County celebrates 150 with walk down memory Lane
■ Eugene remembers its
beginnings, looks to future
By Rebecca Newell
Oregon Daily Emerald
Lane County, the final destination
on the Oregon Trail, will celebrate its
sesquicentennial Wednesday.
It’s been 150 years since approxi
mately 3,000 settlers suffering from
“Oregon fever” made the 2,000-mile
trek to dwell in an area known for its
majestic forests, fertile soil and mild
climate.
“We are eight years older than the
state, which gave birth in 1859 on
Valentine’s Day,” said Bill Dwyer, a
Lane County commissioner.
Lane County commissioners are
celebrating the day with a historical
reenactment, donning period dress to
commemorate the founding of Lane
County. The event will take place at
10 a.m. Wednesday at Harris Hall, lo
cated at Eighth Avenue and Oak
Street downtown. After the reenact
ment, the audience will be invited to
a cake and coffee reception.
History
The 2,000-mile Oregon Trail di
rected settlers toward the Willamette
Valley. The first wagon train of about
70 settlers embarked on the journey
in 1841, and within four years, “Ore
gon fever” had boosted the popula
tion of immigrants to 3,000.
Lane County was established Janu
ary 28, 1851, and named for Joseph
Lane, a rugged frontier hero who be
came the first territorial governor. Pi
oneers traveled along the Oregon
Trail in the late 1840s to Lane County
to farm. With the completion of the
railroads, the 1880s marked the ex
plosion of the timber market.
“Lane County was a tremendous
ly large territory which stretched
from the Rockies to the California
border, ” Dwyer said.
The county was carved out of the
southern section of Linn County
and the portion of Benton County
east of Umpqua County. Originally,
it covered all of Southern Oregon,
as far east as the Rocky Mountains
and south as the California border,
Dwyer said. Lane County was creat
ed by the Territorial Legislature, but
it wasn’t until the 1853 election that
a county seat was named. Eugene,
which takes its name from an early
Oregon pioneer, Eugene Skinner,
won the county seat, Dwyer said.
The original Lane County govern
ment consisted of a county judge,
three commissioners, an assessor, a
treasurer and a sheriff. Later years
saw the addition of a clerk and school
superintendent. In 1953, the judge’s
position was abolished and a decade
later, the county received the right to
exercise legislative authority.
Growth
In 1860, the Lane County census
revealed a population of4,780. Since
then, the population has grown rap
idly. In 1997, Lane County popula
tion had reached 308,500, a 9 percent
increase since 1990. The county is
presently the fourth-most populated
in Oregon. During 1999, the county
population reached 315,700.
At its inception and for many
years to follow, Lane County’s econo
my relied on agriculture and timber.
With rich soil and a moderate cli
mate, Willamette Valley became one
of the most productive farming areas
in the nation, Dwyer said.
In addition to fertile farm land, the
lush forests and waterways have
been a Lane County treasure that is
still enjoyed by residents. One of
Lane County’s most popular park ar
eas became a “hot spot” as early the
1870s. Located near the McKenzie
River, the hot springs attracted visi
tors from around the state and even
the nation.
“Our parks have more water ac
cess than another other county in
Economy
continued from page 4
the market has opened new opportu
nities for the group of investors.
“We look at it as a really great time
to buy,” Thomas said. “You need to
do the research first; it’s a buyers
market. Some things may be selling
for cheap.”
Thomas said when a stock mar
ket makes a correction it can mean a
several things, including a loss of
the public’s confidence in the future
earnings of a company.
The group will be putting out its first
annual report this term compiled from
Sept. 1999 to Aug. 31, 2000. Thomas
said the figures in the report were high
because it was put together before the
stock market slid downward.
“Within that period, the market
saw some really great returns in the
stocks we held,” Thomas said, refer
ring to the group’s 18.82 percent total
return. Despite the risk involved,
their investment beat the returns of
the Standard & Poor’s 500.
