OREGON STATE UN VERSITY LIBRARIES

11111 liiiIliiiI 11111 IIIIII 12 0143181713

I jes teryecirs of

A Historyof MorrowCounty OREGON esteryeuis of c101/TOW

A history of Morrow County prepared by the Morrow County

Extension Units and produced m Cooperation with the Morrow

County Court m celebration of the Oregon Centennial year Table of c9ontents

Introduction

Early Settlers Through 1870

Pioneer Life

Development Of Public Services and Utilities

Early Communities In Morrow County

Twentieth Century Towns In Morrow County

VII A Look Into The Future EARLY MAP OF MORROW COUNTY

.4- PREFACE The committee who was asked to compile and put together this history of Morrow County found the responsibility much more than we had anticipated. The history began as a project lesson of the Morrow County Extension Units in January 1959. Seeing that 1959 was Oregon's centennial year, the wo- men decided we should know more about the early history of the countyin which we live. Historians were appointed in each club and they compiled a history which was mimeographed in the county extension office and entitled, "Know Your Morrow County." This history was the basis of a centennial pageant, "Yester Years of Morrow County," presented by our units at their annual Homemakers Festival in the Willows Grange Hall, Lone, on April 30, 1959. Demand for the mimeographed history far exceeded the supply on hand. The County Advisory Committee of the Extension Units then appealed to the County Court for assistance in printing a re-edited version. Our committee was given this task. We found the research to be very enjoyable. We have tried to include all the early pioneers and major events that made Morrow County what it is today. There will naturally be some omissions and misinformation due to the lack of space or the lack of information on our part. We hope that you will not be disappointed with this booklet, and that you will read it with historical interest, rather than questioning. A proper list of individuals who have contributed to this history would run to several hundred names. About all we can do is togive special ack- nowledgement to the unit historians who gathered the first draft of the county's history. They include: Mrs. Frank Marlow, Mrs. Nathan Thorpe and Mrs. Richard Waymire, Boardman Unit; Mrs. Douglas Drake and Mrs. Clive Huston, Heppner Unit; Mrs. Norman Nelson and Mrs. Omar Rietmann. lone Unit; Mrs. Lloyd Berger, Mrs. Milton Biegel and Mrs. Marguerite Houghton, Irrigon Unit; Mrs. W. E. Hughes and Mrs. George Currin, Lena Unit; Mrs. Anne Smouse and Mrs. Walter Ruggles, Lexington Unit; Mrs. Marion Finch and Mrs. Burl Wattenburger. Pine City Unit; Mrs. William Rawlins and Mrs. Kenneth Batty, Rhea Creek Unit. Also we give special aknowledgement to the pioneer daughters and sons of Morrow County who remembered the days their parents and grandparents first homesteaded in the county. With humble hearts we say.Thank yu" and dedicate this book to the State of Oregon in this, its centennial year 1959 THE EDITING COMMITTEE: Mrs. Norman Nelson, Chairman: Mrs. Omar Rietniann, Mi's, Anne Sinouse. Mrs. Walter Ruggles and Mrs. John Bergstrom I. Introduction

When Oregon was first settled most of the newcomers went to the Wil- lamette Valley, leaving only a few miners and stockmen inEastern Ore- gon. Consequently it was not until years after Oregon became a state that Eastern Oregon was settled. When the valley was pretty well taken, up, and the excitement over the California gold fields was dying down, people began to remember the rolling bunch grass covered hills of the land through which they had passed. Morrow and Umatilla counties were once a part of Wasco County. Morrow County was formed from a part of Umatilla County on February 16, 1885 and Heppner was chosen the first county seat. Morrow County extends from the Blue Mountains on the south to the Columbia River on the north and consists of 2059 square miles. The elevation varies from 250 feet on the Columbia River to 6000 feet in the Blue Mountains. Through the years many ways for making a living have existed. In the Blue Mountains there were sawmills; opal, gold, silver and coal mines; and summer grazing for livestock. From the foothills florthward to the sands, grain, hay and livestock 'were raised. Along the river, truck gardens, orchards and dairies were numerous. Morrow County reached its peak of population in 1920 with 5617 people n 1958 there were 4875. II. Early Settlers (1852-1870) History indicates that the earliestwas born in England, built a home at homesteader in Morrow County wasthe Oregon Trail crossing on Willow George Vinson, who came from IowaCreek. This was the beginning of a to Butter Creek in 1852. He was thesettlement that took on the name of first man to take a wagon up ButterCecil and became the stopping place Creek and filed a claim on land twoof the emigrants on their way to west- miles below the present site of Lena.ern Oregon. A post office was estab- This farm has remained in the familylished here in 1867 and has continued up to the present time and is now be-on through the years. ing farmed by Delbert Vinson. Mostly Also in 1863, William Penland is stock raisers began coming to Morrowreported to have brought the first band County. of sheep to Morrow County, making There were a number of familieshis headquarters at the mouth of what that settled along Willow Creek nearis now Black Horse canyon where it its Junction with Rhea Creek. In 1859,joined the Willow Creek valley. He John Jordan,originally from Ohio,was a native of Kentucky, very indus- built the first house in Morrow County,trious and progressive, and realized a log cabin, about two miles abovethe opportunity presented here. In a the present site of Tone. His nearestfew years he succeeded in building up neighbor at that time was Thomas W.one of the finest ranches. He became Ayers of Iowa, who settled at theknown as the sheep king and one of forks of Butter Creek in 1862. Tom andthe most wealthy men in his time. his brother, William, arrived in Uma- Elijah W. Rhea, a native of Vir- tilla County and each established him-ginia, with his wife and three sons, self on Butter Creek. Torn not only op-ColumbusA.("Lum"), James and erated a farm for four years, but droveThomas came to the valley, which was a freight train from Umatilla landingto become known by their name, in to Granite and also Grande Ronde. He1864. They settled on land about 12 soon acquired cattle and horses inmiles from the point where Rhea Creek such numbers that he gave up hisjoins Willow Creek. They became pros- freight line. He sold his ranch in 1878,perous cattle and sheep raisers. to the Vey Brothers and moved to Another very early pioneer sheep- Heppner. William Ayers raised sheepman on Rhea Creek was Albert Wright on the place now owned by the Hugheswhose descendants, Orrian Wright and family. his son, Albert, still occupy the orig- Creeks have a way of being namedinalhomesteadsite.Crossingthe after some person, animal or episodeplains from Indiana among the first that took place on its banks. Butterwagon trains in 1852, Mr Wright farm- Creek is no exception. One of the stor-ed in Oregon City before coming to ies told claims that it received itsthis area in 1864. The first winter was name because some lowly privates ofspent at the "Sunderlin Place", on a Cavalry Detachment of U. S. SoldiersRock Creek near Chapin Creek, where riding between Walla Walla and Thehe later operated a sawmill. Dalles, stole the Captain's butter and AmanuelC.Petteys,originally hid it in the creek. Thereafter, it wasfrom the state of New York, came in called Butter Creek. 1868 from the Wiliamette Valley with The years of 1860 to 1870 founda band of cattle and settled at the more settlers homesteading in Morrowforks of Rhea and Willow Creek, three County. In 1863 William Y Cecil, whomiles east of the present site of Tone. -7- Here he homesteaded, bought land and Another colorful and interesting built a house. His place was one ofpioneer who took a homestead in 1870, the central stopping places for travel-at the present site of the Slocum ranch, ers. Here they could buy supplies forwas William (Uncle Billy)Gilliam. Mr. Petteys had about 50 acres of al-He crossed the plains in 1852 and en- falfa which he sold for hay and 10gaged in the Indian Wars of 1855-56, acres of orchard which produced anincluding the battle for the Walla abundant supply offruit. He alsoWalla valley. The Spring Hollow ranch maintained a barn for the care ofwas homesteaded by Frank Giliam, the stage and freighter teams. He be-his brother, also in 1870. He started came postmaster of Petteysville anda hardware store in Heppner. which held the post for fourteen years untilis well known at the present day as the office was discontinued. Gilliam and Bisbee. In 1869 Joseph Mason, of Portugal, Henry Padberg with his family came from Salem to the Rhea Creekcame to the Willamette Valley from valley where he bought 160 acres fromGermany. He came to Morrow County William Hughes. On this tract of landin 1870 and settled about seven miles the first brick house in Morrow Countysoutheast of the present site of lone was built. His ten children were bornon Rhea Creek. He raised sheep most- there. Some of the house still standsly, but now the home place is in and is in use as a modern kitchen.wheat and farmed by his grandson, Mr. Mason planted the first orchardDarrell Padberg. and berries on Rhea Creek. The early Eli Summers with his family filed emigrants found this an ideal placeon a homestead two miles northwest to camp and rest and were happy toof Lexington on Willow Creek in 1870. Here he built his home, raised hay, ran find a place to buy such fine food.cattle and had a large orchard and George W. Stansbury came to Mor-garden. Settlers from surrounding dry row County and purchased land fromlands came here for their yearly sup- a man named Estes in 1869. The mead-ply of fruits and vegetables. He made ow became known asStansbury'stripsto the Willamette Valley for Flats and until 1872 his cabin was thenursery stock. Mrs Summers ran the only building there. Stansbury's Flatshotel in Lexington during the build. was the later townsite of the city ofing of the railroad and for about 16 Heppner. years in all. Ill. Pioneer Life Most of the early settlers obtain-on and the land had to be lived on ed their land by homesteading (do-either six or nine months and then nationlandclaims),pre-emptionpaid for at $1.25 per acre. claims, timber cultures, purchase of Timber cultures could be acquired school land for $2.50 an acre, or pur-by the settlers by having a designated chasing railroad land for $1.25 an acre.number of "live" trees on five of the To homestead, a man had to file160 acres. Then they could prove up his intention and live on this landon it and the land was theirs. the required time each year, making Every thirty sixth section of a town improvements on it. It usually tookship was given to the schools by the about five years to prove up on landgovernment for their support. This and get the deed. land was sold at $2.50 an acre to The pre-ernption claims were filedearly settlers. -8- The government also gave thehammer, to care for his own equip. railroad land if they would build theirment. Seeding was done by hand lines through to the west. The rail- broadcasting from the back of a spring road, in turn, sold this land to early(or Democrat) wagon. When the wheat settlers, to finance their railroad. was ready for harvest the header cut a The land was all open in earlyroad through the center of the field, times; no fences. The hills grew lushpreparing the opening to accomodate bunch grass and wild grass on thethe stack of grain. The remainder of meadows, which was cut for hay forthe grain in the field was cut and winter feed. There were thousands ofhauled by header boxes to these stacks head of cattle, horses and sheep thatto await the stationary threshers that grazed the open hills and valleys. came later. There were very few farm- In the early 1880's settlers beganers who owned their threshing ma- to plant grains to be used for cereals.chines, so they had custom threshing Hence, we find flour and grist millsdone by traveling crews. Payment was in most of the settled areas. In 1888made accordingto the number of the 0. R; & N. (Oregon Railroad andsacks of wheat threshed. Happy was Navigation)railroad was built upthe farmer who didn't have to feed Willow Creek from the mainline onthethreshershorsesoverSunday. the Columbia River. At about thisThreshing was done from daylight to time the raising of wheat becamedark. Even then some farmers didn't more important to the farmer becauseget their grain threshed. until Christ. mas some years. The sacks of wheat it was a quicker cash crop than thewere piled in the field with the straw livestock. Previous to this time, wheat,nearby. For easy counting sacks of wool, and livestock from as far southwheat were piled in long rows. Each astheBlue Mountains, had been hauled to Castle Rock, and in returnsetting started with a fifteen-sack merchandise had been hauled in onpyramid and by additions could in- a route by way of Wells Spring. Laterclude several hundred sacks of grain. much of the produce was hauled toDuring the slack season the grain was Arlington and trading for necessitieshauled to the warehouses located by took place. therailroad. The farmers dickered PIONEER FARMING was quiteback and forth with the grain buyers different from our modern methods.for the most advantageous price In the -early days horses were the Some firsts in farming in Morrow main source of power. Later thrashingCounty that are recorded are: the first was done by the steam engine withbuilcing of grain was in 1920; one of straw for fuel. The ground-poweredthe first mechanized power tractors in combines took the place of the header1917; the first airplane spraying for and the stationary outfits, until theweeds in 1948; and the first fertilizing advent of the gasoline and dieselof grain In 1955 crawler type tractor Pioneer Community Social Life The early method of plowing was Pioneer community social life was by the walking plow generally pulledlimited because homes were often by three horses. A few years later gangmany miles apart. On Saturday nights, plows made up of a three-bottom 12"especially in the winter, the school or 16" share were pulled by six orhouse became a recreation center. "Lit. eight horses sometimes driven by aerary Societies" often held debates jerkline. Each farmer had his ownwith those from neighboring commun- small blacksmith shop equipped withities. "Spelling Bees" were popular. an anvil, forge, slack tub and sledgeA type of local "newspaper" which -9. included choice bits of humor aboutyears, however, hunting and fishing everyone in the community was oftenhave become a part of the recreational prepared to be read at these meetings.activity of the whole northwest. Elk Each Christmas eve the schooland deer are found in the mountains house became the scene for the bigof Morrow County in great quantities. community gathering. A program ofGame birds, such as ducks, geese, group singing of Christmas carols andChinese pheasants, and grouse are recitations by the school children wasplentiful along the creeks and open held. It was the custom for each per-field. There is good fishing in the son to receive one present off themountain streams and the Columbia Christmas tree. The large Christmas River. tree was decorated with tallow can- In more recent years, the ranches dies, strings of pop corn and cran-have become much larger than in the berries, paper chanis, apples, etc. homesteading days; one family now Other forms of recreation wereoccupying the land where as many barn raisings, house raisings,quilt-as six families lived before. Therefore, ing bees, box socials, all night dancesthere are fewer people in the rural usually held in the school or privateareas. Consequently the towns have homes. Music was provided by localnot grown as large as it was thought talent on the violin, piano, banjo, ac-they would in the booming period. cordian or sometimes a harmonica.The homes now being built are all Singing schools were heldin theof the most modern type. The tendency homes when instructors were avail-in the old days was for the rancher, able. Among winter diversions werewho had accumulated enough to re- sleighing parties and rabbit hunts intire, to move away to one of the lar- which teams vied for a big oysterger cities in Oregon where he could supper, which the losing team pre-live the "Life of Riley" the remainder pared. of his life. This has now passed and There was a great deal of visit:.the trendtowardbuildingafine ing between families on Sundays andhome on the ranch or in a nearby holidays. Sometimes whole familiestown has taken its place. Now there would help each other with the butch-are many fine homes to be found all ering or lard making over the county Some of the outstanding social 'rrnPIONEER FAMILY for the events of the year were the Fourthmost part, did without those things ofJulycelebrationwithpatrioticit could riot produce. It was largely speeches, picnic lunches (that tookself-sufficient, relying on the labors weeks to prepare). competitive races,of every member of the family. The baseball games and horseracing.pioneer family was an economic as Other events included the annual vis-well as a social unit. The families it of the traveling cireus or medicinewere generally large. Often there were show; the chatauqua; the fall fair10 or 12 children. Yet infant mortality and rodeo; the annual Sunday Schoolwas very high. Epidemics were fre- picnic which often required an exquent and diptheria was a frequent cursion train; and the revivals withchild killerSickness and accidents baptism in the creek, watering troughwere common; drugs and doctors were or any place there was sufficient wa scarce Neighbors depended upon each tar. other for help during sickness. Home Hunting and fishing were firstremedies were common and in each done by the early settlers to supple- community there were women who ment their household food. In lateracted as practical nurses. -10- Many of the early day houses ofwas taken to the flour mill and ex- the homesteaders were built of roughchanged for flour. One bushel of wheat lumber 1" x 12" with battens of 1" xbrought 35 pounds of flour in ex- 4" to cover the joinings - calledchange. Flour could be bought at $'i00 box construction. They had a livingper 100 pound sack or $3.50 per hun- room, one or two bedrooms a kitchendred pounds by the barrel. and always a pantry. Washing was done on the wash THE KITCHEN was the most livedboard and wrung by hand. Wash in partof the house. Besides thewater was heated in cans or buckets cooking and dishwashing that wason the stove. Home-made soap was done there, it was used for washingmade by the housewife from drippings and ironing the clothes, bathing theand lye in an iron kettle out of doors. Heavy irons called "sad irons" and family, caring for orphaned animals "flatirons" were heatedover the and many other things. Cooking was done on big iron,cook stove and used for ironing. wood-burning stoves. Cooking utensils For those whose farms were not on the creek or had dug-wells, the were few: mainly iron pots, heavyproblem of having water for house- iron tea kettles and skillets. Every- hold use and the stock was a never one made his own butter - first,ending one. Some ranchers were for- in the old dasher type churn and thentunate enough to have artesian wells later in the barrel-type chum whichor springs. As soon as the land was broken up many springs and Wells was considered quicker and easier.went dry. Then water had to be haul- During the summer months,milk,ed in barrels covered with gunny cream and butter were kept in thesacks and emptied into cisterns; one cellar, springs or wells. The cellarsfor household use and the other for were used for things that needed pro.the stock tection. It was usually dug out of the side of a hill, or dug in the ground Homes were lighted by the ever near the kitchen door. These cellarsfaithful kerosene lamps. whose chim- were boarded up and the sides cover-neys were washed every morning a- ed with sod. Steps leading down werelong with the breakfast dishes, and covered by slanting doors that couldcovered during the day with a news- be laid back on the ground. Whencepaper cap to be kept free from dust came the old song, "You Can't Slideand fly specks. Kerosene was bought Down My Cellar Door." in five gallon tins. After being emptied they had many uses. By cutting the A traveling salesman often cametop out and having a rounded stick to the house and supplies that hadnailed to it, it made a handy water to be bought such as coffee, whitebucket. With one side cut through and brown sugar, flour and otherand the tin rolled back for holders staples were purchased in large quan-it made a good boiler or foot tub. tities once or twice a year. Sugar wasIn those days nothing was wasted or bought in one or two hundred poundthrown away sacks and large sacks of green coffee which was roastedat home and It is told that in the early days ground in a family coffee mill asthe men made trips to the "sands" needed. According to an advertise-to gather grease wood, Juniper and ment in the 1::: Heppner paper wheatsage brush for fuel and later thej .,11. hauled wood from the Blue Moun- Thefurniturewaslargeand tains. Sometimes the men of severalheavy and often hand carved. Some families would make the trip to theslightlycarved,claw-footedtables; mountains together to help each othermassive bureaus of carved oak; or cut down the trees and saw up thethe parlor organ, that survived the logs to make enough wood to lasttrip across the plains in the covered two or three months. At the same timewagon, graced the front room of the some also cut lodge poles for corralspioneer family. On rare occasions mo- and fences. ther would take time off from her Before wall paper was availablemany duties to play a hymn on the at a reasonable price, cracks in thefamily organ. walls were covered with strips of old The BEDROOM consisted mainly cloth and the walls papered withof the bed. Bedsteads were often home newspapers - careful to have themade, with high hand-carved head- printing right side up. This served asboards. The bed had slats instead of a good medium forchildren whensprings and straw ticks in lieu of mattresses. These ticks were made of learning to read. flour sacks or ticking and filled with The PARLOR, the least used roomnew clean straw of special cut rye in the house, was kept immaculatehay. When first made they were big. and used only for company and holi-T0 keep them plump they were fluffed and turned often. After a year's use the days. It was dominated by the big potticks were emptied, washed and re- bellied stove or the lighter, better-filled with new straw - usually after looking little sheet iron stove. Manyharvest when the straw was clean very ornate cast iron heating stovesand fresh. In the winter feather ticks were added making a snug warm bed. brought over in covered wagons were(It was the belief of the families also used. They were polished weeklythat sleeping between feather ticks or oftener to a shining brightness withwould protect them during an electric stove polish that could be purchasedstorm.) The pride of every pioneer at the general store. woman was her patchwork quilt which The floors were covered with ragwas made from the scraps of cloth rugs. These were made by the womensaved over a number of years. When and girls sewing together stripsofsufficient scraps were saved they were cloth torn from worn or discardedsewed into a cover top and neighbor clothing and rolled into large balls.women were called in for a quilting When enough had been sewed they bee. were taken to a person having a The women made most of the weaving loom and woven into a rugclothes for the family. In cases of of the desired size. Scatter rugs werelarge families, whole bolts of material made by braiding or hooking woolenwere purchased at a time and the stripsThe large rugs were tackedchildren appeared in shirts and dress- down after first having a layer ofes of one design of materiaL Other straw or rye hay laid on the floorarticles of clothing, that could not At various times the rugs were takenbe made by the housewife, were order- up, cleaned and a fresh layer of strawed from a mail order catalog Often put down and the carpets tacked downthere was only one catalog to a coin- again. munity. i2- It was a "red-letter" day for theday services were conducted by trav- pioneer homemaker and her childrenelingministersinprivatehomes, when a Jewish peddler came throughschools. and a few scattered churches. Many religious denominations sprung the country with such wares as eyeup. Among these were the Lutheran, glasses,jewelry, yardage materials,Congregational, Christion, Church of items of clothing, combs, brushes, andChrist, Baptist, North and South Meth- other household items. These peddlersodist, Episcopal, and Catholic. The ser- got their start by walking and carry-vices were often rather long. It is told of one minister that habitually preach- ing suitcases containing their wares,ed for three or four hours until the but as business thrived and timescongregation chose a hymn and "sang grew better, they were graduated tohim down." well loaded wagons. The Pioneer School From allaccounts the pioneer Schools during the pioneer era wife and mother was never one withwere a far cry from those of today. idle time on her hands. Besides rais-They were usually built of logs, but ing babies, that had to be bathedoften an abandoned settler'scabin and fed every day, other things to dowas used. They were open for about were: raising chickens (the hen brood-three months in the fall and an equal er way,) cooking three meals a day;period in the spring. Attendance was washing all the dishes, pots and pansnot compulsory and few children at- for every meal; bake bread; churntended a lot of the time. Boys were butter; strain and put milk in pansoften kept at home to help with the to be taken to the cellar; doing theranch work. As many as 35 to 40 family washing on the wash boardpupilsattendedasingle one-room and rinsing and wringing them allschool. At times the pupils ranged by hand; ironing with heavy irons heated over the cook stove; sewingin age from four to twenty; some for all the family (dresses, shirts andwere even married. It has been said even underwear); raise geese and pickthat there were as many as 59 school the feathers to be made into featherdistricts in Morrow County at one time. ticks; washing and carding wool toThis wasnecessarybecauseeach spin for yarn and for bats for com-school had to be located within a forters; making garden; canning fruitradius that would allow pupils to and making kettles of apple butter;walk or go by horseback. After the piecing and making quilts; cuttingadvent of better roads and a school and sewing rags for rag rugs; packingsponsored transportation system, con- lunches and getting children off tosolidatiori of outlying districts with school; nursing and caring for thethe town school districts took place. sick in her family and the neighborsTeachers boarded around with fam. and at times even delivering babies.ilies of the district. Salaries were from $18.00 to $35.00 a month. The Pioneer Church The pioneers leaned heavily on The year 1959 saw Morrow County the church. It was the communityas the first county In the state of center Most pioneers carried BiblesOregon to operate under the County in their covered wagons and held re UnitAdministrativesystem.(one ligious services. Most of these earlyschool board for the entire county.) SCHOOL DISTRICTS OF MORROW COUNTY School Districts - Past & Present Following is a list of known school30. Shiloh districts in Morrow County: Eight Mile Center

