Rainier Oregon Historical Museum
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Sherwood & Clark, Furniture
1912 - 1922
Sherwood's Furniture
1922 - 1930
Compiled by Mike Clark

Lantern slide, 1912-1922, with Sherwood & Clark advertisement (Mike Clark collection).

  
Vienna Art Metal Beer Tray, 1912-1922, 10 1/8" diameter. "Compliments of Sherwood & Clark, Leading Furniture Dealers, Rainier, Oregon" (Mike Clark collection). Another example of this plate is shown below.
In 1908 Frank H. Sherwood ran for and won the election for County Coroner. (1, 2) In 1909 he was shown as having a business in Rainier as an undertaker and licensed embalmer. In 1912, he formed a partnership with Louis Edgar Clark and embarked in the furniture business. In 1922 Louis Edgar Clark suffered a stroke causing paralysis from which he never fully recovered. Three months after Clark's stroke, in August 1922, the partnership was dissolved and Sherwood continued the business as "Sherwood's Furniture Rugs and Stoves." Louis Edgar Clark later passed away on April 18, 1924 after being bed ridden nine months prior to his death. In July 1930 Sherwood sold the business to Ormandy Brothers of Portland and St. Helens who then liquated the inventory. Sherwood was in California with his son Barton when his wife Esther M. (Silva) Sherwood passed away on November 11, 1932 at age 46. She had been a bedridden invalid for a number of years cared for in Portland and Oregon City sanatoriums. She was born and raised in Rainier. Her parents, Joseph and Catherine Silva, were pioneer residents of Rainier.
(1) The Oregon mist., April 10, 1908 (2) The Oregon mist., July 31, 1908
  
The image at left is from the 1921 Sanborn Map of Rainier Oregon. It shows two businesses selling furniture. One was the M. Ellis & Company department store that is highlighted at left. The other was across East 1st Street in a building located south of the Rainier Pharmacy and Post Office (where the Cornerstone Cafe is now located as of 2021). It is an assumption that the Sherwood and Clark store was here, until this information can be verified. At right, the building (107 E. 1st St.) as it looked on May 16, 2021.
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Image
Description
From the January 7, 1909 issue of the Rainier (Oregon) Review. In a July 18, 1930 article in the Review, it stated that Frank Sherwood had been in business in Rainier since 1909. This advertisement shows him as an Undertaker and Licensed Embalmer.
From the December 23, 1921 issue of the Rainier (Oregon) Review. Sherwood & Clark advertisement for new electric, gas and hand operated washing machines.
 
 Another Vienna Art Metal Beer Tray. It is same as the one pictured above but with a different image of a woman. The history of the tray was written on stickers on the reverse "This was Grams P. given to her by the owners of the furniture store. She was 12 years old and worked for the people." (Donated by The Cardoza Family)
From the August 4, 1922 issue of the Rainier (Oregon) Review. Three months after Clark's stroke, in August 1922, the partnership was dissolved and Sherwood continued the business as "Sherwood's Furniture Rugs and Stoves."
From the December22, 1922 issue of the Rainier (Oregon) Review. "Sherwood's Furniture Rugs and Stoves" advertisement.
From the April 25, 1924 issue of the Rainier (Oregon) Review. Louis Edgar Clark, Frank Sherwood's former partner, passed away on April 18, 1924 after being bed ridden nine months prior to his death.
From the July 18, 1930 issue of the Rainier (Oregon) Review. Sherwood passed the business over to the Ormandy Brothers of Portland and St. Helens. Sherwood expressed interest in leaving Rainier and returning to the undertaking busienss.
From the July 18, 1930 issue of the Rainier (Oregon) Review. The Ormandy Brothers placed advertisements in three issues of the Rainier Review liquidating the inventory.
From the November 18, 1932 issue of the Rainier (Oregon) Review. Frank H. Sherwood's wife, Esther M. (Silva) Sherwood, passed away on November 11, 1932 at age 46. She had been a bedridden invalid for a number of years cared for in Portland and Oregon City sanatoriums. She was born and raised in Rainier. Her parents, Joseph and Catherine Silva, were pioneer residents of Rainier. At the time of her death Frank Sherwood was in California with their son Barton.

Additional information:

        Louis Edgar Clark, on "Find a Grave" page.

        Esther M Silva Sherwood, on "Find a Grave" page.

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Copyright 2021