JUNCTION CITY Lane County Historian
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JUNCTION CITY Lane County Historian LANE COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY Va1 XIV. No. 2 Eugene, Oregon Summer, 1969 LANE COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY Mrs. C. A. Huntington, President 740 West 13th Avenue, Eugene, Oregon 97402 Stuart W. Hurd, Membership Secretary Rt. 2, Box 345, Eugene, Oregon 97401 Mrs. Stoddard Malarkey, Editor 2075 East 27th Avenue, Eugene, Oregon 97403 Manuscripts submitted for publication should be typewritten and double-spaced. If the author wishes to retain his copy, then please submit a duplicate copy far consideration. CONTENTS THE SCANDINAVIAN FESTIVAL. 23 by G. F. Fletchall, M.D. JUNCTION CITY'S YESTERDAYS 2) by Josephine Evans Harpham A BALLAD OF JUNCTION CITY . 47 by C. A. Pitney COVER Oregon & California Railroad Engine No. 5 named Salem. The 0 & C reached Junction City in 1869. This engine was built by Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1870 and is typical of early motive power used for passenger and freight service. Drawn by Terry Miller. "Nobody truly appreciates the present who does not know something of the past. Junction City's early days make a fascinating chapter in the history of Lane County." These are the words of Josephine Evans Harpham, author of Doorways into History, to whom the Lane County Historical Society is grateful for her ideas and efforts on behalf of this issue of the Historian. It was our intention to publish this issue to co- incide with this year's Scandinavian Festival. We hope the enjoyment of each will compliment each other. 22 .Jhe Scandinavian7eo1iva/ By G. F. Fletchall, M.D. Why does a small town whose found itself faced with a problem growth has been relatively static imposed by the progress of our for years decide to have a Festi- modern age. New and better roads val? What prompts a community had beenbuilt,a freeway by- of 1,680 people to attempt to pro- passed the city, and most of the mote an event of such magnitude heavy traffic which 10 r m e r ly and scope that it could have been coursed through main street, was destined for defeat in itsinitial routed several miles to the east. planning phase? Why has this com- Morale reached a low ebb, prop- munity been able to initiate and erties were allowed to deteriorate, develop an event which could not business after business closed, and have succeeded in other communi- main street began to present a dis- ties with greater populations and couraging and depressing picture material resources to draw from? of empty store fronts. The answer to these questions is Faced with this picture and the the basis for the success of the prospect of greater decline, Dr. G. Scandinavian Festival in Junction F. Fletchall searched for an idea City, Oregon. This small communi- which might help the situation. ty, thirteen miles north of Eugene, The idea had to be different and the second largest city in Oregon, unique. It had to be something is one of the older communities in which the community was capable the state whose history begins with of, would accept and support. It the first migrations a c r o s s the must be something which would plains in the mid-1800's. In the appeal to those outside the com- early days of the town, a railroad munity, and long hours of reading, junction was proposed, and its in- research and thought were spent stigator predicted "a second Chi- before the obvious answer evolved. cago." The junction of the rail- The history and background of roads did not materialize and the the city and the ability inherent name "Junction City" is all that in its population lent credence to remains to remind one of the vision several ideas which could have and aspirations of this early pro- been developed. Its pioneer his- moter. Following the settlement of tory and the colorful anecdotes this valley community, many Dan- and tales of its role in Civil War ish, Norwegian and Swedish people history, early river-boat traffic and moved into the area. The Danish railroad history all could have been people bought up farms and en- utilized around which a yearly cele- gaged in intensive agriculture and bration could have been staged. dairying. The Swedish and Nor- But these ideas were not novel, wegian people drew from their ex- other communities had even perience in lumbering, and were in- greater claim to this heritage and strumental in developing and man- had already developed them. If aging the lumber industry in the Junction City had chosen to com- a r e a. The economy of Junction pete in these areas, it would have City and its environs has been been another fair, carnival or rodeo stable, even through the Depres- to add to the already plentiful sion. celebrations in the Northwest. It By 1960, however, Junction City appeared that the one thing that 23 P I 4- CH: Ir- was unique in the city's history began to ask for more concrete was its Scandinavian heritage, and plans and suggested that it be pro- it seemed that this was the one posed to the Chamber of Com- thing which could be developed merce. By January of 1961 the into a colorful annual celebration. undercurrent of thought appeared With this thought, the next step to be favorable, the time right, and was to attempt to get community most people receptive, and the en- reaction or support for the idea. tire draft of a proposed Scandi- Initiallyit was casually men- navian Festival was printed and tioned to a few key individuals, presented to the Chamber. There especially at times when the con- was immediate acceptance of the versation led to the discouraging idea, and the Chamber of Com- prospects for growth of the com- merce appointed a committee to munity. The thought of the Festi- work with Dr. Fletchall. It was val was presented as a possibility the job of this committee to estab- of developing a better community lish a budget for the first year's spirit. It was to afford a common celebration. This was later pre- ground on which all groups could sented to the Chamber who ac- lend support in the common goal cepted their report agreeing to of making Junction City a better underwrite the first Festival. Dr. place in which to live. From this Fletchall was asked to act as chair- slow beginning, many individuals man and to organize the first Fes- 24 tival which was to be held in Aug- vian vernacular, to present during ust of that year. the Festival. Many organizations The next job was tosell the began planning and working on community on the idea. The first the construction of Scandinavian question asked by most people was buildings which c o u 1 d b e dis- "what could we do for entertain- mantled and erected quickly which ment in such a Festival?" To give would be placed on the mall. Pub- some idea of the scope of such a licity brochures were printed, and program, a special meeting was a small Scandinavian Band was or- announced at one of the schools, ganized in the school. These ac- and everyone in the city who was tivities were the nuclei of the first interested was invited to attend. Scandinavian Festival which was A Scandinavian Advisory Board held in August, 1961. was organized of influential people A few days before the first Fes- who gave their moral support and tival, the flower b o xe si n full advice. The one thing which was bloom were transported downtown, emphasized from the beginning was the streets were closed, a dance authenticity. There was little ma- platform was erected in the cen- terial to draw from for this first ter of the mall, and the Scandi- town meeting. We had no folk navian buildings were erected on d a n c e r s, no Scandinavian musi- both sides of the street. Colored cians, no costumes or flags. A large lights draped the streets at night, department store in Po r t 1 a n d and the flags made a colorful can- loaned us a set of Scandinavian opy over the streets in the day- flags for decoration. A folk dance time. During that first four-day group from Eugene consented to Festival, over 25,000 people visited come and dance for us. We utilized the city. Representatives from 28 our own community chorus and states and many foreign countries during the evening interspersed registered. A tt h e registration the program with thoughts and booth, each person was allowed to suggestions relative to the Festival choose the Scandinavian nation- which was scheduled the e a r 1 y ality he desired, and he was given part of August. The first commu- souvenir citizenship papers. Vari- nity meeting was held in May; we ous groups, churches, lodges, serv- had only two and a half months to ice clubs and individuals prepared prepare for the first event. and sold Scandinavian food and The idea was enthusiastically souvenirs. These items were kept accepted and committee h e a ds at a very nominal fee and there were appointed and interested per- was no charge made for entertain- sons were assigned to committees ment. In a true Festival atmos- to begin work. The first task was phere, everyone entered the spirit the building of over a hundred of the thing, dressed in Scandina- planter-boxes to hold the petunias vian costumes and participated in which were to decorate the mall. games and folk dancing. It was ap- Patterns were taken from the bor- parent that our desire to avoid a rowed flags and a local women's formal show was successful for group made us several dozen flags.