Heppner Rhea Creek Lena Gurdane Willow Way Upper Willow Creek Davis lone Irrigon Gooseberry Golden West Fairview Camas Prairie Bunker Hill Cecil Willows Lone Tree Hardman Irrigon Morgan - Devine Liberty Twin Pines & Balm Fork Lexington TWP. 2.S Coplinger R 23 EWM Pleasant Vale Joined Umatilla Clark's Canyon Wilmot Ella Sand Hollow Blackhorse Joined with No. 23 Strawberry Pleasant Point Rood Canyon Hail Ridge Juniper Hodsdon Missouri Ridge Burton Valley Democrat Gulch Hardesty Devine Social Ridge McDonald Canyon TWP. 4 S - R28 E Boardman Galloway Pine City Parkers Mill Alpine Joined to No. 17 Four Mile Green Cottage Rocky Bluff Dee Cox -15- IV. Development of Public Services And Utilities In Morrow County Transportation provement was very much needed as Horses and horse-drawn vehiclesthere has been a steady increase in were used until the advent of thethe yield of crops making better haul- motor car and the railroad. ing facilities necessary. Agitation began in 1887 to secure Telephones a branch railroad line from the main- Probably one of the first telephone line of the 0. R. & N. (Oregon Rail-linesin Morrow County was from road and Navigation) on the Colum-Castle Rock, on the Columbia, Scross bia River up Willow Creek to Heppnerthe north end of the county, through or farther. The spring of 1888 saw theElla, up Blackhorse canyon and into work begun and the rails reachedHeppner. (About 1888) This was the Heppner on December 7, 1889. A daysame route as the freight-stage line. of celebration was held. During the The Inland Telephone Company, ceremony, Henry Heppner was givenin 1898, sent a line from Arlington the honor of driving the last spike.to Heppner. In 1900 the Pacific Tele- This new mode of transportation wasphone Company took over the bus!. a great asset to the whole COuntryness and in 1902 placed a switchboard and increased the value of propertyin T.J. Humphreys' Drug Store in about fifty percent. The mercantileHeppner. (The drug store was located businesses in the communities alongin the building now occupied by Con- the line increased their business threenors Dress Shop). The switchboard times over the previous years. was situated by the front door; only By 1900, with the coming of thetown phones connected. The farmer motor ear, more and better roads werelines came into the back room and needed in the county. One of the firstTom Humphrey or his clerks would cars known in the county was a 1902have to make a trip back there to Oldsmobile owned by Ben Patterson.answer calls. The first automobile agency was prob- There were five or six farmer lines ably that of I. B. Sparks who soldthat operated early in the century; Studebakers in Heppner. Galloway, Upper Rhea Creek, Lower The first bond issue In the countyRhea Creek, Sand Hollow-Blackhorse, for roads was in 1919. Most of thisDown Willow Creek, and out towards money was spent on the highwayDr. McMurdo's ranch. Farmer lines down Willow Creek. Some money wawere first carried on the barbed wire used to improve the Hinton Creekfences. In many of the outlying areas road and the Heppner-Spray highway.there would be a phone in one person's State and Federal highways runhome with a switch to the other hous- throughout the county. The state, ines up the line. Rural lines were built 1922, completed the road from Hepp-and maintained by the farmers them. ner to the junction at the Columbiaselves to the city limitsFor years River a ring on a farmer's line was a signal Between 1916 and 1955 Morrowfor everyone who heard it to lift their County had paid out $550000 in im receiver andrubber'(listen) proving county roads There were in Among the first operators In the 1958 1200 miles of county roads (100Heppner area were: Mabel (Leezer) irulesoiled800 miles rockedandBascom, Pauline (Reno) Bo er and 300 miles dirt roads). Highway irs-Frank Turner. (Turner worked from -16- 7 A. M. until 10 P. M. and was paid Extension and Other Government $30 a month). Others following in- Services cluded:Mary(Morgan)McCaleb, Aid to farmers through govern- (Wm. L. McCaleb, her husband, wasmental agencies has been a part of a lineman for the telephone line com- the county's life especially since the ing up from Arlington), Flossie (Bar- first World War. An Oregon Agricul- low) Coats, and Charles Barlow, whotural College Extension Office was was night operator while attendingfirst established in Morrow County on Heppner high school from 1914 - 1917.January 15, 1918 with F. F. Brown as The telephone office moved intoagent. The service has been extended a new building, built by Frank Rob-continuously since that with the fol- erts, in 1917. (The building was lo-lowing agents: Al A. Hunt, C. C. Cal- cated on Willow Street where Joekins, Roger Morse, Charlie Smith, Joe Nys now has his law office.) Ballinger,CliffordConrad,Arnold This office was closed on AprilEbert and N. C. Anderson. 11, 1953 when telephones were con- During World War II under the verted from manual to dial service.War Food Administration, emergency (No operator was needed for localassistants were established in many calls.) The dial system had alreadyextension offices to help in the food been installed in lone and Lexingtonprogram. Out of this program came the in 1938 and calls were routed throughdemand for the first agent in Home Heppner until the individual dial sys-Economics in Morrow County who was tem was established in all three lo-installed July 1, 1946. This has been calities in 1953. a continuous program since that time It seems that the firstswitch-except for the year 1947-48. The two board at Lexington was installed inemergencyassistantswereGrace the Joe Burgoyne store and run by(Gadekin) Drake and Cecelia (Nord- him and his son, Frank. Mr and Mrsstrom) Van Winkle and the Home Bert Vance, in 1921, took over in theirDemonstrationAgentsRat h e r in e home for a short time. M. D. Tucker (Monahan)Hager, Mable(Wilson) became the next manager who builtFlint, Maud Casswefl, Beverly (Brad. a building where the old jail onceshaw) Doherty and Esther Kirmis. stood. His daughters Elsie Conner and The 4-H Program begun in the Mrs Bertha Hunt were managers andearly 1900's in Oregon, was under the operators until 1938. supervision of the Extension Service The first switchboard in lone wasmost of that time. Some early agents in the Thomas Wade drugstore. (Thespent more time with 4-H than others. present siteof the A. C. SwansonFirst indication of 4-H work in Mor- grocery). His daughter, Etta (Wade)row County was 1918 when Mrs Lucy Bristow, was the first operator. LaterRodgers, County School Superinten- the switchboard was moved to a smalldent helped In the supervision of 4-if building built by E. T. Perkins. (Nextprojects. to the present White Apartments). He Morrow County has also had Plan- was postmaster and had a printingning Conferences each ten years since shop and telephone exchange In con-1927 (four In all). The purpose of these junction with the post office. In 1913Town and Country Planning Confer. Della (Reed) Corson took the positionences has been to review or evaluate and remained at this post for twenty-the progress of the county and plan five years. The telephone companyto make the best use of the new honored her with a banquet in Arling opportunities for the improvement of ton in 1938. upon her retirement. the home, farms, and businesses. .17- Agricultural Adjustment Forest Service Administration Data from the Forest Service in The Agricultural Adjustment Ad-Heppner discloses that David B. Shell- ministrtaion was set up in early 1930er took the lead in organizing the to handle an emergency buying pro-Heppner National Forest early in 1907 gram for sheep and cattle and waswith headquarters at Heppner. It la- a part of the extension program dur-ter became known as the Umatilla ing the 1930's. In the 1940's the AAANational Forest and now comprises changed to the Production and Mark-timber land in southeastern Washing etingAdministrationand nowiston and Grant, Morrow, Umatilla and known as the AgriculturalStabili- Wheeler counties in Oregon. Head- zation Administration. It has had var-quarters are now in Pendleton, Ore: ious responsibilities and activities ofgon - Heppner having a district ran- an emergency nature such as market-ger headquarters. ing quotas but now is mostly a con- The first supervisor in charge of servation program. the Heppner NationalForests was Thomas E. Chidsey. who was followed Civilian Conservation Core by Hugh B. Rankin and W. W., Cryder. In the early 1930's a C. C. C. camp The duties of the forest service, was established at Heppner to assistthen as now, dealt with the super- in the development of soil conserva-vision of timber conservation, forest tion practices and flood control Work.recreation(camping,fishing,and Creek bottoms were cleaned out, smallhunting), grazing of livestock on gov- dams built to raise the water tableernment lands and fire protection of for irrigation, and fences were alsothe forest. built. About 200 boys were located The Heppner Ranger District com- in the camp. prising Morrow, Grant and Wheeler Soil Conservation District Counties contains 228,927 acres of land. Interest in a district organizationOf this total 197,21 acres is national forest and 30,656 acres are privately resulted from the conservation pro. owned. gram which was carried on by the It is interesting to note that per- Heppner S. C. S. C. C. C. camp onmits were given in 1959 for the grazing the Willow and Hinton Creek project area from 1935 - 1941. When it be-of 10,840 head of sheep and 925 head came apparent that the Departmentof cattle. of Agriculture was turning most ofB. B. A. (Rural Electric Association) its technical assistance and other con- The organization and incorpora- servation facilities to organized dis-tion of the Columbia Basin Rural Elec- tricts, interested land owners who hadtric Association in 1940 made a great benefitted from the conservation pro deal of difference in the life of the gram of the C. C. C camp inquiredfarmers of Morrow County. Due to how they could organize a local dis the unavailability of materials during trict. John Hanna, W. E. Hughes, 0.the war years, the electric current was W Cutsforth John Wightman Franknot ready to be turned on till late Wilkinson and Fred Mankin were in November 1949 There were approxi strumental in organizing a soil con mately 375 consumers originally and servation district In 1941. At presentnow there are over 800 consumers the district now comprises approxi In Morrow County the power comes mately 305 operatmg farm and ranchfrom the Bonneville Power Associat units involving 1,330 600 acres ion on the Heriniston-tone 69,000 volt transmission or high line to the twoequipment. The pavilion was used for distribution sub-stations near lone anddances and roller skating when the Heppner. Here the voltage is reducedfair was not in progress. and sent out on a 7200 volt distribut- Although the fair was only held ion line to the subscribers. Each sub-intermittently for a number of years, scriber pays a fee of $3.50 a month,it became established and has been which is an amortization charge toheld annually since 1939 when it was repay principal and interestand amovedtothepresentrodeo-fair farm home useage charge accordinggrounds on Hinton Creek. This acreage to the following schedule:first50 was acquired by the county in trading KWH per month @9.5 per KWH; next,the aforementioned block on main 50 KWH per month @5.0, next 100street to the city for the C. C. C. camp KWH per month @2.5, next 100 KWHlocation which had been vacated some per month @1.5, over 300 KWH pertime before. month @1.0. North Morrow Fair Radio And Television According toavailable informa- The first radio reception in Mor-tion, the North Morrow County Fair row County was in 1920. has been in existence since 1921. For Television came to Morrow Countymany years it was held at different first in 1955, and some people wereintervals between Boardman and Irri- able to receive the programs withoutgon in the school gymnasiums. For any more than a few feet of aerialmany years now it has been held in on their homes direct from PascoBoardman. In 1952 a beautiful brick KEPR However, in most places it hadfair building was erected. to be picked up at a transmitter placed on a high butte and piped or cabled Morrow County Grain Growers into town or to the individual farms. In 1930 the Morrow County Grain In some outlying districts (Rhea CreekGrowers, a grain marketing coopera- Eightmile) the cable is attached totive, at present managed by Al Lamb, the telephone lines. Later more andwas organized in Lexington. It was strongerboostertransmitterswereformed in order to more effectively added and three or more stations couldhandle the selling of wheat. The orig- be received. inal capitol stock was $25,000 of which nearly all was sold at $30 per share. Mcrrow County Fair And Rodeo The first officers were: H. V. Smouse. The first county fair was held inpresident; F.. W. Turner, secretary; F.. 1912 in what is now the city park onB. Rice, George Peck, Ernest Heliker, the north main street of Heppner. Wal-Bert Johnson and Floyd Adams, dir- lace Smead was the first fair man-ectors and trustees. In 1932 it went into ager and is credited with having athe wheat storage business in order great influence in its promotion. to handle wheat in bulk, thereby re- In 1922 the rodeo was organizedducing the cost of wheat production with V. Gentry as the first manager.to the farmers. Its first elevator was C. W. McNamer also helped in promot-built at Lexington. From this first ele- ing this enterprise and served as itsvator handling a few hundred thous secondmanager.Marjorie(Clark)and bushels of grain annually it now Riding, daughter of M. ii Clark wasowns and operates 10 elevators; two selected as the first Rodeo Queen. in Heppner; two in Lexington; two The fair pavilion was located onin lone; one at McNab; one at Ruggs; the park block along with a largethe I'.orth Lexington elevator and the shed for the storing of, county roadHogue Warner elevator 'atPaterson. -19- They handle over 3,600,000 bushels ofby the group during the years includ- wheat in 1958. It is the 2nd largesting the following: in the spring and county grain marketing cooperativeearly summer a series of play days in Oregon. atmember'sranchesortheclub grounds have furnished competition Pioneer Memorial Hospital - Heppnerand training in mounted games and On June 11,1950,the Pioneerroping for adults and juniors. Each Memorial Hospital was officially ded- year the club has sponsored a horse icated by Judge Garnet Barratt. Thisshow during Rodeo time. Fred Mankin dedication was the culmination of ahas been superintendent of this event long hoped for dream of Morrow coun-since its origin in 1949 with 6 entries ty residents, since the first step to-and under his able leadership it has ward a hospital had been taken ingrown to 230 entries in 1958. In June 1944. Garnet Barratt donated the landof each year a Hey Day is held for on which the hospital was erectedcompetition in mounted games and and numerouscitizensinMorrowriding clubs from surrounding com- County were most generous with con-munities are invited to compete. A tributions; both of money and equip.Wranglersbreakfastconsistingof ment. In his dedication address, Gar-ham, eggs, hashed brown potatoes, net Barratt, County Judge at that time,pan cakes, and coffee has been served stated that not one cent of tax moneyto some 500 people on Sunday of entered into the purchase of equip-Rodeo. Trail rides are held a couple ment. All equipment had been boughttimes a year. The club was housed by personal subscription funds. in a building on the Rodeo grounds In 1955, 20 more beds, includinguntil 1957 when it purchased property 4 pediatric beds, were added; bring- on Willow Creek about two miles be- ing the total cost of the hospital tolow Heppner and built its own arena. approximately one half million dol-This group has added a great deal lars,financed jointly through con-to the life of the people of Morrow tributions, tax levies and Federal Hill-County as indicated by the comment Burton funds. of one of the judges who came to our In1958variousimprovementsfair who said that there was great were added: an automatic ice mach-improvement in horsemanship and a ine; donated by Mrs Amanda Duvall;marked improvement in the quality of the installation of a laundry and thehorses in the last ten years. remodelingofthe formerCounty Health Nurse's quarters into 2 wards Willow Creek Golf Club (adding five more beds) and a rec- In 1956 a group of persons in- reation room; the widening of theterested in golf met and organized front parking area a golf club. They leased land on Wranglers Willow Creek from Tom Wells and In March 1947 a group of horse-began work on the development of a men from the county met and organ-course. At first there were seven holes ized the Wranglers Riding Club withbut this has been enlarged to the the primary purpose of the group be-standard nine hole course. Members ing to encourage horeback riding asdonated time, work, money and ma- a family recreation. About 40 wereterials to make this course and it includedinthe original membershipwas incorporated as a standard golf and tins number has grown until inclub in 1958 Recently new improve 1959 there are 98 family memberships.ments have been added including sign Many activities have been carried outboards a graveled parking lot new -20- cup standards, a ball washer at thean Indian during the trek to Oregon, creek, benches at the tees. Some ofwere hunting for the train near Castle the activities of the clubre mixedRock. Pawnees again approached, forc- two-ballforesomes,competitionined them to disrobe, threw their boots tournament with other clubs, ladiesback at them (as boots were useless day on each Tuesday with lunch fol-to the Indian) and chased them at a lowing play and a weekly columnfast clip back to the wagon train. in the newspaper entitled "Over The The magazine 'West Shore"of Tee Cup". The club has grown from aOctober 1883 states: "Castle Rock now membership of about nineteen in 1956contains expressoffice,postoffice, to sixty nine families and four stu-saloon,dwelling,school,etc.The dent memberships in 1959. growth of western towns is wonderful." Port of Morrow Evidently Castle Rock came into Early in 1958 a group of interestedbeing as an ideal location for a ship- citizens in the county began to cir-ping point. A ferry existed, and hay culate petitions for the establishmentwas ferried from Morrow County to ofaportcommissioninMorrowsheep raisers on the Washington shore. County. This was approved in theEventually the 0. H. & N. Railroad general election in 1958 and a Portwas established and Castle Rock flour- Commission was selected consisting ofished as a major shipping depot for George Weise, Boardman, chairman;the county. DeweyWest,Boardman;Garland After the development of Board- Swanson, lone; Al Lamb, Heppner;man, Castle Rock's growth waned. The and Warren McCoy, Irrigon. This ispost office was closed after the Board- one of the thirty six or eight portmanpostofficewasestablished. districts that have been established inSchool children travelled to Boardman Oregon and Washington along the Col-after the school was built. Around umbia River to better take advantage1930 a fire took the two story business of our natural resources such as thebuilding. electric power generated by the waters Castle Rock today, in 1959, is a of the Columbia River. Morrow Countystation for a siding and maintains a will thus benefit from any industrialsection foreman home and a cabin for development along the river withincrew workers. the county limits. Lena Community Castle Rock Lena,located on littleButter Castle Rock is mentioned in theCreek, has been active in production Oregon Historical records as early asof cattle, sheep and horses. Grass is 1847. It was named for a rock forma-considered a valuable asset, and only tion along the river that resembled aa little farming is done. The hills are castle. In 1847 a wagon train of 13considered too steep for farming. families camped there. Buffalo skin Many of the ranches originally clad Pawnees approached the train,claimed are still worked by members apparently out of curiosity. As theyof the family up to the fourth gener- left they revealed their true purposeation. Some of these are Vinsons who by stampeding the teams and stock.came in 1852, the Hughes, Brosnans, Several shots were fired, trail ropesand French families Part of the W. E grabbed and the animals retrieved.Hughes ranch, where Allen Hughes This was the only serious Indian inci- now lives, was taken up by the foflow- dent experienced by this train. Latering: Charles H. Hinton in 1881; Eliza two men of this train, who had assert-Jane Ayers in 1896; and Sylvester Tip- ed with bravado that they would killpet in 1892. It changed hands several times until Percy Hughes, father offine thorough-bred trotting and run- W. E. Hughes, bought it in 1912. Jerryning horses. He owned Reppeta, the Brosnan came from Ireland to the Wil-fastest running mare in Oregon. Her lamette Valley, where he helped buildtime was 1:40 on a mile course in a the Union Pacific Railroad. He cameregular race. His brother, Cresswell, on to Morrow County in 1875 whenraised fine race horses on the former he settled on the place where hisPin Hirl place now owned by Arvine grandson, Jerry, now farms. RaymondPorter. A fine barn with box stalls French also lives on the same placestill stands on the ranch. his grandfather, Dillard French, orig- The Lena Post Office served the inally owned. community from June 11, 1873 until The Charles Hinton family livedit was discontinued in 1942, when a on the place now owned by the Ran-star route was established out of Hep- dall Martins. An interested incidentpner. C. E. Hinton was the first post is told how Mrs Hinton made goodmaster. The post office was moved money selling biscuits to the soldiersfrom ranch to ranch with each change who camped at Lena. of post masters. Ed Day settled on little Butter Lena Cemeteryislocated five Creek in 1878. He raised sheep andmiles below Lena and is under the was especially noted for his herd ofcareofthe CemeteryCommission Delaine Merino bucks. He suppliedwhich insures its safe keeping. Among the northwest with these breeding an-the early settlers buried there are imals. In 1890 he sold out to Robertmembers of the following families: Hyrid and William Barratt. Hynd andKenny, Howards, Felix Johnson, Wig- Barratt had only been acquainted forglesworth, Vinson, Waddell, Adams, fifteen minutes, but their partnershipDay, Hinton. Newman, Presley, Pear- lasted for nine years. Garnet Barratt,son, Franklin, Smith, Shell, Bennett, son of William Barratt still owns aFleek and Crawford. One row of graves farm on upper Butter Creek. consists of the five Crawford children who died in September 1878, possibly Michael Kenney, who came fromof diphtheria. Ireland in 1879, took up a homestead and pre-emption claim. This is owned Franklin Hill by Mrs John Healy and farmed by On highway 74 betweenPilot her two sons, Tom and Bill Healy. Rock and Heppner is a grade known Some of the other early settlersas Franklin Hill.It takes its name were Edward Kilcup, a native of Novafrom an old family, the Franklins. Scotia, who settled on the place nowThey lived at the foot of the grade and owned by W. W. Weatherford; Hughkept a stage station. Here passengers Fields and Andy Tillard, who werestayed overnight and horses were ex- early owners of the Kilkenny and Cur-changed for a fresh team at the stage rin ranches; and Felix Johnson whobarn up the canyon where William owned Joe Kenny s ranch Instone later took up a homestead. The raising of fine race horsesIn those days banking of money was by Thomas J. and Cresswell Matlocka problem and the Franklins are said is remembered by many Althoughto have buried their gold to keep it Thomas J Matlock did not live onsafe Some think that there isstill Butter Creek be did have a race trackgold buried there at the ranch where John Hanna, Jr Schools on Little Butter Creek now lives Besides runmng sheep Mr In 1885 the school house was lo- Matlock had one hundred head ofcated approximately ¼ mile below the -22- present Jerry Brosnan home. It wastact with the hostile Indians while located on a bank, across the creekout on the John Day River with a hunt- from the road. It is not known exactlying party. Settlers hastened by horse- when this building was erected, butback and wagon and on foot to the Lulu Hinton Johnson started to school there in 1885. nearest towns for protection. Chief Buf- There were children coming fromfalo Horn was killed in one of the almost every canyon in those days, asskirmishes before the Indians reached people were proving up on homesteads.the Blue Mountains so the command As there were quite a few childrenof the allied force of the Snake and living on Big Butter Creek, the schoolPiutes devolved upon Chief Egan of was later moved up to the foot of Pageant Hill. This more centrally lo-the Piutes. Many say that if Egan had cated, and could accomodate the child- been the great leader that Chief Jo ren from both creeks. Lottie Scher-seph was the outcome of the war singer, who now lives in Heppner, wasmight have been in favor of the In- one of the teachers who taught whiledians. Egan's army of-Inaians arrived the school house was located there. in and had possession ofCamas Prair- The next move was to the mouthie on July 4 but Egan hesitated, allow- of Howard Canyon, where it was lo- cated until 1918 or 1919. It was relo-ing time for the whites to muster their cated at this time because of theforces. On July 5, 1878 Sheriff John water being tested and declared im- L. Sperry started for the front with a pure. company from Weston and went as far The final move was to the placeas Pilot Rock. July 6 they marched where the building now stands. A goodfrom Pilot Rock towards Camas Prairie spring was available here; a new building was erected. Myrtle Millerand stopped at Willow Springs for was the teacher when this changedinner. Willow Springs was about 15 was made. School was held here frommiles south of Pilot Rock and consisted 1918 or 1919 until 1936, with the ex-of a house, a shed and a sheep corraL ception of the year 1934-35,it wasWhile at dinner the volunteers were held at the Joe Hays place that yearattacked by the Indians. At first alarm as there were only two children at-thirteen of the volunteers struck out tending school. The Lena School Dis-for Pendleton on horseback. The others trict has since consolidated with Hepp-took refuge in the shed where they ner School District and students aremade a stout resistance all afternoon. taken by bus to school in Heppner. William Lamar, a school teacher, was killed during the engagement. A re- Indian Attack At Willow Springs treat of the volunteers began at mid- The attack at Willow Springs wasnight and they were attacked four one of the skirmishes in the Bannocktimes in about six miles with the loss and Piute War of 1878. Chief Buffaloof one man, Harrison Hale, Major Horn of the Bannocks attempted toThrockmorton of Walla Walla started unite all Indians west of the Missourito the relief of Sperry's party and River into a confederacy to wipe outsoon after daylight met the retreat- the whites. He started from Fort Hall,ing volunteers about four miles north Idaho with about five hundred war-of Pilot Rock. He escorted them safely riors of the Snake and Piute tribes.back to Pendleton. The present state On July 2, 1878 Major Narcisse A Cor-park at Battle Mountain was named foyer, an Indian Agent, reported con-for these Indian encounters -23- Pine City Community - 1862 The first settler at Pine City was Pine City was named for the group believed to be William Jones who of pine trees which were standinglater sold toJ.J.Galloway. Other on the creek bank nearby. There werefirst settlers on down the creek were quite a number of these pine treesJob Smith, who lived on a place be- in early years but only a few remainlonging to Mathew Neaves, later sold standingthese are known to be moreto J. T. Hoskins, who also owned the than one hundred years old. next place. These two places are still In the southern part of this com-in the Wattenburger family. E. G. munity there are two forks of theSloan settled on the next place in the creek known as Butter Creek. Thelate '70's. It passed on to several own- north fork and south fork, runningers and is now owned by Barney Do- practically parallel and joining justherty. Mr. Reader settled on the next north of the present Pine City schoolplace in the early 60's and sold to house. Both of these forks start inC. B. Atwood in 1870. This place is the Blue Mountains. now at the junction of the Lexington Butter Creek highway. A Thomas Ayers was believed to be the first settler on what is now J. J. Galloway erected a nice home known as the VeyPlace. Recordsacross the creek from the Pine City show he owned it by 1878. The threeschool house; the present location of Vey brothers came originally fromthe Ashbeck and Luciana homes. Then Portugal and worked for Mr. Ayers.he also erected a large building which The year 1878 also marked the lasthoused a general store, post office Indian uprising in this community.and blacksmith shop. Mr. Galloway One of the Vey brothers was killedwrote to Washington, D. C. asking to by the Indians. Later Mr. Ayers soldhave the post office named Pine City. the place to the two other brothers.There was already one in Oregon with A nephew still owns the place. Otherthat name, so it was called Galloway. early settlers- along the creek wereThe post office was established in John Barker, whose place is now part 1892. of the Vey ranch. Alfred Ayers settled There was also a post office call- the place now owned by Raymonded Atwood at the junction of the Lex- Porter, and a Mr. Shaw was the firstington-ButterCreekhighway.The settler on the place now owned bymail was taken by stage coach from Laurence Doherty. Echo to Heppner one day and then re- The first place south, on the southturned the next. People received mail fork, was owned by Jacob Yarlett. Hefrom Echo three days a week. It is died and his widow married Thomasthought the mail was taken to Gallo- Scott. Scott sold out to Harry Bar-way Post Office, from stage line, on tholomew and later Charles Bartholo-horseback. mew. This place is still in the Barthol- It appears the first church was omew fainly as it is owned byCharles'built just south of the present school daughter, Lila (Bartholomew) Myersbuilding around 1885. It was United and her husband, Jasper. Scott ownedBrethren. On June 14, 1889, a cyclone the next place also and later soldpassed through the neighborhood and to E 0 NeilI John Alex Thompsonthe church was completely demol- family was next up the creek andished A chair in the building was later this place was sold to JohnHealy carried to the top of the hill and set Edward Day was the owner of the nextdown without being harmed. J P ranch wiuch Is now owned by MarionHoskins, in 1896, donated land near Finch. the site of the school house for a new -24- church, which was erected with $50children were transported to Echo. in cash and donations from neighbors The winters of 1882 and 1883 were of labor and equipment This build-very severe. The snow was about three ing stood until about 1945 when itfeet deep and the temperature got was torn down. This building wasdown to 36 degrees below zero. A few also used several years for school pur-years later they had what they call poses. the double winter (two severe storms) The children walked or rode horse- when hundreds of head of livestock back to school in a small buildingfroze and starved to death, because near the old store. A one-room schoolthere wasn't enough feed put up for house was erected in 1906, on thethe winter. site of the present building. This build- Most of the grazing land has been ing was added onto around 1915 andplowed up and wheat has become a additions followed in a few years un-major crop since 1915. The water from til the present building was completed.Butter Creek was the only means of In the 1920'sit was a four yearirrigation, up until a few years ago, accredited high school as well as abut now there are numerous wells grade school. About 1948 or a littleused for irrigation in addition to the later the school was closed and thecreek. Lexington 1863 The Pioneer Period which was enclosed by a lattice wall Lexington, built on a large levelroofed like a chinese pagoda. This tract of land in the Willow Creek ba-was covered by vines and surrounded sin at the mouth of Black Horse Can-with flowers. yon in Morrow County, has interesting The house was beautifully fur- history. It is located on the homesteadnished with the much prized horse of William Penland, who at an earlyhair chairs and settees in the parlor. date is reported to have brought intoTraditional furnishings were found in the county one of the first bands ofall other parts of the house. sheep. Being a man of great resource- Many large trees. mostly poplars, fulness and backed by great wealth,surrounded the house with its many he gradually acquired (through pur-old fashioned flower beds. chases and leases) vast land holdings The house,inlater years was on which he grazed his many bandsrented to various people. It finally of sheep. He established his headquar-was in such a state of disrepair that ters here; which in time became oneit was abandoned. By the time the of the finest ranches in this part offarm was purchased by Newt O'Hara the then Umatilla County. He wasthe house was a complete wreck and known as the "sheep king" and be-was torn down by them. came one of the wealthiest men of In a few years Penland's head- his time. quarters became a small settlement. The Penland home was an im-Besidesthevariousestablishments posingtwo-and-a-halfstoryWhite used in connection with the running house. A large porch, With balcony,of his business, other establishments stretched across the front of the house.gradually accumulated;stores,eat- The front door opened into a longing houses, hotels, shops, etc. One of hall with the parlor and sitting roomthe first shops was that of the black- on either side. Both parlor and sittingsmith shop of Jack McVey. At an early room had large bay windows-one fac-date an Armory was built; perhaps ing the town and the other facingas a precautionary measure, not feel- south. A curved stairway led to aning too sure of the Indian situation. open hail on the second floor. The Early Settlers three bedrooms opened from this hail. A few of the eary settlers at Lex- There was also a stairway to the atticington, arriving some time after Mr. which provided further sleeping quart-Penland were: Mr. Breeding, locating ers about two miles south of Lexington; At the end of the downstairs hailH. Leach, and Hiram Clark, who laid a door opened into a largediningclaim to land north of Lexington on room which reached theentire widthWillow Creek at the junction from the of the house. The kitchen was backcanyon on the south(later known of the dining room, and a large woodas Clark's Canyon). A few years later shed and store in back of it. A fruitcame theJ.H. Willis, the George and root cellar under the kitchen wasBrowns, The Jacob Ernests, George entered from the store room which wasand Mary Smith and the William a few Steps lower than thekitchen Stauffers settling in the Social Ridge On the south side of the housearea and helping to establish the waanother long porch with doorsearly school there opening from the dining roomand In 1::5, the year Morrow County kitchen. A sidewalk led to thewell was formed out of the west end of -26- Umatilla County, by an act of legis-W. Halley; the blacksmith shops of lature, Heppne'r was designated as theDave Letsinger and Jack McVey; the temporary county seat. Penland pro-saloon of Henry Keats; the livery sta- posed to build a town which wouldble of Reaney and son; a feed yard contend with Heppner for the honorbelonging to "Tex" Croft; the furniture of being the new county's permanentstore of E. T. Carr; the Palace Res- seat of government. With this in mind,taurant; the Allen and Tibbets Hotel; he gave a part of his ranch for athe barber shop of Joe Gibson; a town site, had it surveyed and streetssaloon of William Plinn; the grist mill and blocks laid out. To Mrs. Penlandof Rice and Davis; a newspaper; the was given the honor of choosing itsBunchgrass Blade; two hallsthe ar- name. She chose Lexington after hermory, in which school and church ser- old home in Lexington, Kentucky. Anvices were held, and a large hall over entire city block (block 8) was deed-McFarlands store, and the post office. ed by Penland to the town and over The post office had been estab- $3,000 was subscribed by T. J. Allen,lished in 1884 and called Salineville Andrew Reaney, Thomas Reaney, T.with Mary E. Benefiel as postmaster, W. Halley, Charles McBee, B. F. King,In 1885 its name was changed to Lex- HomerMcFarland,EdwardCluff,ington and was approved by the U. S. George W. Harris, Frank Reaney, W.Government. The postmaster then was J. Davis. Henry Padberg, A. J. Kimsie,Nathaniel Yates. In 1886 George Harris Fred Geiger and H. J. Hale for thewas post master followed through the erection of a court house. This wasyears by W. B.McAllister, James in the event that Lexington won theLeach, Mrs. W. B. McAllister, W. P. election, which was to be held theMcMillan, Mrs. Emma Breshears who following year. The election, in Whichafter 45 years of service retired this practicallyeveryonein the countyspring (1959) and Mrs. Wilbur Stea- voted, was held on June 7, 1886. Thegall. result was so close that neither side First Schools would concede defeat. The decision As noted above, the first school was left to the court who decided inwas held in the Armory; Mrs. E. R. favor of Heppner. Beach the teacher. When the Congre- Early Businesses gational church was built school was At this early date Lexington wasmaintained there, until a school house a busy thriving town. Besides thecould be built. In 1888 and '89 a two initial buildings of Mr. Penland, theroom building with fairly large rooms residences(other than log cabins),one upstairs and one down with there was in the early fall of 1886steps going to the upstairs room on the general merchandise store of Ho-the outside of the building, was erec- mer McFarland managed by him forted in the south end of town. Early E. B. McFarland, his uncle; the gen-teachers here were J. E. Tibbets, Ella eral store of Davis and Workman; theMason, J. D Brown, and others. In hardware and tin shop of T. W. Halley;1894 thedistrictbuilt a new two two grocery storesone owned by Vil-story school house at its present lo- ham Blair and one by W B. Mc-cation in the north end of town. A Allister; the implement store of N. A.few of these teachers were: S. E. Not- Thompson; the drugstore of E. W.son, R. B. Wilcox, (the first one to Harris; post office with E. Fenton'steach the ninth grade), Arnold Bal- jewelry store in the same building; aziger Ada Gentry Dona Barnett and meat market run by Cooley and Hod-Elsie Palmer Beach and Joseph Wade. son; the millinery store of Mrs T.In 1915 this building was enlarged -27- and remodeled. The new addition ofris,(successor of N. A. Thompson) brick and the old part of brick veneer.Machinery; H. McFarland and Com- This made a modern structure withpany, Merchandise; George W. Harris, four class rooms and a first aid roomCity Drug Store; J. 0. Kirk, dry goods on the first floor. Upstairs were three(groceries, boots and shoes); Jospeh class rooms and an auditorium. AL. Gibson, barber and confectionary; kitchen, dining room, showers and rest R.Lieuallen, blacksmith; Towns & rooms were in the basement This isMathews home restaurant and lodg- as the building is today - still ining house; William Estes, Blacksmith; very good condition. A few of theJ. W. Lieuallen, meat market; William teachers may be mentioned: ma Gil-Penland. general merchandise man- bert; Emma (Millet) Peck; Ladd Sher-aged by William Blair; Henry Pad- man; Pearl (Vail) Gentry; George Gil- berg,city drug store;J. W. Brock, lis and W. D. Campbell. One teachercarriage and wagon maker; J. W. Red- who taught a number of years wasford, the Lexington Hotel; Nelse Mag- Lillian Turner through whose eighthnuson, Elkhorn livery and feed stable; grade many boys and girls passed.E. R. Beach, nursery; Davis and Bur- A later teacher is Mrs. Juanita Car- goyne, Lexington Flour Mill; W. B. Mc- michael. Allister, the Boss Store of groceries Some of the early out-lying oneand provisions; the Lexington Saloon; room school houses in which all gradesW. M. Lewis, physician and surgeon; from the 1st through the 8th wereDr. E. T. Georghegan, physician and taught by one teacher at a salary fromsurgeon; Snow and Whitson, Notary $25.00 to $40.00 per month were: ThePublics and Real Estate agents; EL P. Social Ridge, Clark's Canyon, Devine,Sine, attorney at law and notary pub- Hodson'BlackHorse,Alpine,andlic;S.B. Hope's chop mill. Others Strawberry schools. Later these schoolsnot advertised though also to be in- were consolidated with the Lexingtoncluded were K; L. Beach, plumbing school. and hardware; Mrs. Eli Summers, ho- Fire of 1886 tel; N. A. Leach, store (this had not In the late fall of 1886 Lexing-been destroyed by fire). This business ton experienced a devastatingfire. Itspurt was rather short lived for there is reported to have started in the liveryfollowed an era of short crops and barn of A Beaney, where somefinethe financial panic of 1893 when horses were stabled and much haywheat sold for 15 cents a bushel and stored. These were destroyed and threeeggs at 5 cents per dozen. Many of of the principal business blocks re-these established were forced to close duced to ashes. Two men were con-up or move away. There followed a victed of starting the fire and werebusiness slump for a few years until sentenced to 5 years each in the Statein the 1900's. Penitentiary. The cause, whether in- Pioneer Church tentional or accidental, was never def- The pioneer church, the Congre- initely ascertained. Not much insur-gational, was built in 1887. Credit for ance was carried by thebusinessmenits erection at this early date is given of the destroyed areas, hence not muchto the Rev. E. R. Beach, to the people rebuilding was attempted for someof the community, and to the Con- time. In 1888 and '89 businessshowedgregational Church Building Fund. recuperative strength as gleaned fromThe Congregational Ladies Aid was hiiciness advertisers earned in 1889organized in 1907 and was active for and'90 by "The Budget": T. W.Halley,many years. In 1899 the Methodist- Hardware and Tin Shop;George Har-Episcopal church and parsonage were -23- built with the Rev. Thouougham itscudgel for Lexington in its fight for first minister, followed by the Rev.the county seat. The next one,in W. 0. Miller and Rev. Turner. 1887, "The Weekly Budget" by Snow In 1918 the church and parsonageand Whitson, lasted a little over three were purchased by the Church ofyears, then was sold to a Heppner Christ group who in 1938 were joinedconcern who ran it under the name by the Congregational group for Sun-of the "Heppner Record." The last day School and Church services. Theone the "Wheatfield" was run by S. Congregational Church building wasS. Thomas. later sold to the Veteran's of Foreign Pioneer Homesteaders Wars. The town of Lexington is a trib- Lexington Cyclone utary to some fertile, level, and slight- A cyclone, a rare occurence inly rolling land in the Social Ridge, this area, struck Lexington on JuneClarks Canyon and Blackhorse areas 14, 1888. Its path went through theand northward to "the Sands". It Is west end of town, causing the deathreported that the Blackhorse area (so of Mrs. Brock, when their barn wasnamed from an early story of a band demolished. Much damage was doneof wild horses being led by a large north andvest of town to homesblack stallion) seemed to be the spot and farm buildings. One school housein which raising wheat hay and wheat wascompletelywrecked,injuringwas first begun. Some of the early some pupils. Not much property dam-wheat farmers in this section were age was done to the main part ofKirk, Swetser, and Duran. Practically town other than partly unroofing thethe entire surrounding country is now Armory Hall, which was located inunder cultivationand has become the northwestern part of town. Thea rich wheat growing area. trees in the grove on Willow Creek Available data shows that the fol- below town were sheared off, as iflowing homesteaders came to this area they had been mowed. The groveduring the great migration of the was cleaned up, trees replanted, and1880's and '90's. the grove used for many years for Edgar Palmer and family, from Sunday School picnics and 4th of JulyIowa, homesteaded southwest of Lex- celebrations. ington in the Social Ridge section in Lexington Cemetery 1882. A son- Lawrence, was an early The cemetery (the first one es-school teacher. tablished in the county) was on the The Benges of Iowa, came in 1884. flat which is now a residential dis-Mrs. Benge is said to have named trict. Later Mr. Penland gave a sitethis section "Social Ridge" because from his ranch on a rise west of townshe found her neighbors so sociable. for a new location. All graves were Eph and Joe Eskelson located on then moved. Mr. and Mrs. Penlandland in the Social Ridge area also. are both buried herehe in 1901 atThey came from Montana to Weston the age of 62 years and she in 1917,and later to Lexington, in 1884, to 74 years old. In 1905 the Odd Fellowswork on the railroad. Here they . lodge purchased land from Mrs. Pen.tablished a home and brought their land for its cemetery plot, adjoiningfamilies. Joe bought the J. R. Willis the Penland Cemetery. place in Clark's Canyon. The early Lexington Newspapers school was held in Eph Eskelson's Lexington has had three weeklyhouse until a school building could newspapers. The first one was "Thebe built Bunchgrass Blade" which carried the John Carmichael and family left -29- their home in illinois in the year ofty Judge from January 1,1931to 1877 and came west to Umatilla Coun-December 31, 1936. ty near Weston. Five years later they The J. M. White family came to moved to Morrow County near Pen-this community in 1884. He first farm- land Buttes. Besides farming they haded; then he operated the livery and an extensive orchard. feed stableinLexington. He was The John McMillan family of Ten-the town constable and justice of the nessee came west by emigrant trainpeace. arriving in Echo in the fall of 1886. R. A. Nichols came to the area (Some early settlers came by railroad,with his mother in 1884. He did some Their livestock and possessions, andfarming, then moved to town to join often the family itself,occupied aW. E. Leach in merchandising. railroad car). They were met here by Clinton N. Peck came to Lexington an uncle, Pres Workingham, in a lum-in 1887 where he worked for awhile ber wagon to bring them and theirfor Mr. Penland. He purchased a quart- household goods to Lexington. Theer section of deeded land in Clark's next year the five boys, with fourCanyon. By filing on a timber culture horses, worked on the railroad foradjoining this property, taking a pre- $6.00 a day. Later they filed on landemption quarter and a railroad quart- northeast of Lexington. This land iser, he acquired seven quarter sections still owned by the family and is be-of land. His grandson. Kenneth Peck ing farmed by grandsons Sam andwon the title of "State Conservation Dennis MeMillan. Man of the Year" on this farm in In 1881 Mr. and Mrs. B. F. Swag- 1956. gart located on land known then as The James Leach family were Penland Buttes (now called Swaggartearly pioneer farmers. Their sons were Buttes), nine miles east of Lexington.active in business in Lexington the By filing on a homestead, a pre-emp-early part of the twentieth century. tion claim, donations, timber cultures Josiah S. Boothby, a Civil War vet- and through claims and purchaseseran who served with distinction under they acquired some 3000 acres of farmColonel Stevens, General Logan and and pasture land. They were accom-General Grant; came with his wife pUshed horse men, raising and breed-to Lexington from Kansas in 1883. ing the famous Creamoline strain ofHe took up land and engaged in rais- horses. This ranch has been operateding wheat and cattle. In 1894 he was 77 years by a member of the family,elected to the State Legislature. Here A granddaughter, Mrs Gloria Swaggerthe made a hard fight to have the Dolven with her husband and son, areColumbia River opened for navigation now operating it by the stateso that farmers of the Mr and Mrs W T Campbell filedinland could obtain cheaper freight on a homestead in the fall of 1887 inrates the Social Ridge District, seven miles Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Reaney came southwest of Le'ingtonIn 1892 heat an early date and had a creek helped organize School District No 53 ranch and orchard He owned and operatedthefirst C C Boone of illinoisa lineal threshing machine in that area con descendant of the noted Daniel Boone tinuing in the threshing business Un took up his abode here in 1882 Be til 1916 when he and Mrs Campbellsides his house in town he owned moved to Heppner He was a Morrowone quarter section of land six miles Count) Commissioner from July 1 1908north of town For sixteen years he until December 31 1924 and was Coun was the constable and deputy sheriff _ -30- He was affiliated with Rawlins Post Dallas Ward, another graduate of No. 38 of the G. A. H. (Grand ArmyLexington High School in 1925, won of the Republic). high scholastic and athletic honors at The W. F. Barnett family, fromOregon State College. He was student Arkansas,settledonahomesteadbody president, played end on the north of Lexington in 1886. The firstfootball team and was elected end on years he freighted, with wagon andthe "Pacific Coast" team for two years. team, from Arlington to Heppner. HeAfter graduation he was hired as foot- worked for a time for Mr. Penland.ball coach at Marshall High School Later he purchased land and beganin Minneapolis. Then he became as- farming and raising Black Angus andsistant coach, under Bernie Bierman, Herefordcattle. He did communityat the University of Minnesota. Next threshing with a stationary machine.he was hired as head football coach He moved to Lexington and purchasedat the University of Colorado, at Den. the general merchandise store of Nich- ver where he coached for eight years. ols and Leach in 1902. In 1915 heHe is still a member of the University erected a new store which has beenof Colorado faculty. in the Barnett family for 43 years. Lexington 20th Century Period Mr. Barnett was mayor of Lexington On October 3, 1903, Lexington was for a number of years and was activeincorporated by an act of legislature in church and civic affairs. as a town. It's first mayor was S. E. W. G. Scott family came fromNotson, later County School Superin- Iowa to Morrow County in 1885, where tendent of Morrow County. Before that he operated a saw mill at the headtime, the law and order of the com- of Willow Creek. They came to themunity was vested in a Justice of the Blackhorse area in 1896 where hePeace and a Constable. Perhaps the purchased land on which he raisedmost famous of the constables was hay, horses, and purebred ShorthornCol. C. C. Boone, the lineal descendant cattle. After moving to Lexington heof Daniel Boone. Andrew Reaney was was manager of the branch of thethe first Justice of the Peace in the Heppner First National bank and latercounty. president of the Lexington State Bank. floods W. B. McAllister from Iowa, lo- The Heppner flood of June 14, cated on the hill directly north of1903 was one of the major floods to Lexington in 1884. Later they movedstrike Lexington. There were no lives to town where they ran the post of-lost here but a great deal of damage fice. done to property; buildings moved, Lexington's Outstanding Football and wrecked, lumber and debris scat- Players teredeverywhere, wells and base. Harvey McAlllster, son of the W ments filled with water and mud. B. McAllister's .brought fame to hisThe Methodist Churéh and parsonage home town by his prowess on thewere moved and so badly wrecked football squad at Oregon Agriculturalthat they had to be rebuilt. The tracks College (Oregon State College whereof the 0. R. & N. railroad were washed he was affectionately called "Pap Hay-out from Heppner to below town for seed." He played center on the varsity,about two miles. Trains came to this the third year that they wore thepoint with supplies and were taken school colors of orange and black, andby wagon and teams the rest of the won the coast championship. He wasway for several days. Blackhorse Can- chosen center on the "All Pacific Coastyon had flash floods from time to team." time before the channel was changed -31- and dyked. One of the worst of thesefirst elected Noble Grand. These lodges occurred in May 1925 and did muchare still active and flourishing. The damage by moving buildings andWoodmen of the World, the United flooding homes. The general store ofArtesian and Independent Order of W. F. Barnett had damage to the ex-Good Templars Lodges were organized tent of $15000 to their merchandiseand active for a time but are now by the flood. disbanded. Lexington Banks An annual Pioneer Reunion was The first bank to be establishedorganized in October 1922. It was held was about 1905 and was a branchin Leach Memorial Hall in October bank of the Heppner State Bank man-of each year until 1932. aged by W. B. McAllister. When this Lexington Grange No. 726 was or- one was closed a branch of the Firstganized May 22, 1929 with 51 charter National Bank of Heppner was openedmembers. S. 3. Devine was the first with W. G. Scott as manager. Latermaster and Mrs. Pearl Devine was stockholders organized the LexingtonChairmanof the Home Economics State Bank with W. G. Scott as Pres-Committee. Meetings were held in the ident; W. 0. Hill as cashier; GeorgeOdd Fellows Hall until 1935 when the McMillan, Karl Beach, and W. E.Grange Hall was built, three miles Leach as directors. north of Lexington, near the Lexing- Water System ton.Jarman highway. It now has a In 1904 the first water systemmembership of 101 with Vernon Mun- was put in by W. G. Scott with Karlkers as master and his wife, Faye Beach later becoming his partner inMunkers as Home Economics Chair- the enterprise. In 1939 and 1940, underman. the leadership of Thomas L. Barnett On November 17, 1953 the Ed- as mayor, the town council had a newwards Way Post No. 6098 of the Vet- well drilled. This well was constructederans of Foreign Wars, named in honor with the aid of the W. P. A. to giveof Clyde Edwards and Stanley Way, the present larger system. who were killed in action in World In 1914, Mr. and Mrs. Newlon ofWar II, was organized. The first of- Seattle, Washington, began drillingficers were: Edward Way, Comman- a well on the homestead of R.B. der; Elroy Martin, Senior Vice Com- Rice. They found plenty of water, butmander; George Erwin, Chaplain; Carl it was not an artesian well, so they and at ington. Eventually the warehouse wasone time even had motion picture torn down and replaced with the pres-machine (run by M. F. Parker) In- ent elevators. stalled In the store. Mr. Leach had Morrow County Grain Growers the honor of owning the first touring The headquarters of the Morrowcar (Michigan) In Lexington - if County Grain Growers, second largestnot the first in the county. After his county grain marketing cooperative liideath in 1917, his widow operated the Oregon, has its headquarters in Lex-merchandise business until 1929. She ington then closed out the entire stock of -33- merchandise and gave the store build-with shares selling at $5.00 per share; ing and lodge hail to the Lexingtonuntil enough were sold to insure suf- Odd Fellows Lodge as a memorial toficient capitol to incorporate. After the her husband, W. E. Leach. prescribed number were sold, a meet- In1902. W. F.Barnett boughting was held by the stockholders in Nichols and Leach's old store build-Lexington on April 13, 1931 to incor- ing. He stocked a line of groceries. Heporate. Fred Mankin was the Chair- enlarged the building in 1915 and add-man of the incorporating Committee. ed a line of general merchandise. InThe following directors were elected: the last years it has changed hands 0. Turner for one year; Fred Man- four times. It is now owned and oper-kin and J.0. Kincaid to serve five ated by Archie Nichols. years; Karl Beach and Glenn Jones The Charles Barnett Hotel, loca-for three years. At a meeting of the ted on main street, was built in 1896.Board of Directors, Fred Mankin was After operating it for several years hechosen President; Glenn Jones, Vice sold it to Mrs E. A. Beymer of Eight-President; J. 0. Kincaid, secretary and mile. When she closed the hotelittreasurer; and Karl Beach, general was remodeled and is now the grocerymanager. The office of this business store and residence of E. E. Peck. was located in Lexington. It was first H. H. Lane operated a Pastimenamed Morrow County Oil Company, (tavern), grocery and meat market.a corporation, and later changed to After he passed away it was bought"Lexington Oil Cooperative" in order by C. C. Carmichael. He built a to affiliate with the Pacific Supply crete building on the corner and add-Cooperative of Walla Walla, Washing- ed a cold storage plant.itis ton. Under the various able managers ownedandoperatedbyKennethithas succeeded far beyond their Klinger. greatest expectations. Other lines, be- The Barber Shop of1. E. Gentrysides gas and lubricants, have been was first sold to Carl Allyn, thenadded from time to time. For the last to Callie Duncan. The business has18 years it has increased its business now discontinued, from $43,000 until in 1958 it exceeded Henderson Brothers Garage and$204,000. Its present manager is J()l Service Station was closed in 1955. Engleman; Directorsare Edwin II. W. J. Davis and Son, carpentersMiller, Jr., President; W. A. Munkers, and builders, erected many of theSecretary and Treasurer; Karl G. Mi1 homes in the town and surroundingler, M. V. Nolan and Paul Jones, i.intry. directors. It is worthy of mention that Fred Mankin was President for the first eighteen years and 3 0 Kincald By the 1920 S farming which from early days was done by horses andsecretary, until his death in 1939. mules was now being done by trac Doctors tarsThis demanded adequate Dr C C Chick practiced in LeX plies of gas and lubricating oils Theington for a time when he first came spread between the price of these sup west He later practiced in Hardmafl plies at Portland and local marketsand lone Dr Hunter practicedmedi was found to be so great that farm cme here for several years ing with tractors was not practical Fire Department Interested farmers met and discussed The first fire fighting was done by ways of obtaining these essentialqthe bucket brigade the next wasitli from Portland at wholesale costs Theya second hand fire truckpurchased decided to organize an oil companyfrom Condon. Then in 1955 a modern -34- fire truck completely equipped to han-operator and flying school instructor. dle all emergencies, and manned byGar Leyva is the present operator. volunteer firemen under Fire Chief,(1959). William J. Van Winkle, Jr, was pur- business of Today chased by the town when Mervin Leo- nard was Mayor. A concrete block City As of 1959 the businesses oper- Hall was erected in 1956. ating are: Nichols Grocery; Hatfield Airport Grocery, now owned by E. E. Peck; In the winter of 1944-45 the CivilMervin Leonard's Machinery handling Air Patrol was organized in Morrowthe International Harvester Company County by Walter Ready and otherline;Padberg and Sons Machinery interested men. The site chosen forwith the Massey Ferguson and Allis the airport was on 80 acres of landChalmer line; Mrs. Cornelison's Cafe; north of Lexington. Before the dedi-Gene Orwick's Chevron Station and catory ceremony to be held July 4,Garage; Klinger's Tavern; Lexington 1945, crews of men (some with farmOil Co-op; Morrow County Grain Grow- tractors) graded, surveyed, and estab- ers Office; warehouse and elevators; lished runways. The members of theParson's T. V. Shop; and buildings first governing body of the organi-other than business houses are the zation were: Conley Lanham, FrankCity Hail, IOOF, the post office, the Turner, Milton Morgan, K e a n e t hAirport,V.F. W. Hall. Grade and Smouse, Clifford Yarnell, and ArchieHigh School with an active P-TA, Munkers withCliffordYarnellasChristian Church and many modem Chairman. Jack Forsythe was the firsthomes. Rhea Creek - 864 Rhea Creek. withitsabundant The first settler to establish his water from the Blue Mountains andheadquarters at the present siteof its surrounding open grass country,Ruggs was Orin E. Farnsworth. He was an ideal locationfor growing livestock. Its early white settlers, inbecame, reputedly. one of the largest true eastern Oregon homestead fash-sheep owners and most skillful breeder ion,settled the bottom landsfirst.inEastern Oregon.Farnsworth,of Sheep raising was the first leadingScotch and English descent, was born industry of this area. in New Hamshire in 1846 where he Rhea Creek took its name fromreceived his education. He served in its first settlers, the E. W. Rhea fam- ily, who crossed the plains by oxenthe cavalry until the close of the team in 1852. They came, to what isCivil War, and engaged in the mer- now known as the Thompson ranch, incantile business in San Francisco and Portlandbefore to 1864.(This ranch was later owned he came Rhea by Robert Thompson; later by his son.Creek in 1874. In those early years Steven; is presently operated by ahe had to haul his mail from Umatilla son-in-law, Jim Webb). Landing, about 60 miles away. Brothers of the Rhea family were The first post office in this area Jim, Tom, Elijah, and Columbus A.was established at the Albert Wright (Lum). It was "LUm" who was cred-home, and was called "Midway". This ited with having built the first housewas because it was nearly half way on Rhea Creek and having remainedbetween The Dalles and Canyon City. there during the Indian troubles. HeThe route between these two points also founded the First National Bankmade up the first through freight line of Heppner. His sons were Curtis andinthis part of the country. Later Carl. One daughter, Josie Jones, nowthe Arlington to John Day freight line lives in Heppner. was used. Albert Wright another of the earliest settlers in the Rhea Creek area came The present site of the Ray Wright in 1864. His sons, Silas (who wasranch, on McKenny Creek was taken born while crossing the plains) andby George Noble in 1872. He was best Anson, continued in the sheep raisingknown for his later business as a business of their father. Other child-harness maker and harness dealer in ren of the Albert Wright family in-Heppner. This business was continued cluded George of Lonerock; Effie (Mrs.by his son, Eugene, a skilled saddle Frank) Gihiam and Julia Bisbee. maker,whoseworkwasknown Well known childrenofSilasthroughout the world. Wright presently living in Morrow Other early settlers on the creek County are Oren, Delbert, and Pearlinclude the Henry Gay family who Devine. Sons of Anson Wright whocame in 1878. In 1886, Mr. Gay was still operate ranches in the area area representative to the state legis Walter, Ray and Maude (Mrs. Ed)lature Rugg, from whom Ruggs tookits name. Harold Wright is agrandson. Among pioneersarealsothe The first store near the presentnames of Crockett Kirk, HenryScher. site of Ruggs was started by TaylorsingerJim HayesLafePenland De Snencer in1872.It was moved toCharles Miller, Jeff Jones Jack [ieppner in the summer of 73 Vore and Mr Howell -36- Eightmile Theareasouthandwestof The landinEightmile, whichEightmile. known as "Hail Ridge" also which the Eightmile Canyon runs, washad its post office in the early days. not settled until the early'80's.ItSome pioneers were Albert Lovgren, was then taken up by homestead, pre- Alfred Hooker, Mike Swearington, Tom emption, and timber culture claims -and Lou Davidson, H. D. Warren, and the first of these naturally being lo-Link Cradick. An early cattleman of cated at the sites of springs. note was Bill Hendricks whose head- The first settlers of the early '80's,quarters were on Rock Creek in that most of whom have children, grand- area. children, and great grandchildren in The law required that fences be and around Eightmile today include:made around the timber cultures, and Moses Cantwell, Elihu Stanton, Jacobnecessity demanded building them a- Young, Harvey Vaughn. Richard Rob-bout their fields to protect their wheat ison, Luther Huston, Bill Becket, Rileyfrom livestock. Munkers, Olof Bergstrom, Charles An- The first schools in this area were derson, Oliver Pierson, John Allstott,located on lower Rhea Creek, near the Martin and James Gerkin Pete Bren- present site of George Snider's home ncr, George Junkin, Mel Humphrey,and at Rocky Bluff, on land now own- Clifford Jones, Lee and John Cant-ed by Donald Peterson in Eightmile. well, Charles and Bud Ingram FrancisLater there were schools at Eightmile Courter, Leonard Farmer, Frank andCenter, Hail Ridge, Rood Canyon West Case Fuqua, Jerome Young, and Wes(near Ruggs), two further up Rhea Brannon. and Liberty. These school houses re- There are a few of the ranchesmained in use until 1940 when better that are still in the family. They are:transportation facilities made it pos- Olof Bergstrom ranch, farmed by hissible to send children to Heppner and daughter-in-law, Mrs Carl Bergstrom;lone. Some early teachers included Luther Huston ranch, farmed by hisJesse Martin, Perry Oliver, Jim Hilton granddaughter and her husband, Leo-"Pet" Marshall, Elsie Farmer, Perry nard Hills; Charles Anderson ranch,Ham, and Addie Conlee (Binns). farmed by his son, Ben Anderson; and In 1921 the Rhea Creek Grange Bill Becket ranch, owned by his sonwas organized and the hail was built Charlie and farmed by Charlie's neph.and has, to the present, been the main ew Laurence Becket. community center for the Rhea Creek In the early '90's several moreEightmile area. peoplesettledin and around the Eightmile Community including the Hardman - 1870 Dan Barlows',Theodore Andersons, Twenty miles south of Heppner Wright Sailings and Jim Knightens. pleasantly situated on a level table The first post office was locatedland, under the brow of the Blue at the home of Case Fuqua; laterMountains is the quiet little town of it was moved to the E. B. Stanton'sHardman. This town Is surrounded by then to B. Haine's. It is reported tograin fields and grazing lands. hare been located in eight different In 1870, Mr. John F. Royce and his homes before a building for the pur.brother were the first permanent set- pose was erected in 1912 at the Eight-tlers in this area mile Center. A generalstore and From this time, 1870 - 1885, the school were located on the same sitefollowing people settled in these areas the school having been there sinceHardman, Parker Mill, Burton Valley the early 80s. and Camas Prairie:Peter Gleason, -37 Benjamin H. Parker. John Adams, Mrs.saloons. As the area became more Nancy Johnson, John Hadley, Dansettled, the people donated labor and Rice, A. H. Allen,. George Chapin, Edmaterial for the school and church. Moreland, FredAshbough,Virgil In 1890 Dr. Akers was practicing. Steven, George Bleakman, Dave Hard-Soon afterwards Dr. Chick and Dr. man, Sperry, Ben Compton, De Fords,Gaunt came. Dr. Gaunt opened the James Hams, Isaac Knighten Jim Al-first drug store. len, Frank Farrens, Herman Tash, Ben One of the reasons for the pros- DeVore, Andy Rood, Ben Leulien, Gro-perity was the freight line and stage ver Wright, Mr. Howston, Coleman,route from The Dalles to Canyon City. Mallory, Charlie Miller, Ed and SamThis went past Parker Mill, Lovlet Cox, Sam McDaniel, Herman Neilson. Place,Monument, Mt.Vernon and Jim Wylund. Canyon City. The first school in thissection At the present time, about a mile was established and taughtby Mr.southeast of Parker Mill, one may Royce in 1879. still see the signs of the old corridory About 1882 the pioneergeneralroad which was used through swamp merchandise store of the townwasareas. opened by a man named Hughes,who was succeeded by Kahler Brothers. The Parker Mill first blacksmith shop was opened by In the Parker Mill area there was George Louterelle. These, with a fewa post office, which was run by Milt residences formed the town. Maxwell; a hotel and a school. Some The officialdesignation of theof the early school teachers were Mrs. place was Dairyville, though it wasBarker, Mrs. E. L. Freeland(Inez), commonly known as Raw Dog andAda Jones (Mrs. Ben Parker), Flora Yellow Dog, until the time Dave Hard-Ward, (Mrs. Joe Nys). Around 41) pu- man moved from the farm into town,pils attended. around 1882. By the consent of the This area is widely known for the government, he brought the post officethree day 4th of July celebration which with him; and it's name was notconsisted of horse races, bucking hors- changed. The town took the name ofes, bull riding, ball games, and dan- theofficeand became known ascing on an open air platform. The Hardman. Leather's family was the prominent The growth was slow until 1901orchestra at this time. when a new school was built and Buxton Valley many farmers moved theirfamilies in for school, which wastaught by Another interesting commUn it y Mr. Smith. Another early teacher waswas the Burton Valley section with Mrs. EL E. Bleakman, wholater ranschools post office and mills. A Mr. the post office and lived in HardmanHowston established a mill at Burton till she died.Itistoldthat sheValley along with Mr. Cantwell and brought her baby to schooland rock-Mr. Mallory. ed the cradle with onefoot while Like all the old pioneer commun- she heard the classes recite.At oneities the school was used for all social time there were 90 pupils inthe schooLactivities. At one time there were 60 At the helghth of itsprosperityin Sunday school as well as 50 being Harriman consisted of afour roomregistered in the daily school. School cn-1 shnil. a two teacherhighconsistedofthree months in the school, three hotels, threelivery sta spring and three months in the fail. blesthree stores. twolodges, tWOMrs. George Chapm was the first -38- teacher. Some of the others were Corateacher. Some of the families living Sullivan, Addie Binns, Roy Glasscock,in this area were:Steers, Junkins, and Ed Merrill. The last school wasGrahams, Robinson, Medlocks, Hast- taught by Marguerite Glavey. Thisings, Harry French, and McDonalds. still continued to be a summer school Along the present highway the with school starting in March andnames of these pioneers are still re- endinginNovember,becauseofmembered, such as:Chapin Guard weather conditions in the mountains.Station; The Blue Mountain Ranch, named by Harry French and Parker Comas Prairie Mill. Shaner and Cox are remembered Camas Prairie was another schoolby the old Opal Mines which attracts district with Alice Bayless the firstrock hounds from all over the state. Henry Heppner Mr. Henry Heppner was born inturn trip, so the packs were empty. Germany in 1843. He came to theThe mules were replaced and freight- United States in 1858 landing first ining continued. Except for being shot New York City, then traveling on toat a time or two he carried on his San Francisco, via Cape Horn in 1860.business without serious trouble. Be- Aftergaining some experienceing shot at was so common an occur- working for others, he entered intoance in those days that it was scarcely a mercantile business of his ownin noticed. Shasta,California. After two years, In 1872 he quit freighting and he transferred his business to Cor-while in La Grande he met Captain vallis, Oregon. Not satisfied here, heMorrow who persuaded Mr. Heppner moved on to The Dalles, where heto join him in entering into a mer- did very well for six years. cantile business on Stansbury Flat in At that time the mines in Idahothat part of Umatilla County which was later to become Morrow County. were opening and Mr. Heppner fore- saw the future in the transferbusi- Later he became a business part- ness. While the government's atten-ner of Frank Maddock and still later tion was occupied by the Civil War,with his brother-in-law, Henry Black- the Indians of the Upper Columbiaman. They conducted a forwarding River had becometrou b 1 e s o m e, and commission business which he making freighting a hazardous busi-first established in Arlington, which ness. Although aware of the dangers,was then called "Alkali." Mr. Heppner conducted a pack train As he never married and had no of mules over the "Canyon City" routefamily to perpetuate his name it was for over two years. On ofle of thesefitting that the town he had been trips the Indians attacked the traininstrumental in founding should carry of twenty-nine mules. They drove offon his name. the mules in one direction and the Mr. Heppner died on February five men in charge escaped in an- 16.1905 and he is buried in the other. Luckily the train was on a re-Heppner Masonic Cemetery. City of Heppner The townsite of Heppner was orig-a few settlers on Balm Fork Crock, inally known as Stansbury'S Flat onamong them were: A. M. Mallory and Willow Creek. Itis situated at thefamily; his son-in-law, Charles Wal- convergence of five canyons, on alace, and his family; Tom and Mike level valley floor, In the foothills ofQuaid; and Dave Herren. Supplies had the Blue Mountains. It was namedto be hauled from Umatilla Landing for George Stansbury, who in 1869on the Columbia River, then the great purchased the claim of a man nameddistributing point for the whole in- Estes and built a crude cabin on theterior country. This was a distance of spot later occupied by thehome ofmore than fifty miles. T W Ayers (This is locatedsouth of The natural pasture land had been May Street just west ofthe bridgethe first lure to settling this territory, in front of the CourtHouse) Forbringing in the stockmen with their two or three years, MrStansbury washorses, cattle and sheep. among these the only white man in anarea ofentering between 1870 and 1880 were many miles. Prior to1872 there wereTom Ayers; John Woodward; Billy -40- Gilliam;Frank,BillyandAl e xWord was sent out over the area and Thompson; Art and Oscar Minor; whofamilies, as far away as fifty miles, later became interested in the gener-came bringing with them provisions al merchandise business; Charley andand blankets. It is reported that the George Currin; "Hank" Scherzinger;only ones who did any sleeping were James Wesley and Robert Turner. children under twelve who were con- In 1872 the Hon. J.D. Morrow,sidered too young to dance. The music a merchant of La Grande, accompan- was provided by Lew Trainer and ied Tom Quald to this section. It hadJohn Crawford, the fiddlers of the com- been suggestedto Mr. Morrow, bymunity. About the 10th of August, Frank Maddock, that a favorable site1872, Heppner and Morrow were open for a trading center might be lo-for business. 