A.R. Bowman Memorial Museum & Crook County Historical Society

05/29/2026

One of the goals of the Forest Service was to improve rail connections between national lumber markets and the Blue Mountain forests of eastern Oregon. After winning the timber contract, the Hines Company built the 52-mile Oregon and Northwestern Railroad between Burns and Seneca. The mill site was located about two miles southwest of Burns. Read the full story below.

Midwestern Company Established Large Mill near Burns, Oregon Large lumber mills in the mid-west became interested in the vast pine forests of eastern Oregon in the mid-1920s. The Malheur National Forest began advertising 800 million board feet of Ponderosa pine for sale in 1922. In 1923 Fred Herrick...

05/29/2026

In today's Oral History Video Ron Ashley shares about early Crook County Businesses. Ron reflects on the businesses, people, vehicles, and everyday experiences that shaped small-town life in Central Oregon during the mid-1900s. From memories of old grocery stores, welding shops, hardware stores, and secondhand barns to stories about restoring vintage trucks and tractors under the shade of a tree with little more than determination and ingenuity, the interview paints a vivid picture of a changing rural community. His recollections capture not only the names and places that once defined towns like Prineville, Fossil, Mitchell, and Heppner, but also the practical problem-solving and neighborly spirit that tied those communities together. Follow the link below to our YouTube channel to listen to the full story.

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In this video Ron Ashley shares about early Crook County Businesses...

05/28/2026

Join the Bowman Museum on June 2 at 6:00 p.m. for Celebrating Stories: Yours and Mine with bestselling Oregon author Jane Kirkpatrick.

Jane will share personal stories, the research behind her work, and reflections on the power of storytelling in our lives and communities.

05/22/2026

Mildred Susannah Green was born on Sept. 6, 1894, in Palestine, Pennsylvania. Her parents were William and Rebecca Green. She came to Oregon with her parents by train in 1910. Her father was a finish carpenter and built houses near Albany, Oregon. Mildred worked in a department store in Albany for five years. Read more below.

Mildred Susannah Green was born on Sept. 6, 1894, in Palestine, Pennsylvania. Her parents were William and Rebecca Green. She came to Oregon with her parents by train in 1910. Her father was a finish carpenter and built houses near Albany, Oregon. Mildred worked in a department store in Albany for f...

05/22/2026

In today's video Betty Woodward shares a heartfelt and deeply personal look at the Robertson and Woodward family history in Crook County, tracing her roots back to the early pioneer days in the Grizzly and Lamonta areas near Prineville.

She recalls her grandparents’ lives in the timber industry, the building of sawmills in the Ochoco region, and the hardships and resilience that shaped early Central Oregon families. Betty especially honors her grandfather, Alonzo Smith, remembered for his generosity and strong faith, including the remarkable story of building a home for a neighboring family after they lost everything in a fire. Follow the link below to our YouTube channel to watch this fascinating local history video.

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Robertson and Woodward Family History -- Betty Woodward shares a heartfelt and deeply personal look at the Robertson and Woodward family history in Crook Cou...

05/15/2026

In today's video Bill Weberg’s oral history offers a vivid, first-hand look at life on a working cattle ranch in the Paulina country, where the rhythm of each year was shaped by calving, branding, trailing cattle into the Ochoco National Forest, and putting up thousands of tons of hay. Raised on the family ranch at nearly 4,900 feet, Bill recalls a childhood where summer meant “hay, hay, hay,” and every season brought its own challenges—from harsh spring snowstorms during calving to long cattle drives across 30 miles of rugged high desert and mountain terrain. His stories capture both the hard work and the beauty of ranch life in one of Crook County’s most remote communities. Follow the link below to watch this video on our YouTube channel.

3 likes. "Bill Weberg - Paulina Ranching History"

05/15/2026

🎨🚂 All Aboard the Community Caboose! Help Bowman Museum celebrate Crook County history and America’s 250th Anniversary by decorating your own wooden caboose.

Beginning June 1 (while supplies last), pick up a free wooden caboose at the museum and transform it with paint, photos, fabric, and other creative materials to reflect local landmarks, family stories, and patriotic pride. Return your finished caboose to be part of our special Community Caboose Display! Learn more by following the link below.

Help Build a Community Caboose Display at Bowman Museum - Join the Bowman Museum as we celebrate Crook County history and America’s 250th Anniversary with our special Community Caboose Display! Beginning June 1 (while supplies last), pick up a wooden caboose at the museum and decorate it to reflec...

05/08/2026

Lena Vanina was born in California in 1879. Her parents were Fulgenzio and Caterina Rivera Vanina. Her parents were both from Switzerland. The family moved to Central Oregon and ranched near Combs Flat for several years. Lena became acquainted with Arthur Dillard Lowrey. Dillard, as he was commonly known, was born in Harrison, Arkansas on May 24, 1872. He had come to Oregon with his parents Russell and Mary Denton Lowrey and they settled on the eastern end of Big Summit Prairie. Read the full story below.

Lena Vanina was born in California in 1879. ;Her parents were Fulgenzio and Caterina Rivera Vanina. Her parents were both from Switzerland. The family moved to Central Oregon and ranched near Combs Flat for several years. Lena became acquainted with Arthur Dillard Lowrey. Dillard, as he was commonly...

05/08/2026

Don Wood’s oral history is more than a recollection of growing up in Prineville — it’s the story of a life shaped by medicine, family, adventure, and resilience. As the adopted son of pioneering local physician Dr. Elon Wood, Don shares deeply personal memories of old Crook County, the early days of Prineville’s medical community, and the people who helped build the town into what it is today. Along the way, his reflections move effortlessly from heartfelt and humorous to unexpectedly profound. Listen to the full story by following the link below to our YouTube channel. While there, be sure to Like and Subscribe!

Don Wood’s oral history is more than a recollection of growing up in Prineville — it’s the story of a life shaped by medicine, family, adventure, and resilie...