Union Fishermen's Cooperative Packing Company Alderbrook Station facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Union Fishermen's Cooperative Packing Company Alderbrook Station
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The boat and net storage shed, Alderbrook Station's largest building, in 2012
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 Location in Oregon
Location in the United States
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| Location | 4900 Ash Street Astoria, Oregon |
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| Area | 4.5 acres (1.8 ha) |
| Built | c. 1903 |
| Built by | Kankkonen, Frank |
| Architectural style | Vernacular utilitarian |
| NRHP reference No. | 91000053 |
| Added to NRHP | February 20, 1991 |
The Union Fishermen's Cooperative Packing Company Alderbrook Station is a historic site on the Columbia River in Astoria, Oregon. It was built in 1903 and is a great example of the area's fishing history. In 1991, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). This means it's a special place recognized for its importance. The station includes three main buildings and another structure. These are spread across about 4.5 acres of land.
A Look Back at the Fishermen's Co-op
The Union Fishermen's Cooperative Packing Company began in 1896. It was started by a group of gillnet fishermen. They wanted more control over how they sold their fish. They also wanted better working conditions.
The company built a cannery and two stations. One station was here in Alderbrook. The other was in a part of town called Uppertown. These stations helped the company's members. Most of these members were from Finland or Scandinavia. They lived in the Alderbrook and Uppertown neighborhoods.
At these stations, fishermen could easily unload their catches. They could also safely moor their boats near home. Plus, they had places to store and repair their equipment.
What Remains at Alderbrook Station
Today, only the Alderbrook station from 1903 is still mostly complete. The largest building is a three-story shed. It measures about 60 by 100 feet. This shed was used to store fishing boats and nets. It stands on tall posts, called pilings, in the river.
The shed has a two-story boat lift on one corner. This lift was used to move boats. However, it was in poor condition when the station was listed as historic. Other buildings still standing include a machine shop and a small cabin. There is also a large wooden pier. This pier connected different parts of the facility.
Most of the fish receiving station is gone. Only a few pilings remain. But the Alderbrook station is still very important. It is the only remaining facility of its kind. This cooperative played a big role in Astoria's fishing industry. For many years, fishing was the main part of the local economy.
The Co-op was very active during the best years of salmon fishing. This period ended around 1930. But the company kept going for a long time. It even celebrated its 50th anniversary in 1946.
Other Co-op Buildings
The co-op had other buildings too. One was a "storage warehouse and receiving station." It was built on pilings in the river. This building was located at 31st Street in Uppertown. It is still there today. However, a big storm in 2007 caused a lot of damage to it.