0. H. Hallock started cated on Willow Creek.. There were ablacksmith shop the same year. about twenty-five families in this areaLater Bishop Chase and George Stew- at that time. Some of these were theartbuiltanother blacksmith shop familiesof CrocketKirk;Anson out of whip-sawed lumber. Wright; the Hayes Brothers, Jim, John Umatilla Landing was so far away and Jeff; Lum, Jim and Tom Rhea;that Heppner became the center for Orin Farnsworth; Matt, Bill and Johnthe miners, cattlemen, and cowboys. Hughes; George Currin;Milt Hale;Many names were suggested for the Alex Thompson; Tom Matlock; A. G.new settlement, some of them were Bartholomew and Wm. P. Dutton. Willow Creek,Willows,andI.X.L., It took a man with vision to be(The last being the name of a pop- Willing to invest his capitol in anular "tonic"at that time) Finally enterprise of this kind, but it wasthe town was given the name sug- evident to Mr. Morrow that the lo-gested by Mr. Stansbury - Heppner, cation on Stansbury Flat had a prom-in honor of Henry Heppner. ising future. On his returnto La In 1873 Taylor Spenser moved in Grande he began negotiations withfrom Rhea Creek, where he had prev- Henry Heppner and entered in part-iously had a store to compete with nership with him. Mr. Heppner left atHeppner & Morrow. The first doctor once to purchase the stock and Mr.came to Heppner also in 1873. Dr. Morrow returned to the Flat and beganShobe of Nevada, although not a to erect a store building on the cross licensed doctor, was considered the ing of the present May and Mainpioneer doctor of the town and region. Streets. This building was eventuallyDr. Louis Shipley was the first qual- moved farther north in the block andified physician, having been gradu- the Palace Hotel built on this corner.ated in the fourth graduation class Later a man named Ted Howe usedof Willamette University and coming this first building for his general storeto Heppner in April 1880. and is said to be the first to handle Heppner & Morrow persuaded Dr. liquor in Heppner. The lumber usedShobe to put in a drug store. I.X.L. was In this first constructionwas obtain-included in his stock of supplies. The ed from the Van Arinens Mill locatedfirst drug store was on the corner at the head of Butter Creek. where the Gilliam and Bisbee build- The story is told that as soon asing now stands. this Heppner.Morrow structure had In 1873 the need of a school was been roofed and floored, the peoplefelt and Henry Heppner was instru- in the surrounding Country decided itmental in interesting the people in Was time for a celebrstion and ac-donating labor and material to build cordingly a big dance was planned.the first, one room, school house. AU helped, but when it was found thatand Company established an office more funds were needed, N e 1 so nin Heppner withJ.L. Morrow as Jones, the first milkman in town, pro-agent. Later J.P. Bushee served in vided this amount. Henry Johnson, athis capacity and in 1883 Cash Mal- carpenter. was credited with oversee-lory became the agent and continued ing the construction. It was said thatas such as long as the Wells, Fargo he built a very creditable building& Company carried on their business On the block where the Heppner Clin-in Heppner. ic now stands on Gale Street between Indian Scare Center and Willow. Henry Heppner In July 1878 was the Indian scare. also donated the bell. Although Mr.The Snake River Indians and other Heppner had no children of his own,tribes were to meet the Umatilla Res- he was very public minded and didervation Indians and cross the Col- all he could to help in the progressumbia River to join the Moses band and development of the town. No rec-and other Indians that could be in- ord could be found of the first teacherduced to join, and clear Eastern Ore- in Heppner. gon and Washington country of the Before 1873 the mail came fromwhites. It was learned from a squaw Scott's Post Office on the John Dayknown as Sarah Winnemucca, who River or from Umatilla Landing. Inhad been captured by General Howard 1873,Mr. Morrow with the aidofin the beginning of the out-break, that Congressman Slater, succeeding in es-the Indians were planning to come to tablishing mail service between Pen-Heppner. dleton and The Dalles, with a post Many families left to find pro- office in Heppner. George Stansburytection elsewhere, so the remainder, was honored by being appointed thebuilt a fort for their own protection. first Post Master. The office occupiedThis fort was on the east side of the a six foot square space in the cornerblock where the Palace Hotel later of the Heppner-MorroW store. stood.(Now Ford Motors).It was In 1873 Dishaway and Sanfordrudely constructed by digging a cellar started thefirstsaloon which wasfive feet deep and roofingit over built of lumber hauled from Umatillaabout two feet above ground. This was Landing. covered withcottonwoodlogs and In 1875 Henry Heppner enteredover thistwo feet of dirt. into partnership with Frank Maddock A military company was quickly for another general business in theorganized with Frank Maddock as building formerly occupied by TaylorCaptain; J. F. Morrow, First Lieuten- Spenser. The first hotel was built andant; A. S. Wells, Second Lietenant; run by a partnership of B.Van Shull,and betweenfifty and sixty men Frank Goble and Perry Oiler. Oilermaking up the company. The U. S. also instituted the first livery busi.government sent several boxes of guns ness. Another blacksmithshop wasand ammunition, as the settlers, on started by N. S. Whetstone and an-the whole, were poorly armed. As the other hotel by Mrs. B. J.Smith. scare subsided the people who had T. W. Ayers in 1877, bought Stans-left began to come back bury's interest in the townsite and About the same time another fort the whole area was platted forfur-was built for protection of the people ther development It was atthis timearound Long Creek When word came that Mr Ayers built hisfine homethat they needed help Maddock took near the May Street bridge. about thirty men and went to their In the same yearWells, Fargoaid During their absence the Indians -42- came to Heppner, however, they prov-pie built their temple of worship on ed not hostile, but quite friendly. Asthe corner where the "Fair Store" a precaution they were disarmed andnow stands (on the corner of Main held under arrest. One squaw man-and Center Streets.) This church was aged to escape. To avoid any morelater moved to the other side of the trouble, the rest were allowed to re-block facing Gale Street.Still later turn to the Columbia, on the promiseit was moved to the northeast corner they would remain peaceful and notof Gale and William Streets, where it return to Heppner. Soon after theywas destroyed by fire in May 1918. left, Maddock and his company re- By 1883 the town had grown to turned with the report that two mensuch proportions that a larger school named Nelson and Skilly had beenwas needed. A fine iive room struc- killed by the Indians on Butter Creek,ture was built on the same site (Gale and another man, Charles Jewell hadStreet) as the first school building. beenbadly wounded. This causedAmong the teachers who taught in greatexcitement and anxiety,butthis building were Stanley, Shurte, soon died down as no Indians re-A. W. Weir, T. C. Aubrey, Miss Eva turned, nor were any people nearA. Weir, Miss Inez Voruz and Miss Heppner molested. May Bailey. New Business After 1879 Mr. Weir, who was the first prin- This Indian trouble slowed downcipal,introducedgradinginthe the development of the town ternpor-schools. The children were all given arily but in 1879 new businesses be-tests to determine in which grade gan to appear. W. J. Leezer establishedthey belonged. Records show there a hardware store; Minor and Theodorewere 244 pupils in ten grades in the Opened a grocery and variety Store;year 1890 to 1891. and Dr. Shobe built a feed store and The school house on Gale Street stable. In 1880 P. 0. Borg, who hadwas destroyed by fire in 1892. A new driven an ox team over the plains,building was erected on the hill east Started a jewelry business; C. E. Fellof town.(HospitalHill). This was Planted a nursery on the Site flOwan imposing structure with eight class occupied by the Schwarz apartmentsrooms. (just north of May Street near the The first high school graduation bridge);A.J.Stevenson, who hadwas the class of 1893, wIth five mem- Started a brewery, sold out to Williambers,Ben Patterson,Effie(Fields) Roche and Shobe's Drug StorewasRhea, Frank Jones, Jay W. Shipley and Sold to C. M. Mallory. Roy Glasseock. From 1881 to 1882 an epidemic of The school was again moved in Small pox throughout Fastern Oregon1912, this time to the present location resulted in a half dozen deaths inon North Court and Stansbury Street Heppncr. The "School House on the hill" that The Heppner Gazette, a weeklyhad been a familiar sight for almost newspaper, was started in 1882 withtwenty years, was torn down, to make Ed Redington its first editor. way for a residential district and even Early in 1883 M. Shortridge es-tually the Pioneer Memorial Hospital. tablished a shoe store and E. NordykeA gymnasium was added to the school a wagon shop system in 1917 To H H Hoffman Churches and Schools Superintendent of Schools from 1910 to Until 1883 the church services of1918 must be gn en much credit for all denominatjo were held In thethe success in planning and erecting School house In 1883 the Baptistpeo the new building. Mr. Hoffman's in- -43- terest extended to civic as well asMorgan, J. B. Sperry S. P. Garrigues schoolaffairs.Mentionshouldbeand George Noble. The first Marshall made also of another Superintendentwas J. D. Locknane. of Heppner schools, D. V. S. Reid, 1899- Among improvements noted in the 191O who introduced music in the newlyincorporatedcitywerethe schoolas asubject.It was alsobuilding of twelve foot wide board through his efforts that the schoolsidewalks and uniform grading of the became standardized in 1910. Most ofmain street. all he is remembered as a strict dis- With the coming of the railroad, ciplinarian. in 1889; the flour mill, brewery, and County and City Government other manufacturingestablishments With increase in population in thedoubled their output and were still 1880's came the need of closer govern-unable to meet the increasing de- rnent supervision and the need for amands of the people of the community. county seat became apparent. The Early Newspaper State Legislature enacted approval of Advertisements and News Heppner as temporary county seat on A news item began appearing February 16, 1885. This encouraged theweekly in the town paper. This was public minded citizens to erect a court-the time scheduled for the train. Ed. house;obtaining funds entirely byR. Bishop was the first agent. popular subscription.Thisbuilding In less than twenty years from was presented to Morrow County andthe time George Stansbury built his gave Heppner an advantage as a per-rude cabin,Heppner grewintoa manent location for the county seatthriving town. We find in the Heppner over the other towns - especially Lex-weekly Gazette in the years 1888 to ington. This fast growing settlement1890 many varied and interesting ad- was anxious to obtain the honor. Lex-vertisements. W. R. Ellis and George ington also was more centrally lo-Wm. Wright were Attorneys at Law; cated and accessible to the majorityWm. J. McAttee and C. E. Hinton each of the settlers, in Morrow County. Thehad a meat market; Charles M. Jones Courthouse was dedicated July 4, 1885,and Ira G. Nelson ran barber shops. in much the same manner as thePeterBorgdealtinjewelry and Ileppner-Morrow store had been dedi-Arthur Smith was a watch maker. cated a few years previously. The pres-Fred Hallock was an insurance agent. ent Court House was built in 1902Mrs. Warren had a millinery store and of native stone quarried in variousMrs S.P. Garrlgues offered Ladies places in the county. "Furnishings." James Depny's PIoneer J. M. Hager became the owner ofHotel advertised meals at all hours- the J. L. Morrow & Son store in May25c and lodgings also 25c. Two res- 1885. Later J. D. Locknane opened thetaurants were a little higher priced- Belvedere saloon; the firm of Minor,Callahan's and George Petrie's charg- Dodson & Company bought out 0. S.ed 50c for single meals, 3 for $1.00 Herren; and 0. H. Halloek sold hisor $5.00 by the week. stock of drugs to C. M. Mallory. There were also J. A. W Coffey's On February 9 1887 by an actplaning and chop mill; the Willow of Legislature, Heppner became anCreek saw mill owned by Ed L. Meeks incorporatedcityThe firstofficersand Wm. Scott. Ayers and Fell Were were Henry Blackman Mayor M Cwool buyers, and it is noted the price McDougall Treasurer 0 H. Hallock,was 144c a pound. Jim Jones now Recorder; and the councilmen were:owned the Belvedere saloon and .1. E. H. Swinbourne H. Minor ThomasB. Natter the brewery. Several men 44- had money to loanF. 0. Bucknam, Another item of Interest was that 3. W. Morrow and Orin Patterson. Cun-dried venison was sold by 1. \V. Mat. ningham raised Clydesdale horses andlock and Company Grocery. the Florence Brothers were listed as Among the news items we found stock raisers. John Voss and Companya notice of the Sunday School annual and Cris Krauss were bakers. A. H.convention to he held In the Grove on Tyson and L. D. Boyd were contractors,James Adklns place on Rhea Creek, builders and architects. Roberts & Sim-Thursday, June 12, 1890. Basket plc' on; N.S. Whetstone; Gun & Ruarknic and programme, Signed by John were allblacksmiths (the last two Ely, President, lone and George \V. specializing in horse shoeing). Lord, Secretary, fleppner. A. Abramseck opened a 'TaUoring In1888WilliamMitchellwas establishment" and advertised customJudge and T. R. Howard was Sheriff. made pants$7.0O to $15.00 made of L. Anderson was Clerk and George the best goods on the market. Hard.Noble, the Treasurer of the County. ware was sold by B. A. Hunsaker &Henry Blackman was still Mayor. Co.; Leezer and Thompson; Stayer & The Palace Hotel Walker; Arthur Coffin and Frank Mc- The Palace Hotel Company was Farland. Rider and Kerns were signincorporated in October 26, 1889 to ac- painters, paper hangers and decora- comodate theincreased number of tors. E. 3. Siocum had drugs and med.travelers the train was bringing in. Icine. W. G. Scott advertised lumber,The promoters of this enterprise were pickets. lathes, and sawed shakes. J Tom Quald, 3, W. Morrow. C. A. Rhea, F. Spray sold feed, wood and lumber,Henry Blackman and 3. B. Nailer. In D. W. Homer and George Noble werea short time a magnificentthree story saddle makers and Harrington & Co.building, one of the finest In the In- made harness, whips, spurs and sad- land Empire. was erected on Mayand dles. The saddle made by these twoMain Streets. Will Van Cadrow was firms became world famous. the first manager. It sen'ed thepub- There were several general mer- liccontinuously from September 5 chandise concerns at this time: L M. 1891until destroyed inthe fireof hager; Dave Walsh; Jeff Jones andJuly 4th, 1918, The most well known of all the managers of thePalace Minor. Do1son & ('o. Kirk & Young- Ia- gren mirrors,Hotel was Phil Mctschen who was advertisedfurniture, -ra-ncr of be.ding.brackets,pictures,frames, r the manager and part ctc.. and "Undertaking a specialty."the Imperial Hotel inPortland SPerry's new Roller Mill ran an ad The improvement of the road and also Mat Lichenthal's Boot andMonument, by thestate. wa Shoe Store. bringing Heppner more trade from the interior country. Of specialinterestto the ladies Were the articles from '-'Lady's The Flour MI-U BO'kwhichappearedeachweek. The flour mill.trc1ed cr What eedless to say. the ladies impatient- now North Court Street, wasstarted lv waited for the paper to appear. Mr. Beagles. Before 188l themill hands. "PLasrnus theDentist"advertised d passed throughu'vcrsl faithfully each week in the "JewsNamely: Mr. Overholtz; W. B. Cun- Colum' George C. Foor, a travelingninghame & Co.; John W.Morrow; Photezrapher. guaranteed satisfactionNelse Jones and others.. In 1887 J. B. 'Y offering a 23% discount on resitSperry. then owner, made manyim- if patrans were not pleased withprovements- He enlarged the mill and the first sitting.. replaced the old machinery with more -15. adequate and improved kinds, to thewell worth the prIce. amount of about $32,000.00. About thisBeppner Considered For State Asylum time a stock company was formed to The next subject of interest for assume charge of the now thrivingthe Heppner people was the possibil- mill. This mill was in continuous useity of being selected for the location until 1924, when the milling was dis- of the State Asylum in Eastern Ore- continued. W. Huston was the lastgon. Several favorable sites were sug- manager. The building is completelygested - among them Pendleton; gone now and only a short sectionHeppner, because of its pure water; of the "flume" on the hill above Hagerand Union with hot lakes and springs Street remains as a reminder of theinitsvicinity. Because of political mill. pressure, however, Pendleton was fin- Water Supply ally selected. As the town increased in size, the Crisis of1893 problem of adequate water supplies, The financial crisis of 1893 was both for general use and for protec-keenly felt in Heppner as elsewhere. tion against fire became serious. TheAdded to this was the shortage of combined supply of water from therain for both crops and stock through- several large springs and a few wellsout the county. All this and the low in town was not enough. In Aprilprices caused a critical situation. A 1888, the City Council voted to haveCommercial Union was formed by the a well drilled. Otis Patterson, of themerchants to buy their stock in large Gazettecontacted the Fmpire Wellquantities in order to take advantage Auger Company of New York. In Nov-of lower prices and cut freight rates. ember 1889 a well was drilled with Officers for the organization were J. W. 12 inch bore, 530 feet deep, at theVaughn,President;HarryWarren, cost of $5.00 a foot. It was not artesianSecretary; J. W. Leezer. Treasurer; and water as had been hoped, althoughthe Executive Committee were L. W. the water came to within a few feetBriggs, El J. Slocum and T. R. Howard. of the surface. The town began to expand, ex- Late in 1892 the city entered intotending up and down Willow Creek a deal with H. V. Gates of Hillsboro,valley and up Hinton and Wright's who was to install a complete waterCreeks. A new livery stable of Wil- and electric light plant to furnish anliam Gordon was added to the busi- adequate supply of each. Work beganness area and the new homes of D. at once; utilizing the old well thatCox, Al Evans and P. 0. Borg were had been drilled, in hopes of strikingbuilt. artesian water. Before the plant was Coal MiningArbuclde Mine completed, the Heppuer Light and An attempt was made in 1898 to Water Company wasformedandmove the Depot to the center of town bought the system from Mr. Gates. Inbut this failed because there was no 1893 the Heppner Light and Waterspace adequate for the needed facil- plant was operating. ities. A survey was also made about A new well in 1928 gave the peoplethe same time to extend the railroad of Heppner at last, the muchlongedthrough the Blue Mountains past the for artesian water This well Wasdrill-coal mines to La Grande. A great deal ed about twelve miles south-east ofof effort had been made and much Heppner at the forks ofWillow Creek.money had been spent in trying to The well, pipeline andreservoir costdevelop these mines into a paying the citizens of Heppfler$112,000.00 butenterprise, but the coal proved to be all felt the added supply ofwater wasof such inferior quality to be un- -46- profitable for commercial mining. Thethe whole town. At that time the Sigs- Arbuckle Mines among others,be- bee Photo Studio and Ott's Music came a dream of the past. Studio were upstairs and the Theater downstairs in the Commercial build. ThefirstPioneer Reunion wasing. held in 1900 with Judge S. A. Lowell On July 4, 1918, the same year, of Pendleton, the speaker. It is said theHeppner experiencedit's worst fire. celebration lasted two days and end-It originated in the tailor shop ad- ed in a street brawl. jacent to the Palace Hotel and was discovered about 2:00 P. M. The fire The I.0. 0.F. Hall and themoved to the hotel and soon every Robertsbuilding(Humphrey Drugbuilding nearby was ablaze. Almost Store) was built in 1901. The Masoniceveryone was celebrating the fourth, Temple was erected in 1916. at lone, so there were only a few men Fires and Fire Protection in town to fight the fire, which was The need for more adequate watersoon out of control. Two blocks south and better fire fighting equipment inof May Street west of Chase and across the town was more forcibly broughtMain( with the exception of the home to the attention of the people whenof Dr. McMurdo) were wiped out. Dr. the planing mill of S. D. Garrigues,McMurdo, with the help of Jasper on May and Court Streets, was burnedCrawford and Jess Turner, had been to the ground in1891. In Januaryable to save his home. Old land- 1892 three cisterns were constructedmarks such as the old Brewery and for fire protection in the business dis- the Mountain House (a rooming houseS trict, and new equipment for the vol-west of Main and south of May) dis. unteer fire department was purchas- appeared into ashes. The fire was fin. ed. ally halted before reaching the Power Despite these improvements in thehouse, mostly due to the valiant ef. Fire Department, fire destroyed thefort of Frank S. Parker. Other build- school house on Gale Street in 1892.ings and businessesdestroyedbe- On October 13, 1898 the Volun- sides the Palace Hotel were Patter- teer Fire Department was reorganizedson's Barber Shop, Bode's Tailor Shop, and took a new lease on life, withGroshens Pastime, the Star Lodging flew hose carts and uniforms. An oldhouse,LiveryStable,PrintShop, history states that Frank Natter wasBorg's Jewelry and many dwellings. Fire Chief; James Thompson was As-Early records of the city were lost. sistant Chief; Frank Roberts, CaptainThese included records, pictures and of No. 1 hose; E. M. Shutt Captaincopies of the weekly paper that had of No. 2 hose; L T. Stewart, Secretarynot yet been moved from the old Print and James Hart, Treasurer. shop to the newly completed Gazette- On October 5, 1899 fire destroyedTimes building on Willow Street. two saloons and other buildings in A year after this destructive fire the Palace Hotel block despite theGilliam and Bisbee erected a fine brick gallant efforts of the Fire Department.building on the southeast corner of Damage t0 the amount of $6,750.00Main and May Streets. Was suffered by the owners The next year1920the Elks In May 1918 a fire destroyed theLodge building was built onMain Ileppner Commercial Club building,Street just north of the location of the Skating rink and Baptist Churth, wip oldPalaceHotelThe Elks Club Ing Out the west end of Willow androoms and hail are on the secondfloor Gale Streets. Fora time it threatenedwith a modern theater on the ground .47- floor. terrible hour turned a happy Sunday In 1921, the new Heppner Hotelafternoon into a night of terror. was completed on the north end of Meanwhile, two young men of the same block where the old hotelHeppner had set out on a heroic mis- stood. sion. They were Leslie Matlock and Fire again struck Heppner in 1922.Bruce Kelley. They saw the first wave This time it was the Christian Churchwhen the steam laundry gave way. that was destroyed, but by the nextThey knew it was too late to do much year another fine building replaced it.for Heppner.It might even be too Heppner Flood late to warn Lexington. But a man June 14, 1903 is a date that willcould try. While Kelly hurried to get never be forgotten by the people ofhorses from the only livery stable not Heppner and all Morrow County, forin the path of the waters, Matlock that was the day that the greatestran to Bisbee's hardware store for wire disaster struck the town. That after-cutters. They would have to ride over- noon it began to rain, first a few bigland and between Heppner and the drops, then increasing in intensity un-lower towns were fences of taut, well tilit was coming down in sheets,strung barbed wire. The store was then turned to hail. About 5:00 P. M.locked. Matlock kicked the door in, a cloud burst on the hill betweengot two pairs of cutters and then ran Balm Fork and Wright Creek, whichfor the stable. He and Kelly mounted is now called Donaldson canyon. Someand took off, heading over the big water came down the smaller streambare hills west of town, in order to causing considerable damage to roads,get out of the creek valley, now run- washing out bridges, fences, etc., andning high and fast with destruction. carrying everything moveable before The two riders came in sight of it into Willow Creek. The greater a-Lexington to find that the waters were mount of water came down Willowgoing to beat them by about two Creek in a great wall, carrying bould-minutes, but no lives were lost there. ers, houses, animals, barbed wire fen-On to lone they spurred their tiring ces and baled hay. The residentialhorses. The sudden appearance in lone district of the town was along theof two men on wind blown horses creek right in the path of the torrent.brought the people running out of The new steam laundry, filledtheir houses. "Get to the hills" Mat- with heavy machinery, held for a fewlock and Kelly shouted. lone's total minutes, long enough to dam thepopulation went into action. Driving waters twenty feet deep, and alsosuch stock as they had at home and long enough for a few people to seecarrying such household treasures as the danger upon them and to Startthey could, they moved to the hills on running from it. Then the dam gaveeither side of the canyon where some way, loosing the rush of a lake intoremained all night. The flood waters the streets, carrying its helpless vic-hit the town within minutes after tims. A few of the running men man the horsemen arrived, but not a life aged to get to the hills, but not aswas lost. Although these two towns many of the women. Skirts were longdid not lose any lives in the actual in 1903 and the muddy water quicklyflood a number of people In lone died made themheavy. Many womenof Typhoid Fever during the next year. stumbled and fell, then disappeared.This was thought a result of the pol- Many children also perished Manyluted wells in town. heroic and tragic stories are told of In Heppner however there were thathorrible afternoon. That swiftabout 200 deaths. Surviving famIlies -48- were separated, some having escapedBalm Fork, called the telephone office, to onehill and some others. Thewarning that there had been a cloud water went down by morning andburst and water was rushing toward the next day the work of cleaning upHeppner. The operators immediately thewreckageandrecoveringthebegan calling those living along the bodies was undertaken. Local mencreek above and below Heppner. They were deputized to help control order.alsocalledthoselivingnear the Farmers as far away as lone broughtcreek in town. Their first thoughts their teams to help pull apart thewere for the cripples and invalids and piles of debris. A number of nursesfamilies with little children. When the from The Dalles and elsewhere hurriedwater reached the Osmin Hager home to the stricken city to offer their ser-on the south edge of town, Mrs Hager vices. called a second warning. This time Two companies of Oregon Militiathe fire siren was sounded to warn arrived from Portland the day after thethe people that there was real danger. flood. Men also came from Pendle-Although no lives were lost, consid- ton and other places to help clean uperable damage was suffered by those the streets. The second floor of thein the path of the water. In the homes, buildingwhereHumphreysDrugbasements were filled with mud and Store is now was used as a morgue.debris. The Methodist Church base- People were buried in plain boxes asment door had been left open and there were no coffins. much of the furniture was either float- The number of dead amounted toed away or ruined by the water. The nearly one-fourth of the population,machinery in the creamery suffered for Heppner claimed a population ofa heavy loss and lumber washed from 1100 citizens in 1903. Not even thethe Tum-A-Lum lumber yard, com- larger and far more publicized Johns- pletely blocked the bridge near the town flood of 1889 took such a propor-north end of Main Street, causing an tionately great number of its inhabi-added threat to the homes and busi- tants. nesses below. The operators in the telephone office were given credit for Henry Heppner Dies helping to avert more serious loss. On February 16, 1905 the com- munity was saddened by the death of World War I and II its founder, Henry Heppner, who pass- When the United States entered ed away at the age of 62. AlthoughWorld War I, Heppner did her share. he was comparativelya young manHer boys went over the top.Mothers as ages go today, he had led a stren-and wives worked diligentlyin the uous life and had accomplished aRed Cross for the boys 'dover there". great deal in helping the progress ofSome boys were sacrificedfor the his town, giving both work andmoney.cause. Flood of 1934 A generation later, in theearly During the years since the Flood of1940's, the energies of the commun- 1903, the people of Heppner had beenity were again channeledtoward help- Uneasyandanxiouswheneveraing win the war (World War II).Men severe storm threatened, but it wasworked over-time and women helped not until May 29, 1934 thatany dam-with the Red Cross but counted the age really came. That afternoon adays until husbands and Sons would rain began andas the storm becamebe home. In the spring of 1946,the town and surrounding communities more threatenjn. DooDle- - began tnet more Concerned Mrs Robert Thomp expressed their appreciation to all the Son who lived about eight milesupservicemen by having a huge dinner 49 for them andtheirfamilies. The$75,000 improved the Heppner water Chamber of Commerce and all othersystem a great deal. With the added organizations and churchescooper- water supply Heppner could provide ated to make it a very fine occasion. the city with a swimming pool. The initial cost of the recreation area was City Improvements Since 1930 $8,000 but added improvements and Some time in the 1930's the Hepp.equipment have increased this amount ner Light Company was sold to theuntil now itis considered a $50,000 Pasific Power and Light Company andplant. theHeppner Water Company was bought by the city of Heppner. During the last ten years other During 1933, when Jeff Jones wasimprovements have been made. In Mayor of Heppner the first oiling of1950 the Pioneer Memorial Hospital thestreetswas done,three newwas dedicated. In 1952 a new well bridges were built,costing the taxwas added to the system and in 1959 payers of Heppner another $27,000.00.the pipe lineis being replaced. In In 1936 another fine building was1953 one of the greatest improvements added to the business section, Thewas made when the $256,000 sewer Dick Euilding on Main and Maysystem was installed. In 1955 the new Streets, now housing the Ford Gar-ElementarySchool wascompleted. age. This modern $290,000 building has Heppner Lumber Mill added much needed class room that In 1937 after long negotiations,is so essential to good education. the Kraft Company of Chicago estab- In the last ten years a major lished a lumber mill about one milebuilding or remodeling program has west of Heppner. About one hundredbeen successfully carried out by mem- families directly dependent on thisbers of seven different churches in mill have greatly increased the pop-Heppner. The denominations repre- ulation of the town. This has beensented are Catholic, Episcopal, Meth- the major force in a number of chan-odist, Christian, Lutheran, Seven Day ges in the last twenty years. TheAdventist and Assembly of God. Most school facilities have had to be en-of them held their first meeting in larged, with more teachers added. Thethe early school house until places house developments have expandedof worship could be built. Most have the size of the town and businessessuffered loss and damage by flood have improved and new ones haveand several by fire. They show that the been established. people of this community are no for- The mill wag first called the Hepp-getting in prosperity, the spiritual re- ner Milling Company, but later thesource that brought them through name was changed to the Heppnermany kinds of hardships. Pine Mill. Maurice Hitchcock is the If the people of the city continue o'.vner and Paul Koenig Is the man-to exercise the same faith and forti- ager. (The mill was purchased in Oct-tude they have shown in the past, ober 1959 by Kinzua Corporation). there should be a great future for In 1948 a new reservoir costingHeppner.

