Images of America: Oregon
Series · 69
books · 2002-2016
Books in series
#2
Aloha-Reedville
2013
What we think of today as Aloha or Aloha-Reedville in Washington County, Oregon, was once a collection of small villages that developed near rivers and established overland routes. Bridgeport, later Farmington on the Tualatin River, was settled in 1845. Nearby, homesteads emerged along the lower slope of Cooper Mountain and the Plains-Falls Road, an official route of the territorial government of Oregon. The 1850s donation land claim era brought additional settlement and increased agricultural production. Throughout the 1860s, farmers and entrepreneurs scrambled for an effective means of transporting surplus products for export from the prolific Tualatin Valley to Portland, San Francisco, and beyond. A railroad line, completed in 1872, established Reedville as a commercial center, and by the early 1900s, passenger depots were built at Huber, Tobias, and Aloha on the interurban Red Electric railway. Today, the suburban community of Aloha, once part of Oregon's oldest agricultural centers, maintains a significant role in the development of the Portland metropolitan region.
#3
Around Florence
2014
Florence, located midway on the Oregon coast, has North America's largest stretch of dunes to the south and the most photographed headlands on the Pacific coast to the north. Although Florence is on the coast, it is a river town located on a bend of the Siuslaw River. Before the railroad arrived in 1916, the town was cut off and dependent upon ocean-going ships. The Siuslaw did not make it easy because of a notoriously shifting river mouth before the north jetty was built in 1893. Even after the jetty, crossing the bar continued to be treacherous due to shallow depths and fickle winds. Even so, entrepreneurs William Kyle and O.W. Hurd, in trying to outdo each other, developed a thriving town. For decades, fishing and logging were the mainstays. Now, they are tourists, retirees, and the arts. Old Town, where it all began, is a happening place once again.
#4
Ashland
2009
What is known as Ashland today was historically less of a destination than a crossroads. Native Americans had passed through the valley for centuries, often establishing small villages. Farmers in search of new lands followed the Applegate Trail, bringing their wagons through the area on their way north to the fertile Willamette Valley. Gold seekers, coming and going to California, or on their way to the nearby tent town called Table Rock City (Jacksonville), came through as well. A handful of men, though, some fresh from the California goldfields, sought a more stable way of making a living and decided that outfitting those afflicted with gold fever might prove more profitable. Over time, mills, a Chautauqua, a lithia water experiment, a railroad terminal, a college, and finally an award-winning Shakespeare festival with an eight-and-a-half-month season, coupled with numerous "best places to retire" articles, have culminated in Ashland becoming a destination in itself.
#7
Beaverton
2012
From the first land claim in 1847 to the growing technology industry of the 21st century, the city of Beaverton, Oregon, has had an impressive history. The earliest inhabitants were the Atfalati, a Native American tribe who dubbed the area Chakeipi, or the "Place of the Beaver." When modern settlers began to arrive in the mid-1800s, they continued to refer to the area as "Beaverdam," often draining the dams to aid their farming of the rich soil that remained. Beaverton has been home to many interesting and lucrative businesses since its incorporation in 1893, including a silent film studio in the 1920s, an airplane manufacturing site in the 1930s, and a busy airport in the 1940s. Since the 1950s, a growing number of high-tech companies have operated here, earning Beaverton a spot on the roster of places that comprise Washington County's Silicon Forest.
#8
Bend
2009
Bend, astride the Deschutes River at the eastern foot of the Cascade Range, got its name from a place on the river that runs through it. Pioneer travelers called the place Farewell Bend because it was where they had their last view of the double bend in the river that afforded a good place to camp and to ford the waterway, otherwise flowing through deep canyons. When the U.S. Post Office Department approved a name for a post office established there in 1886, it settled on a shorter version-Bend-because there already was a Farewell Bend on the Snake River in eastern Oregon. Arrival of a railroad in 1911 connected Bend with a market for Central Oregon's vast timber resources. Large sawmills began operations in 1916 and Bend grew tenfold in 10 years. And it kept on growing into a favored place to live. By its centennial in 2005, some 75,000 people called Bend home.
#9
Boring
2014
Bob Boring, great-grandson of the Civil War veteran who lent his name to the community, says, "Boring is a name, not a condition." The recent pairing of Dull, Scotland, and Boring, Oregon, has created worldwide multimedia reports, including articles in Time magazine and the Wall Street Journal that published the same week. Never incorporated as an official entity, Boring has been a thriving farm, logging, and sawmill community since Joseph and Sarah Boring traveled the Oregon Trail in an ox-drawn covered wagon and settled here in 1853. The "downtown" area of Boring is only four blocks long, but the farming area serviced by the Boring Post Office is 13 miles long and contains a population of 8,000.
#11
Bridges of the Oregon Coast
2006
In the 1920s and 1930s, Oregon's legendary bridge engineer Conde B. McCullough designed a first-rate collection of aesthetic bridges on the Oregon Coast Highway to enhance an already dramatic and beautiful landscape. The six largest of these, at Gold Beach, Newport, Waldport, Florence, Reedsport, and Coos Bay, eliminated the last ferries on the Oregon Coast Highway between the Columbia River and California. McCullough planned to build one bridge each year after completion of the Rogue River Bridge at Gold Beach in 1932, but the tightening grip of the Depression threatened his plans. In 1933, McCullough and his staff worked day and night to finish plans for the remaining five bridges, and in early 1934, the Public Works Administration funded simultaneous construction of them. The combined projects provided approximately 630 jobs, but at least six workers perished during construction. After the bridges were complete, Oregon coast tourism increased by a dramatic 72 percent in the first year.
#12
Camp Rilea
2014
Camp Rilea, originally named Camp Clatsop, was founded in 1927 and soon became the Oregon National Guard's preferred training site—a claim that still holds true today. Located on the picturesque Oregon coast in the town of Warrenton, near Astoria, Camp Rilea covers 1,800 acres and includes three miles of Pacific coast beachfront. The historical photographs in this book tell a fascinating story of the important role Camp Rilea has played over time to all who have passed its gates for generations. Since the early days, Camp Rilea Armed Forces Training Center sealed its reputation as the premier regional location offering maneuver areas, facilities, and ranges supporting myriad military units, law enforcement agencies, and public safety and utility-related organizations. A valued community partner, Camp Rilea also hosts many civic and social events, including sports camps, track and field competitions, and Boy Scout gatherings. Come see what really happens "behind the dune" at Camp Rilea.