Although the downturn in the stock
market does have the power to affect
the ability of universities nationwide
to provide student loans, it hasn’t hurt
the University of Oregon so far.
Elizabeth Bickford, University di
rector of student financial aid, said a
small increase in parent loans this
year, from 8.4 million to 8.8 million
loans, indicates parents may be turn
ing to loans more than last year be
cause of the market’s dip.
In a visit to campus Jan. 12, U.S.
Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., said he
would be working with budget
committees in Washington, D.C., to
increase funding for student loans.
“We have to work harder for stu
dent loans more than ever, because
without that educational opportuni
ty, students don’t have the tools that
adjust to change in the economy,”
Wyden said.
The Investment Group Portfolio:
Company Name: Shares; Market Value; %
1. American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. 100 $4,737.50
2. AvayaCommqnicartiorulnc 8 $128.50
3. Centennial BankCorp. „ 577 $4,727.19
4. Harrah’sEntertainment,Inc. 150 $3,993.75 /
5- In Focus Corp. 150 $3,075.00
6. Lattice Semiconductor Corp. 160 $3,850.00
7. Lucent Technologies, Inc. 100: $1,906.25
8. Monaco Coach Group Corp. 200 $4,150.00
9. Oregon Steel Mills, Inc. 550 $1,168.75
10. OraSure Technologies, Inc. 550 $5,053.13
11. Webtrends Corp. 80 $2,520.00
Cash: $7,192.54
Total: $42,499.60
Return:
66.10%
-55 96%
-7.74%
25 03%
-5.15%
-20.03%
-62.17%
-8 86%
•76.03%
26%
.22%:
P
-15.00%
Oregon,” said Christine Johnson,
secretary of the parks department.
In recent years, cutbacks in logging
and steady population growth have
altered the emphasis of the county’s
economic development. New promi
nence was given to industries, in
cluding services, technology, trade,
manufacturing of transportation
equipment, printing, publishing and
tourism.
The University
Barely 20 years after Lane County’s
inception, residents formed the
f PHOTO 1
[SPECIALS |
■ JANUARY 22 -28
■ MAKE A PHOTO
_ CD FROM YOUR
■ NEGATIVES:
* Only $6.99
From 35mm or APS color negative
tmm film. Prints must also be ordered.
FUJICOLOR
J Where oh where has
my little dog gone?
Find him with an ad in the
ODE classifieds • 346-4343
Union University Association and
persuaded the state legislature to give
Eugene permission to found the Uni
versity of Oregon.
“The founding of the U of O was
very much supported by the business
community, because [the University]
would bring people and money to the
local economy,” said Susan Storch,
archivist for the University.
Construction of Deady Hall was
complete in 1877, a year after the first
students registered for classes. The
University opened its doors the same
year, and 200 students enrolled. In
M
1878, the University graduated its first
class, comprised of five students.
“For a small town, that increased
the population exponentially,”
Storch said.
The University also brought fame
and attention to both Lane County and
to the state. International track and
field stars including Mary Decker
Slaney, Alberto Salazar and Joaquim
Cruz trained at the University, and
Pre’s Trail — a 6.3 kilometer run cir
cling through Alton Baker Park—was
named in memory of the 1972
Olympic trials star, Steve Prefontaine.
ALL DAY
TUESDAY
PIZZA
?ET£$
2673 Willamette • 484-0996
WELLS
FARGO
The Student Combo Package
• Free Checking
• Free Student Visa® Card**
• ATM & Check Card*
• Free Online Account Access and much more
Sign up today at a Wells Fargo
location nearest your school.
“Offer expires March si 20qA Limited quantities avail it
“No annual fee when linked as overdraft protection to your
Wells Fargo checking account Credit card issued by Wells Fargo
Bank Nevada. N.A. and is subject to Qualification,
issuance of the ATM & Check Card1 is subject to qualification
2001 Wells Fargo Banks Members FDIC. All Rights Reserved.
It's true. With a Wells Fargo® Student Combo"'' Package, you get free banking services
and a free Wells Fargo T-^hirt*