Noll Methodist Church Union Oregon

 

Historic Union Bank

 

Old Davis Brothers Service Station in Union Oregon Photo with Chet Baum

 

Dear Lavon, 

Enclosed is a photo from my mom’s old photo album. 

Her name is Mary Wright Mitchell, she was born in 1910, and her mother died in the great flu epidemic, just after the end of World War I.  Her grandparents lived on a farm west of Hot Lake, next to the Hawkin’s place, I see theri old white house and the out buildings have all been torn   down.

Mom and her dad and brother and sister Edith too, then mom, attended Union High School.

(I should mention her grandfather was Christian C. Hansen.  Alice Hibbert remembered them well and told me about her memories of grandmother Hansen).

Mom married James T. Miller, who died when my sister Jean Anne Miller was about 6 weeks old, was a fine athlete in the same class, I think as Alva Orton at Union High School. 

The photo enclosed, moma and I thought years ago, is of the Davis Brothers Service Station in Union.  The fuel pumps are visible, and two of the men are in uniform, looks like an attendant and mechanic along with chet Baum.

You probably be able to place the time.  My guess would be well before 1936, after 1928? Maybe? 

Mom had a little brown box camera and she had a good sense of events that could matter to us.  Her photos recorded Stockshow parades, birthday parties, picnics at Catherine Creek, family, friends and our town of Union.

As a widow, she managed the dime store when the actual manager was called up to go work in the shipyards in Portland.  Jean Ann was only about 5 and the school allowed her to begin first grade a year early so our mom could open the store and keep it open, Jean would stay at the store until closing time and they walked to 10th street, to their home near 10th street bridge.  They lived with Grandpa Wight.

If you like more remembrances, you can see I’m happy to share. I didn't leave Union until I was in my mid-fifties, and spent a lot of time with my folks, until they passed.

I know my cousin Lenora has shared with you, and perhaps she sent you photos too.  Several photos at both have of family get- togethers, show Union as it was in the 40’s and 50’s.  The streets, houses and buildings (and vacant lots, milk cows and a horse or two are pretty nostalgic to see. 

Your work with the Community Center is great to follow.  We all have all sorts of attachments to that spot.