 5/24/05 p4

--The “Corvallis Holy Rollers” and the Rock Hill team played a game of baseball near Lebanon Saturday. There were 14 innings, and the score stood 6 to 5 in favor of Corvallis.

 

 

Corvallis Times 6/3/05 p3

--A Negro giving his name as A. Swackhammer, is touring the country around Enterprise as a Holy Roller. He claims to hail from Haiti and also claims to have assisted in holding the meetings in the Willamette Valley when the Holy Rollers held high carnival down here. Swackhammer is a mulatto about 30 years old, is six feet tall and wears a coat reaching down to his ankles. His method is to secure a church in which to lecture and then to open up a series of services which usually close the second night. The first night a crowd attends through curiosity and the next night people remain away through disgust. The colored Holy Roller takes up a collection at his services, thereby enabling him to pay his way at the leading hotels.--Salem Journal

 

 

Corvallis Times 7/12/05 p3

--Maud Hurt was granted a divorce and the use of her maiden name at last week’s adjourned term of circuit court.

 

 

1905 anti cancer pipe advertisementCorvallis Times 8/12/05 p3

--Miss Maud Hurt is to go to Seattle tomorrow for a visit with her brother, Frank, who is employed in that city.

 

 

Corvallis Times 8/23/05 p3

--Miss B. E. Starr of Portland is a guest at the home of Mr. and Mrs. O. V. Hurt.

 

 

Corvallis Times 9/20/05 p3

--O. V. Hurt and daughters arrived Sunday from an outing at Yachats.

 

 

Corvallis Times 9/20/05 p3

-- A farewell surprise was given Saturday evening at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Hartley in hour of Miss Eva Myers, who left Monday for her home in Illinois. The evening was spent in social conversation. Those present were Rev. Feese, Mr. and Mrs. Blackledge, Mr. and Mrs. Underwood, Mr. and Mrs. Bane, Mr. and Mrs. Swan, Mr. and Mrs. Wellsher, Misses Libbie and Lulu Rice, Maud and Belle Mattley, Mr. White, Mrs. Hartley and Miss Sophie Hartley.

 

 

Corvallis Times 10/4/05 p4

--Maud Hurt arrived Friday from a two month sojourn with relatives at Seattle.

 

 

Corvallis Times 10/27/05 p3

--Misses May Hurt and Attie Bray arrived home Tuesday from a three weeks’ visit in Portland and Oregon City.

 

 

1905 movie projector advertisementCorvallis Times Tue 11/14/05 p2

Publisher’s Notice

 

Hereafter the publication day of the Times will be Tuesday evening and Friday evening instead of Wednesday and Saturday mornings. For 11 years the paper has been actually appearing in the evening, though the following morning was given out as a publication day. The change now announced ought to have been made 11 years ago.

 

 

Corvallis Times 11/24/05 p5

--Mr. and Mrs. Frank Hurt arrived Saturday from Seattle for a month’s visit with Corvallis relatives.

 

Corvallis Times 12/8/05 p4

--Born, Wednesday, to Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Starr, a daughter.

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