Welcome to the Newberg Area Historical Society

We’re passionate about our local history and are excited to share this passion with you!

Our mission is to preserve, present, and promote the history of Newberg and the surrounding areas. Our vision is to become the go-to resource for Newberg area history, supporting historic efforts through research, preservation, funding, and outreach.

Visit our blog for articles about all things Newberg history!

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Newberg History Walking Tours

Coming Soon 2023!

Newberg History Union Block

NAHS Walking Tour

Coming Soon 2023!

Newberg History Union Block

NAHS Walking Tour

Coming Soon 2023!

Newberg History Union Block

NAHS Walking Tour

Coming Soon 2023!

Newberg History Instagram channel

Snapshots of the Past [III] Have you ever heard th

Snapshots of the Past [III]
Have you ever heard the story of the day Herbert Hoover came to Newberg? According to the Hoover-Minthorn House Museum, John Minthorn mounted his horse and buggy from his home close to downtown Newberg and made his way down to modern day Rogers Landing to meet young Herbert as he unboarded a steamboat that traveled down the Willamette River from Portland.
In the mid 1800s, the fastest way to travel was via waterways, and luckily for the city of Newberg, the Willamette River was situated right outside of the city. Not only were steamboats important to the transportation of people, but it also played an essential role in transporting materials, food, and other goods to cities throughout the state of Oregon. The first steamboat that was ever launched onto the Willamette River was the Lot Whitecomb in 1850...She was able to travel upriver at a speed of 12 miles per hour and cut the travel time from Astoria to Oregon City from two days to just ten hours! Thats fast!
Steamboats are, unfortunately, not nearly as common as they once were due to innovations in transportation technology. In this day and age, it only takes a personal vehicle about 40 minutes to travel from Newberg to Portland. However, tourism-focussed boats for river cruises have been operating on the Willamette River since the early 1980s.
Today, Rogers Landing is no longer an entry point for people or commerce. Instead, its role is a center of summer fun for the city of Newberg, which includes picnicking, fishing, swimming, wakeboarding, kayaking, paddle boarding, boat launch, river floats, and even Memorial Weekend boat races!

Important Reminder: With summer just around the corner, please always practice proper water safety when enjoying Rogers Landing! Life vests are always encouraged

Snapshots of the Past [II] This beautifully constr

Snapshots of the Past [II]
This beautifully constructed hall is quite the landmark in the town of Newberg as it stands today, three floors high and its unmistakable Spanish-style cornice wrapping around the entirety of the exterior. The quantity of large-scaled windows on every side of the building, that allows for an abundance of natural light on the inside, continues to draw people's attention.
In the early 1900’s, Pacific College required a new building to move forward with their official university accreditation. As the university struggled to finance the project they sought out help from their local community to raise the funds.
In 1910, Amanda Woodward and Evangeline Martin took charge of this incredibly important task and, in their horse-drawn buggy, traveled around Newberg asking for donations. Together they raised around $30,000 dollars[ close to $1 Million today] to pay for construction expenses. For their act of leadership and diligence the building, once completed in 1911, was named a mix of the two women’s names: Wood-Mar Hall. When the building was officially opened, it became the center for activity at Pacific College and the town of Newberg as some of its uses ranged from classrooms, offices, and even a cultural center!
Today, Wood-Mall Hal, after two major renovations in 1994 and 2002, continues to be a combined center of academics, as the building serves as engineering classrooms, offices, and labs at George Fox, and cultural experiences[Wood-Mar Auditorium], for both students and Newberg locals. A portion of the building has also been enclosed by the newer Edwards-Holman Science Center, as seen in the second photo. In addition, the walkway and field originally in front of the building is no longer there! Instead, it was replaced with a parking lot for George Fox Faculty, a necessity as motorized vehicles became more relevant in our contemporary culture.
Fun Fact! During the most recent Wood-Mar Hall remodel class notes from the early 1900’s were found within the walls of the building!

Welcome to the first week of Snapshots of the Past

Welcome to the first week of Snapshots of the Past!
***
Look familiar? If you've ever been to Newberg, you have probably passed this historic building numerous times as it sits right on Newberg’s Main Street. As the City of Newberg grew after its establishment in 1869, industrial businesses became an integral part of modernizing the local economy. During the time in which the photo on the left was taken, the Chehalem Valley Mills building was being used as an agricultural store while the building to the right was a dry storage/shipping and receiving facility as the Newberg railroad runs right along the side of the building. The agricultural industry has been integral in the Chehalem Vally due to the abundant and fertile farm lands available. Today, the Valley allows farmers to produce and sell over 160 varieties of crops, including over 90% of the nations hazelnuts. Throughout the years, the original site has changed in many ways...For example, the shape of the storefront on the main building has been modified to a modern, flat roofed building that covers a portion of the original extended main building. The original windows on this extension have also been removed in favor of a completely closed space. To the right, the dry storage/shipping and receiving facility building has seen some significant changes to the overall appearance and shape. A once broad, wooden building had been turned into a taller, metal building that shows its age from the evident weathering on the outside. There is also the addition of the arched building towards the front of the photo which now resides as Newberg’s Anvil Academy, a non-profit organization which calls back to the early days of the City of Newberg by specializing in educating youth on trades such as leatherworking, woodworking, and blacksmithing, trades that were prominent at the time. Although many things have changed since the photo on the left was taken, an interesting thing to note is what hasn't changed - the power lines! Seemingly still in their original places, the cables running across the sky from pole to pole can remind us of how we still share similarities with our friends from Newberg’s past!

