National Register Listing

First Baptist Church of Brownsville

a.k.a. Brownsville Baptist Church

515 N. Main St., Brownsville, OR
Local significance of the building:
Architecture

Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1991.

The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation’s historic places worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America’s historic and archeological resources.

architecture Baptist denomination churches religion
The city of Portland, Oregon was named after Portland, Maine. The city's founder, Asa Lovejoy, had lived in Portland, Maine and wanted to name the new settlement after his former hometown.
Oregon random facts
Linn County, Oregon has a rich and diverse history that stretches back thousands of years. The area was originally inhabited by multiple Native American tribes, including the Kalapuya and the Santiam band of the Molala tribe. These tribes lived off the land, hunting, fishing, and gathering food along the rivers and valleys that make up the region.

In the early 19th century, European settlers began to arrive in the area. The first permanent settlement in what is now Linn County was established in 1847 by Thomas and Walter Monteith, who founded the town of Brownsville. Other towns soon followed, including Albany, Lebanon, and Sweet Home. These early pioneers were drawn to the area for its fertile soil and abundant natural resources.

Linn County played a significant role in the development of Oregon as a state. The county was established in 1847 and named after Senator Lewis F. Linn of Missouri. It quickly became an important agricultural center, known for its fruit orchards, timber industry, and the production of grass seed. The Oregon and California Railroad arrived in the late 1860s, further boosting the county's growth and connecting it to the broader region.

Over the years, Linn County has faced various challenges and experienced significant growth. The county suffered from devastating floods in the mid-20th century, but efforts to protect against future flooding were made, including the construction of dams and levees. Today, Linn County remains a vibrant and thriving community, offering a mix of urban and rural lifestyles, with a strong emphasis on agriculture, timber, and outdoor recreation.

This timeline provides a glimpse into the major events and milestones that have shaped the history of Linn County, Oregon.

  • 1846 - Linn County is organized as a county in the Oregon Territory.
  • 1851 - Albany becomes the county seat of Linn County.
  • 1867 - The Oregon State Fair is first held in Linn County, near Brownsville.
  • 1870 - The Santiam Wagon Road is completed, connecting Linn County to the Willamette Valley.
  • 1913 - The Detroit Dam is constructed on the North Santiam River.
  • 1932 - The Sweet Home Dam is completed on the South Santiam River.
  • 1940s - Linn County's timber industry experiences significant growth.
  • 1951 - Foster Dam is constructed on the South Santiam River, providing flood control and hydroelectric power.
  • 1963 - Construction begins on the Green Peter Dam, another flood control project on the Middle Santiam River.
  • 1971 - The South Santiam River is designated as a National Wild and Scenic River.
  • 1986 - Construction begins on the John Day Dam, the last of the major hydroelectric dams in Linn County.
  • 2008 - Linn County experiences a major flooding event, causing widespread damage.
  • 2018 - Linn County celebrates its 175th anniversary since being established.