Drake, June D., 1880-1969,

June D. Drake (the middle initial "D" did not stand for anything) was born in Marquam, Or. in 1880 to Charles Wesley Drake and Fannie Aurora Milster Drake. In the fall of 1889, the Drake family moved to Silverton, Or. and Charles built the family home at 401 South Water Street. He later owned the Commercial Hotel on Main Street, which was sold in 1891 to hardware store owner Adolph Wolf. Charles Drake also served as mayor of Silverton before his death in 1911.

In 1900, June and his brother, Emory Roy Drake, founded their photography business, Drake Bros. Studio, buying out the business of pioneer Silverton photographer William L. Jones. Emory and June operated their studio together until 1908, when Emory left to become a music teacher in Sacramento. This studio burned to the ground on March 27th, 1908, and thousands of the brothers’ original negatives were destroyed. After the fire, members of the Silverton community built Drake a temporary studio at 311 North Water Street. He operated his business there from April of 1908 until September of 1911, when he moved into a new, studio building at 303 North Water Street. June Drake continued his photography there until his retirement in 1960, when the building was sold to Standard Oil Co. and torn down.

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