Brooks Historical Society
3995 Brooklake Road
PO
Box 9265
Brooks, OR 97305
Phone (503) 390-0698 (message)
Mission Statement:
Brooks Historical Society is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit corporation. The objective
of the Brooks Historical Society and Depot Museum is to educate and stimulate an
interest in and knowledge of the history of Brooks, Oregon, and the surrounding
areas.
Short History:
Founded in 1986, the Society began exhibiting local
historical artifacts at Steam-Up that same year. In 1989 they moved the 1900
Southern Pacific Brooks Depot building onto the grounds of Powerland Heritage
Park.
Needed restoration work preserved the ambiance of the Agent's Office and the Freight Room. These rooms
now house exhibits on Brooks and the surrounding area, and provide access to our
research on families, towns, cemeteries and local genealogy.
Meetings:
The Brooks Historical Society meets at the Brooks Depot Museum, located at
Powerland Heritage Park on the first Saturday of each month at 9:00 a.m.
Directions
From I-5
take Exit 263-go west approximately 1/2 mile to Powerland Heritage Park, 3995
Brooklake Road, Brooks, OR 97303.
Map to Powerland
Heritage Park,
Membership:
Adult $15.00 Student $5.00 (Elementary and High School)
Business $35.00
Research Fees:
$30.00 per hour, 50 cents copies, Shipping fees apply.
Board Members:
Louis Sowa
Leah Duda
Jeff Milligan
Michelle Duchateau
Contact Persons:
Vicki Cunningham (503)-390-6697
vickicunningham11003@gmail.com
Louis Sowa (503) 320-0440 lsowa@earthlink.net
About Powerland
Heritage Park
The property on which Powerland Heritage Park resides is owned by
Western Antique Power, Incorporated (WAPI). This corporation
contracts with Antique Powerland Museum Association (APMA) to maintain
the property and business operations of Powerland Heritage Park - almost
entirely through volunteer labor. Together multiple agreements
with all museums on campus, APMA and partnering organizations of all
kinds are able to present to you a wonderfully unique nostalgic and
educational experience. Visit www.powerlandheritagepark.com/
History
Before Powerland Heritage Park was
established, annual threshing bees were held on farms in the Silverton
and Woodburn, Oregon areas through the 1950s and 60s. The public
was attracted to these events and attendance rapidly grew. To
accomondate the growth, a 62 acre parcel of farm land was acquired in
Brooks, Oregon. Western Antique Power, Inc (WAPI) was created to
possess the property and ensure its annual event, soon to be known as
The Great Oregon Steam-Up, would be held and continue to grow.
In 1988, when a site was needed for a proposed heritage truck museum in the Northwest region, Powerland Heritage Park was the preferred location. Brooks Historical Society moved the Brooks Depot to the site in 1989 and formally dedicated the building as the Brooks Depot museum July 14, 1990. Oregon Electric Railway Historical Society was next to arrive in 1996. Participation from diverse museums and heritage clubs followed over the years. Facilities now include blacksmithing, fire apparatus, electric railroads, miniature railroading, Caterpillar equipment, antique cars and motorcycles, early day trucks, large steam engines, steam operated cranes, small antique gas engines, tractors, drag saw manufacturing shop, model railroading, local history, and more.
