History Mystery for Aug. 13, 2025

This one should be easy. Send any interesting stories to Flora “Martin” Gibson at florag@gorgenews.com or 541-993-1801.

Last week’s photo, above, was identified by Gary Conley, Wendy Donnell and Courtney Kaiser. It showed the Chapman block, the 200 block of E. Second. It shows the U.S. bank in the taller building, Ray Percy’s service station on Third that’s gone now, F. W. Woolworth and Co. and Donnell’s Drug Store where Donnell’s father Merill Martin Donnell and grandfather Martin Zelek Donnell were pharmacists. Kaiser and his brother used to go into Woolworth’s by the side door, to look at the pets — goldfish, turtles, baby alligators, Kaiser said — before visiting the “great candy counter” to get a lot of candy, to carry across the street to the Granada Theater, and eat while watching a $.50 movie. Kaiser’s brother said a building behind Woolworth’s housed their doctor’s office. The block, built in 1880, was demolished in the 1960s.