La Grande Sugar Factory, Union County, Oregon
The La Grande Sugar Factory
By
Robert Bull
At that time, it was only a dream of Bob's to get this book published. He joined the Union County Historical Society (UCHS) and with their help, the book was published in May of this year. In Bob's typical fashion, any proceeds from this book go to UCHS to help support the society. Bob and his wife Pearl, are truly wonderful people, who care about the history of the county and are trying to preserve what information is left before it all disappears.
The
Sugar Factory Souvenir book was published in October of 1898. It
commemorates the building of a factory in La Grande by a group of citizens
from the county and state who organized a company called the Oregon Beet
Sugar Company. The sugar factory was the tenth one built in the United
States. It was built on 80 acres within a 1/2 mile NE of La Grande.
This book chronicles, not only the history of the book
but also many of the people and businesses of the county. It gives
information not only on the people and their families but also the history
of many of the businesses of the county at that time. A few of the examples
of people and businesses in the book, that I haven't found elsewhere are:
Buildings:
Haworth Building - Samuel Haworth; Ralston Building - Oliver Ralston;
Ross Building - J.V. Ross
Companies:
ABC Steam Laundry - owned and operated by C. S. and L. F. Dunn
Bohnenkamp's Hardware store - William Henry Bohnenkamp, Proprietor.
Bolton & Bodmer - Selling agricultural implements, vehicles and machinery.
Hill & Allen - Drug Store. Proprietors Albert T. Hill & Orren V. Allen.
Holmes' Drug Store - Proprietor Frederick J. Holmes.
M&M Company (Mercantile & Milling Co.,) and the Goodnough family.
Mellquist & Thorson.
Murphy's Hardware Store
Opera House in La Grande - Proprietor David Henry Steward.
Peare's Jewelry Store - John Hickey Pear Proprietor.
Willard's Meat Market - E. E. Willard
Dentists:
J. L. & L. D. Reavis. Robert L. Lincoln.
Lumber
Mills
Grande Ronde Lumber Company-history of and information about
Robert Smith, general manager.
Hunter & Fox - Planing mill.
Hotel:
Hotel Foley - Proprietor Jerome E. Foley.
Sommer Hotel - Proprietor Aaron Sommer.
Mills:
Oregon Roller Mills - owned and operated by the Davis brothers, including C.
E., E.W. and A. B. Davis.
Pioneer Flouring Mill, North Powder Mill, Alliance Mill,
There are many more people and their families, listed
other than the following. I list them because I have either seen limited
information about them or no information written about them in the books
I've bought.
If you are interested, you can buy the book at the following bookstores in La Grande. I would e-mail them or call to see if they have the book in stock and how much it would be with S&H. I've bought books from both stores. I've also ordered UCHS books from Sunflower books and they've been great. I have all the UCHS annuals that were printed in the 1960's. If they don't have them in stock, they can order them from the society. - Janine (Prior County Coordinator)
Robert Bull is a contributor to the many obituaries on the Wallowa, Union, and Baker County websites. Bob has donated the proceeds to the Union county Historical society, for that reason we are proud to offer his book here!!