-50- City of lone "lone is situated on a large leveleluded in the townsite. tractof land in the Willow Creek Mr. Sperry also served during the valley about thirty miles from theIndian Wars in 1855 to 1856. He vol- Columbia River. There is ample spaceunteered as a packer and freighter and here for a city of several thousand.was present at the four day battle Another feature favorable for such anear Walla Walla. Although hedid growth is the fact that there is anno active fighting, he helped to take abundance of water just a few feet3,000 head of captured Indian ponies below the surface." This is quotedto the Willamette Valley where they from the History of Umatilla and Mor- were sold as trophies of war.Later row County published in 1902. he packed to Boise, Idaho, clearing as The eastern part of the townsitemuch as $1.00 a pound for his loads. Each animal carried 300 pounds. After from the present Catholic Church onseveral years of this work he brought Main and A. Street, east to Willow Willamette Creek above the McCabe land, orig-a herd of cattle from the inally belonged to a cattleman, Ed-Valley in 1871. Four years later he ward Cluff, who was a native of Ire-sold 400 head head of beef cattle. land. He fought in the Indian WarHis start in this business had been and his military recordisone of105 cows. He first pre-empted land "Distinction and Valor". In 1855 tothree miles below lone, but later sold 1856 he participated in several battlesthis and bought land where lone now and did scout duty under Colonel Nes-stands. He continued to raise hogs, muth and Major Raines. He came tocattle and mules. Morrow County in 1870 and two years Sometime in 1883 E. G. Sperry de- later homesteaded and bought rail-cided to establish a Trading Center road land. Here he raised and fat-on his property which is nowknown tened cattle. Besides giving up someas Sperry Addition of lone.When the 40 acres of his fann, for the Cityquestion of a name for the new settle- platting, he donated land for twoment was discussed, it was suggested churches in lone. He was active inthat Mr. Sperry name it for a little Community affairs, too,, serving for agirl, lone Arthurs, who was the daugh- time as Justice of the Peace in ater of a man who worked forhim. "very creditable manner." Mr. Sperry liked the name and so the The western part of the city islittle town became lone, Oregon. Ofllandthat was pre-empted by Mr. Sperry's ability as a leader George Emerick,laterassignedtowas recognized and he wasrewarded James Taylor and still later sold toby being made Mayor of the town he Mrs Ramblet, a lady doctor, who inhelped to form. The town was incorp- turn deeded it to Elisha G. Sperryorated, the City of lone, in 1899 and who was a native of Ohio. This areahe was elected Mayor and M.S. Max- extendedwestfromtheCatholicwell the first recorder Church to the creek west of the town, The first places of business set including land now owned by H R.up were a blacksmithshop by George Ekstrorn, and south of Main StreetLutrell a saloon by CharlesMeFar to the creek. Sometime later in 1885land and a general store whichhad Robert Wills married Phoebe Sperry,been moved from Hardman tolone b, daughter of E. G. Sperry and theyAaron Po} ce The Post Officeof lone hornesteaded the land north of Mainwas established in1884 in the Royce Street and thiswas platted and in-store and Mr. Royce was thefirst post -51- master. Streets, where James Barnett's Chev- In 1885 schools began to makeron Station is now. The building burn- their appearance. E. G. Sperry erecteded in 1918, but the warehouse is still a small one in lone which lasted onlyin use by Melvin Melana as a lumber a short time as there were not enoughwarehouse. children to maintain it. Other schools, J.A. Wooiery, a native of Case one at Petteysville and another threeCounty,Missouri, came to Morrow and a half miles west of lone, faredCounty in 1884. He engaged in driv- better and lasted a number of years.ing the stage between Heppner and Still others were started on the hillMonument until 1890, when he be- both north and south of lone, thuscame a merchant in Hardman. After providing for the educational needsa successful year there, he moved his of the growing population. store to lone. Here he maintained a In 1885 more development wasgeneral store, hardware, and imple- seen in lone. E. G. Sperry's sOn-In-ment store. He was also the post law, Robert C. Wills, a Canadian, builtmaster. His place of business was on a small store. This building, alongthe lot where Jack Ferris' Pastime with the Will's home, still stands onis now located on Green and Main the corner of Burch and Main Street.Streets, opposite the Walker store. Mr. The Harvey Rings now own this prop- Woolery was public spirited and pro- erty. gressive and was influential in secur- In the early 1880's the first wheating the incorporation of the City of and cereal grains were planted. Notlone. He lated was Mayor. A living much was grown except for home use-monument to Mr. Woolery's interest in age. The first had to be hauled bydeveloping the town, is a beautiful teamacrosscountrytoArlington,City Park in which he planted the which was the nearest railroad. Thenlovely Carolina Poplar trees which he the branch line came up Willow Creeksecured from their nativestate of in 1888. Wheat raising became a cashNorth Carolina. crop and it was reported that in 1891, In 1893, a new blacksmith shop 231 cars of wheat were shipped fromwas opened on Main between Green lone. and Cherry Streets, by Ben Case. Two Between 1885 and 1894 there wasyears later William Haguewood be- much building in the town. Thomascame his partner. This shop was later J. Carla erected a small hotel and be-owned by Paul O'Meara. In 1894 Mat came the second post master. A largeHalvorsen who had operated a store store building with a dance hail above,in Lone Rock and later was bank and a small warehouse were movedclerk in the Bishop Bank in Heppner, from Castle Rock. C. T. Walker latercame to lone to work for J. A. Woolery; occupied the store space and the dancelater he started a small store of his hail became known as Walker's Hall.own in the Wills building and even- The upstairs was also used for schooltually moved across the street into a programs, traveling shows, basket soc-building of his own. This building is ials and later the early motion pic-now part of the present Bristow store. tures. Charles Freeland of Salem, with During the same year, a small his partner John Steele brought oneschool was built on the block south of the first traveling movie showsof the Park, and Fred W. Balsiger, through Eastern Oregon in 1904. Laterof Illinois was the first teacher Alice Frank Engleman ran a weekly movieGlasscock was the teacher the next show in this building This buildingyear. In 1896, owing to the shortage stood on the corner of Main and Greenof school funds, the school was open- -52- ed on a subscription basis. Orleanby Pete Noble. The new owners moved (Jordon) Ray was the teacher thatthe business to another location in year, but as the funds ran out, thethe block south of the Park. W. M. school was closed. The next year was more successful and ran a full yearAkers bought the interest of Ben Case with Della (Reed) Corson as teacher.in the blacksmith shop; Mat Haivor- In 1895 Paul Balsiger, a brothersen bought the hotel and livery stable of Fred, erected a wagon repair shopand C. T. Walker moved into town and his cousin, E. J. Keller, also offrom his ranch southwest of lone and illinois,'setup another blacksmithopened a general store in the build- shop. These two buildings were in the block where the Rietmann Hardwareing which had been moved to lone store and the Swanson building (nowfrom Castle Rock. occupied by the Bank of Eastern Ore- Between 1892 and 1897 there had gon) are. been crop shortages and many farm- Other new buildings erected iners had moved away, but by the last year in the Nineteenth Century, lone the next few years were the Hague-was again on the boom. At the turn wood residence on the corner of Cherryof the century there were,inall, and Main Streets where the Whiteabout 100 business buildings and res- Apartment House is now; W. L. Rich-idences in lone and about 350 inhabi- ard and E. M. Akers built west oftants. rone could now boast of four the Halvorsen store and opened ageneral stores; those of J. A. Woolery, photo "gallery". S. P. Haney took overHalvorsen and Mason, C. T. Walker, the hotelandliverybarn; Hankand the lone Mercantile Company, Howell opened a barber shop; Samowned by Arnold Balsiger and Charles Dickson erected a small building westAllinger; a newspaper, the lone Post, of the Woolery store and applied for aowned and edited by Miss Virginia saloon license, which was denied, so aDeaton; C. W. Ingraham's Drug Store; Mr. St. Clair used the building for aPaul Balsiger's wagon and water-tank blacksmith shop and built his homebuilding shop; Rhea and Martin's har- next door. J. T. League became theness shop; Blake Brothers Butcher post master and erected a small build-Shop; two doctors and a dentist; H. G. ing to house the Post Office. ThisJordon's Confectionary Store; The lone building was in just about the sameLivery Stable, now owned by B. F. place as the present Post Office. Vaughn; T. J. Cane's lodging house; After a year of building inacthrity,W. M. Haguewood's and Mr. Wood's the town began to grow rapidly againblacksmith shops; Mrs Deaton's Mil- in1897. Some businesses changedlinery Store; A. Lane's Barber Shop; hands and others were established.two warehouses; the Farmers' Ware. Frank Engleman bought the photohouse Company and Kerr, Gifford & business and opened a confectionaryCompany; the 0. H. & N. Depot and and bowling alley. Bert Mason cameTelegraph office; the lumber business to work for Mat Halvorsen and boughtof J.P. Louy & S. I. Stratton; the an interest in the business. The nextsaloons of E. G. Sperry, Brienly & Ear- year the firm became Halvorsen andhart, the Warfield Brothers and Frank Mason. The same year Charles W.Engleman; office of W. H. Dobyns. ingraham opened a Drug store on theAttorney and U. S. Land Commission- corner where Cot Swanson's store iser; the hotel and a church. The J. A. now. Charles Martin and James RheaWoolery Bank, operated by his sister, became the owners of the Harnesswas established in 1903 and dissolved Repair Shop which had been openedin 1927. -53- At one time lone was known asTone graduation class from a four the "Egg City" because almost everyyear High School were Grace Watten- ranch had a side line of poultry rais-burger and Otto Rietmann in 1909. ing and large quantities of eggs were About 1905 through the efforts of shipped annually. the teachers in the lone school and in Many disasters have beset theobservance of Arbor Day, a plan was little community of lone. Fire andinstituted for a general planting of flood have taken the most toll oftrees in town. These trees flourished buildings and lives.In 1917,C. T.and lone changed from a salt grass Walker's store was burned. In 1918 theflat to a green, cool oasis it has been Oddfellows Hall and Joe Mason's Gen- ever since. eral Store, which was on the site of The schools in the lone area have the old Woolery store, burned. Alsochanged with the times. There has in 1918 a hail storm swept throughbeen consolidation of many school dis- the area north of lone and hailed outtricts over the years to form the one most of the wheat. It caused a flashlone School District. These outlying flood when the water came down thedistricts that have been discontinued Rietmann Grade and filled the base-and are sending pupils to lone are ments of the stores and residences. Ella, Cecil, Fairview, Gooseberry, Mor- The homes in the City of lonegan, Rocky Bluff, Dry Fork, Rhea Sid- varied in size and construction. Someing, Lone Tree, Pleasant Vale, Davis, of the more prosperous businessmenFour Mile and Hardesty. built some very fine residences that The school census of children in are still well preserved and make finethe lone area between four and twenty homes today. Among these are theyears of age, show 181 in 1920; 131 J. A. Woolery house now owned byin 1930; 101 in 1940; 180 in 1950 and Elmer Holtz;the home of Willard239 in 1958. Blake, a sheep man, now the home The present school building was of Mrs. Echo Palmateer; the housebuilt in 1924 and a new building to known as the C. 3. Penniflgton resi-house a shop, band room, gymnasium dence which was built by Tom David- and cafetorium was built and in oper- son, is now the home of the Ernestationin1953. An outdoor, heated fleilkers;(Mr. Pennington Was theswimming pool was constructed with agent for the 0. H. & N.). The C. T.the cooperation of the lone Memorial Walker home now occupied by theImprovement Association and islo- Grant Rigbys and owned by Franklincated adjacent to the new building. Ely; the Bert Mason home where thelone planted the firstturf athletic Charles O'Conner family live and thefield in the county in 1946. Music was W. C. Case home where the Sam Es-added to the school curriculum in teb's now reside. 1940 and several fine musicians have In 1900 the school was in a twodeveloped through thlz training. story frame structure on the siteof The lone High School Basketball the present school system,with twoteam of 1954 made quite a record for very capable teachers incharge. Theysportsmanship when they succeeded in were Miss Anna Balsigerand Missreaching the final game of the State Cora Simpsontiss Balsigerlater be-Tournament in Salem that year. AL- came the first womanto hold thethough they were barely defeated by position of County Superintendent ofHarrisburg, they received such favor. Schools in Morrow County.Anotherable comment in the Salem papers and teacher of note was Mr.Akers whoon the radio on their well mannered invented a panorama camera.The firstbehavior while in that city, that the -54. lone community felt the team had wonthree years later, in 1898 a community a reward much more valuable thanchurch was built of lumber hauled the trophy. from a mill in the Blue Mountains Some businesses, not mentionedand erected on a lot donated by Ed- ward Cluff. This later became the previously, that flourished during theCongregational Church. In 1904 the first half of the twentieth century thatBaptist Church was built, the Christ- have been discontinued or have burn-ian Church in 1914, the Full Gospel ed down, includedI.R. Robinson'sMission held services in the Brierly Machine Shop; Bill Swanson's RollingBuilding next to the Park beginning Mill, which burned in 1948 in a firein 1930 and continuing for several that threatened to destroy the wholeyears.TheSt.WilliamsCatholic town;Laxton'sConfectionery(thisChurch was dedicated on May 24, 1949. brick building is now owned by theThe Nazarene Church was organized Oddfellow'sLodge);Engi em a n 'sin 1955 and has held services in sev- HardwareStore;Harlan McCurdy'seral places having no building of their Confectionery; Walter Pryear's saloon;own. In 1942 the Baptist,Christian The Carle Rooming House;(whichand Congregational Churches combin- was used for a Mortuary for someed to form a Cooperative Church and time before it was remodeled intoin 1954 the group voted to become apartments.) it was torn down in 1949a Community Church and withall when the Catholic Church was builtfaiths recognized. The Baptist Church on that site. Several jewelry storeshas reorganized and services are flow existed during this time, among thembeing held in their church. were Rose Jewelers, Titus Jeweler, and Before 1900, the old lone City well, Steele Jeweler; C. A. Rehass, druggist;located near the present Masonic Hall Englen-jan's Pastime and Ice Creamwas pumped by hand. Farmers hauled Parlor; Cronin and McArthur Hard- ware Store; Seven Oaks candy store;water from this well to their ranches Interior Warehouse Company; Balfour-in large water tanks. Some came 15 Guthrie Company; LouisBalsiger'smiles or more over tedious dirt roads. Photograph Gallery; the Tum-A-LumIn 1900 a deep well was dug near the Lumber Company; Jim Rhea Butchersite of the present one and was used Shop; Ture Peterson's Butcher Shop;until 1956. At that time a new well Arthur (Shorty) Shaver and Johnnywas drilled and at present supplies Bryson's Livery Stable; River & Ack-the city with 18,000 gallons of water ley Garage (now the Drake Indepen-an hour. Since water is so important dent Garage); F. H. Robinson Lawto the growth of a community and Office vital to the maintenance of the su-t- (in the Wills Building);Dr. rounding ranches that support it, well- Alonzo Reid, Dr. Bruce, Dr. C. C. Chickdrillers have found it a lucrative busi (phy&icians); and Dr. Davis (dentist);ness here. Some of these men were Wilt's Blacksmith Shop; "Little Doe"Albert "Shorty" Shaver and Johnny Frank Christianson, druggist; W. E.Bryson; Charles Shaver; M FL Cotter Bullard, druggist. Newspapermen that came after Virginia Deaton, were Lesand G M. Iannesen. Hallon, Mr. Ward, L. E. Acherman and One of the greatest improvements Rev. W. W. Head. Someof the wheatin the city has been the oiling of the buyers were Louis Balsiger, ElmerstreetsThis began in 1946 when Griffith, E. J. Swanson and WalterGarland Swanson was Mayor Main Eubanks and the Bert Mason GroceryStreet was surfaced that year and In 1895 the first Sunday Schooleach year since then other streets have Was organjJ in the 'I house andbeen added, until now only a few remain to be finished. It not only im-allowed there at one time. This build. proves the appearance of the city, buting was later remodeled into a home adds to the convenience and comfortand is now occupied by the Lee Palm. of the citizens. ers. Today the City of lone does not In 1947 the city bought the brick present too different a picture thanbuilding on Spring Street, that had it did in former years. Because ofbeen vacated by A. C. Swanson when improved roads and modern means ofhe moved his grocery store to a new travel that shortens distances, somelocation in the Bert Mason Building types of business are not found inon Main Street. This City hall burned the town. There are two grain eleva-in 1948 when the Swanson Rolling tors in the city limits (the one at theMill was consumed. The present build- west end of Main Street was builting was constructedin1952 when in 1918 and was the first of its kindOmar Rietmann was Mayor. It houses ever built). Others at Morgan, Mc-the fire truck and the lone Public Nab, and Jordon help to handle theLibrary besides the council room. large quantities of wheat and barley The Library came into existence raised. Besides these commercial bins,in 1936 through the efforts of the North many ranchers have storage on theirlone Women's Improvement Associat- own property. Other businesses includeion, later known as the lone Topic the two garages, Drake & Son's In-Club. The first library board was Mrs dependent Garage and Akers MotorRuth Mason, Mrs Orral Feldman and Service; Jim Barnett's Chevron Station;Mrs Ella Smith. It was originally hous- Pete Ham's Truck Line; two oil anded in Laxton McMurray's confection- fuel distributing plants of Paul Petty-ery, then Bert Mason's store, then in John (Shell) and L. H. Leathers (Stan.the old City Hall, until it was destroy- dard Oil of California); three groceryed by the 1948 fire.It has been in stores belonging to Edmund Bristow,the new City Hall since then. There A. C. Swanson and Dick Greer; Black'sare about 4,000 books in the library Electric Shop; Jack Ferris's Pastime;at the present time. A representative Stefani'sFineFoodCafe;Gordon from the Oregon State Library consid- White's Machine Repair Shop and hisers it one of the best small libraries apartment house; O'Meara's cottageshe has seen on her tour around the apartments; Melvin Melena's Buildersstate. Supply; Ornar Rietmann's Hardware The social life in tone has never and Implement Store; three insurancebeen neglected for there was always agents of Swanson & Hamlett, Charlesa Ladies Aid, Lodges and constant in- O'Connor, and Walter Dobyns; Haroldterest in the progress of the school, Dobyns Pest Eradicating Service; andbesides the dances and other social the Bank of Eastern Oregon. affairs. By the first of the century The old City Hall was built aboutthere were six lodges suecesstully 1900 on the present site ofthe Citymaintained, the Independent Order of Hall. It was a two story buildingaboutOddleliows,theAncientOrderof 16 x 20 with the fire hose cart ontheUnited Workmen,Masons,Modern first floor and the council rooms up-Woodmen of America and Rebekahs. stairs. A small building justnorth ofSince then other groups have been the City HaIl served as theCity Jail.organized, including the Order of the When elections were heldthe votingEastern Star, WillowsGrange, the was done in the council roomupstairs,Topic Club, Maranatha Club, the lone but the building became soshakyGarden Club the Arnica Club Amer that only about 20 peoplecould bejean Legion and American legion -56- Auxiliary, Beta Omega Chapter, E. S.ject; $200.00 contributed towards the A.(a service sorority), the Parent-building of the public wading pool; Teachers Association, the lOne T. V.twelve men's bathrobes to Pioneer Cooperative, and the newly organizedMemorial Hospital; table and benches FireProtection Organization and afor the lone City Park; food and Home Extension Unit. clothing as well as Thanksgiving and Besidesprovidingsocialenjoy-Christmas baskets for the needy; sol- ment, several of these organizationsicitations for Red Cross Heart Fund, have contributed greatly to the im-Cancer Fund, Easter Seal for Crippled provement of the city. As before men- Children; 4-H scholarship to Summer tioned, the Topic Club, the women'sSchool at Corvallis; and money do- study group that organized and main- nated towards helping a badly burned tains the lone Public Library, raisednurse with her hospital bills. funds for several years, by serving an Before the school took over the annual smorgasbord which becamefinancing of the school lunches the well known and was patronized byP.T.A. sponsored an Auction for many many people coming from as far awayyears, to raise funds to provide this as Pendleton, The Dalles and Port-noon meal. Many and varied articles land. More than 400 people were serv-were sold. One year over $800 was ed some years. raised this Way. In April this year, 1959, the lone The Maranatha Club, the Com-Extension Unit was hostess for a very munity Church group have contributedsuccessful Homemakers Festival. With yearly to a project for the improve-the cooperation of all the Units in the ment of the church and parsonage. County, the Centennial theme was The lone Garden Club sponsored acarried out in a very enjoyable and project to clean up and plant flowerinstructive program. beds and lawn in the City Park. They also built a fireplace and tool house The lone American Legion Post in the Park. They have made it ansends two local boys to the Boy's area that all can enjoy. The tablesState each year besides carrying on and benches were donated by indiv-several local projects. They sponsor iduals and local organizations- Thethe townBaseball and Basketball city now maintains the park with ateams. Each year they hold memorial maintenance man incharge.Theservices at the school's turf field where Garden Club also holds a flower showthey erected a memorial plaque in and plant sale each year and oftenmemory of the lone boys who gave provides corsages for special occasionstheir lives in World War II. On the of other organizations. The annualFourth of July people come for miles to Twelfth Night program is also spon-enjoy the fireworks exhibit, the lone sored by the Garden Club. Legion boys display on the turf field. The Beta Omega Chapter, E. S. A.The American Legion Auxiliary send made one of the most needed anda local girl to Girl's State. appreciated contributions, for they are The lone Oddfellows and Rebekah responsible for having the city waterLodges assist in sending a district Piped to the cemetery. This servicewinner of the United Nations Pilgri- organlza has as its yearly projectmage Contest to visit the United Nat- money contributions of between $50.00ions in Washington 1). C. This contest and $150.00 to the Crippled Children'sis held annually by the I. 0. 0. F. Hospital at Eugene. Each year theyLodges The local lodges also hold a also have a local project and theseyearly community clean-up day at have included the cemetery water pro-the L 0. 0. F. cemetery with the .57- ladies serving a pot-luck dinner forHerbert Phillips in 1900; Arthur and the workers at the lodge hail. ElectionRoy Lindstrom farm the land home. Day dinners served by this group aresteaded by their grandfather,Otto considered a special treat. Lindstrom in 1899; David Rietmann In recent years, as the ranchesowns the land homesteaded by his have become larger and new peoplefather, Paul Rietrnann in 1882; Ted have come into the country, it is in-Palmateer farms the land his grand- teresting to note how many of thefather, William Palmateer homestead- ranches at'é still owned "and farmeded in 1898; Ben Akers ranch includes by descendents 'of the original ownersthe homestead of Ralph Akers, his Who homesteaded here. Among thesefather and that of Hal Ely, father of are Arthur (Sam) Crawford who farmsMrs Ben Akers. These last two were land homesteaded by his grandfather,homesteaded in 1898 and 1899. Jordon Mr. John Jordon was a Morrowa pound, so he dug up the hop yard. County pioneer in many ways. He wasBut for many years the vines con- the, first 'to build a home in the areatinued to grow in his hay fields. which is now Morrow County, in 1859. M1. JordonmarriedMissouria It was a log cabin on the bank ofHaney, daughter of Jack Haney, who Willow Creek a mile or so below thesettled on Rhea Creek in 1870. John junction of Rhea and Willow Creeks. Jordon Jr., Luther, Orleana, and two Soon after settling here in 1860other sons were born on this Jordon he planted grain and other farm crops.ranch. Later the Jordons sold the ranch Tom Ayers, on Butter Creek, was hisand built a Hotel in Arlington. Here nearest neighbor. They would helpthe two younger sons died. They were each other in harvesting their crops. Mr. Jordon would do his morningburied in the family plot in Penland chores, ride horseback about 20 milesCemetery at Lexington. The family to Butter Creek, work all day in thethen moved to Monmouth where he field, and return home at night inbuilt another hotel, which he oper- time to do the evening chores. Mr.ated until the death of his son John Ayers would do the same for Mr.Jr. Jordon. Mr. Jordon then decided to return Later he brought in the first Mc-to Morrow County. He brought back Cormick mower and reaper and thehis former ranch and moved his hotel first Fanning mill to help harvestfrom Arlington, adding to it to make the hay and grain crops of the settlersa large ranch house which is now on Willow and Rhea Creeks. owned by the G. ,Hermanns. Mr. Jor- The firsthcol In Morrow Countydon died here in 1901 and is buried was erected on land donated by Mr.in the Lexington' Cemetery. Jordon where the present Rhea Creek Many, landmarksbearinghis highway crosses Willow Creek. name are reminders of the pioneering He was the first to engage inspirit of John Jordon. mong these are cattle raising here. He planted thejordon Butte near his home at Jordon first hop yard and built 'the firsthopSiding; Jordon Fork of Eight Mile; dryer house in Eastern Oregon, inJordon Waters a spring in Eight Mile 1892. After harvesting two crops,heCanyon, one-half mile above the Ione found he could not make a profitOlex Road and Jordon Elevator which with the pniee of hops atonly .07cwas built on, his ranch land. Cecil Cecil, named for William Y. Cecil,ments, the festivities lasting a full became a settlement and a Post Officeweekend, as it took two days to travel was established here in 1867 and haseach way from their homes. After the continued through the years. It was one of the oldest settlements in therailroad came in many carloads of region where people congregated forcattle sheep and produce were shipped fun as well as the humdrum of everyfrom Cecil, it being the principle ship- day affairs. Some of the dances givenping point of the lower Willow Creek there were attended by people whosection. It is said that the first car- came from as far away as Monumentload of wheat shipped out of Morrow and other John Day Valley settle-County was loaded at Cecil. Morgan Morgan is another community onfiend was the last post master there Willow Creek that deserves mention.as the mail is now sent out on a This community at the foot of Saddleroute from lone. Butte about 10 miles northwest of In the early days several families lone was known as Saddle prior tolived between Morgan and lone. Two the coming of the railroad. Before 1886brothers, Henry and Gay Silvers, from there were very few people in thisNova Scotia, and above them on the Morgan district, but less than fivecreek the Robert Sayers place (now years later most of the land had beenowned by Franklin Ely) and theii the filed on for homesteads, pre-emptionRedfords (Jim Lindsay place), Millers, or timber cultures. Paul, Swen andand Charlie Cochran (Albert T. Woods Johannes Troedson came from Califor-rented it, later owned by Henry Pad- nia in the middle 1880's and settledberg, Lee Padberg and Phill Emert). near Saddle. Elisha Sperry was the first place be- The school at that time was alow lone. The places on down the smallbuildingjustbelowwherecreek were owned by Milton R. Mor- James Lindsay lives now. A post officegan, Milton Hale, Lum Rhea (present 3 miles east handled mail twice aLewis Halvorsen place), James Cason week. About 1890 the post office was(later known as the Stenge place. Be- moved to the Douglas home wherelow the Douglas place were the Weath- the daughter, Mollie, became post-erfords, Bauerenfiends and then the master. Still later when the railroadCecils. For a number of years, Mr. Was built, the post office was movedand Mrs. Martin Bauerenfiend raised to the railroad station which was stillShetland Welsh ponies on their "Silver On Douglas land and the name wasStar" ranch and they became well changed to Douglas. After the Doug-known throughout the United States las family moved away, a Mr. Filkinsfor children's ponies. They moved to was post master until 1900 when heGrants Pass in 1957. To the north traded his property with A. C. MorganHarbkes and Hollaways lived on the Who was then post master until 1907.hill land and to the south the Elys, When he became post master theDeans,Wilmots,Murraus,Pickles, name of the settlement was againBrobst, and Gartens had farms of var- changed, this time to Morgan and hasious sizes. The stage from Arlington been known as such ever since. Mr.to Heppner passed through Morgan Fred Ely was post master In Morganand a stage station was maintained from 1917 to 1922. Martin Baueren-across from the school house. -59- The Fairview Community The Fairview conununity, about The Fairview school was built a 10 miles south of the present sitebout 1887. The oldest of the Olden of lone, was settled in the 1880's. Oneboys made the shingles for the school house. Some of the earliest teachers of the families locating here includ-wereMarten,Shealds,Hosseason, ed the Menzo A. Olden family whoMounts, Ella Mason, Arnold Balsiger, came in 1885, from l(ansas by emi- Mr. Cole, John Ely, Mrs. Donegon, Con- grant train to San Francisco, then toner, Anne Miller Blake and later Syl- Portland by boat, and farmed nearvia McCarty and Ruth and Anna Belle Comstock before coming to MorrowHoward. County. Other families were the Sam Rietmann Grade Varfields, the Robert Simpsons, Thom- Among these early farmers were as Morgan, and his brothers-in-law,Paul Rietmann who lived two miles Hamelet and Downing who came infrom town on the canyon leading out 1882; John Peterson, who was born inof lone, thus giving it the name "Riet- Sweden and came from Indiana toman Grade". Farther out were found Morrow County in 1885; Jerry Barlowthe McGaffreys, Teters, Froones, Bill and John Cox in the 1890's. Aliens and George Holland.

