D x?i
BROOKINGS-HARBOR PILOTS
SOUTHWESTERN OREGON IS NEW LAND OF
OPPORTUNITY FOR ENTERPRISING BUSINESS
For those men who wish to invest capital in such businesses as
hshing for commercial trade, or such small manufacturing plants to
turn v it unpauited furniture, southwestern Oregon oilers much With
native wtMKls, with plywood available, with lumber handy, there
is an abundant source of materials.
Fishing in Pelican Bay, has never been touched to any extent b y
commercial fishermen. If any activity were manifest along this tine
certain a small amount of work at the mouth of the Chetco would
offer fishermen a haven for their craft. Cedar l.ane Cannery, now
doing some commercial canning as well as sportsmen's canning, is
available for processing of fish from the sea.
It would I k - folly to attempt to convince people that this area is
fully developed—far from it—actually the area is still much in the
p/imitive state—lacking in adequate highway facilities which are
long over due for such a route as Highway io i —the scenic Oregon
Coast I lighway which tourists know so little about.
This January ", Brookings Plywtxxl Corporation opened its oper
ations, which will employ about 400 in all its operations, There are
a number of sawmills in the area employing almost a like number
of men. 1 hese mills will create the source of supplies for several by
products which could I k made profitable for the state’s economy.
Raising of New Zealand flax, substitute for hemp, is potentially
another great industry for this area for this hardy plant grows ex
ceptionally well in this coastal climate—and especially this area.
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Beginning Of Plywood Plant Construction Last Summer
Added Impetus To Industrial Growth of Curry County
“ Upon a firm foundation” now' rests the mammoth structure which houses the
Brookings Plywood Corporation. This illustrates the beginning, last summer of the
construction of the plant which will mean much to the economy of southwestern
Oregon. The plant is now in operation, employing several hundred people.
Elsew here in this issue are pictures showing construction in the different stages, to
give the reader a graphic picture of the size and scope of the new- plant. Plans for
the plant are similar to the plant at Grants Pass. Orders for the product, according
to officials, assures a long-time economy for Southwestern Oregon.
Brookings Incorporated In 1951 And Named Council; City
Faces Gigantic Building Program In Coming Few Years
View Of Town Is
Out-dated; Growth
Pace Gets Faster
T im e , tid e and r a p id ity o f a ll
c h a rg e s in th is are a w a it fo r no
m an. T he p ic tu re o f B ro o k in g s ,
show n above, w as ta k e n la st fa ll
by R a lp h V in c e n t, fr o m H o te l
B ro o k in g s S in ce the n so m an y
I c h a rg e s have been w ro u g h t so
m u c h so th a t th e p ic tu re is ac-
i t u a lly o u t-d a te d .
F ir s t to c a tc h th e eye is th e
R e x a ll sign. F. A. A r r e ll m oved
| to the new M a n 'e y B u ild in g , next
i to th e P in e Cone th e a tre , in th e
'c e n te r o f th e p ic tu re . S ince th e
i p ic tu re w as t a k e n . F re e m a n 's
M a rk e t has been co m p le te d a rd
is now s e rv in g th is a n a .
M ost o f th e c h a n g in g scenery
o f th e area n a t u r a lly w ill not he
in clu d e d in Ih e p ic tu re o f M a in
s tre e t, o r C h e tco A venue, as it
is show n on th e c ity p la t.
B a c k in M a rc h . 1946, a t the
tim e the P ilo t w as launched, th is
scene w as q u ite d iffe re n t. A t th a t
tim e th e re w as no G ra ysh e l b u ild
ing, now h o using th e post office,
M oo re's V a r ie ty and A p p a re l, and
I C h etco H om e and A u to S u p p ly.
M o o re ’s V a r ie ty and th e post
i office, then, w e re in th e b u ild in g
¡ a t th e le ft, pu rcha sed last y e a r
by C u r r y C o u n ty B a n k.
A t th e tim e th e P ilo t cam e to
J th e area, th e present B ro o k in g s
M a rk e t was u n d e r c o n s tru c tio n .
A t th a t tim e 4he present S h e ll
s ta tio n w as n o n -e x is te n t; as was
th a t w h o le side o f th e s tre e t to
w a rd th e east, and in c lu d in g th e
b u ild in g s occupied by G a lla g h e r,
O. K . R u b b e r W e ld e rs, C h e vro n
S ta tio n .
W h e n th e P ilo t p u b lish e d its
fir s t issue, w h a t is now th e H e n
d ric k s B u ild in g , the n, w as a big
p ile o f d im e n sio n lu m b e r. Such
w as p a r tia lly th e scene here.
