History

Shockley & McMurren

The advantages possessed by this city for distribution of lumber and its products are recognized as of paramount importance, and have resulted in a trade which is of large proportions and constantly increasing in volume. This enterprise was founded many years ago by McMurren & Crabell, and came into the hands of the present proprietors in 1893. They have a planning mill, box factory and lumberyard, also manufacture sash doors, blinds and mouldings, and carry a very large and complete line of window and plate glass. The plant is a complete one in every detail, being equipped with the most … Read more

Scott & Watson’s Saw Mill

The sawmill of Scott & Watson, of which we present a cut, is situated at the foot of the Elkhorn Mountains, about five miles west from Haines. The plant covers about five acres, including dwellings of men, blacksmith shop, &c. They manufacture common and clear lumber, and being right in the midst of a fine belt of timber, including pine, fir and tamarack. They are in a fine position to cater to their many customers. They have lately put in an entire new lot of machinery, including boiler, engine, gang engine, &c, which will place them in even a better … Read more

M. Weil & Company

In journeying through life we occasionally run across some men who in business circles have fairly distanced competition, endowed with greater advantages perhaps, but still lacking some qualification possessed by themselves. This qualification may be embraced in the three words industry, integrity and business sagacity. The members of the above firm, M. Well and Carl Dilsheimer, are certainly endowed in this manner. In July, 1887, they succeeded Bamberger & Frank in the old White House building, which they occupied until the fire burned out that block. They then moved into a building built for them by Baer & Block, which … Read more

Baker City Public Schools, Baker County OR

The social conditions of every community can be protected and properly developed and only so far as education provides for training the youth of a community for the duties and responsibilities thereto. It bases its institutions entirely upon the moral and spiritual faculties among men. Our social and political organization rests wholly upon the belief that the majority of men prefer good to evil; hence it is the imperative duty of every community to organize these forces that make for right living that they shall be the dominant forces in the social organism. At no time in the history of … Read more

Commercial Hotel

One of the most popular hotels of our city is the “Commercial,” Mrs. L. E. Miller, proprietor. The building is splendidly situated on First and Court streets convenient to the principal thoroughfare of the city. It possesses a large, bright guest rooms, single and en suite. The house is provided with every modern convenience, gas, electric light, hot and cold water all through it. The dining room is capable of seating forty people, and being under the personal supervision of the proprietor, is noted for its home cooking and satisfying meals. The rates are popular, ranging from $1.00 to $1.25 … Read more

Columbine Mine

Located in the ruining district known as Cracker Creek, lies the Columbia mine, one of the oldest properties in Baker county. Prospected first by the Cable Brothers, in the early eighties, it has passed through a succession of development stages until today it stands among the first properties of the country. Surrounded by all the necessary elements for successful mining ore, water and timber, the question of its future success seems one of magnitude merely. The property, which now consists of nine quartz and five placer claims, is owned and operated by a corporation known as the Columbia Gold Mining … Read more

Peoples Steam Laundry

One of the most important industries of our thriving town is the above, it portion of the interior of which we present, in an accompanying cut. It is located on Washington street, a half block east of the Warshauer Hotel, in the most central part of the city, and at a spot where they have the moat excellent drainage. The building is 30×100 feet, two stories high. In the purchase of machinery, and in the installation of business no expense was spared in making everything first class, in order that the work turned out might equal any in the state. … Read more

The North Pole Mine

Among the many mines In this county none take higher rank than the North Pole, which lies in the Cracker Creek district. It embraces two fall claims of 1500 feet each, and a fraction of 400 feet, making 3400 feet on the lode bar. The mine is opened and operated through two tunnels, the lower being 400 feet vertically under the upper tunnel. In the upper tunnel a fine ore body varying in width from 2 to 16 feet is being mined and transported to their own reduction works. It averages $16 per ton. The lower or main tunnel encounters … Read more

Palmer & Denham

A list of Baker City’s enterprising and successful business men would not he complete without mentioning Palmer & Denham, the hustling, up-to-date harness men of Main street. The partners, R. R. Palmer and H. E. Denham, are both practical mechanics and personally supervise the construction of every piece of work that is turned out of their shop. The interior cut we present will give our traders some idea of the line carried, which consists of harness, saddles, saddlery, hardware, horse furniture of every description and gloves. They have the largest stock in Eastern Oregon, keeping at large assortment on hand … Read more

Gold Star Gold Mining & Milling Co.

