Douglas County Museum Exclusively Offers 'Lone Rock Free State' Reprint

The Douglas County Board of Commissioners Chris Boice, Tim Freeman, and Tom Kress, in conjunction with the Douglas County Museum of History and Natural History and the Douglas County Museum Foundation are pleased to announce the re-publication and exclusive availability of the iconic “Lone Rock Free State” book, that chronicles the history of the North Umpqua River territory near Glide. The original book was published in 1970 by local author and historian, Lavola Bakken. Lavola wrote that, “We call this land ‘Lone Rock Free State’ because, like the early Indian, most of us feel a freedom here seldom found in modern cities or suburban life today.” Dubbed the “little green book,” cherished copies of Lavola’s Lone Rock Free State have been passed down from one generation to the next much like a family bible for the descendants of early settlers of the North Umpqua territory. Through stories and hard facts, Lavola skillfully documents the biographical and sociological history of the region — starting millennia earlier with the first indigenous inhabitants. The territory referred to as the Lone Rock Free State has no distinct boundaries, but Lavola’s stories span a geographic area from the Lone Rock ferry — now Glide’s “Green Bridge” — to Bill Bradley’s cabin past Dry Creek and up to Cap’s Illahee. In an ironic twist of fate, on the 50th Anniversary of the publishing of the book, the Archie Creek Fire burned her beloved grandfather McMillen’s homestead cabin to the ground. Even more ironic is the fact that the fire’s perimeter roughly approximates the boundaries of Lavola’s famed and fabled Lone Rock territory. Today, this authentic narrative is considered the bedrock of any research for the North Umpqua region of Douglas County, Oregon. Ownership of the original printing of the book is a bragging right for long-time Glide residents, as copies are exceedingly difficult to find. That is until now. Copies of the reprint of “Lone Rock Free State” are currently available for sale exclusively in the Douglas County Museum of History and Natural History’s Museum Mercantile gift shop for $24.99. Proceeds from the sale of the book will benefit the Douglas County Museum. “This book is a must-have for any Douglas County resident or history buff who wants to learn more about the history of Douglas County and the North Umpqua area,” stated Douglas County Commissioner and Museum liaison Tom Kress. The Douglas County Museum Foundation spearheaded re-publication of the book to ensure that copies are available for the current generation of Oregonians. The text was kept entirely as it was in 1970; however, most photographs were upgraded to high resolution images from their original copies held by the Douglas County Museum’s archives or on loan from local families. Foundation President Matt Hill is a relative of Lavola Bakken (first cousins, three times removed). Hill said, “This book is a special historical treasure, and the Foundation is honored to help renew Lavola’s lifelong mission to preserve the history of Douglas County.” The Douglas County Museum of History and Natural History is located at 123 Museum Drive in Roseburg, Oregon (conveniently located off I-5 Exit 123 and adjacent to the Douglas County Fairgrounds). It is open seven days a week from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. It can take 1-3 hours to tour the museum depending on your pace. The Lavola Bakken Research Library is open Tuesday through Saturday 1:00 pm – 4:30 pm. Admission is free for members, ages 0-4 are free, students 5-17 are $2.00, adults are $8.00, seniors and veterans are $5.00. The "Museum Mercantile," the museum gift shop, offers the area’s leading source of books on Douglas County’s natural and cultural history, as well as a wide range of Oregon souvenirs and other great gift items including educational and historic toys. Click here for more information or to find out about volunteering at our Douglas County Museum of History & Natural History or call the Douglas County Museum at (541) 957-7007. Background: Lavola Bakken (née “McMillen”) was the daughter and granddaughter of Ohioan settlers who arrived in the Umpqua Valley in the late 1800s. She lived during a transition between historical epochs. She played the mandolin at family reunions up at the homestead and heard first-hand accounts of the early pioneers. Lavola personally knew Mace Tipton (known at the time as the “Last of the Umpqua Indians”), whose wife Nance made beaded buckskin clothes and bags for the McMillen family, which are currently on display at the Douglas County Museum. Lavola was niece to Tip Hill, who built the original Rock Creek fish hatchery just a five-minute walk from her home. Her family hunted and fished the North Umpqua area and operated the early post offices in the Idleyld area out of their homes. “Lone Rock Free State” was published in 1970, the year her husband died. Lavola dedicated the book to him and her sons, Clarence and Howard, who “may someday wonder how this community began.” Clarence and Howard Bakken permitted the re-publication of the book to benefit the Douglas County Museum of History and Natural History, where Lavola worked as the research librarian for many years and for whom the research library is named. Photos attached courtesy of the Douglas County Museum of History and Natural History, Bakken Family and the Hill Family. Via Douglas County Government Release Photo 1 - Lavola Bakken at her grandfather McMillen’s homestead cabin. Courtesy of Hill Family Photo 2 - Lavola Bakken circa early 1900’s. Courtesy of Bakken Family Photo 3 - Inside cover of Lone Rock Free State, original publication circa 1970. Photo 4 - Rick Sohn, former President of Lone Rock Resources was the first to buy a copy of the reprint. Courtesy of Douglas County Museum Photo 5 - Original Copy of Lone Rock Free State, published around 1970.