Name: West Salem
Brand: Lynn Mack
SKU: 9780738575872
Price: 24.99 USD
Availability: InStock

West Salem

9780738575872

$24.99

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.

Around Bethany

9781467128681

$24.99

For nearly 150 years, the Bethany area has undergone continual change. Families migrated here from Switzerland, Germany, and other places in the 1870s. Trees were felled to clear fields for farming. Some families made their houses from logs, as only a few could afford wood-frame houses. The German-speaking people were faith-based and were quick to establish churches and schools. Eventually, churches switched to ministering in English. Many families settled north of US 26 (Sunset Highway). Some lived to the west in the communities of Phillips and Helvetia, while others resided south of the highway. In the past 30 years, subdivisions, allowed by the expanding urban-growth boundary, have been built on former farmlands. This density accommodates the housing needs of the Portland, Oregon, metropolitan area, including those employed by nearby companies Intel and Nike.

Historic Baker City, Oregon

9780738520704

$24.99

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.

Sweet Home in Linn County

9780738520698

$24.99

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.

Oregon State Penitentiary

9781467132213

$24.99

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.

Troutdale

9780738593340

$24.99

As a link on the "Wire Trail," which was a Native American route between Celilo and Willamette Falls, Troutdale was first a site for Chinook Indian encampments. Its locale was connected to westward expansion as a landing place for Lewis and Clark and as one of the initial stops for immigrants fresh off the Oregon Trail. Troutdale's pioneers wrestled with its thick forests, rocky basalt cliffs, and the fierce east wind that funneled down from the Columbia River Gorge. Despite these obstacles, they created a community with a colorful and serendipitous history that included record-setting smelt runs, paralyzing ice storms, and being named as the "celery capital of the world." Troutdale transformed as its main street evolved from a dirt road into the first paved highway in the Pacific Northwest. This, coupled with the arrival of the railroad, has made it a gateway for tourists, day-trippers, and exuberant photographers seeking jaw-dropping vistas of the Columbia River Gorge Scenic Area.

Grants Pass

9780738595788

$24.99

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.

Portland Fire & Rescue

9780738548838

$24.99

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.

Mercy Flights

9781467126670

$24.99

Mercy Flights--America's first not-for-profit air ambulance service--was created in 1949 in direct response to the polio epidemic and medical transportation problems in Southern Oregon and Northern California. At that time, two small general hospitals provided basic medical care for the community of 17,000 residents. The nearest specialty hospitals for injuries and more complex care were in Eugene (167 miles), Portland (274 miles), and San Francisco (363 miles). Since the Interstate Highway System had not yet been built, these distances were very slowly traveled on two-lane roads. George Milligan, a young air traffic controller--and a pilot himself--mobilized the community to create Mercy Flights and recruited volunteer pilots and nurses to staff the service. The story of Mercy Flights is a grassroots account of heroism, service, creativity, tenacity, and strong community leadership.

Hood River

9780738596389

$24.99

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.

Bridges of Portland

9780738548760

$24.99

Portland is an inland port city that rose to importance in the mid-19th century as a major shipping point for the Pacific Northwest's wheat, lumber, and other commodities. The Columbia and Willamette Rivers enabled seagoing vessels to reach the port, but they also presented obstacles to local travel and commerce. Willamette River ferry service was available by 1853, but Portlanders had to wait until 1887 for a bridge. The first was the Morrison Bridge, followed by the Steel Bridge in 1888, the Madison Bridge was in 1891, and the Burnside Bridge in 1894. These bridges helped Portland grow from 17,600 residents in 1880 to 90,000 in 1900. Many more bridges were added as Portland grew during the 20th century, and well-known bridge engineers Ralph Modjeski, J.A.L. Waddell, Gustav Lindenthal, David Steinman, and Joseph Strauss each contributed to Portland's world-class collection of bridges.

