The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1890-10-03

July Of the same year, in the FIRST frame
house built In the town, situated on the
corner Of Washington and Second streets.
Supplies OF all kinds were purchased In
Oregon City and brought up the river in
Indian canoes, and overland with OK
teams. II Is stated that women some
times rode the whole distance on horse
back and brought supplies for their
| families. People were forced to do with
out -four for days, and substituted boiled
wheat and such like, and were thankful
| for that, even.
The Layton Bros. did not continue
long IN business, but sold out to l. q
| Burkhart, who moved his goods into
building on the Hackleman claim, near
whore the old Alden fruit dryer now
stands. AS this house WIS entirely out
Of The limit8 Of the town, as IL then was,
the result was the establishing Of an
upper and lower town and the new part
bid fair TO ont-tival the old. In the
course Of few years the new town did
out-strlp the old, and pctitloned the Ter
ritorial legislature TO change the name
from Albany TO Takena, which II did,
and 1t was known by that name until
1855 when matters were amieably adj
justed and the name changed back to
Albany.
During the years OF SO and 81 improve
! mcnts went on rapidly and the popula.
tion increased correspondingly. Ia the
spring OF 80 a ferryboat WAS built, and
on the 4th Of July, gaily decorated and
crowded with lair women and brave
men," 1t crossed the river for the first
time, transporting to the Benton county
side wedding party, Mr. Crillis Burk'
hart and his fair bride, being the center
Of attraction.
!, The first vegetable were planted thii
/ year, and, although we now baast Of th,
!, fertility Of our soil, and pit Oregon pro
!. dnetions against the world, greatly fea
: that the soil is degcncrating Tor in thl
year 1850 Mr. Milton Hale raised tur
nip that weighed 10 pounds. This doubt
, less sounds Ike some traditional iisl
! story. II you doubt its accuracy do no
= hold me responsible for give il as bear,
y from the lips Of one oi our most respect
!, ed citizens. Mr. Hale also planted th
y first timothy seed. lie was passing alon
! u path in Albany and chaneed 10 sec tw
= lrads OF thimothy growing among th
;, wild grass. He cut them and CAREFUL
= preserved the seed and planted IL tn
u next year, and from those two heads {
2 seed was propagated all the timotb
u grass raised in Linn county. In 81 Tn
. school was opened by Dr G Hill. Pr,
= vious 10 that Miss Charlotte Burkbai
v fought some time In small house !
3 Hacklemania grove. Dr Hill taught !
= the house Of Monteith Bros, corner Fin
y and Washington; here, too, was keI
7 the first postotlice. Heretofore the ina
= had been carried from Oregon City in
q cotton handkerchief, and distributed g
y opportunity offered; but now II was RI
:, ceiyed enthusiastically and deposite
- ia the store Of the Monteitbs and di
y lributed as called for. Mr. John Burr
y hart was the first regular postmaster.
~ A few OF DIR lille pupils remain as ci
n izens Of Albany they are Messrs Olivs
:. Bushnell, John Davis and John Hughe
a. One pupil ia the school studied grammf
- in an old book brought by the famil
- from east. The school room seats wei
IL rough wooden benches, and the writin
q. desk long board nailed to one side
a the room like shelf.
c. DR. IIill also preached the first sermo
In Albany. His text was taken froi
a. lsaial 35th chapter, ist verse and read
thus: 'The wildnerness and the solitaI
G place shall be glad for them, and II
o. desert shall rejoice, and blossom aa Il
s- rose" For beauty and appropriations
-, better one could not have been. I'll
:, audience was good, the house was iillt
N With white people and the porch wit
lg Indians.
81 II was not an uncommon thing in tho
~ days for women and men TO ride TWEEN
~ milea on horseback 10 attend church 81
y; other gatherings. One incident Was TO
ga me Of a spruce young gentleman vi
fs wanted partner for q ball, and, aa "
eI men were not plenty in these parts
~ that early date, he had to go to Engei
'ie City for the lady, aud, as dress balls We
- not common occurrence he found q
20 young lady had nothing 10 wear, betit
re Ing the great occasion. Nothing daur
nc ed, he bought her dress, had 1t ma
III short order; and, mounting their !
a dian p0nics-she providing her own
-e- down they came TO Albany, tripped {
On light fantastic to their hearts coatcI
aii and rode baek-only IS mlles-the i
sc after the ball.