New Search
(6) Ensuring safe and convenient access to recreation lands and facilities; and , <br /> (7) Maintaining, remodeling and upgrading park, recreational and cultural <br /> facilities in order to respond to changing uses as well as attaining and <br /> preserving operational efficiency. <br /> E. Skinner Butte Park Background: <br /> 1846: Eugene Skinner amves in the Willamette Valley and stakes 640-acre donation <br /> land claim (DLC) around the Skinner Butte area. <br /> 1847: The Skinner family operates a trading post from one-room log cabin built near W. <br /> 2nd Ave., west of Lincoln Street. The cabin is the first house in Eugene. <br /> <br /> mid 1800s: The Applegate Trail brings thousands of settlers through Skinner homestead site, <br /> near the current alignment of Cheshire Avenue in Skinner Butte Park. <br /> 1880s: Dr. T.W. Shelton purchases most of Skinner Butte. <br /> 1886: City of Eugene grants first water franchise to Shelton and Charles Lauer and <br /> Associates, group operates as Eugene Water Company (EWC) <br /> 1886: Dr. Shelton deeds an approximately 1/2-acre parcel of land on the upper east slope <br /> of the butte to the Eugene Water Company. The EWC subsequently builds a <br /> builds 300,000 gal. reservoir on the butte. <br /> 1887: Construction begins on the Dr. Shelton's house (today's Shelton McMurphey <br /> Johnson House). The house is completed in 1888. <br /> 1888: Dr. Shelton sells a 180'x100' parcel of land on the east crown of the butte to the <br /> University of Oregon for the construction of an observatory. <br /> 1893-1936: The basalt columns on the west foot of the butte are quarried (the present-day rock <br /> climbing area is created). <br /> 1897: U of O observatory no longer used. The building is subsequently destroyed in <br /> 1905. <br /> 1906: Aone-million-gallon masonry reservoir is constructed on the west summit of <br /> Skinner Butte to hold water for fire fighting. The reservoir is reportedly built over <br /> a stone ceremonial ring of the Kalapuya Indians. <br /> 1908: Eugene voters approve a 40-year, $300k bond issue for purchase of water system <br /> and butte as public utility, thus establishing the Eugene Water Board (EWB) <br /> <br />