Sumpter, Oregon

Rock drilling contest on the Fourth of July around 1903 at the intersection of Granite and Center streets. Tall building is the First National Bank of Sumpter, constructed in 1899. Metropolitan Hotel on North St. in background next to Bill Gleason's house. Behind bank is the Bank Saloon and beside it is the Union Assay Office. Hobson Merchantile Co. building (later W. R. Hawley store) at right edge of photo with fire tower and bell behind it.

Text courtesy of Baker County Library website

Rock drilling contest on the Fourth of July, 1900, at the intersection of Granite and Center streets beside the First National Bank of Sumpter, constructed in 1899.

Text courtesy of the Baker County Library website

Rock drilling contest on the Fourth of July around 1903, at the intersection of Granite and Center streets beside the First National Bank of Sumpter, constructed in 1899. Sign on store across Granite St. from the bank says: "Sumpter Meat Co."

Text courtesy of the Baker County Library website

Rock drilling contest on the Fourth of July around 1903, at the intersection of Granite and Center streets beside the First National Bank of Sumpter, constructed in 1899.

Text courtesy of the Baker County Library website

Cigar case at right. Bartender is shaking a drink

South side of Granite St. between Mill and Center streets. Caption at the bottom of photo: "Uniform Rank No. 48. W. O. W. of Baker City, Ore. at Sumpter, Ore. July 4, 1903." (W. O. W. is Woodmen of the World.)

Text courtesy of the Baker County Library website

Sumpter. Democratic Convention, 1902. David Littlefield, one of the four original discoverers of gold in Baker County in the fall of 1861, is sitting front row right (long white beard).

Sumpter. Grocery Store. Sign at upper left: "Get the Best. Jas. Heekin & Co.'s (Cincinnati) Celebrated High Grade COFFEE. The Flavor Never C...." Sign in window: "We furnish everything for your Thanksgiving."

Text courtesy of the Baker County Library website

Hotel Griffin at Depot Square (NW corner of Auburn and Mill streets). The hotel faced the Sumpter depot, which is behind photographer. Sumpter Valley Railway tracks ran diagonally through the SW corner of the square with the depot on the NE side of the tracks. Date on the S. T. Co. building at left is 1898. Building in the center is unidentified. Notice child riding on rear horse.

Text courtesy of the Baker County Library website

North side of Granite between Mill and Center streets. Hospital may be seen at the top of the hill to the east (right). Also, Columbia Market left of the Sumpter Hotel. Hobson Merchantile Co. (later W. R. Hawley's) at left. Sign on the ox says: "Vote for C. H. Burns for Constable."

Text courtesy of Baker County Library website

Sumpter Hotel and Columbia Market. First National Bank of Sumpter at left edge.

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Clown band at east end of Sumpter St. The band members are identified. Left column: Ray McDeritt (back), Dewey White, ?; Center left column: Lester Allen, Jack Reilly, Herman Buickerood, Orlin Ireland; Center right column: Harold Graves, ?, Claude Davenport; Right column: ?, Bryan White, -- Buickerood (brother of Herman). Buildings: Banquest Saloon (center building) on east side of Mill St. between Granite and Auburn streets. E. P. Bergman Grocers Wholesale (right edge) on SW corner of Sumpter and Mill streets.

Text courtesy of the Baker County Library website

South side of Granite St. between Mill and Center streets. July 4, 1903. WOW, Queen of the Forest Circle, No. 385 of Baker City, Oregon. L to R (numbers correspond to those on photo): 2 Mrs. Mattie Brown, 4 Miss Mary Wlaters, 6 Mrs. Addie Dickerson, 8 Mrs. Jessie Littleton, 7 Mrs. Joe Stephenson, 5 Mrs. Evelyn Blewett, 3 Mrs. Alice Lawrence, 1 Mrs. Minnie Hughes At right end: Mrs. Mary Pfost-Attendant, Mrs. Nettie Torgler-Captain of Cards Alexander Clothing Co. store and drug store on south side of street.