#16
Coos County
2007
Long before the wreck of the Captain Lincoln in 1852 brought settlers to the North Spit, Native Americans and foreign explorers, including Sir Francis Drake, navigated the inland waterways and Pacific shoreline of what would become Coos County. The deep draft channel, timber-filled landscape, prime location—between San Francisco and Puget Sound—and the discovery of gold made the region ripe for commercial success, and scores of pioneers migrated to the Coos Bay area. Shipyards and sawmills sprang up. Logging became a major industry. Gold and coal were mined. And settlements and farmsteads appeared almost overnight. For many pioneers, Coos County was truly paradise, a land of opportunity rich in natural resources where they optimistically forged new lives with sacrifice and backbreaking labor. Their perseverance and rugged individualism distinguish the region to this day.
#18
Crater Lake National Park
2013
For more than half a million years, volcano Mount Mazama towered over southern Oregon. From time to time, it erupted, spreading pumice, ash, and cinders for miles around. Then, approximately 7,700 years ago, Mount Mazama erupted with such force that the volcano could no longer support itself and it collapsed, leaving a large caldera. Eventually, the volcanic action subsided and all was calm. Over the next centuries, water and snow accumulated in the caldera. In 1902, Crater Lake became a national park.
#19
Crook County
2013
Crook County, Oregon, is located in the heart of the state and was created from Wasco County on October 24, 1882. The original Crook County included what is now Jefferson, Deschutes, Crook, and part of Wheeler Counties. The region was among the last frontiers to be settled in Oregon. The county experienced some violent times with the rise of a vigilante organization that took the law into its own hands and, later, the infamous Sheep and Cattle Wars that pitted cattlemen against sheep men until government control of grazing on public lands was introduced. Although there were turbulent times, the county mostly evolved into a thriving ranching, farming, and lumber-dominated economy. The perseverance of hearty pioneers forged the frontier into a prosperous and socially enriched region.
#20
Dallas
2012
The only people living along the banks of the LaCreole River before 1842 were Native Americans and a few itinerant French Canadian fur trappers who, according to local lore, bestowed its name. Wagon trains first arrived in 1843 with these pioneers settling along the LeCreole River's banks. The community of Cynthian grew on the north side of the LaCreole River, the area of north Dallas today. The LaCreole River evolved into the Rickreall, and Cynthian was renamed Dallas when it relocated to the south banks of the river. Dallas, the county seat of Polk County, is rich both in its history and its heritage, with many of the old buildings and early homes still in use. Numerous descendants of those original 1843 and 1844 pioneer families continue to call modern Dallas home.
#21
The Dory Fleet of Pacific City
2008
With its smooth, sandy beach, the quiet coastal town of Pacific City, on the coast of Oregon's Tillamook County, is the perfect home for a unique group of boats. The Pacific City dory fleet has a proud history spanning more than 100 years. Nestled in the natural shelter provided by Cape Kiwanda, the fleet lives on today as one of the most interesting fishing fleets in the world. The small flat-bottomed boats dare the ocean as they crash through the surf headed for the plentiful waters of the Pacific. At day's end, they ride the waves back to shore and slide onto the beach. The original design of the dory allows it to launch from and land on the shore. Through the inherent dangers of ocean fishing, governmental restriction, international fishing competition, and, most recently, the influx of surfers and civilization, the dedicated fishermen have held on to tradition.
#23
Estacada
2012
Estacada, incorporated in 1905, is located in the foothills of the Cascade Range. The town owes its existence to the construction of the first hydroelectric power dams along the narrow canyons of the scenic Clackamas River. For eight decades, Estacada was prominent in the timber industry. Today, the main attractions are the area's outstanding beauty, its growing art community, and recreational opportunities such as camping, hunting, fishing, and boating. About 2,400 people live in the incorporated city of Estacada, but the majority of a population of 18,000 lives in the unincorporated towns that surround it. These communities were settled as early as 1847 and boasted their own schools, churches, businesses, and post offices long before the incorporation of Estacada. Their lush histories provide a colorful foundation for the people and areas now collectively referred to as Estacada.
#25
Filipinos in the Willamette Valley
2010
Tucked among the great pioneer destinations on the Oregon Trail is the fertile agricultural area of the Willamette Valley. Today the valley forms the cultural and political heart of Oregon and is home to three-quarters of the state's population. The beginning of the 20th century saw the entrance of Filipinos into the valley, arriving from vegetable farms in California and Washington, fish canneries in Alaska, and from the pineapple and sugar plantations in Hawaii. At the same time, the U.S. territorial government in the Philippines started sponsoring Filipino students, beginning in 1903, to study in the United States. Oregon's two biggest centers of education, today's University of Oregon in Eugene and Oregon State University in Corvallis, became home to Filipinos from the emerging independent Philippine nation. They were mostly male, the children of wealthy Filipinos who had connections. Most of them returned to the Philippines upon graduation; some stayed and created a new life in America.
#26
Fire Lookouts of Oregon
2016
The first lookouts were rustic camps on mountaintops, where men and women were stationed to keep an eye out for wildfires. As the importance of fire prevention grew, a lookout construction boom resulted in hundreds of cabins and towers being built on Oregon's high points. When aircraft and cameras became more cost-effective and efficient methods of fire detection, many old lookouts were abandoned or removed. Of the many hundreds of lookouts built in Oregon over the past 100 years, less than 175 remain, and only about half of these are still manned. However, some lookouts are being repurposed as rental cabins, and volunteers are constantly working to save endangered lookouts. This book tells the story of Oregon's fire lookouts, from their heyday to their decline, and of the effort to save the ones that are left.
#27
Forest Grove
2010
Forest Grove, one of the first settlements in the Oregon Territory, owes its name to its many varieties of trees. The first Euro-American settlers arrived in West Tualatin Plains in 1841 and were soon joined by other missionaries, including those fleeing the tragedy of the 1847 Whitman Massacre. Anticipating the inevitable emigrant migration, the missionaries hoped to teach the Native Americans about farming and religion. The rich soil and plentiful creeks made the area perfect for growing crops, and the abundant forests would provide a future lumber industry. Without any academic prospects, however, the area would not appeal to families. Two remarkable men, Rev. Harvey Clark and Rev. George Atkinson, and a feisty, lovable old woman named Tabitha Brown were determined to establish a school. Thanks to their combined efforts, an orphanage that began in a log cabin would grow into the prestigious institution of higher learning that exists today—Pacific University.