Cover image for Bridges of Portland, isbn: 9780738548760

Portland's Streetcars

9780738531151

$24.99

Street railways arrived early in Portland and made lasting social and economic contributions that are still apparent in the layout and character of the city's neighborhoods today. During the 1890s, streetcar lines spread rapidly into the West Hills and across the Willamette River. The technological prowess of the growing "Rose City" was reflected in the largest horsecar in the Northwest, the second steepest cable car grade in the nation, the first true interurban railway, and an annual illuminated trolley parade. By the dawn of the 20th century, Portland could boast of the largest electric railway system in the West, as well as its first eight-wheeled streetcar. The streetcars lasted into the late 1950s here, and then, after a hiatus of nearly 30 years, were rediscovered by a new generation of urban planners.

Oregon City Floods

9781467133586

$24.99

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.

Roseburg

9780738580319

$24.99

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.

Cottage Grove

9780738580357

$24.99

Cottage Grove is a picturesque little hometown nestled in the Willamette Valley. Pioneers following the Oregon Trail west settled in the area in the early 1800s. The Bohemia Mountains were the first major draw to the area after James "Bohemia" Johnson discovered gold in 1863. A gold rush ensued and caused several boom towns to spring up on the route to the mines. After several years, many millions in gold were blasted from the mountains. There is an estimated $14 million in gold remaining in the mountain to this day. With new settlers came the first post offices and schools. When the mining started to slow down, the lumber industry was on the upswing. With easy access to the short line and virgin timber on every hill in the valley, timber became the new boom. Mills sprung up almost overnight, and in some cases burned in a single night. At one time, there were 23 mills on Row River alone.

Molalla

9780738556130

$24.99

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. People 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.

Aviation in Southern Oregon

9780738581910

$24.99

Medford, Oregon, pioneered aviation in Southern Oregon and has long enjoyed a reputation for being an air-minded city. When the City of Medford built Newell Barber Field in 1920, it established the first municipally owned airfield in the state. In 1926, Pacific Air Transport selected Medford as a station for the West Coast airmail route. While Portland's airmail service was located across the river at Vancouver's Pearson Field in Washington, Medford's Newell Barber Field was Oregon's only airmail stop. The 1920s secured Medford's position as a leader in the growth of both civil and commercial aviation. When technology rendered the original field obsolete, the voters handily approved a new, state-of-the-art field that has continued to expand and grow into a major international airport and free trade zone, capable of accommodating some of the world's largest aircrafts.

Camp Rilea

9781467132305

$24.99

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.

Talent

9780738571461

$24.99

In the early 1850s, the Rogue Valley's 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 rhythm--the school bell rang, train whistles blew, hammers pounded, violins played, and mothers called their children for supper. The images in this book celebrate Talent residents' pride in what they built, worked for, amused themselves with, and loved.

Crook County

9781467130592

$24.99

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.

Newport

9780738581514

$24.99

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.

Forest Grove

9780738581170

$24.99

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.

Port Orford and North Curry County

9780738580883

$24.99

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 residents: 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.

Wilhoit Springs

9781467103237

$24.99 $12.50 Save 50%

History and legend mingle at Wilhoit Mineral Springs, a former health and recreation resort south of Molalla in Clackamas County. Although nothing remains of the rustic lodge buildings and campground today, tales of the healing soda springs enticed people to "take the waters," and indeed they did. By the late 1800s, this call for relaxation, social camaraderie, and a healthy cure escalated into a large gathering ground and community resort. The rustic getaway lured wealthy city guests from Portland, Salem, and Eugene, as well as the average local family. Wilhoit Springs Park, open to visitors today, is part riparian wilderness and part oak savannah and contains a fortress of older trees in a verdant setting. Today, people can picnic, walk through the mossy woods and meadows, and explore the lush surroundings. There are two springs, one pleasantly soda and the other highly sulfur--each is accessible today.

