Brownsville

Brownsville

At the western extremity of one of the arms of the Willamette valley, which merges into the foothills of the Cascade range of mountains, is located the prosperous little city of Brownsville. The place is within the limits of Linn county, and the site which the town occupies is one of the most picturesque points of Western Oregon. Two buttes are conspicuous features of interest to the north and south of the town limits of Brownsville, while on the east rise the rugged outlines of the lofty Cascade range of mountains. The Calipooia river, a mountain stream, which at all seasons carries a good volume of water, flows by the town, and the banks of this stream are the scene of considerable industrial activity.
     Brownsville was first laid out as a town of 1850. It is today one of the most important manufacturing points in the Willamette Valley. Its present population is about 1,000. All-rail communication is afforded with Portland, 95 miles north of Brownsville, by means of the Woodburn-Springfield branch of the Southern Pacific and the main line of the same company through connection with Woodburn, 60 miles north of Brownsville, and with all points south in the valley, through connection with the Lebanon branch of the Southern Pacific at Lebanon Junction, 13 miles south, the latter line forming a junction with the main line of the same company at Albany.
     Brownsville is located in the midst of a rich farming and timber district. It occupies a site perfectly adapted for the establishment of manufacturing industries on a large scale, and it contains an enterprising population. The Eagle woolen mills, among the few great woolen mills of the coast, is located at Brownsville. A lengthy description of this most important industry is published in connection with the present article. In addition to the woolen mills, Brownsville is also the seat of a patent roller flouring mill, with a daily capacity of 50 barrels and a saw and planing mill, with equipments for turning out sash and doors, and a tannery. An immense water power at this point, which is also mentioned at length elsewhere in the present article, runs all of the factories mentioned above, and there is sufficient reserve power in these falls to run all the factories of the Willamette valley.
     While the country in the immediate vicinity of Brownsville is perhaps more undulating and hilly than are other parts of the Willamette valley, it is no less fertile than are any of the best sections of this great agricultural and fruit belt. In addition to its special adaptability to the growing of cereals of all kinds, fruits and vegetables, this hilly land is especially adapted to the raising of fine horses, cattle and sheep. Wool-growers in this section find exceptional opportunities for disposing of their wool crop in the large woolen mills located at Brownsville, and wool here always bring good prices.
     The general merchandise store of R.N. Thompson, which was established in 1880, will serve to give an idea of the volume of business transacted here. Mr. Thompson's store, as shown by the accompanying illustrations, has a double front, and occupies a prominent corner, 44 x 90 feet in dimensions. The value of the stock carried is between $15,000 and $20,000. Besides an immense local trade, Mr. Thompson enjoys a large patronage from the farmers, a trade that reaches a section of rich county within a radius of 20 miles distance of Brownsville.
     In Brownsville, on the opposite side of the Calipooia river from which the large business establishment mentioned above is located is the mammoth general merchandise store of G.C. Cooley & Co., of which Messrs. G.C. Cooley, W.C. Cooley and J.D. Irvine are proprietors. This firm carries a stock valued at from $15,000 to $20,000, and enjoys an immense local and country trade. The Bank of Brownsville is a strong financial institution of the city. The officers of the bank are: J.M. Moyer, president; W.R. Kirk, Vice-president, and L.L. Say, cashier. The capital stock of the bank is $30,000.
     Brownsville is not behind any other point of the valley in an efficient system of public instruction. A handsome new four-room school building has recently been erected at this point at a cost of about $7,500. An older building, with two rooms, is still occupied here for school purposes. The number of teachers employed in the public schools here is five, and the average daily attendance of scholars is 250. The schools are graded, and correct rules of discipline are enforced. The city supports one weekly newspaper, The Times, and a good public library is maintained. Six church organizations are supported at Brownsville, and some of these occupy very handsome church edifices. The denominations include two Presbyterian, two Methodist, one Baptist and the Christian. A good opera house, with a seating capacity of 500, is located at this point. The town has two hotels, and good livery accommodations are afforded in one stable. With every advantage of an unexcelled water power, with an abundance of the finest timber near at hand, with the richest of farming districts tributary, Brownsville enjoys every facility for making steady and solid advancement in the future. It might be assumed that good farming lands in the vicinity of as rich a town as Brownsville, and exceptionally located, would command very high prices. On the contrary, choice acre property can be bought here, according to a statement by Mr. O.P. Coshow, whose long residence in Brownsville, and whose familiarity with land values are well known, for from $10 to $50 and $100 per acre, the value of this land varying according to improvements made on it and proximity to town.