Ella Ella at one time was a changingranch. Wiliiam Parsons settled south place for the horse drawn coachesof Ella Center. that ran from Castle Rock to Heppner The Ella school house was built by way of Blackhorse Canyon Mr.in 1828 with lumber hauled from a Oviatt was the first posLxiaster andmill at Hardman. W. B. Beach held was instrumental in the constructionSunday school and preached there of the school house. Ella was namedshortly after it was built. The first in honor of Mrs. Ella Lord Parsonsteacher was ClarenceShurte who who was the daughter of John Itboarded with the Wishard family and Lord who came from Maine. Mr. Lordlater married Florence Wishard. Other was a doctor in the Confederate Army.teachers were Miss Etta Reed, Charles Other early settlers were John HandyReed, Miss Della Reed (Corson). Some who located at Ella Center; Johanof Mrs. Corson's pupils were Carl F. Troedson who purchased land fromTroedson, Clara and Anne Troedson Handy and lived on it for forty years;(Anne Smouse),Joeand Edward Charles Jaynes who settled on SixHandy; Elmer, Nora and Claude Crow Mile Canyon about lmile from Ellaand Earl Lord. Center and later sold his holdings to Some people in the community Johannes Troedson; George Crane whoremember when Ezra Meeker came settled two miles south of Ella inthrough Ella in 1908 or 1909 on his Six Mile Canyon; the Van Cleves whosecond passage west and in 1918 by settled on the Oregon Trail near Ellaautomobile. on what is now the Charles Doherty

