Oregon's Main Street

Long before Interstate 5 was built, Pacific Highway, later designated U.S. Highway 99, became our "Main Street" not only through the State of Oregon, but from Mexico to Canada. Unlike I-5, U.S. Highway 99 went through towns and small communities along its path, bringing them the means to connect with the rest of the state and nation.

Jo-Brew takes us on a trip, south to north, beginning at the California-Oregon border, as the highway continues its climb through the Siskiyou Mountains. We then go down through the connected valleys where economies were built on orchards, forests, farm lands, recreation and businesses built to support the growing reliance on the automobile and commercial truck traffic that used it daily to deliver people and products to their destinations.

OREGON'S MAIN STREET: U.S. Highway 99 "The Stories" takes us along this route today, but it is filled with the stories of those who grew up, worked, played and raised their families in the communities along its path. Over 150 individuals shared their stories, some in the form of old letters and diaries, but most in first-person accounts through interviews, letters, email and even phone calls all done personally by Jo-Brew.

It's been my pleasure to work with Jo in the last year, helping her to prepare the book for publication. It is truly a labor of love for a passionate and dedicated woman whose heart and life are intertwined with the highway.

A companion book, "The History" of which I am co-author, contains more stories and insights into these same communities along the route of U.S. Highway 99 that connect with their earlier histories. For those who love old pictures, you will be treated to many more than we were able to include in "The Stories," too.

So, climb on-board Jo's little red Rambler and let's take a ride up Oregon's "Gut," or, if you're too young to remember driving "the Gut" in your own hometown, let's take a drive on "Main Street Oregon."

Pat Edwards