The News-Review from Roseburg, Oregon • Page 17

ROSEBURC NEWS-REVIEW, JANUARY 1, 1926. EIGHTEEN burs or not. It was bound to come on account of the lay of the land. petty offense, and was awaiting his One' moraine, just about more substantially contracted. 'the following entries for 188Sr -The first brick bouse in Roseburg Mean of highest observation of ba- wa.

hunt hv Mr SheridMn. In rometer. 30.1)52: mean nf lowest ROSEBURG While the finishing of the railroad! daylight, the jail was discovered to this point was a matter of vast to be on fire, and a crowd sooa col-Importance to the town, the ceas- lected to render what assistance ing of the work at ber gates was was possible to the poor fellow no less so. Up to that time Rose-, within the iron walls. It appeared, burg had been only a way station 1 however, that the fire had been on the O.

ft C. stage road and the I raging within for some time, for commerce of the county amounted the building was so hot that no to very little, or nothing, all told. human being could approach near Very little grain was raised except enough to even see what had hate for flour, feed and seed and the pened on the Inside. All that could Settlement of Aaron Rose This Trading Pott Firtt Called Deer Creek Secures the County Seat First Business Men County Jail and Court House The School House Winchester Absorbed by Roseburg Roseburg and Coos Bay Road Arrival of the Railroad Roseburg Incorporated Burins of the Jr.il Fire Department Brick Buildings Business Enterprises Climate Extension of the O. C.

R. R. Roseburg and Coos Bay R. R. Wool and Grain Shipments Generosity of Mr.

Rose Needs of the City Newspapers Noted Men Who Hail From Roseburg. 1S5, to be used for a Btore. and Is 28.83S; annual mean. 29,539: mean still owned by members of the 'of highest thermometer readings same family. It is about 2x40 during the year.

93; mean of low. two stories high, and is situ- est. 9.4; mean for the year. 61.8. ated on the east side of Jackson Total rainfall for "rainy" Oregun i street between Douglas and Wash- during 1HX3 was 22.48 inches.

We Ington. It was considered a won- challenge the world to show a more derful building at that time. The salubrious climate, a more de-si ra-' second was built by Dr. S. Ilumil- ble range of barometer or ther- ton, In the year 1886, at the south-! niometcr, or mine favorable corner of and Idilioiis generally for health and Jackson streets.

In 1874 was corn- happiness. Aaron Rose could not pleted the brick house where the have selected a more favorable i iKjstofflce still stands, and built by place for a city. The poBtoffire is H. C. Stanton, who stilt occupies it.

in the brick store of H. Stanton, I wool clip was greatly smaller than it has since become. The only ful distance and wait for the fire means of transportation were the to complete Us work. Later In the heavy wagons usually drawn by day. when the roof, floor and other hnmnfl nr tnlllaa ,1 ku.n an.l and the pages of the county records.

The music of the ringing an vil is hushed, the Jingle of bar glasses and gold has ceased, the shrill cry of the hoodlum unheard, HEN the northwest const of the United States was httle less than a howling wilderness and the strong handed pioneer was forcing the tight ot civilization onward to the western sea, Aaron Rose, a man of medium stature, iron will and nerves of steel, came 4i i- journeying from the forests of Michigan, seeking a took the only man upon whom he ft Kosebur lhe bridge. One day, however, thin primitive jail was discovered to be on fire and about all that was saved were two white lm I road to the Willamette valley. The beautiful and fertile valleys In and the busy merchant no more which Douglas county abounds, ly-lof which the cage had been corn-presents his little bill on Monday i Ing secluded among her magnifl- posed an entrance was effected, morning, on the streets of Win- cent hills, were used principally Nohtlng resembling a human form for stock range, when their possi- could be discovered, but just at the blllties were much greater. She bottom of the iron door, and Im-a, as It might be said, a perfect mediately under an opening there- eleelrlrnl tnaetilnu mmnlata In all In m-aa a imntl hean whlr-h II nr! the postmaster, In the spring of 18S2, the Oregon California Railroad Company be- Kan the extension of their road south, and It was not many months before the terminus at Roseburg 1 was a thing of the past, in 1883, however, the enmpnuy built a three. stall round house Just south of th.f depot, and made this lhe end or a division.

The Oregon ami nia stage, with Its six milk white steeds, and heavy load of freight, mall and passengers, and the lutn- bering freight wagons, with their i 'Ill parts, with the Itnles nf her battery not joined. But when the Next in order came the handsome i Iron-front brick of 8. Marks 6 in 1878, situated on the northwest corner of Washington and JackBon streets. It is 36x100 feet, two stories high, and cost I about Next came Dr. Ham ilton't new drug store, adjoining his former one, built In 1878.

