Mooretown at the Turn of the Century
Mooretown about 1900. The hotel is in the background. The location of these buildings was about 1 mile down from the town of Feather Falls, just before the turn off to the Feather Falls trail head. Mooretown, along with Enterprise, Cascade and a few other small communities were called home by a collection of miners, loggers, farmer and ranchers.
The Establishment of Mooretown and Feather Falls
Mooretown was originally founded in the early 1850’s by John S. Moore. Moore built a hotel near what is now the road leading to the Feather Falls trailhead. The 1860 census lists John Moore as a hotel keeper from North Carolina. A newspaper article from 1866 reports on John Moore holding a 4th of July celebration at his establishment, the Glen Hotel.
By 1867 Mooretown had developed in a booming mining and logging community. The great role of 1867 lists 33 men registered to vote. There were several small lumber mills in area in addition to hundreds of miners; a few of the residents were also making a living with apple orchards. The town boasted a two general stores, stage line and other businesses. The post office was established in 1888, and the local school opened in December of 1863.
In 1913 the Mooretown post office closed.
In 1921 the Hutchinson Lumbar Company arrived in the area and began a large scale lumber operation. In addition to the lumber mill the company also built houses for many of the workers, a company store and eventually a community. With the reestablishment of a post office in the same year, the name of Mooretown was officially changed to Feather Falls.
Feather Falls remained a vibrant community until the closure of the mill in 1960’s; by the early 1970’s the town population was a fraction of what it had once been. Louisiana Pacific, who owned the town, continued to rent the houses and lease out the general store, but in late 1990’s the town was no longer sustainable, and the town was bulldozed to the ground.
By 1867 Mooretown had developed in a booming mining and logging community. The great role of 1867 lists 33 men registered to vote. There were several small lumber mills in area in addition to hundreds of miners; a few of the residents were also making a living with apple orchards. The town boasted a two general stores, stage line and other businesses. The post office was established in 1888, and the local school opened in December of 1863.
In 1913 the Mooretown post office closed.
In 1921 the Hutchinson Lumbar Company arrived in the area and began a large scale lumber operation. In addition to the lumber mill the company also built houses for many of the workers, a company store and eventually a community. With the reestablishment of a post office in the same year, the name of Mooretown was officially changed to Feather Falls.
Feather Falls remained a vibrant community until the closure of the mill in 1960’s; by the early 1970’s the town population was a fraction of what it had once been. Louisiana Pacific, who owned the town, continued to rent the houses and lease out the general store, but in late 1990’s the town was no longer sustainable, and the town was bulldozed to the ground.
The Old Dance Hall
This view of Mooretown is facing north from what is now the entrance to the school. The building to the left is the dance hall; if you look closely you can see the old mill in the background.
I don't have alot of information on the dance hall. I obtained the picture from one of the old timers who still lives in Feather Falls. His family has lived in the Father Falls/Mooretown area all their lives; they are part of the Maidu tribe of indians who call the area home before the arrival of Europeans.
I don't have alot of information on the dance hall. I obtained the picture from one of the old timers who still lives in Feather Falls. His family has lived in the Father Falls/Mooretown area all their lives; they are part of the Maidu tribe of indians who call the area home before the arrival of Europeans.
Entertainment
Although life was hard in Mooretown in the early days of its history, none the less the residents always seemed to find time to let off a little steam and socialize.
Holidays were normally a time when the residents would get together, normally at a dance or some other event. A couple of old newspaper articles I found talk about dances.
In July 1886, Merrill Whittier was persuaded to host a ball "in his fine hall" in the Mooretown hotel. There was music and supper; tickets were only $2.50 each.
In July 1866, the town founder John Moore, held a 4th of July celebration in the Glen house. The details are a little more sketchy concerning this get together but the paper does report that a "more popular host than John can not be found in many a days ride."
Of course dancing and music weren't the only forms of entertainment. The men seemed to find plenty of time to drink and play cards; there were "Turkey shoots" which on at least one occasion turned deadly when a fight broke out between two of the men.
Holidays were normally a time when the residents would get together, normally at a dance or some other event. A couple of old newspaper articles I found talk about dances.
In July 1886, Merrill Whittier was persuaded to host a ball "in his fine hall" in the Mooretown hotel. There was music and supper; tickets were only $2.50 each.
In July 1866, the town founder John Moore, held a 4th of July celebration in the Glen house. The details are a little more sketchy concerning this get together but the paper does report that a "more popular host than John can not be found in many a days ride."
Of course dancing and music weren't the only forms of entertainment. The men seemed to find plenty of time to drink and play cards; there were "Turkey shoots" which on at least one occasion turned deadly when a fight broke out between two of the men.