#28
Fort Stevens
2008
Fort Stevens State Park, named in honor of Gen. Isaac Ingalls Stevens, is located in Warrenton, Oregon, at the mouth of the Columbia River. In February 1862, the U.S. Congress appropriated $100,000 to build defenses against possible naval invasion. In November 1864, a detachment from Fort Canby was sent to guard the fort in case of Confederate reprisals with the reelection of President Lincoln. The historical section of the park includes remnants of the early batteries, a memorial rose garden, armaments, and a museum dedicated to the history of the fortress and the wreck of the barque Peter Iredale. Fort Stevens was the only military site in the continental United States shelled during World War II. Decommissioned after that war, the military cemetery and former military housing are located adjacent to the historical area.
#30
Gold Hill
2010
Gold Hill is a product of the frontier days, when bold men sought golden riches despite ongoing hardships. The 1860 discovery of the famous Gold Hill Pocket, overlooking the present townsite, brought about its name with a gold rush that continued for decades and spilled into the nearby creeks and valleys, including mines with names like the Millionaire, Lucky Bart, and Roaring Gimlet. In 1884, the railroad bypassed neighboring settlements, which made Gold Hill a center depot and created ghost towns along the way. While the cry of “Gold! Gold! Gold!” filled the air, women and families drove in roots that tamed the town. When the area’s mining and lumbering industries phased out, Gold Hill was then rediscovered in the late 20th century by folks searching for a small-town life, exquisite surroundings, and proximity to the legendary Rogue River. Wine tasting and vineyards replaced areas where stagecoaches once stopped and orchards grew.
#31
Grants Pass
2012
Grants Pass was one of the last towns established in Josephine County. Initially named Perkinsville, the city was a precinct of Jackson County before becoming the county seat for Josephine County in 1885. Nestled alongside the Rogue River, it was built on mining and timber and now thrives on tourism. It is equidistant from Crater Lake, the Pacific Crest Trail, the Oregon Caves, and the Pacific Ocean and offers many activities for outdoor enthusiasts, such as hiking, rafting, boating, and fishing. Old Town Historic District, the center of Grants Pass, is home to many original buildings more than 100 years old that are now occupied by a variety of shops selling souvenirs, clothing, wine, and paintings by local artists.
#32
Gresham
2011
The history of Gresham, Oregon, is rooted in the pioneers who trekked along the Oregon Trail in the 1800s. Traveling down the Columbia River or over the precipitous route by scenic Mount Hood, they arrived in what was then called Powell Valley, so named by the first settlers. They found trees that were unparalleled, tall, and straight, which they used to build their first communities. The rich, fertile land was cleared to grow an array of crops that would eventually make the area well known for its agriculture.
#33
Harney County
2009
Located in the southeastern corner of Oregon, Harney County covers approximately 10,600 square miles and supports a population of just over 7,000 residents. The topography of the land has shaped the identity of the county as well as the character of the people who chose to make their livelihood here. Harney's vast and rugged landscape spans from the snow-swept summit of Steens Mountain to the green-forested slopes of the Ochoco and Malheur National Forests; from the lush valleys of the Blitzen, Silvies, and Malheur Rivers to the sagebrush- and juniper-dotted plains of the high desert. The geographic isolation of the county fostered a sense of independence among the early settlers as well as a great sense of community.
#34
Hillsboro
2009
Hillsboro began as a crossroads for the Native American Atfalati, retired trappers, missionaries, and land-hungry settlers whose collection of farms became East Tualatin Plains. These earliest residents were drawn to the rich valley land between the forested creeks. As the missionary influence waned and the railroads arrived in the 1870s, the town, by then called Hillsborough, was dubbed "Sin City." Farmers and merchants quenched their thirst and gambled in saloons and placed bets on horse races down Main Street. Throughout the early 20th century, Hillsboro became predominantly a conservative, family town. Residents enjoyed their town bands, theaters, and Carnegie Library. Then and now on the Fourth of July, proud farmers drive their state-of-the-art farm equipment in the downtown parade, and fireworks light up the sky at the County Fairgrounds. Today the crossroads is one of agriculture and high technology, as people from around the world become new residents of Hillsboro, drawn to the Tualatin River plain as were their predecessors.
#35
Historic Baker City
2002
To reach points of commerce for gold assaying or buying supplies, miners from the gold mining boom town of Auburn followed the Oregon Trail east or north. Where the pioneers entered Baker Valley from the gold fields, Baker City sprang up as the county seat of Baker County, named after Colonel Edward Baker, a senator from Oregon. For many years following its birth in 1864, Baker City was the largest town between Salt Lake City and Portland. It was a bustling depot for both stagecoach and rail travel. Gathered in this volume are over 200 photographs focusing on the historic past of Baker City, as well as the restored Victorian charm of its Main Street. From Baker City's colorful early days, images capture the grand hotel, opera house, lively saloon district, Chinese settlement, and people and industries of the area. This photographic history brings to life the past and present places and events of Baker City and Baker County.
#36
Hood River
2013
Formerly known as Dog River, Hood River’s history is filled with lore and legends as well as abundant natural beauty. The original name of Dog River was thought to come from the demise of a native camp dog by Oregon Trail settlers desperate for meat. Later, Mary Coe, one of the first pioneers in Hood River County, determined the name needed to be changed to make it more appealing and draw settlers from the East to the beautiful valley. She selected the name Hood River after majestic Mount Hood, which stands as an iconic tribute to the geological and cultural history of Hood River County. Now famous for its wonderful fruit and extreme sports, Hood River carries on the pioneer spirit in an exciting and eclectic rural community.
#37
Jacksonville
2010
It was the winter of 1851-1852 when the word "gold" echoed throughout the valley. Soon hundreds of gold miners flocked to Table Rock City, later renamed Jacksonville. In short order, families arrived and took out donation land claims and began farming, raising stock, and opening businesses. Many had already emmigrated from Europe, Canada, Ireland, and England. Jacksonville had its own Chinatown that was home to the many Chinese who had traveled far seeking their fortune through gold mining. When the railroad bypassed Jacksonville in 1883 in favor of the new town of Middleford, later renamed Medford, Jacksonville's fortunes reversed. During the ensuing decades, the town's buildings fell into disrepair. The threat of bulldozers leveling the downtown core in the late 1960s brought out a renewed interest in preservation. Today Jacksonville is a National Historic Landmark District and looks much as it did 150 years ago.
#39
Keizer
2015
The community of Keizer was shaped by the banks of the Willamette River. It was first inhabited by the Kalapuya tribe, and then came fur trappers and early missionaries farther north along the river. Homesteaders arrived in the 1840s. The rich river-bottom farmland remained quiet until the boom of automobiles after World War II. Keizer boasts neither fancy buildings nor brick edifices but proudly carries its spirit of volunteerism and perseverance. Pioneer Thomas Dove Keizur and Oregon senator Charles McNary are noted citizens. The iconic 1916 Keizer schoolhouse, now Keizer Heritage Center, is a cherished landmark. The story of Keizer comprises an account of the settlement of the state of Oregon—from wagon train to a thriving city. Keizer officially became an incorporated city in 1982.