-60- Gooseberry Community The Gooseberry area was openedat the home of John Johnson (the by the Homestead Act in about 1862.site of Olaf Bergstrom family) and The railroads were given every otherorganized their church with seventeen section of land and sold to the settlers for $200 a quarter section. Gooseberrycharter members; Charles Anderson, became the name because some Goose.John Johnson and family, Andrew Ol- berry bushes grew and flourished nearson, Olaf Bergstrom, Oliver Peterson, a spring on Hail Ridge. There WasAndrew Anderson, John E. Peterson good grazing for stock; both cattleand John Janson. and sheep on the wild bunchgrass so The Valby Church was built in it was natural that those with stock1897 and was the first church built should settle here. and dedicated in Morrow County. It Some of the early settlers in thisstill stands on the original site today section were Isaac It Esteb in 1883;and is still in regular use. The min- W. H. Akers and Sons, Ben and Gar-isters came from Portland to preach ret who came from Iowa a short timeand stayed for a week at a time. They later; Fleming and Sons, Whitney andwould come to Arlington and then on Bob and Harvey who came from Tex-to Valby by horseback or even walk. as in 1886; Nathaniel MeVey in 1880;The building committee for Valby and Lige Hendricks in late 1870's- Thechurch was John Peterson, Andrew An- story is told that in a great blizzardderson, and Frank Lundell. The total in 1888, Lige Hendricks lost 200 headcost of the church was $458.82 and of cattle from starvation and freezing.the whole sum was paid on the day The first post office was foundedof dedication on October 24, 1897. At here in 1885 with Isaac H. Esteb thethe time of the dedication there were first post master. There was a tn-forty members in the church and forty- weekly stage which ran t0 Arlingtonone children. via Fletts and Olex and carried mail The first wedding performed in semi-weekly. the church was that of Anna Lundell The first school house was builtand Ott0 Lindstrom in 1899. Other in 1886 and the children were taughtmarriages performed In the Valby by a Mrs. Huston from Texas. Church were those of Lena Baker and Church was held in the schoolErnst Lundell in 1904; Mary Lundell house with Mr. Howardton, a Meth-and Emil Swanson in1904;Betty odist minister preaching. Other nm- Graves and Louis Carison in 1950; Lsters Were Mr. Swift and Mr. Good-Eunice Peterson and Rod Kvistad in win. 1951; Donna Lovgren and Robert Pet- and A good-sjzeSwedish settlementerson in 1955; and Barbara Prock was established by 1887 bringing inHerbert Petersonin1955 the families of Andrew Anderson, Eric There were not many businesses Bergstrom, Frank Lundell from Calif-at Gooseberry. Lsaac H. Esteb had a ornja; August Carlson, Charles Ander-blacksmith shop and staple grocery son, John and Erin Peterson and Johnstore with the post office in it.Mail Johnson to name a few caine from Willows Spring onthe Col The Swedish settlers organized aumbla River by stage coach to Olex Lutheran churchin1886 The firstwhere it was picked up by Esteb and communion was held on Palm Sunday,brought tü Gooseberry The first store April 18 188(inthe home of Charleswas built by Stockes Kirk who lived Anderson. The following day they metin the back of the 16x20 building -61- Twentieth (9entu'ry 7owns

