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Images of America: Oregon
Oregon City
In 1829, Dr. John McLoughlin, chief factor of the Hudson's Bay Company Columbia Department, had two small cabins constructed on an island in Willamette Falls. The Kalapuya Indians promptly burned them, but a claim had been made and the roots planted for the oldest city in the Oregon Territory. Incorporated for over 160 years as Oregon City, McLoughlin's city at Willamette Falls has served as the political capital of an independent Oregon Country and the first capital of the Oregon Territory. Considered the oldest industrial site in the West, with saw, flour, paper, and woolen mills, Oregon City was also a transportation center for covered wagons, steamboats, and railroads. As a regional entertainment hub over the years, the community has provided both residents and visitors with such pleasures as Chautauquas, Oregon's first sporting events, the first state fair, a variety of annual festivals, and an array of opera, vaudeville, and movie houses.
- GenresHistory
128 pages, Paperback
First published November 22, 2006
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
May 13, 2019
Oregon City is a small city where I have spent considerably more time than its small size and contemporary obscurity would tend to demand. Yet there is a sense of missed opportunity when it comes to Oregon City. With a location chosen because it was as far upstream along the Willamette River that one could go before reaching the fall line, the location of Oregon City had long been a popular spot for fishing and trade long before Euro-American settlement. Not surprisingly, it was a British factor, one Dr. John McLoughlin, who first saw the potential of the place for the British fur trading industry, and it was his presence that helped lead to a group of people from Salem to swipe the capital from Oregon City in the territorial days, and the greater size allowable to expand in Portland, to the north of Oregon City, that kept Oregon City small to this day despite the fact that a great many Oregon firsts happened there. Even Oregon City's attempts at education ended up benefiting other areas when Oregon City University was moved to McMinnville and became Linfield College. Such has been a frequent aspect of life in Oregon City, to nurture institutions that end up growing elsewhere.
This book of a bit more than 100 pages is divided into 7 chapters that look at different aspects of Oregon City's existence since it was incorporated in 1845 as the oldest American city west of the Rockies. After acknowledgements and an introduction the book begins with a discussion of Dr. McLoughlin's land claim (1). After this there is a look at some of the business and industry like paper mills and lumber mills that has flourished throughout Oregon City's history at the falls (2) as well as a discussion of the various ships that were involved in Willamette River navigation at the area (3). There is a discussion of railroads, trolleys, and streetcars (4) as well as the way that Oregon City has long served as a land transportation hub (5). Finally, the book concludes with some discussion of various entertainment and recreation options that took place in Oregon City, including a long-running chautauqua as well as early precursor to a theme park (6) as well as some historical photographs taken from the Clackamas County Cultural Center. For all of the ways in which Oregon City has struggled to keep up many of its historical elements, at least a few remain to be appreciated by contemporary residents and visitors.
Among the more curious aspects of Oregon City's history is that the city contains one of three vertical streets in the world, which is something worth appreciating even if it is something that many people are not familiar with. The book is full of a lot of gorgeous photos and some hints at some very poignant stories, including a woman who was not content on being a wife and mother and spent her time with preachers trying to be an accomplished writer. The book shows a great deal of interest in showing the business and cultural and educational institutions that were once connected to Oregon City, although one cannot help but note that many of these are long gone and that even the business of the city has moved from the riverside to the bluff area of the city, and Oregon City's expansion beyond its core is not something that the book chooses to emphasize. It is also of great interest that Oregon City was once surrounded by suburbs called West Oregon City and North Oregon City, but which have been more creatively named as West Linn and Gladstone, respectively. I wonder if Canby was once South Oregon City but that is perhaps too much to hope for.
This book of a bit more than 100 pages is divided into 7 chapters that look at different aspects of Oregon City's existence since it was incorporated in 1845 as the oldest American city west of the Rockies. After acknowledgements and an introduction the book begins with a discussion of Dr. McLoughlin's land claim (1). After this there is a look at some of the business and industry like paper mills and lumber mills that has flourished throughout Oregon City's history at the falls (2) as well as a discussion of the various ships that were involved in Willamette River navigation at the area (3). There is a discussion of railroads, trolleys, and streetcars (4) as well as the way that Oregon City has long served as a land transportation hub (5). Finally, the book concludes with some discussion of various entertainment and recreation options that took place in Oregon City, including a long-running chautauqua as well as early precursor to a theme park (6) as well as some historical photographs taken from the Clackamas County Cultural Center. For all of the ways in which Oregon City has struggled to keep up many of its historical elements, at least a few remain to be appreciated by contemporary residents and visitors.
Among the more curious aspects of Oregon City's history is that the city contains one of three vertical streets in the world, which is something worth appreciating even if it is something that many people are not familiar with. The book is full of a lot of gorgeous photos and some hints at some very poignant stories, including a woman who was not content on being a wife and mother and spent her time with preachers trying to be an accomplished writer. The book shows a great deal of interest in showing the business and cultural and educational institutions that were once connected to Oregon City, although one cannot help but note that many of these are long gone and that even the business of the city has moved from the riverside to the bluff area of the city, and Oregon City's expansion beyond its core is not something that the book chooses to emphasize. It is also of great interest that Oregon City was once surrounded by suburbs called West Oregon City and North Oregon City, but which have been more creatively named as West Linn and Gladstone, respectively. I wonder if Canby was once South Oregon City but that is perhaps too much to hope for.
April 22, 2018
Very informative and fun
There is a lot to learn about Oregon city I need more words to make this a official review yep
There is a lot to learn about Oregon city I need more words to make this a official review yep
June 2, 2011
Great for research. Good history and insights.
September 19, 2011
It`s my home town. How can you not love it. I saw people I knew.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews