Ordinance No. 20475 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

I .k nearly doubted between 1880 and 1900, fueled by the improved transportation networks and processing facilities like prune and nut dryers. . Within this period of development the small family -owned fatm flourished in the River Road area, as is indicated in the Agriculture Section of the context statement titled Eugene's Historic River Road, June 2006. In•1920 Frank and Bertha Brunner purchased 24 acres on-the west side of River Road from Fred and Mary Chambers. Records indicate that the Brunner's maintained prune and cherry orchards and developed a prune drying facility as early as 1921, concurrent with construction of the Brunner - Schmitz House. Over time the success of the "Brunner Commercial pryer" was assured due to the perseverance - of the Brunner and Schmitz families until changes in agricultural produiction, particularly the demise offruit abd nut produ6tion in the local area resulted in the closure of the Brunner . -Com- mercial Dryer in 2003, when the dryer buildings were demolished. : Research indicates that the dryer business grew substantially between 1940 and 1960 and became lucrative and well respected in the region. In 1944 only six Dehydrators.& dryers of . Fruits and Nuts existed in the local area, indicating that this was a significant.niche business that served local orchardists and fruit growers of the community. During world War II the + Schmitz.farnily had a government contract to provide dried fruit for the war effort. The Brunner Commercial Dryer became an agent for the wholesale distributor of Hudson House in Portland,- • Oregon, further ensuring their success. The Brunner - Schmitz House remains as a testament.to the long- tenure of agricultural practices in the River Road area by the Brunner and Schmitz families. Based on the information above, it appears that the Brunner - Schmitz. House is associated with agricultural events, particularly the drying of nuts and fruit that made a significant contribution to the 'broad patterns of agricultural history in the River Road area and Eugene. (b) is associated with the lives of persons significant to our past. Frank Brunner was born in Germany in 1869 and immigrated to the United States in 1890, having reached the age of 21. Bertha Thom was born in Switzerland in 1872 and immigrated to the United States in 1594. Frank and Bertha were married in 1903 and for the next sixteen years resided in Poweshiek County, Iowa. The couple moved to Lane County - Oregon in 1919 and Frank worked apt the Eugene Fruit Growers Association. Frank and Bertha Brunner purchased their twenty -four acres of land on the west side of River Road on August 18, 1920. The couple was obviously • busy during these early years with the construction of their new house, the prune dryer, and managing their agricultural enterprise. In 1904, Ernest Brunner was born to the couple. .. Liz Carter completed research in the Eugene city Directories to determine the number and location of Dehydrators & Dryers in the area. - - HRB Agenda - Page 6