#40
Lake Oswego
2009
Fifteen thousand years ago, the Missoula floods roared out of the Columbia River Gorge and sculpted a lakebed out of an old river channel. In 1847, Albert Durham built a home and mill at the lake's outlet, calling the area Oswego. In the 1860s, iron ore mined from the surrounding hills gave rise to the hope that Oswego would become the "Pittsburgh of the West." Two decades after its hillsides had been logged and the iron industry failed, the city reinvented itself as an elegant streetcar suburb of Portland, a place where people could live where they played. Oswego Lake's shores were soon lined with picturesque homes, and pleasure boats and water-skiers roamed its waters. Arcadia's Images of Lake Oswego chronicles the town's bucolic beginnings, industrial heyday, and successful repurposing from a community based on resource extraction to one of Oregon's most beautiful towns, renamed Lake Oswego after a 1960 merger with nearby Lake Grove.
#41
Land of Umpqua
2011
From the snowcapped crest of the Cascades to the crashing surf of the Pacific Ocean, the Land of Umpqua covers more than 5,000 square miles of southwestern Oregon. The area was home to Native Americans for more than 10,000 years before they were joined by fur trappers, gold prospectors, and pioneers; each group left their unique mark on the resource-rich landscape. Echoes of gunfire from the Rogue Indian War of 1856, steam engine whistles of the Oregon and California Railroad, and whirling sawmill blades can still be heard in Umpqua's isolated valleys, which have hardly changed in the last 100 years. Much of the area's rapid growth in the 19th century coincided with the expansion of photography. What resulted is an invaluable album of the forests, fields, farms, and towns that make up the Umpqua River Valley.
#43
Lincoln City and the Twenty Miracle Miles
2008
On the central Oregon coast lies a sliver of land bounded on the north by the Salmon River and on the south by Depoe Bay, with Devils Lake at its heart. Creeks and rivers wind their way across this coastal plain, down from the mountains, through stands of towering spruce trees, and empty into the sea. This little bit of paradise remained as nature shaped it for many thousands of years of Native American habitation. In the late 1890s, rugged individuals began to find their way into the more hospitable corners of this windswept coast. In time, a string of small towns and cities appeared, stretched like a string of pearls along the beach between the mountains and the sea. These towns grew and overlapped until five combined to become Lincoln City. By the 1950s, the area had become a tourist mecca so beautiful it was known as the Twenty Miracle Miles.
#44
Madras
2012
The area where Madras now stands was originally known as "The Basin." Sheep and cattle operators first utilized the site, where Willow Creek also flows, as a grazing zone. The Basin area was eventually settled by homesteaders in the late 1880s, and the location of present-day Madras is situated on the land of four early farmhouses. Madras was incorporated on March 2, 1910, and became a commercial center with the arrival of railroads in 1911, earning the nickname "Gateway to Central Oregon." With the arrival of irrigation water from the Deschutes River by means of the North Unit Project in 1946, intensive farming began in the surrounding areas, kicking off a new era in Madras.
#45
McMinnville
2012
William Newby had a vision to create a place of commerce and residence for settlers to the Willamette Valley. Newby named the town after his hometown of McMinnville, Tennessee, and saw plenty of local opportunities on his land, straddling an old Native American trail along what is now Baker Street. Newby had a millstone shipped from Oregon City so grain could be ground at his mill. Soon, a blacksmith shop and a general store attracted people to an expanding village. In 1866, the area's first newspaper began publication and would later become the McMinnville News-Register. Newby donated land for a college, built churches, warehouses, mills, and stores. The city was incorporated in 1882, shortly after the arrival of the railroad. Since then, McMinnville has become the center of population and government for Yamhill County. It sports many modern industries and retains the charm of the historic city along Third Street.
#47
Molalla
2008
Molalla is a small community on the edge of the Willamette Valley where some of the first Oregon Trail settlers arrived in the 1840s. Thirty miles south of Portland and north of Oregon's capital at Salem, Molalla rests snugly against the foothills of the Cascade Mountains, watched over by snowcapped Mount Hood. Though close to the region's first capital at historic Oregon City, Molalla is an independent Western town famous for its annual Fourth of July Buckeroo rodeo and parade. Molalla grew as an important agricultural trade center but is best known for its logging operations and abundant lumber mills. P eople had long visited summer resorts along the Molalla River and rejuvenated at the now-vanished Wilhoit Mineral Springs resort. Molalla retains its small-town atmosphere and independent spirit, not unlike the pioneer forebears who made the Molalla Prairie their home.
#50
Myrtle Creek
2012
The Scott-Applegate Trail, the first route through Southern Oregon, crossed Myrtle Creek where it flows into the South Umpqua River. The gold rush of 1849 and the subsequent discovery of gold in Southern Oregon sent waves of miners down this trail in their quest for gold. Attracted by Myrtle Creek's rich and picturesque valleys, many returned to file their land claims here. Stores and mills were built to supply the gold miners, and the town rapidly grew to be an important stop along the route. Myrtle Creek incorporated as a city in 1893, and prosperity followed. A thriving prune industry, truck farms, gold mines, and lumber mills nurtured the economy until the Depression. Following World War II, a burgeoning population fueled by an exploding timber industry made Myrtle Creek a boomtown for many years. When Interstate 5 bypassed Myrtle Creek in 1965, the area took on the charm of a quiet country town—a safe place to raise children or retire in comfort.
#51
Myrtle Point and Vicinity
1893-1950
2014
The town of Myrtle Point, incorporated in 1887, was platted in a grove of myrtle trees on a point of land overlooking the South Fork of the Coquille River. Ten years after incorporation, Myrtle Point was a thriving commercial hub of 600 people. It had a riverboat landing, two hotels, and streets lined with churches, businesses, houses, and barns. This book begins in 1893, a landmark year when the telephone and the train both arrived in Myrtle Point. It ends in 1950, a time of prosperity for loggers and farmers in southwestern Oregon and for the enterprises in Myrtle Point that served them. Family photographs, many published here for the first time, reveal glimpses of a world where logging was king; the Coos County Fair was the biggest event of the year; and, early on, farm families traveled by horse team and riverboat to shop in a bustling Myrtle Point.