Hi there! My name is Payton Madarieta and I am the

Hi there! My name is Payton Madarieta and I am the current intern at the Newberg Area Historical Society. I wanted to introduce you to an ongoing project of mine during my internship...Snapshots of the Past! Each week there will be a comparison between a historic Newberg photograph and a photograph taken of the place recently posted to the Newberg Area Historical Society social medias and in the post I will discuss a little about the history, what has changed, and what has stayed the same. I hope you all are as excited as I am! See you next week for the first post

This month's Newberg Area Historical Society membe

This month's Newberg Area Historical Society membership lecture was given to us by former NAHS President Rachael Thomas! Her lecture taught us about the life of Mrs. Evangeline Martin, who was involved in almost every aspect of Newberg town life in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. Mrs. Evangeline Martin, also lovingly known as ‘Vannie’ by many around town, was born in 1855 as Evangaline Norton in New London, Indiana. At 16 years old, Evangeline began her life-long career as a teacher and later, at 28 along with her husband David, moved to Newberg, OR following William Hobson’s call to bring Quakers to the Yamhill Valley. She was fundamental in the educational sphere of Newberg - in about 1891 she was named the first Superintendent of the Newberg Schools, although she soon stepped down. However, she became the head teacher and worked closely with the new superintendent. At the same time Evangeline was helping the newly starting out Pacific Academy, now known as George Fox University, and was a significant contributor to the success of the school. In 1910 Evangeline, along with Amanda Woodward, helped raise $30,000 dollars [close to one million dollars in 2023] for the school to build a new academic building to further their road to accreditation. For their help, the new academic building was named Wood-Mar Hall which still stands today on the current George Fox University campus. Only a few years later, in 1915, Evangeline would again help raise money towards an endowment for the school.
Evangeline continued her work in Newberg, not only as a teacher but as a notable religious leader within the Friends Church. She was a Sunday-school teacher, she preached in Friends Churches across Oregon and Washington, and also advocated for Newberg to be a ‘dry’ town(no sales of any alcohol beverages whatsoever). 1923 was when Evangeline eventually retired officially from her professor, although no choice of her own, after suffering from a stroke that left her bedridden until the end of her life in 1928.
This month we celebrate the life of Mrs. Evangeline Martin and all that she did to help Newberg become the place we know and love today!

Don, Bruce, and Mabel Douglas on the Willamette Ri

Don, Bruce, and Mabel Douglas on the Willamette River in a boat built by Don and Bruce.
Photo Courtesy of George Fox Archives

#history #localhistory #willametteriver #newbergoregon

Love Newberg History and want to get more involved

Love Newberg History and want to get more involved? Become a Member today! Rachel Thomas said she became a member "because I have a genuine interest in local history. I think that understanding the history of the place that you live in connects you to something larger than yourself. And it's fun!"

Photo Information: Main Street Dundee in 1909
Photo Courtesy of George Fox Archives
#history #historicalphotos #dundee #oregon #mainstreet

Did you know this fun fact about the house that no

Did you know this fun fact about the house that now homes The Painted Lady? #newberg #newbergoregon #localhistory #history

Carnegie Library in Newberg. Date unknown. Photo

Carnegie Library in Newberg. Date unknown.

Photo Courtesy of Geroge Fox Archives

#history #newberg #Oregon #localhistory

Nina Dahl said, "I joined the Newberg Area Histori

Nina Dahl said, "I joined the Newberg Area Historical Society because I have a lot of family ties to Newberg and I have always been interested in learning more about the community. I love learning new stories about the families who established the Newberg area and also encouraging others to appreciate the history of Newberg." Sound like You? Visit our website and become a member today!

Photo Information: Rose Festival Parade Newberg 1921
Photo Courtesy of George Fox Archives

Meet our newest member at large-Sean Reyes! "I am

Meet our newest member at large-Sean Reyes!

"I am currently finishing my degree in Urban and Public Affairs, with a minor in Medieval and Early Modern Studies at Portland State University. In addition to being passionate about history in general, I also strive in my professional life to make history more accessible and inclusive to the wider public. I have been involved within the Newberg community for the past 10 years as a non-profit volunteer, student at GFU, and now on the staff at the Hoover-Minthorn House Museum. I was raised in Wilsonville and have always loved the Willamette Valley and its complex and unique history."

Welcome Sean!

Springbrook Canning Company - Date Unknown Photo

Springbrook Canning Company - Date Unknown

Photo Courtesy of George Fox Archives

#history #historicalphotos #canning #oregon

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Newberg History YouTube channel

The NEwberg Area Historical Society Presents the History of the Newberg Berrian Festival presented by Joshua Duder.

History of the Newberg Berrian Festival

This meeting will be live September 27, 2020.
6:30 Business Meeting- New Board Officers to be announced!
7:00 Historical Presentation-Glen's Gizmos! by Joel and Roxy Thomas
Have you ever seen the tent full of puzzles at the Old Fashioned Festival and Oregon State Fair? These are from Glen's Gizmos! come learn their unique history!

September 2020 Glen's Gizmos and Business Meeting- Newberg Area Historical Society

Newberg Area Historical Society Live Stream Test

The Newberg Area Historical Society Presents Kat Ricker speaking on the history of the Chehalem Parks and Recreation Department. Kat Ricker, CPRD’s original Public Information Director, has been with the agency for ten years. She has served in public relations at the state level and in private book publishing industry. Much of her early career was devoted to journalism, both in newspapers including Capital Press Agricultural Weekly and Silverton Appeal, and KOIN TV news. She serves on the boards of Newberg City Club and Oregon Trails Coalition.

History of Chehalem Parks and Recreation

The Newberg Area Historical Society welcomes the Willamette Falls and Landings Heritage Associate to share about their organization and their commitment to history.

Willamette Falls and Landings Heritage Association May 2020

Chuck Zickefoose presents the history of the Red Electric Railroad in Newberg, Oregon for the Newberg Area Historical Society.

History of the Red Electric Railroad in Newberg

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