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BANDON, Coos County. Bandon is a community on the south side of the mouth of the Coquille River. It was named by George Bennett who settled not far from the present town in 1873. Bennett was a native of Ireland and named the new city for Bandon, on Bandon River, County Cork, Ireland. He married Katherine Ann Scott Harrison, and three children were born to them, two of whom have been prominent citizens of Coos County. Bandon was almost completely destroyed by fire on September 26, 1936, but is being rebuilt. For historical sketch of Bandon, see the Oregonian, September 28, 1936. For history of Bandon and Coquille River by George Bennett, see OHQ, volume XXVIII, page 311, and volume

XXIX, page 20. An Englishman, William Davidson, known locally as Billy Buckhorn, is said to have been the first resident. Bandon post office was established September 12, 1877, with John Lewis first of a long line of postmasters.

BANGOR, Coos County. Bangor was a townsite laid out on the west side of Pony Slough, now within the city of North Bend. "Major" L. D. Kinney, who came to Coos Bay about May, 1902, from Maine, promoted the townsite and also expected to build a belt line railroad at Coos Bay and a railroad from Coos Bay to the Willamette Valley. The promotions did not mature. Bangor was named for Kinney's former home in Maine. A post office with the name Bangor was established November 8, 1902, with Edwin H. Wall postmaster. The office was never in active operation and the order was rescinded March 10, 1903.

BANKS, Washington County. Banks was named in compliment to Robert Banks, a pioneer resident, and his father, John Banks. The name is said to have been selected by Joe Schulmerich and Joed Hartley. Banks post office was established January 21, 1902, with Ewell S. Turner first postmaster. It was at first planned to name the office Turner, probably for the first postmaster, but this could not be done because of duplication with Turner in Marion County. Banks post office was discontinued in December, 1904, and the business was turned over to Greenville. Early in 1907 the Greenville office was moved north a few miles to the location of the old Banks office. Local residents petitioned to have the old name Banks restored, which was done in April, 1907.

BARBER, Lincoln County. Barber post office was established March 30, 1911, and was discontinued January 31, 1912. Clarinda Barber was the only postmaster in the history of the establishment. The compiler is informed that the office was at or near the mouth of Wolf Creek, on Elk Creek about three miles downstream from Harlan. It was named in compliment to the family of the postmaster.

BARBRA, Clatsop County. Barbra is an unusual name for a place but that is the way it is in postal records. Barbra was in the extreme south part of Clatsop County, on North Fork Nehalem River, near the middle of section 28, township 4 north, range 9 west. In recent years the Markham and Callow logging camp has been in operation a little to the northeast on the Necanicum Highway. Barbra post office was established May 24, 1892, with Thomas Mitchell the first and only postmaster. The office was closed May 26, 1900, with papers to Nehalem. Mrs. Rose West Johnson, RFD Warrenton, Oregon, has written that Barbra post office was named for the wife of the postmaster, Thomas Mitchell. The Johnsons are old timers on Clatsop Plains and recall the days when carriers took the mail through from Seaside to Nehalem.