#52
Newberg
2010
The land that became the city of Newberg played a crucial role in the founding of the state of Oregon. It provided the second permanent encampment after Fort Astoria for trappers coming to the Pacific Northwest. Ewing Young came to Oregon in 1834, claiming as his own a vast stretch of land around his home in the Chehalem Valley. When Ewing died without a will, nearby residents gathered to settle Ewing's estate. This event led directly to the vote at Champoeg to make Oregon part of the United States. The town's name was given by pioneer Sebastian Brutscher after his Bavarian hometown of Neuburg. Other settlers arrived, and soon Newberg was a thriving pioneer town. Among the new settlers were members of the Friends Church, who set up an academy that is today one of the premier Christian universities in the country. Newberg was also home or way station to two U.S. presidents.
#53
Newport
2010
Newport and its surrounding areas are beautiful and bountiful, offering resources for fishing, logging, shipping, and tourism. Today's community, similar to populations that settled the land in earlier days, is independent, hearty, and versatile. The Yacona, the Native Americans who called Newport home before the arrival of other cultures, lived almost entirely off the land and waterways. Later settlers, while still reliant on natural resources, integrated technology into the growth of their society. As the area matured, the desire to find balance and preserve natural resources grew. Today Newport's heritage remains strong, and this book serves as a tribute to its history.
#54
North Bend
2010
Early settlers, driven by greed and a sense of entitlement, and sanctioned by their government, took Coos Indian lands without compensation. Asa Simpson purchased land at the north bend of Coos Bay from settlers. He wanted his company town, including a sawmill and shipyard, to remain small, but his son, Louis, had other ideas. Louis Simpson created a bustling frontier town filled with civic-minded citizens as well as drinkers, gamblers, and prostitutes. North Bend never became Simpson's dream of another San Francisco but it was a thriving shipbuilding center until the end of World War I and a busy port for timber and lumber exports into the 1980s. The people of this beautifully situated city now focus on different economic realities, embracing tourism, welcoming retirees, and appreciating their history.
#58
Oregon City Floods
2016
Native American legends from times long ago tell of great floods that covered the earth in the Pacific Northwest. Early fur trappers describe the Willamette River as a sheet of water covering the land as far as the eye can see in the early 1800s. As American settlement of the Oregon Territory began in the 1840s, a great flood carried away many of the new businesses at the base of majestic Willamette Falls. Again and again the rivers rose, inundating the historic city to the north and south. But Oregon City, the first incorporated city in the Oregon Territory, survives, thrives, and grows despite these floods.
#60
The Oregon State Fair
2007
Since the first Oregon State Fair was held on four acres along the Clackamas River in the Gladstone/Oregon City area in 1861, the fair has been the focal point of Oregon culture—a place to see and be seen and to compete against the best in the state. It has been a place of victory and a place of discovery for nearly 150 years. For many generations of Oregonians, the fair was a chance for families and friends to reunite and share the excitement of this grand, uniquely Oregon event. Today the fair’s popularity continues and, for 12 days each year, transforms the fairgrounds in Salem into the fifth largest city in the state.
#61
Oregon State Penitentiary
2014
As the only maximum-security prison in the state, the Oregon State Penitentiary (OSP) has housed some of the most violent criminals on the West Coast, including brutal serial killers Charley Panzram in 1915 and Jerry Brudos in 1969. Sixty men have been executed inside OSP. The prison was originally built in Portland in 1851 but moved to Salem 15 years later, after Oregon became a state. From that time forward, the Oregon State Penitentiary grew from 23 prisoners in 1866 to 1,912 by 1992. The penitentiary suffered several serious fires and riots. On March 9, 1968, the most expensive riot ever experienced in the United States flared inside the walls, causing over 2.5 million in damages. Numerous escapes plagued the prison until 1970, when security measures were tightened. The most famous escape involved Harry Tracy and David Merrill in 1902.
#62
Oregon's Capitol Buildings
2013
The state of Oregon has had not one, not two, but three state capitol buildings. Two of them met a sudden and unexpected end—destruction by fire. William Willson, a pioneer of Salem, donated some acres from his Donation Land Claim for a state capitol. The first, built in 1855, may have been torched in a desperate fight to move the capitol to Corvallis. A second capitol, built in 1873, was patterned after the US Capitol in Washington, DC. This capitol, adorned with a beautiful copper-clad dome, faced west toward the Willamette River. On April 25, 1935, a fire started in a basement storage area. It quickly spread to the whole structure, and within four hours, the entire thing lay in ruins. After an exhaustive design process, a new capitol was built in the midst of the Great Depression, topped with a golden pioneer.
#65
Pacific Northwest's Whaling Coast
2014
Pacific Northwest waters from Alaska to Oregon lie between the Arctic whaling grounds and the home whaling ports of San Francisco and Honolulu. While the Pacific Northwest was not a whaling destination, whales in these rich grounds were pursued for many years as whale ships moved between the whalers’ summer whaling grounds and southern home ports. After 1900, whaling in the north Pacific changed from sailing ships to modern, steam-powered iron ships and harpoon cannons. Land stations were built along southern Alaska, Vancouver Island in British Columbia, and Washington State. The new “killer” ships brought whales to these land stations for flensing and for rendering into oil, fertilizer, and other products. Most of these products were shipped to Seattle and San Francisco on steamers and factory ships at the end of the season. At the start of the season, supplies and workers were shipped up from Seattle to resupply and repopulate the stations.
#67
Port Orford and North Curry County
2010
Perched on the cliffs above the Pacific Ocean, Port Orford claims to be the oldest town site on the Oregon coast and the farthest west incorporated community in the continental United States. Incomparable scenery surrounds it, providing work for generations of lumber from trees of the great forests and all manner of seafood harvested from ocean waters. Gold lay in the waters and banks of streams and in the black sands of beaches, attracting the earliest settlers in 1851. Farming came later but proved successful, especially for cattle and sheep farmers and cranberry growers. Residents have survived fire, earthquake, severe storms, and the fluctuations of the mining, timber, and fishing industries. As Oregon developed, county lines changed. The south coast area was part of Jackson County in 1852, then Coos County in 1853. Curry County was formed in 1855, and Port Orford was the first county seat until Oregon statehood in 1859.
#68
Portland Fire & Rescue
2007
Firefighting in Portland boasts many proud traditions and a long and storied history. In 1851, Col. Thomas Dryer, editor of the Oregonian newspaper, decided that it was in the best interest of the city to establish a firefighting force, and with that, he founded the Pioneer Fire Engine Company No. 1. Little better than a bucket brigade, this volunteer force of 37 men wearing red shirts started operations with just a single hand pump. From these humble beginnings, the organization grew to keep pace with a burgeoning city. From the great fire of 1873 and the colorful era of horse-drawn apparatus to technological innovations and community involvement, Portland Fire & Rescue—as the department is now known—has valiantly protected lives and property in Portland for more than a century and a half.