N o w , those o f yo u w h o w a lk
u p th e M a in D ra g , n o te th e
C lin ic b u ild in g ; R e d fie ld G ro c e ry
and the Goezt b u ild in g , w h e re at
th a t tim e stood th e C h e vro n S ta
tio n , and across th e s tre e t w as
a s m a ll b u ild in g h o using C h etco
C afe. T im e s have cha ng ed !
Across fro m th e pre sen t R ed
fie ld G ro ce ry, in 1946, w as a v a
c a n t lo t, w h e re once stood the
fa m o u s S t. G eorge H o te l. N o w it
is occupied by a new M o b il s ta
tio n , and th e s tre e t lin e has a
m e rto p o lita n look. T o m M o o re ’s
h ill has been lo w ere d, and the .
g e n e ra l to p o g ra p h y o f th e c ity is
d r a s tic a lly changed.
S o u th fro m th e present M o b il
s ta tio n stood th e o ld -tim e mess-
h a ll, now c o n v e rte d in to a ware-«
house and a p a rtm e n ts . N o w , ju s t
across th e s tre e t stands B ro o k
in gs G arag e and M a ch in e shop
T h e b u ild in g h o u sin g these tw o
businesses Is new.
B eyo nd th is p o in t th e re was
n o th in g except th e re m a in s o f the
once g re a t B ro o k in g s s a w m ill. In
th a t stead, to d a y, stands th e F ox
Bros, b u ild in g , B ro o k in g s P lyw o o d
p la n t, and s a w m ill ( th is lie in g In
s ta lle d in 1947 by B rim m Bros
T im e m arch es on and in its
w a k e arise new b u ild in g s , new
hom es, and su b d ivisio n s. In any
d ire c tio n on th e com pass fro m the
th e o re tic a l c it y c e n te r one w ill
see a lm o st n o th in g b u t b u ild in g s
in th e \a r io u s phases o f c o n s tru c
tio n and stake s d riv e n to de
n o te w h e re o th e r soon w i ll be
Peeling strongly the need for a municipal government, people of Brookings, in
July of 1951, petitioned the county court for an election to incorporate, held July io
By a vote of 153 to 85, incorporation was carried, with council election set Wednes
day, Sept. 12, at which Robert (). Dimmick (seated, center) was named mayor by
176 vote; Warren Smith, 145 votes; Pete J. Lesmeister, 133 votes (seated left and
right beside Mayor Dimmick); Charles Young, 129 votes; Fred Fox, i i $ votes,
(standing, left and right) were named as the first council of Brookings.
A tremendous task faces this group in the building of a city government, to plan
all policies to do the most good for the most people. Until the city government is
fully organized, the group meets weekly on Tuesday nights.
1 hese men. all successful in their own respective businesses, are trying to form a
city government which will encourage the proper and stable grow th Brookings is en started.
titled. No haste is being made, lest errors should creep in the book of ordinances. M ost n o tic e a b le is th e g ro w th
people w h o have been awa>
" H r want llrookmgs as a model city, with a city government that assures freedom, to
fo r a tim e . T im e do e sn 't m a rc h
that encourages,” was the expressed sentiment of all at the first meeting.
to th e m - it sunply flies
Mb
Gold Beach, At Turn of Century, Was Just Small Village;
Boat Was Principal Mode of Freight To Those Pioneers
Gold Beach, at the turn of this century, is graphically explained by this
and does not resemble the county seat of Curry County today. No attempt
made to give a history of (»old Beach, for this has been done more ably than
ited space of this edition would permit. It is, however, the attempt of this
show “how far everyone has come’’ in way of progress in recent years.
“photo”
is being
the lim
issue to
I here were no roads in those- days just ask any pioneer of the county. I -’reiglit
in those days was entirely dependent upon coast wise boats (or ships) as may I k
seen in this picture of the “ Roamer’ being unloaded at the mouth of the Rogue.
Water played .in important part in the development of early day Brookings, as it
will I k attempted to prove elsewhere in this issue. However, when the lumber in
dustry w.is closed at Brrxikings in the 20s, nothing was done to expand the economy
of this section of Oregon until Highway 101 was completed. It cannot adequately
serve the communities of Curry (dunty County trxlay. Waterways must I k studied.
II hi/e the Pilot is trying to show something of the progress of this area and of
Curry county, the Pilot trying to use material that is available, knowing full well
•
that this work will not be complete. Tasks of this sort arc great undertakings, even
for metropolitan newspapers with all their facilities. The Pilot with its small force
cannot be expected to imitate the efjorts expected of a big daily newspaper.
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