Day 44. June 18, 2019. Coburg Oregon

t's day 44...June 18, 2019....and we are in Coburg Oregon!

Leaving Drain...I decided I wanted to head north a little on I-5 and spend another day or two in the Area driving around Eugene and Springfield. I've already talked about revisiting Fall Creek and Lowell...but what does the Eugene Springfield area look like some 30 years later? I wondered.

The first thing I would learn is that finding a spot in an RV park...on the spur of the moment....in June....in Oregon....is ahh...welll....good luck! After a few minutes online and on the phone I found a spot in an RV park behind a truck stop a few miles north of Eugene/Springfield...and that's how we landed in a place called Coburg.

Funny to remember that in all the years I lived in Oregon…Coburg was nothing more than a sign on the side of I-5 we passed when road trippin it to Portland. I do not think I had ever actually gotten off the freeway to have a look around.

Truth is, Coburg is a pretty cool little town that has done a great job of holding onto its past…while embracing the future. We only spent one night in the RV park there but I took an afternoon to look around. Within a 2 hour walk I browsed a charming little antique shop, walked past a brand new a subdivision of about 20 homes, and the local Farm and Feed Store. At the southern edge of town, I found what appeared to be acres and acres of perfectly manicured orchards…not sure what kind of trees they were so if anyone out there knows the area feel free to post in the comments. Back out on the freeway and next to the RV park we were in there is a truck stop complete with scales, full service restaurant, and even a truck and RV washing station. This one stuck out to me because there was an actual truck stop diner there...every other truck stop I had seen in the area had replaced the original diner set up with a national chain like...Arbys. Subway...Even Denny's. So it was sorta neat to see and old school diner type set up...and for the record....the Coburg Diner serves up a pretty mean breakfast scramble!

Across the street and just up the road I found the world headquarters for Marathon Coach, several RV dealerships and service centers as well as a commercial truck servicing facility. Quite a lot going on in this little slice of small town America…population 1025.

Marathon Coach...for anyone unfamiliar...is the world leader in the production of luxury bus conversion motorhomes. Since the companies inception in 1983, they have produced just over 1300 units referring to each and every one a work of art. The company takes Prevost bus chassis and builds their own hand crafted...and custom designed motorhomes. To say these things are top of the line would be a gross understatement. Rather than even try and articulate the technology, design and amenities that come with one of these things....I'll just say that if you want to hit the road in one...plan on parting with around 2M in cash. Enough said.

The city was founded in 1847 and originally named Diamond. The name was eventually changed to Coburg in an interesting story involving a horse… This accounting from The Eugene Cascades and Coast official website:

“Coburg was founded in 1847 by John Diamond and Jacob Spores, and originally known as “Diamond.” Located on John Diamond’s land claim, formerly inhabited by Kalapuya tribes, they started a successful ferry service across the McKenzie River In 1855, as the lumber industry started up... and Jacob Spores built a mill.

Coburg became known for its quality horses, and the local blacksmith Charles Payne pronounced the community “Coburg” in 1865, in honor of an excellent stallion from Coburg, Germany. Coburg was also a Pony Express stop for fresh horses, and then later, a railroad line was built between Coburg and Brownsville. In 1900, Booth-Kelly lumber company bought a mill in town. With the McKenzie River and the railway (now standardized and extended) to move logs, Coburg’s lumber industry boomed. But in 1911, Springfield dammed the McKenzie River and logs could no longer be floated into town. A mill fire the following year shut down the Booth-Kelly operations and the company re-opened in Springfield instead.

Coburg is on the National Register of Historic Places as a National Historic District with over 187 sites and structures. A walking tour of 20 historic houses can be picked up at the Coburg City Hall.”

See...another fascinating story about a small town in Oregon.

And what about the Eugene Springfield area? This placed I called home for nearly 8 years....I went to school here...worked here...and beyond that....managed to find my share of trouble to get into but knew little of what the area had contributed to Oregon's history....How it became what it is today

The Eugene Springfield area is the heart of the Willamette Valley. The sister cities lie across from one another on the banks of the Willamette River.