Then the elegant cut-stone-front brick store of Abraham, Wheeler built in 1878. on the southwest corner of Oak and Jackson streets. The dimensions of this block are 46x90 feet, and two tall storlies high the largest in the city. Mr. E.

M. Moore put up a single story brick store for Caro next I to the postofflce In 1880. Last, but not least In importance, was the quiet home in Oregon. He left nothing behind him to attract cuianM at tne me. his gaze from the setting sun.

His family and effects were con-, ls55 b( (rlI thB war veyed along with him in the usual prairie vehicle, moved by the and Koseburg was thf central point usual steady, stubborn oxen. After many days of toilsome for the northern battalion, which travel in crowing the Great American Desert, and climbing and descending the Rocky and Sierra Neveda ranges, when the Sis- fnit lo DB j(nown a. tOIUw kiyous were successfully passed and the famous Cow creek can- bur. The population was steadily yon was in the rear, on the twenty-third day of September. increasing, and houses thic kly he found himself looking with admiration upon the small valley at the junction of the South Umpqua and Ueer creek.

fUture was secured. Uncle Aaron Mr. nose saw here the reallza-1 somewhat larger proportions, since did not cease his efforts, but was Iron rails were laid and the shrill I He bad escaped, and all that re-whistle of the locomotive waked I mained to indicate that he had whf-h time It has steadily grown, depending solely upon lis natural advantages. In Ilrad- bury Imported the first stock of i general merchandise anil opened Chester. In the years following, when the eastern and southern portions of our country were bathed In blood and convulsed in civil war, the fateful Influence was atroniily felt even In these out- skirts of the world.

During all this time Ro.ieburg was the radiating center ami headquarters of nil I parties. Men seemed to take a deeper Interest In the issues presented, if possible, and talked louder and more than did their brothers at the seat of war. Hut nothing retarded the steady growth of the future cltv, and all things conspired to build her up. In ISM steps were taken from Koseburg to the head of tide water on Coos bay, and a Joint stock eomptny was formed for that purpose. Like all enterprises, this one found favor In the eyes of some persons, and was denounced as Impracticable by others.

The opposition claimed, in this in-i stance, that the road would never pay for Itself on account of the large amount of money which would be required to build It. They also alleged that nature had made natural highway from Rosburg to the sea; that the I'mpqua river only needed a few thousand dol-1 lars expended upon it to become a navigable stream for boats. The I route to tne seanoani. by way of tne river, was, as has been related on page 3x5. demonstrated to be a failure, and the Coos bay wagon road enterprise moved in to succefls.

Iron, giant powder, mus- cle and money, dug. blasted out, the first regular Btore In ltoseburg. lis now situated, and also to-Hls stock was amplo and well e- wards building the house. About lecled and his success marked. He I lf7 the U.

8. I-aod Office was was tile fore-runner of a long list built at Winchester a two-story of successful merchants, some of building which was nflerwards whom are still In business here, moved to Itoseburg. bodily and while others. are gone, and a few this excited the people of Koseburg be one was to stand at a respect- i the blackened walls surrounded the curled and twisted sheets of Iron eynminniinn tirnveil In he all that was left of the recent prisoner. been there was a crisp and black ened lump which would hardly have been taken for what It was in any other place or under any other circumstances.

What was left was decently burled by the county, and the place which knew him last knows neither him nor the old jail any more forever. The Jail which the county has at present Is an elegant little two-story brick building, with the most approved, impregnable cells, and an airy corridor running around. It is both comfortable and safe. On the upper floor are offices, seat aud well ventilated. The county court house, a substantially built and commodious and conveniently arranged structure, stands on the same block.

Though there never has been a devastating fire In Roaeburg, yet. until last year; there had been no; fire company of any possible efficiency in the city a few ladders and buckets constituting the only available apparatus for extinguish- ing fires. The fire fiend had every opportunity for glorious work, but did not seem disposed to take ft. In the spring of 1883. steps were taken to organise a fire company, and on the tenth day of May, the board of directors passed an ordinance creating the fire department for the city of Roseburg.

There are two companies compris-in the department the Rescue Hook and Ladder Company, No. 1, and the Umpqua Hose Company, No. 1. The city has built a large reservoir on the hill east of town, some 150 feet higher than the houses, and laid iron pipes therefrom down Washington street to Marks building, with occasional hydrants at convenient points. It has also procured sever-' Douglas County bank, on the east ally believed that what she has side of Jackson street, in 1883.

lost by the extension Is a small af-There are. taken all together. fair compared with whnt she will seven general mercantile bouses, gain by the building of the Homy two hardware stores, each having burg and Coos bay railroad, which a tin shop attached, two flouring it is predicted, will, at lciut, be mills, three hotels, one bank, three i commenced the present year. We blacksmith shops, two butcher join them in the hope that the pro-shops, two livery stables, two cab-! diction may be verified. The de-inet shops, three grocery stores, pot building and depot warehouses two restaurants, twelve saloons, aud- we hope the company will two barber shops, two bukeries, six have a better depot und four physicians, two dentists, one mar- large private warehouses are on ble cutter, and several wash hous- the depot grounds.

