The History of Drain, Oregon

Drain Oregon in the 1800's

That was then . . .        

Drain Oregon Now

and this is now.

Charles and Nancy

The first recorded settler in the area now known as Drain, was  Warren Goodell. He arrived in 1847. 

In 1850 the Donation Land Claim Act was passed. This act was a statute enacted by congress with the intention of promoting homestead settlement in the Oregon Territory. Goodell staked claim to 320 acres as a land grant covered by the Donation Land Claim Act. 

In 1858 Goodell sold his claim to Jesse Applegate, who in turn sold it to Charles C. Drain in 1861. 

Rail road in the 1900's

By that time,  enough settlers had come and the area was developing into a prosperous farm community.There was still no town, not  until 1872, when the Oregon and California Railroad reached northern Douglas County. At that time  Charles Drain and his son sold sixty acres of land to the railroad for $1.  In exchange, the railroad surveyed and platted a town, named it Drain, and made it a stop on the railroad. The railroad brought prosperity to Drain. 

Old brick building

 In 1883, C.D. Drain built a large brick building for a mercantile.  Other investors built a hotel, livery stable, hardware and drug stores.

The promise of Drain led to its selection for the Western Oregon State Normal School, an institution for training teachers.  The school was in operation from the 1880's until 1908.

Drain Black Sox baseball team

The City of Drain officially incorporated on March 11, 1887.

After World War II, lumber became a major contributor to the town's stability.  The E.G. Whipple Mill and the Drain Plywood Company were two of the major sawmills in the area.

The Drain Black Sox baseball team was founded in 1952, and won the national championship in 1958.  This was a semi-professional team that brought attention to the town of Drain, along with providing wholesome entertainment for the people in the community.

 



Back row-left:
Wes Stock, Tom Myers (Business Mgr.) Don Lane, Harold Woolley (Sponsor), Jerry Bartow, Jack Henkel, Jerry Droscher, Irv Roth, Darrel Wooten, Jim O'Rourke,
Front row-left:
Wimp Hastings, Stan Dmonchowsky, Ellis Olson, Ray Stratton, Elwood Hahn, Dan Luby, Lowell Pearce, Jim Pifner

  • Printer-friendly version