Brownsville is a thriving country town situated on the Calapooia river, about seven miles from Halsey. It is also on the line of the narrow gauge railroad, about 12 miles south of Lebanon and 100 miles from Portland. The original town site was surveyed in the spring of 1853, by Jas. Blakely, and ten years later the town of North Brownsville, was laid out and surveyed, and it now contains most of the population and business houses. City charters were granted to both towns by the Legislature of 1876. In 1861 the Brownsville Woolen Mills were erected by a joint stock company. Since that time extensive improvements have been made to these mills, and next year still more expensive additions, including a new wheel, will be added. These mills give employment to a large number of workmen, and annually turn out a hundred thousand dollars worth of the best woolen goods, which command the highest prices in Eastern and foreign markets. Last year over two hundred thousand pounds of wool was used, for which the highest market price is always paid.

The present covered bridge across the Calapooia, connecting the two towns, was built about ten years ago, and is a substantial structure. In 1858 H. H. Spaulding, of Whitman massacre fame, laid out a town where the Woolen Mills now stand—about one-half mile of North Brownsville—and named it Amelia.

The Calapooia running as it does nearly through the city furnishes water power sufficient to make Brownsville one of the leading manufacturing towns of the county or State.

The mail reaches Brownsville daily by stage from Halsey. F. M. Jack is contractor. The stage leaves Brownsville at 8 A. M. and arrives at 3 P. M.

Public Schools

In this line North Brownsville is ahead of the times, school being kept 11 months in the year. The school property is valued at $2,000. There are 150 persons in the district between four and twenty years of age, and the average daily attendance is about 65. Prof. S. Davidson is Principal and his wife is assistant. In Brownsville district there are 92 persons between the ages of four and twenty years, and the average attendance is about 45. The school  building was erected in 1874 at a cost of $1400.

Churches

 Baptist—Services every second Sunday. Rev. A. S. Davidson, Pastor.

Methodist—Services first and third Sundays of each month. No regular pastor.

Cumberland Presbyterian—Services every third Sunday. Rev. Luther White, Pastor.

Christian—Services on second Sunday of each month. No regular minister in charge.

M. E. Church, South—Services on second Sunday of each month, in Methodist church building. Rev. E. G. Michaels, Pastor.

Societies

Brownsville Lodge No. 36, A. F. & A. M. Meets in Masonic Hall on Friday evening on or before full moon.

Linn Chapter, R. A. M., U. D.—Meets third Wednesday evening of each month in Masonic hail.

Calapooia Lodge No. 43, 1. O. O. F.—Meets in Odd Fellow’s Temple every Saturday evening.

Linn Lodge No. 22, A. O. U. W.—Meets in Workman Hall every Monday evening.

Blue Ribbon Club—Meets on the first Tuesday of each month.

CITY OFFICERS OF NORTH BROWNSVILLE

Mayor                J. M. WATERS

Recorder                J. B. IRVINE

Treasurer                F. F. CROFT

Marshal                JOHN MOUNT

Councilmen—D. H. PUTMAN, R. H. COSHOW, J. D. ARTHURS, G. C. BLAKELY.

BROWNSVILLE BUSINESS DIRECTORY

Brownsville Advertisements

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