Longacres was a horse-race track that was started on the Nelsen Farmland. James Nelsen borrowed money from the Holland Netherlands Bank-“at 12 percent interest and payable in gold,” Miss Nelsen recalls-“to buy another 260 acres.” The land was all in the Orillia area, stretching North through what is now Longacres and the King Countypark along Interurban Avenue. “This was all trees in here-cottonwoods, maples, all had to be dynamited and cleared in order to farm,” Helen recalls. It was a time when neighbors pulled together, most of the Valley being separated into 260 acre hop and potato farms. James Nelsen soon became a supervisor in the hop fields. In 1905, Mary contracted with a local carpenter, Mr. Olsen, to build the Nelsen Family Residence that is here today. Currently Longacres updated their name and location at Emerald Downs in Auburn.
Longacres was a horse-race track that was started on the Nelsen Farmland. James Nelsen borrowed money from the Holland Netherlands Bank-“at 12 percent interest and payable in gold,” Miss Nelsen recalls-“to buy another 260 acres.” The land was all in the Orillia area, stretching North through what is now Longacres and the King Countypark along Interurban Avenue. “This was all trees in here-cottonwoods, maples, all had to be dynamited and cleared in order to farm,” Helen recalls. It was a time when neighbors pulled together, most of the Valley being separated into 260 acre hop and potato farms. James Nelsen soon became a supervisor in the hop fields. In 1905, Mary contracted with a local carpenter, Mr. Olsen, to build the Nelsen Family Residence that is here today. Currently Longacres updated their name and location at Emerald Downs in Auburn.
