By Stephen Floyd
Iconic local business Silver Falls Country Store has burned down after suddenly catching fire during the early hours of Feb. 16.
No one was injured, however, the building at 172 Silver Falls Drive was a total loss.
Chief Brandon Hamilton with the Drakes Crossing Fire District said crews were called around 1:05 a.m. and when they arrived the building was already fully involved. Hamilton said it then became a “defensive fire” and they prioritized the safety of nearby structures.
A fire investigation is underway by the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Office. On Feb. 23 a spokesperson for the office told Our Town the fire appears to be accidental. A complete report on the cause is expected by the end of March.
Drakes Crossing was assisted by Silverton Fire District and Mt. Angel Fire District.
Junay Johanson, who co-owns the business with husband Dan’el Barker, told Our Town she was grateful to firefighters and to the community members who have poured out their support. Johanson said the loss of the store hit especially hard because they had been making preparations to celebrate their tenth anniversary in April.
“That was, without a doubt, a milestone that we were so excited to be approaching,” she said, “and now, depending on what happens with our timeline, we may not even have cleanup complete before then.”
Johanson and Barker purchased the property in 2014. The previous store, The Dial Station, had sat closed for roughly a year. The couple envisioned it as a community hub, with good meals for locals, supplies for hunters and hikers, and convenience shopping for tourists.
It became that and more, with customers greeted by name when they walked in and Johanson and Barker taking time to talk and get to know them. The business was also known for their “Sasquatch Burgers” sign by the road, catching the eyes of many visitors to nearby Silver Falls State Park.
At the time of the fire, they were selling local handmade hats, fundraising for elk crossing signs on local roads, and holding a geocache art contest for kids and adults.
Johanson said the fire destroyed artwork depicting Silver Falls, a handmade bigfoot sightings map, and an irreplaceable book containing stories by customers about bigfoot and the paranormal.
Outside the store itself, another loss has been the well-being of employees. Johanson said, though they filed for unemployment, that process can be a hassle and she is concerned this could needlessly stress them out.
Johanson said they are hoping to rebuild and are in the process of working with insurance and local governments to determine next steps. She said the new building may look different on the outside but will still have that welcoming vibe inside because the customers and neighbors who created it are around.
“I believe it will still be a place where neighbors can come together, birthdays can be celebrated, and everyone feels welcome and accepted,” said Johanson. “We sincerely hope that that will never change.”
