30 Vintage Photographs Capture Everyday Life in Junction City, Oregon From the 1940s

   

Junction City is a city in Lane County, Oregon, United States. Its population was 5,392 at the 2010 census. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.36 square miles (6.11 km2), all of it land.

Junction City, Oregon in the 1940s
 
Junction City is home to a large and eclectic farming community, the bulk of which is made up of several large family-owned farms. The city was the home of Country Coach, a large luxury motorcoach manufacturer, which went bankrupt in November 2009. It was also the home of Monaco Coach Corporation prior to their move to nearby Coburg.
 
Junction City is also home to the Scandinavian Festival, an annual four-day event which pays homage to the cultures of Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, and Iceland; held mid-August.
 
These vintage photographs from Gregory Schultz were taken by his father, Francis Rudolph “Dutch” Schultz (1921-2002), that show life of Junction City in the 1940s.
 
Family picnic, near Junction City, Oregon, 1946

 

Home to grandma's house. Mary Wing's front yard taken on her farm near Junction City, Oregon, 1946
 
Dinner at my grandmother's, Junction City, Oregon, circa 1947-48

 

 
Aerial shot of the farm on River Road about 4 miles south of Junction City on River Road, Oregon, 1948

 

Lion's Club Carnival general view, Junction City, Oregon, 1948
 
Lion's Club Carnival, Bingo Booth, Junction City, Oregon, 1948

 

Lion's Club Carnival, drawing, Junction City, Oregon, 1948
 
Lion's Club Carnival, Junction City, Oregon, 1948

 

 
Mom and I at Fernridge Dam. Fernridge Lake is just a few miles south west of Junction City and remains a popular place for boating and water skiing, 1948
 
When my parents were young, Junction City, Oregon, 1948

 

99 E & W Cafe, Junction City, Oregon, 1949

 

 
Ambulance, Junction City, Oregon, 1949
 
Barber shop, Junction City, Oregon, June 1949

 

Doing my bit for the great lawn planting, near Junction City, Oregon, 1949

 

 
High School Pep Band, Junction City, Oregon, October 1949
 
McEldowny Brothers Appliance store, Junction City, Oregon, 1949

 

Opening ceremonies at Laurel Elementary School, Junction City, Oregon, 1949

 

 
Pine Grill Cafe exterior, Junction City, Oregon, 1949
 
Pine Grill Cafe interior, Junction City, Oregon, 1949

 

Preparing the soil to receive the grass seed for my parent's new front lawn, near Junction City, Oregon, 1949

 

 
Richfield Nocturne, Junction City, Oregon, 1949
 
Riverview Grocery, Junction City, Oregon, June 1949

 

Saw mill with pond monkeys, Junction City, Oregon, 1949

 

 
Sixth Ave. looking west toward Speer's Grocery and the main office of the Hult Lumber Co., Junction City, Oregon, 1949
 
Soda fountain was part of a roller rink in a little amusement park a few miles out of town on Hwy 99W. It was a favorite haunt of young people, both from Junction City and the nearby town of Monroe, Junction City, Oregon, 1949

 

 
This is where my family lived when we first moved to the Junction City area from Salem, Oregon, 1949

 

 
Two farm workers at night near Junction City, Oregon, 1949
 
Used car lot. Most of the stock was composed of General Motors products, Junction City, Oregon, 1949

 

Women picking cherries at my grandmother's cherry orchard, Junction City, Oregon, circa 1949

 

 
Y Motel at dusk, Junction City, Oregon, 1949