01/23/2022
Welcome to the Hasard House!
This Queen Anne style house was built in 1902. It is listed in the Statewide Inventory of Historic Sites and Buildings. The original owner, Charles Hasard, moved to Oregon in 1880 and was employed as a carpenter for the Oregon and California Railroad. He arrived in Drain in 1892 and began work as a hotel keeper. Later he became a farmer and merchant. Hasard was appointed a U.S. Land Commissioner in 1902.
The home is currently a private residence and is not open to the general public at this time. However, the interior of the house is being extensively remodeled and will be open to the public in the next couple of years. Future plans for the house include converting it to a Farm store, distillery and wedding destination venue. Owners Ame and Jim Beard welcome your commentary. Feel free to drop us a line at: PO Box 903, Drain, Oregon 97435. We’d love to see your photos or hear stories of the house. Picture taking is also welcome.
The physical address is 105 West A Avenue, Drain .
The original townsite of Drain was settled in 1847 by Warren Goodell, who received 320 acres as a Donation Land Grant from the U.S. government. Goodell’s claim was long and narrow in order to encompass as much of the valley’s bottom land as possible. This claim was sold to Jesse Applegate (Oregon Trail) in 1858.
Charles C. Drain emigrated from the Midwest and purchased the land in 1861. Charles platted the townsite in 1872 and sold 60 acres to the Oregon and California Railroad for one dollar. One long time drain resident tells this story a little bit differently: “I was a young girl when I saw the receipt hanging above the threshold of the Post office doorway for one dollar from the City of Drain. My understanding was Mr. Drain deeded the land to form a city and the county said he couldn’t give it away, it had to have a monetary valve to switch it on the books so he said fine and charged one dollar. When the railroad wanted to come through he allowed them a right of way as long as they would stop in Drain every time whether they needed to or not. It was suddenly popular because it was the easiest route for the stage to make.” The railroad brought prosperity to Drain and within a decade, many homes, stores and public buildings were constructed. An overland stage route was established between Drain and Scottsburg in 1876. This was the only means of public transportation between the interior valleys and the coast. The stage route linked the railroad in Drain to the paddlewheel river boats in Scottsburg. In 1906, the Southern Pacific Railroad began construction of a route from Drain to the coast. After spending an estimated $1.5 million on the project, it was abandoned and a line from Eugene to Florence was built. Fires in 1903 and 1914 destroyed most of the commercial buildings in the city. Losing the railroad line to Eugene and the Normal School to Monmouth halted much of the commercial and population of the community. A telegraph plan fell through. Drain had a population of 500 in 1881. IDt would be almost 40 years until the town reached 500 again. From the end of World War II to the present time, Drain’s population has remained between 1,000 to 1,200.
rain-a Great Place to Live and Work
In addition to the natural beauty surrounding Drain, Drain has many attractive qualities. It is not surprising that Drain is often referred to as a perfect place to retire or to raise a family. Almost everything is within walking distance from downtown. Drain has its own school district, library, several churches and a community center. Drain is the home of the North Douglas County Fair that is held the last weekend of July. It is the oldest continually running community fair in the state, operating for more than 80 years. A variety of services and products are offered by the over 130 local businesses: wedding dresses, antiques and collectables, medical offices, restaurants, accounting to insurance. For recreation, Drain boasts of a bowling alley, parks, outdoor swimming pool, hiking, fishing, and camping. Points of interest include the Drain Castle, the covered bridge and the historic railroad trestle. For more information about Drain’s attractions and resources, go to the Drain Chamber of Commerce website at http://www.drainoregon.org/.
Drain Oregon is a historic northwest timber community first settled in 1847. The city was incorporated in 1888, and John Drain was the first mayor. Located 8 miles west of Interstate 5, halfway between Roseburg and Eugene. Drain provides a major access to the Oregon coast on scenic State Highway 38.
