North Bend

Images of America: Oregon

by Dick Wagner, Judy Wagner, Coos Historical and Maritime Museum

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.

Genres: History

128 pages, Paperback

First published December 13, 2010

Reviews

[Gregory Pedersen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating history of my hometown that is accompanied by a great assortment of photos.