Comcomly was a Chinook Chief who led his people along the Columbia River in the early 1800's.
He let the river be his guide.
At Fort Astoria, the fur trade ran strong along the Columbia River, with beaver pelts flowing out and profits flowing back east to rich men. The mountain men who trapped beaver lived a different story — long days, hard ground, and uncertain ends, often in isolation that blurred the line between endurance and madness.
Henry Knighton crossed the Oregon Trail and helped found the town of Saint Helens. He dreamed of a thriving port city and worked tirelessly, though the dream didn’t fully come true. This song celebrates bold dreams and the people who chase them anyway.
Saint Helens was poised to become a major shipping hub, but a series of mysterious fires changed its future. As Portland grew, Saint Helens faced loss and uncertainty. This song captures a town at a turning point.
A man committed murder on Bunker Hill and fled to Mexico, only to face the consequences of his actions. Told with dark humor, this alternate version of a 1902 public hanging explores how we shape our own stories.
You are the Hero of your own story,
and your Fate is still unlearned.
The Columbia County Courthouse stands as a symbol of pride and resilience in Saint Helens. Built of fireproof basalt rock, it has endured for over 120 years. This song celebrates a town that refuses to fall.
Józef and Liisa, immigrants from Poland and Finland, built their lives and family in the local paper mill. Their story reflects the immigrant experience.
In the paper and rain, never let go, through joy and pain.
Saint Helens became the first town in the world to bleach brown Kraft paper into white in 1931. Called “Kranila,” it put the town on the map worldwide. This song celebrates ingenuity, grit, and the pride of mill workers.
The 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens—called Loowit by Indigenous peoples—devastated the area. For one child, it felt magical. Ash covered the town and forests fell, yet she found wonder in the chaos. This song captures imagination in the most unlikely moment.
When the mill shut down in 2009, nearly 400 workers were left staring at silent gates and an empty skyline. This song honors the generations who built the town on pulp, pine, and pride.
This musical adventure ends with a joyful singalong!
By singing together, we celebrate resilience, renewal, and the power of community.