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.....Falls City, once called the "Queen City of Polk County", is situated in the forest-covered Coast Range near the powerful Luckiamute Falls, which provide both scenic beauty and industrial livelihood. The city was established by industrious pioneers in search of opportunity and self-determination. The rich pioneer heritage has allowed Falls City to endure stressful changes in the rural Oregon community economy and to face the future with optimism and hope. .....In 1915, Falls City was a booming industrial center. Indeed, 1915 was perhaps the biggest year for this fast-paced municipality. Towering false-front buildings housed thriving business centers on each side of the Little Luckiamute River. Our area's fifteen sawmills employed hundreds of workers. One oldtimer relates that the mill workers' robust appetites consumed more meat in one day than did the whole population of Dallas! .....Falls City offered several Grocery Stores, a Shoe Store, a Bakery,a Butcher, a Confectionery, a Skating Rink, a Jeweler, a Dentist, Doctors, a Hospital, a Mill Company Store, good Schools, a Blacksmith, Livery Stable, Tavern, Hotel, Barber Shop, Hydro-electric Power Plant, Newspapers, thirteen feet of concrete sidewalk, nice hard-surfaced streets, five Churches, a Bank, a Post Office, a Cannery, and about 1,000 residents with a monthly payroll of $15,000 - and that was alot of money to change hands in 1915! |