On the east slope of the Blue Mountains, about thirty-six miles west of Baker City, in Baker County, and twelve miles from Sumpter, the present terminus of the Sumpter Valley Railway, lies the property of the above named company. It consists of six claims, six hundred by fifteen hundred feet, as follows: The California, Winning Band, Daisy, Silver Creek, Hornet, and Coal Pit. On the former a great deal of work has been done, six tunnels laving been driven, No. 1 being 100 feet long, No. 2 125 feet, No. 3, 75 feet, No. 4, 200 feet, No. 5, 268 … Read more

J. H. Parker & Sons

A splendid representative of its special line of enterprise is that conducted by J. It. Parker & Sons, livery, board and hack stables. They lover half a block, two stories In height, with accommodations for 125 head of horses, and in fact are the largest stables in Eastern Oregon. They are thoroughly equipped in every way, owning carriages. hulks, and so forth, including it $1200.00 hearse. Special attention is paid to boarders, which are accommodated lit most moderate rates. They also handle hay and grail. owning two ranches in the valley, about eight miles from Baker City, raising hay on … Read more

Sumpter, Baker County Oregon

The counties of Oregon can boast of no place that is more solid, sturdy and assured of a brighter future than the town of Sumpter, at the head of Sumpter valley. Lying at a point where all roads converge and extend again to the great producing mines of Baker county, Sumpter is the natural gateway, the supply headquarters for a large tributary country, which last year yielded, it is safe to estimate, $2,000,000 to the gold supply of the world. Its progress, hence as it has been ever since it came into recognized existence will not, could not, be accelerated … Read more

Stoddard Brothers Lumber

Numbered among the enterprising mill firms of Eastern Oregon is that of the above named gentlemen. Established in McEwan about three years ago by George and Joseph Stoddard, it has been running at the full capacity of 30,000 feet per day. While other mills have been forced to reduce or temporarily shut down, the Stoddard mills have continued to increase their orders. This is largely due to the fact that they are thoroughly conversant with eastern methods, and have been enabled to capture trade where others have failed. A year ago last spring they moved their planer and yards to … Read more

Crystal Palace

Among our large and flourishing business houses, that of the Crystal Palace must be accorded a prominent place. This business was started in l887 in a small way, by Mr. Adler, in the Wisdom block, and enjoyed exceptional prosperity from the start. Last November he was compelled to move to his new quarters and now occupies a floor space of 50×100. In this he carries a very heavy line of jewelry, musical instruments, books, stationery, toys. etc. His jewelry department of which we present an interior cut, is by far the handsomest in the city, provided as it is with … Read more

St. Elizabeth Hospital, Baker City, Oregon

The St. Elizabeth hospital, which was lately opened by the Sisters of St. Francis, occupies the large three-story building located on Church street, between First and Second. Like all institutions in their charge it is a model of neatness and cleanliness. On the ground floor, as the visitor enters, is the reception room on tile left, and on the right a complete pharmacy, presided over by a sister who has for years made a study of medicine. There is also a ward for ladies on this floor, as well as the dining room or refectory. On the floor above are … Read more

St. Francis Academy, Baker City Oregon

There is no institution of which Baker City is more proud than St. Francis’ Academy, conducted by the sisters of that name. It is today one of the most complete among the educational institutions of Eastern Oregon, and its patronage is by no means confined to Baker county but extends over the neighboring counties, also into Idaho. A visit to this seat of learning some days ago, elicited some facts regarding the institution and its work, which may be of interest to those who have not been there. Situated in the suburban portion of tile city, on a large tract … Read more

Towns of Baker County

The chief towns in Baker county all tributary to Baker City commercially, financially and socially, are Sumpter, Huntington, Bourne, Haines and Bridgeport. Sumpter and Huntington the most important and populous, have not unreasonable hopes of becoming of sufficient commercial and social importance to be soon classed among the quite noteworthy places In the great state of Oregon. Sumpter in the past year has doubles her population, now having 800 very wide awake inhabitants. The town is almost due west of Baker City, and daily passenger, freight and logging or lumbering trains run to and from the metropolis over the 30 … Read more

Practical Mining in Eastern Oregon

In the topographical survey of the United States, all that portion laying between the Rocky Mountains and the Sierra Nevada, up into the southeastern portion of Washington, is known as the Great Basin. This basin was once an extensive lake bottom, and now, for the most part, filled with alkaline plains of the quaternary age. The surface Is diversified by subordinate ranges of mountains, formed of tilted paleozole rocks and extensive overflows of igneous eruptions. These ranges are barren and shattered, and the stratafied rocks are often found in confusing and irregular positions. The chief characteristics of the Great Basin, … Read more

Baker City, Baker County, Oregon

Within the life time of children who are just fairly beginning to read and write with facility, there has sprung up from all experimental mining camp of it few hundred inhabitants, an up-to-date and rapidly upbuilding city of 7,000 people, named like the county, of which it is the natural and geographical center, in honor of one of the world’s most truly great men, Col. E. D. Baker. Baker City is not only the business and social center of the county, but is the center to which people flock, on trading or pleasure errands from hundreds of miles in almost … Read more

Mining in Baker County

Along in the 60’s there was some placer mining within the Baker gold district. In the year 1897 the yield of gold from 313 gold mines and claims, in all stages of development, was $3,000,000. It is estimated that not one-tenth of the mineral bearing districts has been even fairly prospected. Yet since the mining industry began in Baker County, the total yield of gold has been close to thirty million dollars. Quartz mining worthy the dignity of the name, has not been pursued in this county to any great extent, but for the past three of four years, find … Read more