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Aug 22 2004 |
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Centennial History - Milwaukie 101 |
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MILWAUKIE 101 (continued)
Agriculture
The most prominent pioneer products in Milwaukie were nursery stock and fruit and two of the most notable nurserymen were Hendersen and Seth Lewelling. Hendersen Lewelling was the oldest of the brothers and was the first to come to Oregon to begin a nursery business. He set out from Iowa in 1847 with nursery stock to begin his business and eventually fell in with Lot Whitcomb's wagon train near the Missouri River. He arrived in Milwaukie in 1848 with half of his nursery stock in fair condition and bought a land claim on the banks of the Willamette adjoining Lot Whitcomb. Hendersen eventually left for California while Seth Lewelling stayed in Milwaukie and became a famous propagator and developer of new and improved fruits developing the 'Bing Cherry' in 1878, which was named after his Chinese nursery foreman who cultivated the test rows.
Industry and Commerce
Lumbering and flour milling were Milwaukie's pioneering industries. The first recorded gristmill was built by Lot Whitcomb and William Torrence in connection with their sawmill in 1848. They provided flour to California during the gold rush for several years. Eventually shipbuilding was also added to the main industries of the area along with the building of flour barrels used to ship flour to California and other places.
The Milwaukie Library
Alfred Lewelling started Milwaukie's first circulating library in 1889 in the law office of Thomas Larkin on the southeast corner of Main and Washington Streets, but it burned down shortly after opening. Temporary sites in a pharmacy, in city hall, and other locations were then used for several years to house a public library. Milwaukie's current public library began to take shape in 1961 when Mrs. Florence Ledding, stepdaughter of Seth Lewelling and long time civic and political leader, bequeathed her home and property at 21st and Harrison to the City of Milwaukie for a library. She suggested that it be called Ledding Library in memory of her husband, Herman F. Ledding, and herself. She also donated $5,000 for the purchase of books and many volumes from her own personal collection. In 1963 a $150,000 bond issue was passed and the old home was remodeled and an addition was begun. A formal grand opening was held on Sunday, January 17, 1965.