THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1949
BROOKINGS-HARBOR PILOT, BROOKINGS, OREGON
strong chain to an iron ring. The
forked end was cut to a length
of four feet, heavy timbers bolted
Emil R. Peterson, Historian, Coos-Curry Pioneer across to form a solid base, and
the burrs were loaded on to that,
Association, R. 1, Box 528, North Bend, Ore.
hauled by oxen to the mill build-
ing, and properly installed. Bolt
Who built, owned and operated the first grist mill in Coos or ing cloth brought from Roseburg
Curry County? The lack of definite information on this one subject at a cost of $20 per yard, was
is quite in keeping with the general lack of recorded and depend stretched over a
wooden frame,
able sources of our pioneer history. A great deal of it must depend
and
the
crushed
wheat
conducted
on memory passed on from mouth to ear and from generation to I
from
the
burrs
soon
emerged
as
generation.
‘ “
a fine quality of flour.”
of
the
same
opinion.
William
The earliest recorded mention
There is much more to this
that I have found regarding a Schroeder is one of the best-in
grist mill in Coos county appears formed persons on our pioneer story and you’ll be hearing of it
on page 395 in Dodge’s Pioneer history that I have come in con again. Let us skip ten pages
now and jump to page 23, quot-
History of Coos and Curry Coun tact with.
ing:
But
there
can
be
little
if
any
ties: “Among the goods was—
“Late in 1866 a young man
a 54-inch Page portable sawmill doubt that a pair of stone burrs
belonging to Henry Schroeder Sr., I did come along w'th other equip- from Douglas county, by the name
— oi—
_--- ---- rnent in the Dr. Henry Hermann of Reed, brought a band of young
and an 8-horse-power
portable
boiler and engine and a pair of Baltimore Colony. We seem to horses to our farm to sell to the
24-inch mill burrs belonging to have the answer. It reached us farmers. Previous to that time
William Volkmar . . . The mill through the never-tiring efforts all the plowing and hauling was
was put up on the south fork of our good friend, Steve Reed, done by oxen.
of the Coquille River, on the of Myrtle Point. Steve has shown
“In May, 1867, Oscar Reed and
Schroeder place, and was oper- a great deal of active interest Mary Catherine (Lehnherr) were
ated for several years, William in this subject since the matter married. For several months they
Volkmar filling the position of was first brought up several lived in the old home (on Roland
engineer and J. Henry Schroeder weeks ago.
Prairie). Oscar was a competent
Now comes, through Mr. Reed's blacksmith, and soon had a flour
that of sawyer and miller.”
F rom page 408 of the same efforts, a paper of some 12 or ishing blacksmith shop in opera
13 thousand words, one of the tion. Oscar made the horseshoes
book I quote:
best pioneer biographies of Coos and also the nails.”
“We have a little hill hard by or Curry county that has come
Now, let us inject a bit of our
a little creek, which doth supply to my attention. It is titled:
own into this story. In due time(
us ail with flour, as fine and good
“Christian Lehnherr, Pioneer,” the Reeds had a little son. They!
as any needs for wholesome food.”
by Fannie Lehnherr Dixon. The named him Stephen. He is the
However, there appears to be next time you go to Myrtle Point, same Steve Reed, now in his 80s,
some doubt, concerning the grist I suggest that you go into the who dug up this Lehnherr story,
mill mentioned above. William city park and notice the stone the story of his grandfather.
Schroeder, now in his 80s, a grand- monument there erected to the
Steve distinctly remembers the
son of Henry Schroeder Sr., and
grist mill that his father, Oscar
memory of Christian Lehnherr.
son of J. Henry Schroeder, is of
Steve Reed, now past 80, is a Reed, built on the middle fork
the opinion that no grist mill
of the Coquille, a short distance
was ever set up or operated by grandson of Mr. Lehnherr.
I quote from page 13 of the above the junction of the South
his father or his grandfather.
Fork.
Other members of the family are story aforementioned:
The burrs for that Oscar Reed
“Settlers were filling the coun-
mill?
Where did Oscar get them *
ty, and the flour mill was still
He
had taken over the man
conveyed on horseback from the
adjoining county (Douglas). Fath agement of his father-in-law's
er had learned the art of grind place at Roland Prairie when the
ing grain from an uncle in Switz Lehnherr family moved to «Myr
erland. The splendid creek run tle Point. In the story of the
ning through the farm afforded a grist mill at the latter place,
suitable site for a grist mill. For there is no mention of the buris
Next Door to Nook Cafe
Christian Lehnherr to conceive being brought from Roland Prai
an idea was to put that idea into rie. Perhaps cast b u rr s were
shipped from San Francisco.
