The Colorful History of the Bella Union

The original Bella Union, owned by Henry Breitbarth, started out as one of seven saloons in Jacksonville, Oregon.

Henry owned this "center of social meeting place" from 1864 to 1871. Henry was born in Oberdoria, Prussia in 1832 and immigrated to America as a young boy. In 1852 he arrived in Jackson County responding to the lure of gold.

The Bella Union was a popular name for drinking and gambling establishments in early mining towns, but it is believed Henry borrowed the name from the infamous San Francisco Bella Union gambling House.

The beginning of the end for the Bella Union was the shooting incident between Senator James D. Fay and V.S. Ralls over the lovely Hannah Ralls.

Fire destroyed the Bella Union in the early morning hours of April 14, 1874. From that point on, the building served as various businesses... as a saloon, machine shop, saddle shop, deli, and back again to a restaurant and saloon. In June 1988, the Bella Union reopened under the present ownership and management of Jerry Hayes.

Bella Union is now one of Jacksonville's premier dining establishments and once again the "center of social meeting".
 

Shooting
Jacksonville, Oregon
Democratic Times Newspaper
Reports Bella Union Incident

"...while Senator Fay was seated in the Bella Union Saloon reading a newspapers, with his back to the door, V.S Ralls entered and without a word, drew his pistol.  Mr. Fay's pistol, stuck the end of the plate of the trigger guard, driving the plate back and disabling the weapon.  The parties being so close together, the powder burnt Mr. Fay's fingers and face.  The ball split on the end of the late, a part going through Mr. Fay's coat, pocket book and striking the second rib on the right side, inflicting a painful flesh wound.  Ralls immediately upon firing returned to the street and fired two more shots in the saloon at Mr. Fay, who was virtually disarmed.  A more deliberate attempt at murder was never perpetrated in this state."

After nine months of monstrous rumors and slanderous charges and countercharges slung back and forth between the two Jacksonville newspapers, James Fay was tried by the Jackson County Grand Jury for the seduction of Hanna Ralls.  After two days of testimony the charge against Fay was dismissed, although printed reports of the trial and intense public scrutiny of Fay's character continued for several more weeks.

It all ended eight years later when Senator James D. Ray took his own life in Empire City, California.

Information gathered from an article published
in the Jacksonville Nugget, Feb. 27, 1981