#69
Portland Rose Festival
2013
At the end of the Lewis and Clark Exposition in 1905, the president of the Portland Street Fair and Carnival Association, E.W. Rowe, presented the idea of an annual festival to Portland mayor Harry Lane. From that idea came the first Rose Festival, called the Rose Carnival and Fiesta, held June 20-22, 1907. It was hailed as a huge success. "There is no reason in the world why Portland should not hold a rose festival every year," remarked the Oregonian on June 21. "Everyone will be happier and better all the rest of the year for the festival of roses." And indeed, that has been the case. From just a three-day event, the Rose Festival has expanded over the years to include many activities covering several months every spring and summer.
#71
Portland's Maritime History
2014
Portland is not only the site of numerous marine terminals along the Willamette and Columbia Rivers but also home to much of our American maritime history. Portland shipbuilding started in 1840 with construction of the schooner Star of Oregon. Over 100 years later, three Portland shipyards would build 621 ships for the war effort. Both before and after World War II, several steel and iron companies used the harbors in Portland for their manufacturing. Aside from production, Portland ships over 13 million tons of cargo every year and is the biggest shipper of wheat in the United States. The city displays this maritime history along its beautiful rivers.
#72
Portland's Multnomah Village
2007
Once rolling countryside and bucolic dairy farmland, the area that became Multnomah Village was transformed when the Oregon Electric railroad line connecting Portland to Salem placed a station here in 1908 and brought Multnomah within 15 minutes of Portland's downtown core. The electric train opened the way for individual families to build the charming homes of their dreams. Over the next 20 years, as the rise of the automobile transformed transportation options, the village continued to grow and thrive, with its own post office, grocery stores, pharmacy, movie house, churches, school, and bank to meet the needs of those living nearby. The subsequent rise of shopping centers and large retail grocery chains led to a change in the character of the village, which was annexed piecemeal by the city of Portland beginning around 1950. The former village center is now an eclectic yet dynamic mix of shops, restaurants, and galleries tucked into the storefronts of a generation ago. The "bones" of the village as it was in the past remain visible.
#75
Portland's Woodlawn Neighborhood
2008
Portland's Woodlawn neighborhood has transformed from a small autonomous city at the end of the streetcar line to a large, firmly middle-class district of mostly midsized post-World War II homes and a few notable Victorian gingerbread-trimmed
houses—former farmhouses that once sat on muddy streets. Woodlawn's quirky angled streets remind residents of a time when the streetcar depot was a major feature of the city. Today an excellent bus service has replaced the streetcars, but most neighbors still enjoy the sounds of the trains at the bottom of the bluff bringing grain to the shipyards and the sweet fragrances wafting down from the cookie factory. The movie theater and firehouse are still standing, but both now serve different purposes. This is a neighborhood where new families are made welcome by the current ones, and where a new generation of volunteers is planning a vital and compassionate neighborhood.
#76
Prineville
2007
Early in 1868, Francis "Barney" Prine arrived in the Crooked River Valley of Central Oregon, established a blacksmith shop made of logs, and dispensed spirits from the back of the cabin. Prine saw the potential for development and industry along the lush banks of Crooked River and Ochoco Creek, and as more and more settlers arrived, the post office of Prine was established in 1871. The community soon emerged as a major commercial center for Central Oregon, one of the last frontiers in the state. In fact, Prineville boasts the only remaining city-owned railroad to operate in the United States. The decline of the timber industry led to hard times, but after Les Schwab established the headquarters of his emerging tire empire in Prineville, the city became one of the burgeoning communities in the Northwest.
#77
Redmond
2009
In the desert, water is king. Prior to the arrival of irrigation canals in 1906, the Central Oregon region that would become Redmond was little more than a collection of determined settlers, many living in tents, bent on proving up their Carey Act homesteads. By 1910, the Redmond Spokesman, one of two newspapers publishing in the newly incorporated town, was bragging, aRedmond is situated in the heart of the best irrigated farming section in Central Oregon, where abundant crops are grown by an intelligent and progressive class of farmers and ranchers.a By 1911, Redmond cemented its reputation as the hub of Central Oregon when the Oregon Trunk Railroad line arrived, boosting Redmond commerce by taking it out of the horse-and-wagon movement of goods and people. After World War II, the City of Redmond purchased an army airbase for $1 and built it into Oregonas largest regional airport east of the Cascade Mountains.
#78
Reedsport
2011
Incorporated in 1919, Reedsport began as a railroad town built on stilts to avoid the low-lying marsh and slough that ran beneath the town. This area was filled in 1927, and Reedsport became the hub of activity on the Lower Umpqua River. The logging and fishing industries dominated the city's landscape, with Southern Pacific Railroad and Umpqua Navigation shuttling goods to and from the area. Despite flood after flood that threatened the town, Reedsport was able to survive due to the resilience and toughness of its inhabitants.
#79
Rogue River
2009
The town of Rogue River is a small community in southern Oregon located on the banks of the famous river for which it was named. Situated on Interstate 5, just 59 miles north of the California border, it lies between the cities of Grants Pass and Medford in the beautiful Rogue Valley. Founded in the midst of Native American wars and prolific gold mining, the town was originally called Tailholt before becoming Woodville. It incorporated and took its final name in 1912. A town proud of its accomplishments, it has nevertheless managed to preserve its history and maintain its small-town atmosphere and historical value, with many of the original buildings still in use. Along with sensational steelhead fishing, Rogue River is famous for its annual Rooster Crow festivities held on the last Saturday of each June.
#80
Rogue Valley Wine
2011
Winemaking in Oregon began more than 150 years ago when Peter Britt of Jacksonville brought grapevine cuttings from California to create his Valley View Vineyard. By 1890, the Southern Oregon State Board of Agriculture forecast a vineyard-dotted Rogue Valley to rival "the castled Rhine, the classical vales of Italy and the sunny slopes of France." But Prohibition, which became law in Oregon four years before the rest of the country, killed the nascent industry. Not until the 1970s, when Americans discovered a passion for wine, was winegrowing and winemaking in Southern Oregon's Rogue Valley reestablished. Pear orchards were converted to vineyards, and winemaking—not on a California scale, but rather in boutique wineries tucked away along scenic country roads—began anew and thrived.