They are own-eB. The above is not a bad record ed by the estate of C. Flood, the of business for a city containing Grange Business Association. Abrn-but one thousand Inhabitants, all ham Company, aud S. Marks told.

The United States land office Company. Immense quantities of. the echoes in her mountain fast nesses, the connection was made and all the machinery felt the in fluence and moved In perfect harmony. Roaeburg became a center of commerce for the country. Warehouses were built at the depot and ttje ganarles and wool rooms became more and more crowded each year, until the first warehouses became too small and had to be Increased or replaced by new and larger ones, with all the modern Improvements for preparing pro-'duce for the market Jackson and Josephine counties received their goods, wares and merchandise at Roseburg, thus increasing the business of the city and helping to swell the tide of her prosperity.

Roseburg was Incorporated by the act of October 3. 1872. At the first election, which was held the eleventh of the same month the following officers were elected: Trustees, G. Caddis, afterward chairman: George Haynes, 8. Ham- ilton.

William I. Fried lander, and T. P. Bheridan; recorder. Andrew I Jones: marshal.

L. C. Kodenberg; treasurer. E. Livingston.

The taxes of the city have never been burdensome not over three mills and the ordinances passed by the boards are salutary, comprehen- have cewsed their labors forever. Mr. Rosa lost no opportunity of advertising his proposed town, find used both his energies and 1 means with a generous hand to en courage enterprising and wealthy of their district school children to men to make their homes "herein. I this day. It was more magnificent It is intimated that the Immense than necessary, but It fully satls-majority by which Roseburg was fled their ambition and drew heav-chosen as the county seat of Doug- illy on their purses.

The two rival las county in April. 1S54, was due bouses, one built at Winchester long teams ot horses and Jingling bells, are now but a memory in Roseburg. While It is true that has lost the extreme Roseburg Southern Oregon trade. It is gener- from hU first location, and now occupies a neat and comfortable! little cottage on the top of an eminence south of town, fiom which the whole valley can easily be seen. Is at Roseburg.

It was moved, as and wool are shlpted front before remarked, from Winchester these warehouses yearly. In 1859. The old land office build- When the rich bottom lands of ing still stands under an immense Douglas county shall be farmed on willow tree, on the north side of scientific puciples, even larger Douglas street, between Rose and warehouses will be needed at Rose-Jackson. In 1879 the land office burg, and the shipments will be tinn of his dreams and claimed, as a donation from the government, the land uKn which Roseburg now stands. He built him a clapboard shanty of sufficiently ample dimensions, near the place where the center of the city now Is, and engaged In selling to travelers, teamsters and packers, who were very numerous In those days, such things as they aeeded.

He also engaged In the business of farming and stock raising. Uncle Aaron as he Is famllllarly called, seems to hsve thrived and prospered well In his mercantile and other pursuits, notwithstanding the fact that he sometimes "saved" money by taking his customers' notes for less than half the amount they owed him and he can show you some of the notes today, still unpaid. The Indians of the I'mpqua and Calapoola tribes were all around him, but a friendly relationship always existed between him and them. Tie had one of them in his service, known far and wide as "Rose's Jim," who remained with him for years. The neighbors, within a radius of several miles.

were few. w. I. r-erry locaieu on what Is now known as the UuBhy niace. across Deer creek and lust north of the city.

Phillip Peters, still an active man, resided some ix miles away, engaged In cattle raising and farming. Jesse Roberts, also cattle raiser and farmer, lived only a few ml lei away, and John Kelly worried the patient backs of his mules with the complaining pack saddle, and awoke the ready echoes wun nis luniy shout, in the Immediate vicinity. I There were others, also, but they were few. to his hospitality and diplomacy, in some at least He do-: nated three acres ot iana ana sumv eacn oiner ai a swne inrow, one towanl building a court bouse for used as an Odd Fellows' Temple the county, and the court house I and the other never changed. These was built and the money expended were the finest buildings In South-under his direction.

It was a wood-1 ern Oregon at the time of their en building and served its purpose construction. In about 1X59 Rose-for years, but, at this writing, is 1 burg's attractions became so great I was removed to its elegant quar- multiplied. This, of course, does, ters in the brick block of 8. Marks 1 not represent the entire exports A and the old building is val- from Roseburg. but will suffice to uable for little else now, than a rel- indicate how the commerce has ic of bygone days.

