The history of African-American communities in Oregon is rarely discussed, despite their essential role in the local economy in the early 20th century. Maxville, a logging town in the northeastern part of the state, is a striking example of this omission. Established in 1923 by the Bowman-Hicks Lumber Company, Maxville housed black and white workers, living in strict segregation.
Now, thanks to the joint efforts of the Southern Oregon University Anthropology Program and the Maxville Heritage Interpretive Center, recent archaeological excavations are rediscovering this forgotten history. Funded by a grant from the Oregon State Historic Preservation Office, this project uncovers artifacts from the daily lives of black families of the era, revealing a story of resilience in the face of segregation and harsh living conditions in the manufacturing industry. drink.
A history deeply rooted in racial segregation
Maxville, founded in 1923 by the Bowman-Hicks Company, represented a typical form of racial segregation in Oregon. Despite the apparent diversity of its population. The town was home to around 400 residents, including an African-American community of around 40 people, recruited from the southern United States to work in the lumber industry. However, despite their essential contributions, these black families remained subject to racially exclusionary laws.
They imposed a life on the margins, while white families lived in more comfortable, carefully constructed houses. Black families found themselves confined to precarious housing, moved by train to the most remote areas of the city. Mark Tveskov, a professor at Southern Oregon University and co-director of the excavation, points out that Maxville followed the principles of Jim Crow segregation. These latter structured not only the habitat, but also the social organization of the city.
Segregation in Maxville did not stop at residential neighborhoods. Schools, recreation, and community events were also strictly divided between blacks and whites. While black loggers worked alongside their white counterparts in logging. This professional cohabitation therefore did not translate into equality in public or private spaces.
This reality contrasts sharply with the image of a white, homogeneous Oregon that history has often perpetuated. The Maxville case highlights the racial and ethnic diversity of rural Oregon communities in the early 20th century. But above all it exposes the systemic inequalities imposed by the racial laws of the time.
Archaeological discoveries: a window into the daily lives of black families
Archaeological excavations carried out between September 4 and 14, 2024 revealed remains that tell the story of the daily life of black families in Maxville. These excavations were led by students and professors from Southern Oregon and Eastern Oregon universities, in partnership with the Maxville Heritage Interpretive Center.
Among the artifacts, fragments of vinyl records, period clothing buttons, and a diaper pin were found, shedding light on the domestic life of black families. “ The objects are not spectacular, but they speak of everyday lives “, underlines Mark Tveskov, professor of anthropology at Southern Oregon, in an article inOPB.
The clothing items found provide a fascinating contrast between the demands of lumberjack work and the more personal moments of these workers. Buttons emblazoned with company logos like Levi Strauss and King of the Road, emblematic of rugged workwear, sit alongside more delicate elements like glass beads and dress clasps.
They evoke attention to appearance and social moments despite harsh living conditions. Maxville's oral records had already revealed the importance of dances and social events within the black community. And the presence of these objects constitutes tangible proof. Tveskov spoke of the 1920s as a time when fashion, especially the fringed dresses typical of flappers, made an impact, even in isolated places like Maxville.
A connection with nature
Additionally, the discovery of deer bones attests to the ability of black families to adapt to local resources in Oregon. The black communities of Maxville, originally from the southern United States, were foreign to this mountainous environment. However, they managed to establish a relationship with this land. They hunted deer and other animals to supplement their diet. Elliot Helmer, an archaeologist on the project, described how these animal remains reveal their ability to live outside the capitalist industrial structures that dominated their working environment.
Archaeologist Elliot Helmer digs around a deer bone at the Maxville dig site, September 11, 2024. © Arya Surowidjojo / OPB
After Maxville was closed by the Bowman-Hicks Lumber Company in 1933, a severe winter storm in 1946 caused most of the town's remaining structures to collapse. The exact location where black families lived has been lost.
A project to preserve and transmit history
This archaeological investigation project was made possible by a $20,000 grant from the Oregon State Historic Preservation Office. It is part of a larger effort initiated by Gwen Trice, the founder of the Maxville Heritage Interpretive Center. Daughter of a former black logger from Maxville, Lafayette “Lucky” Trice, Gwen began research several decades ago based on the testimonies of the descendants of the inhabitants of Maxville. Today, its center is the driving force behind the rediscovery of this unique history. “ Archeology allows us to reveal our past in a way that traditional collecting of archives and objects cannot. “, explains Trice.
Small domestic artifacts from the town of Maxville, September 12, 2024. © Arya Surowidjojo / OPB
To accurately map Maxville, archaeologists used a plan of the town based on oral histories and historical aerial photos. They first conducted a magnetometer survey, an advanced metal detector, to locate the foundations of the houses without disturbing the ground. Then, they compared the positions of the archaeological remains with a series of aerial photos dating from 1946 to 1972, using high-precision GPS capable of marking locations to within 5-10 centimeters. The excavation at the Maxville site is just the first step in a larger project to establish an educational and interpretive space for future generations.
A national story to tell
Maxville is not just a local story. It is part of a broader framework of American history, that of black communities in segregated rural spaces. “ It's truly a part of American storytelling », underlines Trice. She hopes this story will help raise awareness among younger generations and give them a connection to their past.
The excavation and research at Maxville marks an important step in recognizing the experience of African American communities in rural Oregon. This project, although scientific, is also profoundly human. It testifies to the resilience of a community which, despite difficulties, was able to prosper and leave an indelible mark on the history of the region. Today, thanks to archaeology, this once forgotten story is finally finding the place it deserves in collective memory.
Source: South Oregon University
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