The Eagle Woolen Mills-The Eagle Woolen Mills, at Brownsville, have been in operation for more than 25 years. Since the present company acquired ownership, five years ago, the sound of looms and spinning machines has been uninterrupted, except on Sundays, for the mills ran steadily, both day and night. New machinery has been added as required, from time to time, since the building of the mills, so that the present equipment is almost all modern and in first class condition. A dynamo, with generating power sufficient to furnish electric lights for the entire woolen mill plant, has recently been added.
     The mills may be designated as two-set, but with four-set capacity, which is explained by the statement that in operating the spinning and carding department both day and night, and the other machinery having double their capacity, a four-set mill is the result.
     An immense water power is derived from the Calipooia river, across which, four miles distant, a dam has been built which turns almost the entire river into a race conducting the water to the mills in an inexhaustible supply. This water also furnishes the power for the Brownsville Flouring Mill, which is also owned by the woolen mill company. The grinding capacity of this mill is 50 barrels per day. It has the new roller process and manufactures three grades of flour, which have attained a reputation for excellence.
     The Eagle Woolen mills manufacture into the finest fabrics 300,000 pounds of wool every year. All of this wool is grown in the state of Oregon. Linn County, in which the mills are located, is especially adapted for wool growing, and a large proportion of the supply comes from this source. Thousands of cords of wood are also required for the engines in generating heat and steam for the cleansing, bleaching dyeing and drying departments. It is thus seen that, outside of the mills proper, employment is afforded to a number of men. The mills furnish direct employment to more than 60 men, women and boys, and the monthly pay roll of the company amounts to $2,200. The operatives all have their homes in Brownsville and, in most instances, in near proximity to the mill. The general air of neatness and healthfulness pervading this section of the city is apparent at all times.
     The Eagle Woolen Mills Company have a large wholesale and retail store in Portland, at 164 and 166 Second street, to which the entire product of the mill is shipped as soon as manufactured. From two to four shipments are made every week. In connection with the Portland store is an order, cutting and fitting department. A stock of $150,000 value, consisting of the finest grades of blankets, flannels, cassimeres and tweeds is constantly kept on hand, from which to make selections. The latest designs in pattern are closely followed, and it is the boast of the manufactures that every piece of cloth bearing the stamp, "The Eagle Woolen Mills," is guaranteed all wool.
     The officers of the Eagle Woolen Mills Company are: W.R. Kirk, president; I.D. Boyer, Secretary, and J.M. Jaeger, superintendent, all of whom resides in Brownsville. Mr. Jaeger has had 30 years practical experience as a woolen manufacturer. The directors of the company are W.R. Kirk, J.M. Jaeger, J.J. White, John Brown and Hugh Fields.

The Oregonian's handbook of the Pacific Northwest c. 1894

Contributed: ©Shauna Williams

"Brownsville, one of Oregon's early settlements had its beginnings in 1846, when a group of families including the Kirks, Browns and Blakelys came west on the Oregon Trail and continued south to claim land in the lush valley of the Calapooya River (it is said that the grass was so tall a man could tie it over his saddle, and that cattle would become lost in the fields.)

Alexander and Sarah Kirk established a small, hand-hauled ferry across the Calapooya River the following year. Travelers on the east side Territorial Road used the ferry during deep water periods, and the place became known as "Calapooya" or simply "Kirk's Ferry - Kirk's ferry operated until 1853, when a covered bridge was built over the Calapooya - the first built in Linn County with county funds.

To further serve travelers as well as the local residents, Hugh Brown and his nephew James Blakely established a store south of the river. In 1853 Blakely laid out a town on part of his land claim and named it after his uncle.

 In 1856 both North Brownsville and the town of "Amelia" developed as separate communities on the north side of the river. A dam was constructed three miles upriver and a ditch (millrace) was dug to supply reliable water power for industry in the new towns. First a grist mill, then a woolen mill, and later a sawmill, furniture factory, and tannery were established on the north side of the river. The railroad came to town in 1880, and by 1884 North Brownsville had become a bustling manufacturing and trade center serving a population of 300 as well as travelers on the railroad and the Territorial and Santiam Roads.

In 1895 the north and south sides of the river consolidated as the City of Brownsville. By 1912 the population had reached 1000. In 1919 a fire destroyed many buildings in the downtown area, but the energetic tradespeople conducted "business as usual" in tents and homes until the town could be rebuilt.

Brownsville continues to be the home of people who take pride in their historic town, value its past and its peaceful small-town atmosphere, and are working to help it move gracefully into the future."

The Linn County Pioneer Association was begun in 1887, when the citizens of Crawfordsville first met. For the first two years, the reunion was held at Crawfordsville, but starting with the third annual reunion, the location was moved to Brownsville. The sixth reunion was the first three-day event, and it was held in a grove near Halsey. All meetings since have been held in Brownsville.

The Pioneer Association's constitution, drawn up in 1888, stated that all emigrants, both male and female, prior to the first day of January 1855 and who were residents of Linn County, were eligible to become members of the Association. The object of the Association was to collect facts relating to the pioneers and history of Linn County, and to preserve and promote social intercourse amoung its members.

Contributed: ©1998 - 2002 Jan Phillips
Used here with permission

Contributed: ©1998 - 2002 Jan Phillips
Used here with permission

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