#81
Roseburg
2010
Originally called Deer Creek, Roseburg was the creation of entrepreneur Aaron Rose. After becoming county seat for Douglas County in 1854, the city's growth was assured. Roseburg became the bridge between the populated Willamette Valley and the mining districts of Southern Oregon. Situated in a panoramic valley created by the North and South Umpqua Rivers, Roseburg's population increased dramatically over the next 155 years. In 1872, the Oregon and California Railroad arrived and the city became a major center of commerce in Oregon. Today Roseburg continues to present a serene and picturesque face to cars rushing by on I-5.
#82
Salem
2009
Long before the city of Salem got its name, the lush valley was a favorite winter camping location for the Kalapuya tribe. Jason Lee first ventured to Oregon in 1834, at the invitation of Northwest tribes, creating a mission and a settlement here. Native Americans called it "Chemeketa." William H. Willson, who laid out the city plan in 1851, called it "Salem." Both words mean "peace." Salem's central location, in the middle of the Willamette Valley's agricultural belt, made it an ideal location for the new capital of Oregon. Since then, Salem's character has largely been influenced by the presence of woolen mills, crop production, and many state institutions. Surviving devastating floods and fires in all three state capitol buildings, Salem and its people have a history of resilience, leadership, and public service.
#83
Sandy
2015
Traveling the Barlow Road, 50,000 pioneers rolled their wagon wheels over the site of today's Sandy Historical Museum without stopping. Not until the arrival of Francis Revenue in 1853 did anyone consider the area suitable for homesteading. Building a store and a bridge across the Sandy River, Revenue established the first bit of civilization the pioneers encountered in Oregon. Among the heroes and legends to appear on the slopes of Mount Hood were Elijah "Lige" Coalman, who climbed the mountain 586 times; brawny loggers, lumbermen, and farmers who tamed the forest and settled the land; Blanche Shelley, the first female mayor in Oregon; and Nettie Connett, who stood on her head on a bar stool and walked on her hands across Main Street.
#85
Shipwrecks of Coos County
2011
European settlement of Coos County began with a shipwreck. The Captain Lincoln wrecked on the north spit of the Coos Bay in January 1852. The crewmen built a temporary camp out of the ship's sails and named it "Camp Cast-Away." This was the first white settlement in the area. The men eventually traveled overland to Port Orford, where they told other settlers about the Coos Bay and its many natural resources. By December 1853, Coos County was established by the territorial legislature, and several towns were founded; the history of the area had been completely altered by a single shipwreck.
#86
Silverton
2011
Incorporated in 1854, Silverton sits at the eastern edge of the Willamette Valley and gives way to the foothills of the Cascade Mountains. It was built along Silver Creek, a location used for countless years by native people. As the town grew, it became a shipping center for the timber and agricultural industries of the area. During the early part of the 20th century, Silverton's mills helped supply the nation with lumber. Like many small towns, Silverton has changed with the times, but it has retained its small-town feel as a vibrant community with a diverse population. The community has nurtured many talents over the years, including political cartoonist Homer Davenport and astronaut Donald Pettit.
#87
St. Helens
2015
Right from its start in 1847, this little town along the Columbia River was built with calloused hands. In these pages, one will see the loggers, shipbuilders, quarrymen, and mill workers. Their wives, mothers, and children are here, too, softening the edges and nourishing a community in the woods. Those early settlers built St. Helens to last, and through decades of booms and busts, tragedies and triumphs, the people's love for this place, so rich in beauty and possibility, shows in more than 200 images. It is a record of endurance, yes, but also of hope.
#88
Sutherlin
2011
Originally called Camas Swale, Sutherlin was incorporated on June 24, 1911, and renamed for Fendel Sutherlin at the behest of his daughter, Anne Sutherlin Waite. What started as an agricultural community of orchard homesites later transitioned into a timber boomtown during World War II . Although the Sutherlin valley had its share of visionaries, most of its people were basic, hardworking folks who persevered despite the roadblocks in their way. They survived floods, fires, destruction of the timber industry by the spotted owl conflict, wholesale unemployment, and the 1989 shutdown of the city for lack of funds. Today's residents are also hardy people, even the newer senior citizens who, in great numbers, are making the town their retirement home.
#89
Sweet Home in Linn County
New Life, New Land
2002
First platted in the 1850s, and as legend tells it, named from an exclamation of settler William Clark waking to discover "what a Home, Sweet Home," this future lumber boom-town began as a stage stop on the road across the Cascade Mountains. With the arrival of the first freight train on April 1, 1932, Sweet Home became one of Linn County's most important industrialized towns. Crawfordsville, Holley, Fern Ridge, Liberty, Pleasant Valley, Foster, and Cascadia were all settled about the same time and became a part of greater Sweet Home. Following the decline of lumber interests, Sweet Home became the gateway to recreation and industrial activities of Eastern Linn County with the construction of the Green Peter Dam in 1962-63. Here is the story of Sweet Home and its surrounding communities, showcased in some 200 vintage images. These photos illustrate early pioneer stories, like that of Letty Sankey, the first female mayor, whose name was placed on the ballot by her father as a joke. They also show the development of the area through the hotels, mining and logging industries, schools, churches, and shared community activities.
#90
Talent
2009
In the early 1850s, the Rogue Valleyas ancient inhabitants were forced into war by the arrival of transitory miners looking for the quickest way to get rich. The miners along Wagner Creek scoured every nook and cranny but discarded the real riches in the productive soil. The first white settlers of Talent traded the gold pan for the plow and claimed the best land in the valley to build a community that continues today. Farmers and their families depended on the soil and sun for their livelihood. Years of improvement followed and life progressed to a now bygone rhythmathe school bell rang, train whistles blew, hammers pounded, violins played, and mothers called their children for supper. The images in this book celebrate Talent residentsa pride in what they built, worked for, amused themselves with, and loved.
#94
Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue
2012
In the early days of fighting fires in Beaverton, Oregon, a bugle called firefighters to the scene. The Beaverton Enterprise newspaper reported that, "with no water system, firefighters had to rely upon water buckets and (the) enthusiasm of volunteers who came running to the call." In 1935, Beaverton officially formed its first fire department, and down the road in the city of Tualatin, a group of volunteers began assembling what would become the Tualatin Rural Fire Protection District. In 1989, a merger of the latter department with Washington County Fire District No. 1 resulted in the creation of Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue. Beaverton would officially annex into the new district in 1996, and today, TVF&R is the second-largest fire department in Oregon, covering 210 square miles with 21 stations. Since the beginning, the departments that comprise the district were known for their resourcefulness and innovation, both of which continue to this day.
