Black Pioneer Families of Lane County

Our mission is to educate the public about the history of the black pioneer families of Lane County and their contributions to the communities of Oregon.

We are honored to be the fiscal sponsor for the Mims Houses Landscape Project

Mims Houses at 330 High St in Eugene, Or
Mims Houses at 330 High St in Eugene, Or

The Historic Mims Houses are the oldest Black owned property in Lane County. They hold memories for us from our childhood to today. Our goal, is to preserve that history within Eugene’s Black Community as the first Black Families to settle in Eugene.

In the past, our matriarchs would meet and visit each other’s homes, 330 High St being one. The women styled each other’s hair because beauty salons in Eugene did not do Black hair.

Our community may have been small and poor, but it did not lack strength in unity. Today, we invite you to help in preserving our legacy with your tax deductible donation. 

For more information about the Mims Houses Landscape Project visit the Historic Mims Houses website.

There will be more stories coming over time so please check back.

Thank you for visiting our website. We wish you good health and much happiness.

David Nettles, President
Black Pioneer Families of Lane County

Researching, Recording & Celebrating the history of Lane County's Pioneering Black Residents

Recording the histories and accomplishments of Black people in mostly-white communities like Lane County is vital for creating a more accurate and inclusive narrative of our local history. Too often, the contributions, struggles, and lived experiences of Black individuals are overlooked or erased, leading to a one-sided version of history that fails to reflect the full diversity of the community. Documenting these stories not only honors the resilience and achievements of Black residents but also helps future generations understand the social, cultural, and systemic dynamics that have shaped their environments. It challenges dominant narratives, fosters empathy, and builds a more just and informed society.

Memorializing the "Across The Bridge" community in Eugene

The Black community that once lived on the north side of the Willamette River in what is now Alton Baker Park was a tight-knit and self-reliant group forced to establish homes on county land due to pervasive housing discrimination in Eugene.

Starting in the mid‑1940s, Black families—among them the Reynolds, Mims, Nettles, Rutledge/Johnsons, and Washingtons—built homes from scrap wood or surplus tents in a settlement variously referred to as “Across the Bridge,” “Ferry Street Village,” or derisively by outsiders as “Tent City”.

Lacking access to basic services, residents drew water directly from the river, lived without sanitation or electricity, and endured frequent flooding. Despite these hardships, they forged a strong community bond centered around a church they built—later evolving into St. Mark’s Episcopal Church—where support and fellowship were crucial for survival and organizing.

In August 1949, a county mandate to construct the new Ferry Street Bridge resulted in the abrupt demolition of their homes and church, displacing approximately one hundred people and effectively erasing the first documented Black neighborhood in Eugene.

Though the physical community was destroyed, its legacy lives on through descendants, commemorative efforts, and ongoing work to memorialize the site and the families’ resilience.

You can help!

You can help us more forward with our mission to collect the accomplishments and stories of pioneering Black Lane County residents and families. The sooner we can collect these stories, the less likely they will be to disappear into history. Please consider making a donation today.

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Featured Story

Uncle Joe and Aunt Mamie

A Journey of Opportunity: The Story of Uncle Joe and Aunt Mamie Nettles

In the 1940s, as World War II reshaped industries across the country, the promise of new opportunities led many families to leave their hometowns in search of work. Among them were Uncle Joe and Aunt Mamie Nettles, who left behind the small town of Hooks, Texas, for a future they hoped would be brighter.

Their first stop was Vancouver, Washington, where wartime shipyards were hiring thousands of workers to support the national effort. The shipyard jobs were tough and demanding, but they offered steady pay and a chance to contribute to something larger than themselves. For Joe and Mamie, it was a step forward—a chance to build a better life through hard work and determination.

But as the war began to wind down, they looked ahead once again. Word spread of new opportunities opening up along the rail lines in Oregon. With the future of the shipyards uncertain, they made the decision to move to Eugene, where the railroad promised more stable, long-term employment.

In Eugene, they settled just east of the old Ferry Street Bridge—an area that would one day become the site of Autzen Stadium. At the time, it was a quiet stretch of land near the Willamette River, surrounded by open space and the hum of a growing town. Joe found work with the railroad, and together, they began to establish roots.

Their journey—from Hooks to Vancouver to Eugene—was guided by a simple yet powerful goal: to find opportunity and build a better life. It wasn’t about chasing wealth or fame, but about moving forward, step by step, with purpose and resilience. They helped shape the communities they lived in through steady effort and quiet determination.

Today, when people pass by Autzen Stadium or cross the Ferry Street Bridge, few may realize the stories that unfolded in those same places decades ago. But for those who know, the path Uncle Joe and Aunt Mamie took stands as a reminder of how far vision, courage, and hard work can carry a family.

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