The officers grown from the barter ot Uncle who have presided in the land of- Aaron-Rose, in his clapboard shan-flce are as follows: L. F. Mosher, ty. The old gentleman has never register, and Colonel Martin, re-1 ceased to give to objects hich celver; John Kelly and Mr. Briggs: might be a benefit to Ro.iburg.

Ha W. R. Willis and B. Herman; W. i gave the depot ground-i to the R.

Willis and J. C. Fullerton, all railroad company and the right ot of whom, except one, are no longer I way over his land, and sold them, connected with the office. The for a song almost gravel to bal Present officers are Hon. W.

F. last their road. Long ago he moved graded and paid for the present i slve and not oppressive. As is road to Coos City, whlch though I true of all young towns, so It for a long time somen hut precari-1 happened that the houses of Rose-otis and unreliable, is at last a buc- burg were nearly all built of wood, cess, and It is possible to ride very and the majority of them remain comfortably In a wagon over a so to this day; yet Iobbcs by fire fair mountain road from Roseburg i have been remarkably infrequent, to the sea. Most of lhe former Not half a dozen fires have been stockholders In the road are prom- known where any considerable inent business men in Roseburg, damage has been done.

We have and desreve the success which I already mentioned the first Jail, they achieved and the coin bene- which succumbed to the fire fiend. Ifst which they received when. In The one which was erected to re-the beginning of 1883, they sold place It was also destroyed by fire. 1 doing service a i a atore room and tinshop for R. S.

and J. C. Sherl-1 dan. The county Jail, which ac- I commodatcd the prisoners of those days, was somewhate unique. It was i built of logs, not handsome, but secure.

There was no door open-1 Ing from the first floor, but the means of Ingress was furnished by a trap door In the office of a Jub- I tlce of the peace who occupied the second story. Instead of sending the prisoners up, his honor was ac-1 customed to send them down for so many days, and there was small Benjamin and Hon. J. C. Fullerton.

both of whom are affable and competent gentlemen. The United States Signal office was establish ed In 1876, and placed in charge of their road, franchise, to C. This was built of brick, with iron al hundred feet or hose, and pro-Crocker. In 1872 the most import-1 cells for prisoners, and stood south- vlded, at large expense, a hand-ant event for Roseburg occurred east of the present court house, some and thoroughly furnished when the O. C.

railroad track I Several times prisoners effected book and ladder truck, was laid across her boundaries. It eBcapes from It. In the spring or In a city which Is mostly corn-was not a question whether the 1882 a man had been Incarcerated posed of wooden buildings, it Is railroad should come throilch Rose- therein, having committed Borne I not amiss to briefly mention those Sergeant John Dascomb. Sergeant i He has ample means to live easily J. J.

Nanery Is now In charge. The I and no longer worries himself with barometer is Just 637 feet above the cares of bn.Mncss. May his dvi the level of the sea. and an Inspec- clinlng years continue to flow gent-tlon of the records there shows (Continued on page 19. Col.

5) In 1852 there was considerable chance or escape between tne sen- town on the DnnK or the North Immigration to Douglas county, I fence and the execution thereof. It Umpqua river hnd entirely dlsap-and Roseburg, or Deer creek as it was from this house, and out of peared. and It lives only in the was then called, begun to assume I this trap door, that Lynch memory of Its former Inhabitants 3 fx mat iou nave us tin Mi always first In donating to pro- poed Improvements, He was al- ways ready to donate lots lo churches, and gave the land upon which our public school building to outdo the rival town by erecting a school house of grander proportions than the land office. They accordingly erected the three-story edifice which vibrates to the tread and one in Roseburg. some four or five miles apart, now gate upon that Winchester was not able to resist them, and was rolled over the intervening space, and the two became one.

The land office above mentioned, the store of Floed ft Just as it appears today! with a little change; A. R. Flint's old store, now on Washington street, between Main and Jackson, and Mrs. Motrin's residence, near the banks nf the South Umpqua river, with others, were moved bodily from Winchester and placed in Roseburg, where they now stand, In a short time the once busy little i 1 THE OLDEST DRUG STORE IN SOUTHERN OREGON Drugs Stationery Toilet Articles fl1 THE PIONEER DRUG STORE The Home of FREE'S FREEZE Paint and Window Glass J3 ALWAYS Established 1854 Are You Boosting for Douglas County? Your Patronage Appreciated If Satisfactory Tell Others If Not Tell Us -n-r-a-asisr i i-TOsrsr -i i -i frf ia an masse 1 tm 1.