The area...much like I had read about in Drain, Lowell, and Fall Creek, was home to the Kalapuyan Indigenous People. Evidence suggests that these people called the area home for as long as 10,000 years.

Settlement in the area by European American settlers began in the mid 19th century...drawn to the area by its fertile land and abundant natural resources.

The two cities were settled almost simultaneously when Eugene Skinner established his cabin on the west bank of the Willamette River near what is now "Skinners Butte" in 1846.

Just 3 years later in 1849 Elias Briggs would build his cabin on the east bank of the Willamette River.

The name Springfield originated from a spring located on 2nd street where the Spring Site Apartments stand today.

There is only a three year gap between the age of the two cities...but this was all Eugene needed to begin to move ahead of Springfield in population and growth numbers.

Both towns maintained their small town feel until shortly after WW2.

Springfield continued it's focus on industry and in particular, the logging industry, while Eugene began to shift focus to Education.

The University of Oregon opened it's doors in Eugene in 1876 originally as Oregon State University.

In the coming years the residents of Eugene would raise 27,500 to purchase 18 acres of land for the campus. In 1877 the name of the campus would be changed to The University of Oregon.

A good deal has changed in the last 142 years. Today...the University of Oregon is home to the Oregon Ducks and sits on a 295 acre campus along the Willamette River.

And....it didn't exactly hurt Eugene....when In the early 70's....a relatively unknown long-distance runner would be recruited from high school in Coos Bay Oregon and begin attending, and competing for, the University of Oregon. He would spend nearly 3 years breaking most every record in the college competition scene. In the process he would sign an endorsement deal with an upstart running shoe company and the partnership would take them both to new levels. The runners name Steve Prefontain....that little upstart running shoe company.....Nike. Eugene is considered the Birthplace of Nike. Former Olympian and University of Oregon Track Coach Bill Bowerman created the first waffle-iron fashioned rubber sole running shoe...which later evolved into Nike. Phil Knight, cofounder of Nike sold these shoes out of the trunk of his car during track meets at Hayword Field in Eugene. The cities connection to Nike's origins is celebrated through various landmarks and collections of Track Town USA memorabilia. Track Town USA...that would become Eugene's nickname as a result of all this history.

Eugene is also home to the Hult Center for the performing arts. An impressive venue that hosts over 750 evens per year .....everything from big name concerts to performances from the likes of the Ice capades to dancing with the stars.

I will always have a soft spot for the Hult Center as it was there.....with around 2500 of my closest friends....would attend my very first live and big time concert...The Judds! The Judds had announced that they were retiring their act...and this would be their final concert tour...so needless to say....I was beyond excited to score tickets to see a part of country music history....perform live! Another fun fact...their opening act? A young upstart....relatively unknown guy hit the stage and tore things up for around 20 minutes....finishing his set with a song called The Dance....that dudes name???? I think everyone's heard of Garth Brooks by now.

But not to be outdone...Springfield is the real life home town inspriation for the longest running scripted television sitcom in American history...The Simpsons. The show is currently in it's 32nd season with over 750 episodes!

And while Springfields economic health still relies heavily on the lumber industries...in recent years the cities divestment into the Medical Services Industry has contributed greatly to the cities continued growth. In fact....The largest employer in the city today I PeaceHealth...A health care services organization that operates a state of the art and nationally ranked facility in Springfield called River Bend. The organization also operates multiple satellite facilities in neighboring smaller communities helping to extend the access to health care to the entire region.

Today...over 170,000 folks call Eugene home...Springfield....another 70,000...fold in the outlying areas and well over a quarter of a million people call the Willamette Valley area home. And from what I can tell...for good reason. And finally...even this guy is proud to say that I called this place home....for a bit...who knows....maybe I will again.

But for now....you know the drill...sliding in behind the steering wheel...Billie tucked in under the drivers seat...Dougie in the copilot seat....wondering....where to next? I dunno....but I wonder what we will learn there?