#98
Vernonia
2010
Nestled in the Upper Nehalem Valley in the foothills of the Oregon Coast Range, Vernonia still reflects its pioneer virtues of hard work and independence. The area was first homesteaded in 1874 by Clark Parker and John Van Blaricom. The earliest settlers saw the dense old-growth firs and cedars as an obstacle to overcome in establishing farms, but those big trees soon became the lifeblood of the town’s economy. Incorporated in 1891, Vernonia remained a small settlement with family-run farms, sawmills, and supporting businesses until the arrival of the long-awaited railroad in 1922. The Oregon-American Lumber Mill—at the time one of the largest of its kind—was built in 1923. The mill provided jobs and business opportunities for hundreds of people until 1957 when it closed. The population rapidly declined as people left to find work elsewhere. Vernonia has proved resilient, however, and continues to be home to over 2,000 residents who appreciate small-town life in a forested setting.
#99
Warrenton-Hammond
2009
Located near the mouth of the Columbia River, Warrenton, incorporated in February 1899, is a city comprised of many earlier towns and villages. Hammond, although still having a separate post office and zip code, was merged with Warrenton in 1991. Fort Stevens, now an Oregon State Park, is located near Hammond. Lexington was the first county seat for Clatsop County until the county seat was vacated on December 4, 1879, and moved to Astoria. Skipanon, located near the same site as Lexington, was also annexed by Warrenton. Flavel, along the Columbia River between Warrenton and Hammond, was an active port for the Great Northern Steamship Company. It was annexed by Warrenton in 1918. Warrenton-Hammond documents each of these towns as they grew and became the present city of Warrenton.
#100
West Linn
2009
The largest iron meteorite discovered in the United States, weighing 15.5 tons, was unearthed in West Linn in 1902 and featured in the 1905 Worldas Fair before journeying to New Yorkas American Museum of Natural History, where it remains. West Linn was carved onto the map years before, when Robert Moore purchased 1,000 acres of land in 1840 from the Wallamut Indians at Willamette Falls. Soon a lumber mill and flour mill were established, and the region was given a new nameaLinn Cityaafter free-state advocate Lewis F. Linn. Hugh Burns and the Miller, Fields, and Walling families also figured in early West Linn history. Though an 1861 fire, then flood, destroyed what was Linn City, the falls continued drawing industry. Officially incorporated into Oregon in 1913, West Linn, known for its hills, trees, rivers, and famous meteorite, is a sought-after community in which to raise families and made the 2005 top-100 list of best places to live.
#101
West Salem
2011
Few people realize that West Salem was an independent town for over 30 years. From its early development in the mid-19th century—when valley homesteaders grew wheat, hops, and fruits—to the founding of Fairview School in 1868, the opening of the Center Street Bridge across the Willamette River in 1886, the rail line in 1909, and a city charter in 1913 to the surrender of that charter to Salem in 1949, the West Salem area forged its own unique identity. Today, West Salem is a thriving community full of cherished memories alongside physical reminders of its independence, such as the Art Deco-style city hall and jailhouse.
#102
Woodburn
2012
For hundreds of years, French Prairie was the playground and home of the Kalapooya Indians, members of the Bannock Tribe. By the time pioneers started arriving on the Oregon Trail, the Indian population was diminishing due to exposure to diseases brought by earlier settlers. Jesse Settlemier had a vision of a nursery business and a town that could supply its workers, and he purchased property and began clearing it. Ultimately, the development of a railroad, along with fertile soil, hardy pioneers, an ideal climate, and a favorable location (between the large cities of Salem and Portland) produced the formula for a thriving city.
Authors
Rebecca Harrison
Author · 4 books
Rebecca Harrison was born and raised in Oregon, USA. She spends time traveling around the world writing and working. Her first book, Child Abuse: A Guide For Professionals, was co-authored with Dr. Jean Edwards and published in 1983. Her academic credits include an M.S. in Education from Portland State University. Harrison now works and writes, while living with her husband in Oregon. Rebecca has added a revision of Child Abuse: A Guide for Teachers and Professionals both as a paperback and Kindle. Also her Deep Dark and Dangerous: On the Bottom with the Northwest Salvage Divers is available as both a paperback and Kindle.
M.J. Daspit
Author · 2 books
MJ was born in Princeton, New Jersey in 1951. After graduation from Cornell University in 1973, she became managing editor for The Writings of Henry D. Thoreau in association with Princeton University Press. She subsequently joined the Navy and served in the anti-submarine SOSUS community and in the Navy Recruiting Command. Retired as a Commander in 1994, she taught English at Southwestern College in Chula Vista, California and later moved to Oregon to pursue a career in writing. She currently lives in the vibrant theater town of Ashland with her husband Gary Greksouk. Daspit’s published works include a nonfiction book titled ROGUE VALLEY WINE, co-authored with winemaker Eric Weisinger (Arcadia Publishing, 2011) and a historical novel, LUCY LIED (Fireship Press, 2014).
John Ritter
Author · 1 books
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name. Jonathan Southworth "John" Ritter was an American actor, comedian, and voice-over artist.
H.S. Contino
Author · 1 books
H. S. Contino was first inspired to write in Mrs. Brown's 5th grade class, and she's been plugging away at her keyboard ever since! In an interview shortly after the publication of her first book, a photographic overview of southern Oregon shipwrecks, Contino stated that she acquired her appreciation for history from her grandfather. She has fond memories of him telling stories related to family genealogy. A self-proclaimed "nomad," Contino has lived in numerous parts of the country including the desert, the east and west coasts, and the southern states. By living in such different areas, she has gained an appreciation for the diversity of both the people and the land. Contino's appreciation for variety is evident in her writing, which includes both fiction and non-fiction. She has written about history, pets, and both light-hearted and dark fiction. Her published works include: "Shipwrecks of Coos County" (Arcadia, 2011), "Paw Prints" and "Shorts" (Amazon 2013), "Shipwrecks of Curry County" (Arcadia, 2017), and "Alternatives" (Amazon, 2021). H. S. Contino is a proud veteran of the U. S. Army.
Cheryl Hill
Author · 2 books
Cheryl Hill is a native of the Portland area and is a lifelong history buff. She graduated from Linfield College in 2001 with a BA in English and Communications. She graduated from the University of British Columbia in 2005 with a Masters in Library Science and now works as a librarian. She fills her free time with camping, hiking, backpacking, and photography. She volunteers as Mt. Hood Wilderness Steward, is working on a project to visit every incorporated town in Oregon, and is also working towards her goal to visit every standing fire lookout in Oregon.