Text courtesy of the Baker County Library website

Mill St. north end at intersection with Granite St. Sumpter Hotel is brick building at left. Sumpter school is above rump of the ox that's pulling kids on sleds. Caption at bottom of photo: "The Sumpter School-boy's Excursion Train. Dec. 20, 1902."

Text courtesy of the Baker County Library website

Mill St. north end in winter. Sumpter Hotel behind snow berm. People: Charles Mayo, Ora Riggs, Claude Basche, and Harold Peet.

Text courtesy of the Baker County Library website

Sumpter Meat Co. "This establishment, composed of Joseph Woods, Wm. Gleison and J. F. Alden, operating shops both here and in Bourne, has been exceptionally successful, and is steadily growing in public favor. Their retail rooms are spacious and complete in equipment, while their slaughter house, located about a mile from Sumpter, is large and modern, and is supplied with the latest appliances for killing, averaging thirty beeves, thirty-five hogs and forty sheep monthly. They make a specialty of supplying the mines, running a wagon out to them. Mr. Alden does the outside work, buying cattle, &c., while Mr. Woods attends to the Sumpter shop, and Mr. Gleison to the Bourne shop. Their building was built especially for their business, being most substantial in all details, being equipped with the latest machinery for sausage making, and they also have a cold storage plant where all meats are kept. Mr. Woods was born in England in 1848. remaining there until his 23rd year. He then came to the States, spending more or less time in New York, New England. St. Louis, Missouri and Arkansas, following the butchering business. Coming west, he spent a short while in California, and then moved to Montesano, Washington, where he had a shop for ten years. Moving to Hoquiam, he ran a shop there for four years, and then opened his present place of business here. He is a thorough master of the business, and has the well-earned reputation of being the most artistic meat dresser in the State. Mr. Gleison is a native of Maine, born in 1852, and remained there until 1883. Coming to Oregon he spent ten years in La Grande and also two years in McEwen, where he operated a shop. Moving to Sumpter he continued in the business, erecting the first building on the present Main street of the town. When the present company was organized he became one or the partners. He married Mrs. V. D. Farnham, of Auburn, and is a member of the Masonic order. J. F. Alden, the junior member of the firm, is a native of Wisconsin. He came to Oregon in the fall of 1883, and for one year was in the employ of the S. F. Richardson Lumber Co., in Union County. He then went into the stock business, remaining in it until 1891, going into the general merchandise business with S. F. Richardson at Hilgard, Oregon. He -followed that until burnt out. Returning, to his ranch, he remained there until the spring of 1897, when he moved to Sumpter and entered the present firm. He married Miss Ida S. Ripley of La Grande in 1882, and has two daughters living." Source: p. 29, Souvenir Edition. Morning Democrat, Bowen & Small, Publishers, May 20th, 1898.

Text courtesy of the Baker County Library website

South side of Granite St. from just west of Mill St. almost to the river. Information on back of photo: Edwards Drug Store is just out of photo at left edge. Ed Hauser's Olympia Saloon, first building on left, later became a soda fountain addition to Edwards Drug Store. Man at far left is S. S. Ferrill, the first forest supervisor, April 1906 to February 1907. Brooks Hawley thinks this may have been a gathering of 200 stockmen seeking grazing permits mentioned in a Blue Mountain American newspaper item of November 16, 1906. Dr. Pierce is in the second group in straw hat and hand to chin. Probably Ed Hauser in shirt sleeves between the two groups.

Text courtesy of the Baker County Library website

Rodeo on July 4, 1913. The rodeo grounds was just a field near the SVRy tracks.

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House. Mrs. Otto Zimmerli, when she lived in the Bill Gleason house at the upper end of Center Street next door to the Metropolitan Hotel (left out of photo).

Text courtesy of the Baker County Library website