Cover image for Wilhoit Springs, isbn: 9781467103237

Willamette Valley Railways

9780738556017

$24.99

Willamette Valley Railways tells the story of the electric interurban railways that ran through Oregon's Willamette Valley and of the streetcars that operated in the towns they served. Long before modern light rail vehicles, electric trains were providing Portland and the Willamette Valley with reliable, elegant transportation that was second to none. Between 1908 and 1915, two large systems, the Oregon Electric Railway and the Southern Pacific Red Electrics, joined smaller competitors constructing railways throughout the region. Portland became the hub of an impressive interurban network in a frenzy of electric railway building. Yet all too soon, this brief but glorious interurban era was over. Highway improvement and the growth of automobile ownership made electric passenger trains unprofitable in the sparsely populated valley. By the early 1930s, the company that had launched the nation's first true interurban was the only one still offering passenger service here.

Bandon

9780738596617

$24.99

Named for a founding settler's beloved Irish hometown, Bandon is one of the most picturesque cities on the Oregon coast, located where the smooth and deep waters of the Coquille River meet the Pacific Ocean. Bandon rose to commercial prominence as an exporter of lumber, minerals, agriculture, and salmon and at one time was the busiest seaport between San Francisco and Portland. Fires in 1914 and 1936 devastated the landscape, but Bandon quickly rebuilt and has never lost its reputation as a restorative scenic destination and vital place to live and work. Today, Bandon and the Coquille Valley have a thriving and diverse economy, prized for their cranberries and ranch and dairy products, known for the excellence of their fishing and scenic outdoor recreation, and celebrated as home of the world-renowned Bandon Dunes Golf Resort.

Sutherlin

9780738582047

$24.99

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.

Rogue Valley Wine

9780738581361

$24.99

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.

Diving off the Oregon Coast

9781467124089

$24.99 $12.50 Save 50%

The Oregon Coast is well known for its beauty. The rugged coastline with its constant wave and surf action provides the calming sounds of the ocean that all can hear, but a diver also sees the giant kelp forests and gets excited about the promise of abundant marine life, brilliantly colored anemone, sponges, cute little reef fish and huge ling cod, large plate-sized rock scallops, abalone, giant Pacific octopus, and friendly wolf eel. This is truly a diver's paradise. There are no stories of skin divers prior to World War II, but with the development of rubber dry suits and neoprene wetsuits in the early 1950s, divers began to explore the reefs out past the surf and in protected coves near the shoreline. Images of Modern America: Diving off the Oregon Coast showcases the images of a few diving pioneers, early and current dive stores, the beautiful coastline, and the colorful world underwater.

Oregon Surfing

9781467115322

$24.99 $12.50 Save 50%

Surfing culture began in Portland, Seaside, Cannon Beach, and Pacific City in the early 1960s. Influenced by surf music and a few California surfers, a handful of skin divers and adolescent boys yearned to engage in the sport. In the beginning, surfing was illegal along the beachfronts of Seaside and Cannon Beach. Answering the siren call, locals took to the beaches, while others from around Oregon, Washington, and California found their way to isolated spots along the Northern Oregon coast. The early surfers were not intimidated by their lack of knowledge, poor equipment, or the unpredictable waves. Instead, surfing caught on in the cold waters of Oregon. Experience the early days of Oregon surfing through the pioneer surfers' stories and vintage photographs.

Oregon Surfing:

9781467131018

$24.99 $12.50 Save 50%

Surfing came to the central Oregon coast in the early 1960s. Mostly young boys from Newport and the Agate Beach area took to the waves, without wetsuits or leashes, and taught themselves how to surf in the forbidding cold waters. Eventually forming the Agate Beach Surf Club, they discovered other surfing communities along the Oregon coast. With no modern-day technology to help them, they traveled the rugged Oregon coast in search of good and accessible surf spots. Fifty years later, the surfing culture has grown and evolved, including both genders, kite, wind, stand-up-paddle, and big wave surfing. What hasn't changed is the unique and challenging environment of the Oregon coast. Geography, the weather, and the cold water still remain the biggest challenges. In the face of all this, the surfing community grows and continues to prosper.

Pacific Northwest's Whaling Coast

9781467132572

$24.99

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.

Sandy

9781467134330

$24.99

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.

Myrtle Point and Vicinity

9781467130981

$24.99

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.