CLOSED ON MONDAYS
immediate operation.
Anyway, we do know that Os-
“A large overshot water wheel
। car Reed built a grist mill on the
furnished
the
motive
power.
A
Open 9 to 5 Daily
pair of burrs (burstone or mill ! middle fork. Also it is a matter
stone) Came with the Baltimore of record that when he closed
Colony and were not utililized. : that mill, he disposed of the
• Father purchased the burrs, and millstones to Michael Breuer who
then the problem of moving them set up his mill on Indian Creek.
to the mill site confronted him. I We understand that Mike Breuer
The large stones could not be still owns those burrs or mill
packed on the backs of our mules, stones. Are they the same mill
and there were no roads, only stones that William Volkmar
has taken over the accounts of Indian trails, many places barely brought from Baltimore, around
passable for single animals. A the Horn to San Francisco, then
GOLD BEACH SANITARY SER tree was felled, shaped into a by sailing vessel to Empire City,
canoe, and when the rain raised on Coos Bay, up the bay and isth
VICE, effectivenow
the river sufficiently, two men mus slough, across the divide,
paddjed the rude boat against down Beaver Slough, up the Co
the stream for 12 miles to within quille river, served to grind flour
two miles of the mill site. These for the pioneers through 30-odd
P. O. Box 424, Brookings
two miles presented another years, in three different mills?
problem. Again the trusty oxen
Are they the same burrs now
came to the rescue. The trail owned by our good friend, the
was widened to allow a sled, or Old Sage of Bandon by the Sea?
NORINE HARVEY
lizard, as it was called, to pass If they are the same old original
over it.
pioneer stones, I feel quite sure
accredited teacher
“The lizard was made from the that Mike Breuer will want to
forks of a tree. The main trunk have them preserved in our Pio
served as a means to fasten the neer Mureum.
First Grist Mill In Coos Or Curry County
KATHERINE'S
Beauty Shop
The World's Best Climate
PAGE THRE8
Hallowe'en Party
Plans Progressing
complete, showed 100 members
signed up by that evening. This
contest is being assisted by the
classes, with a prize going to the
Plans for the forthcoming Hal one having the greatest percen
lowe'en party, first event under tage of parents as members.
sponsorship of “All-Year Events
Association,” were discussed last
Thursday evening at the first
meeting of the Parent-Teachers
Word from Mr. and Mrs. Hollis
Association. Committees were ap Peacock of Lark, Utah, state they
pointed to complete plans and are preparing for the winter in
handle the event.
that section, but wish they had
As part ot the year's project some of Brookings climate. As
tor the P.-T. A., the school cen subscribers of the Pilot, weekly
sus which must be completed by they follow the weather report.
Nov. 1, was assumed by the as
G. W. Shipp, recently of Co
sociation. The $50 payment set quille, who bought the property
aside in the school budget, will of Mrs. Mary Povost and Mrs.
be turned over to the Parent- Parmelia Boie, has taken poses-
Teachers.
sion of the property. The two
Report made by the member ladies have gone to San Berna-
ship committee, while yet in- dino to make their home.
LOCAL NEWS
O R D E R
Graded, Quality Stock
N O W
Best Varieties
Jersey, Stanley, Pemberton, Didi, Atlantic
Plant November To April
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Box 185
PORT ORFORD, OREGON
OREGON
NOTICE
For Only $200 Down — and
balance like rent—
You can buy a fine, modem 3-bedroom home,
with Youngstown double sink, table-top water
heater, wired for electric stove, electric heat,
inlaid linoleum, utility room, garage, 3 lots,
in the heart of Brookings. Contact:
BROOKINGS
EDITH
DEVENY
See Mrs. Steen, Bus Depot, or
Garbage Service
call Phone 3982, North Bend, Ore.
JIM SMITH
Cooperation
also pays on
the telephone
party line
PIANO
Studio Building
Brookings, Ore.
Radiator Repair and
THE MOST BEAUTIFUL BUY OF ALL!!
AUTOMOTIVE
FACTORY AUTHRORIZED
REPAIRING
SALES AND SERVICE
For Curry County!
Winchuck
Garage
Hwv 101, Harbor
Your
*uur sense of
or neighborly
neignoony cooperation is the most import
' tant asset to good telephone party line service. By using
your telephone sharingly—by replacing the receiver care
fully after calling—by keeping calls reasonably brief you
are setting the perfect example for others to follow. Try
this g<xxl neighborliness and watch it pyramid your party
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ice in the community.
ROGUE MOTORS
Gold Beach, Oregon
TEEMME CHMIÍ