.-.-,- Zila ell5 orr. 5pr1ris

-62- Irrigon Community IRRIGON, OREGON! WHERE'Sand was not known to be in existence THAT? Or is it just a tongue twister?for too long a time. The 0. R. & N. Irrigon is one of the earliest twen-Railroad built a depot and establish. tieth century towns of Morrow County,ed telegraph service during this per- on the Columbia River. In 1902 the iod. Oregon Land and Water Company put The bigadvertising boom was on an extensive advertising campaignpaying off! Land was improved into for the purpose of selling land atfarms. With the coming of many sett. $100 per acre with a water right. How-lers, small businesses sprang up in ever, at this time neither the canalIrrigon. The dam was built on the nor the dam had been constructed.UmatiHaRiver,aboutthreemiles This proposed canal was to supplysouth of the old land mark - the waterforland from the UmatillaCity of Umatilla. When the canal was River, west to the district around abeing constructed settlers could get railroad siding on the 0. R. & N. (Ore- employment on the job for $2.50 for gon Railroad & Navigation) Railroad.a 10 hour day. The wage of a team This junction was known as Stokeswas the same as for a man. It took Siding. The town built here was knowna days time to go to Hermiston with as Stokes until about 1905, when thea team, a distance of 16 miles. name of Irrigon was originated, by During this time a ferry was es taking the first four letters ofirri- tablished across the Columbia River, gation and the last three of Oregon. at the docks in Irrigon. At one time Settlers began coming in by 1903.there was also a boat freight service A General Mercantile Store was es-and passenger service, by stern wheel- tablished and a two story buildingers, between Portland and Lewiston, built for the purpose by Egbert andIdaho. W. G. Corey. Mr. Corey had sold out There was a company blacksmith his business in North Dakota, andshop, a new general merchandise store Mr.Egbert came from Woodburn,with a dance hail above, a barber where he had a hardware store. shop, hardware store, a hotel, a fur- There was, in 1904, a very smallniturestore,and a feedstoreall old company ditch owned by the Ore-erected in the years 1904 and 1905. gon Land and Water Company withSam Carson built theliverystable water rights covering 100 acres. Oneand operated the city dray. Dr. Beck of the firstsettlers on this projectand his wife, also a doctor came to was George M. Rand, who broughtIrrigon and built a drugstore. A three his family from Kansas to settle onroom school was built and served the 10 acres, which he planted to fruit. districtuntil1921, when itburned This farm is still owned by the Randdown. Page's Pool Hall and Confec. family but is now used for raisingtionery was erected in 1907. cattle. Some other businesses that have By now there was need of a school, existed in the community include Se. so accornodatjons were made in themen's Complete Food Store; Hinkle's living room of, what is now, Abkinsstore; Tum-A-Lum Lumber Company; dwelling. Adison Bennett was hiredPierce's Lumber Yard; Leight's Motel; as post master, and he soon startedClyde Grimm's Tavern. a Weekly newspaper in one end of Then came the panic of 1907. The the post office building. This paperOregon Land and Water Company was was known as the Irrigon Irrigator, inthe hands of a receiverthey were .63. bankrupt. The settlers then sold forbuilding was not of sufficient size to what they could get or just left theaccomodate the grade and high school. country, until there were only about Irrigon has long been famous for its wild Irrigon Rose (Sand Burr) and 50 in the community. In 1912 the gov- melonstandsalongthehighway. ernment became interested in the dis- People from all parts of the world trict and Senator Lane was sent hereas well as the United States have by special train to investigate to seebeen served a slice of cold melon in ifit would be desirable to build athe shade of our Locust trees during dam and concrete canal. He was sothe hot season. And with good reason, favorably impressed by the melons,for the temperature has been known fruit and grapes grown here that into be as high as 118 degrees in the 1915 the high ditch, as it was known,shade, although usually the normal was constructed. This took in a lotis 103 degrees to 108 degrees in the more acreage than the old companyshade. There was an increase in pop- ditch. It was extended on past the rail- ulation during the construction of Mc- road siding of Coyote, 12 miles WestNary Dam during the early 1950's. ofirrigon, and Boardman was es- tablished there. In 1926 the West Ex- The population of the Irrigon Dis- tension of the Umatilla Reclamationtrict in 1959 is about 500. Our city, project was organized with the Waterwhich is now incorporated, has the officeinIrrigon. There were threeBaptist Community church, the Ad- directors.A.C. Houghton was theventist, and the Assembly of God first manager and held that positionchurches; Bill Bolton's Times Service until his death, twenty five years later.Station; and Elton Fraser's Chevron Some families located in or nearStation; William G. Taylor's Texaco Irrigon were the Cosners, Zabransky,Station and Cafe; Bill and Dan's Tav- Swearingen, Haskell, Earley, Suttereth,ern; Fred Adams' Irrigon Mercantile; Fred Kick, Mike Walton (Ole Hoop 'nMart Abkins' Complete Food Store; Holler), Waldpoles, Keiths, Cheneys,Harold Brownlee's Corral Motor Court Wolfs and Benefields. and Ruby Kelly's Motor Court and Bus Depot. Because there were no improved roads, all the produce was shipped by Blalock Island local express. Many a time the local Various attempts have been made train was stopped for more than anby prospectors to mine gold on 4,000 hour loading crated melons, fruit andacres of Blalock Island, west of Irrigon cream. The Union Pacific Railroad dis-in the middle of the Columbia River. continued its service through IrrigonAs late as 1957, using crude make- in 1950 and the rails were removed ashift equipment, Lee Tyler, Edmonds, year or so later. took out $4,000 in the ore. Unofficial Since this time a black top high assays ran $1.30 and $L70 per yard way, telephone and electricity havefor the gold. The gold, many Indian been acquired. In 1920 a new concreterelics,and theancestral b u r i a I school building was under constructiongrounds will be under water as the and is still In use as a high school.forthcomingohn Day Dam Is com- In 1952 the new A. C. Houghton Gradepleted. Who knows what other chan- school was constructed as the otherges this will bring In the future. Boardman Community It was in 1903 that the originalMargaret Thorpe,thedaughterof settler, Sam Boardman, filed on hisPaul M. Smith who now resides In homestead. Mrs. Boardman came atUnion, Oregon. a later date. The country was a des- More settlers arrived later: Claud olate wasteland of sagebrush and cac-Meyers, Ed Kunze, Charles Dillon, Dan tus and each year their departure wasRansier, T. C. Broyles, Charles Wick- lander, J. H. Howell, B. Richardson, M. postponed by the hope of having irri-K. Fliekinger, Elmer Messenger, Nate gation water. It was 13 years beforeMacomber, Jess Allen, John Pruter, red tape was untangled in Washing-Tom Delano and Nels Kristenson and ton,D.C. and in 1916 water wastheir families.Still residing on the brought from the Umatilla River toproject are: Elmer Messenger, Nate the new cement ditches on the pro-Macomber, Mrs Jess Allen, Mr. and ject.Five families worked on theMrs. Nels Kristenson, Mildred Allen ditches and still here are the RoyalBaker, Arthur A. Allen and Mr. and Rands; Buster Rands, their son; andMrs. Charles Dillon. Ed Kunze still Mrs. Margaret Klitz, widow of F. F.owns a farm on the project, but is Klitz. Jack Gorham also assisted withnow living in Tacoma, Washington. the ditches. Many of the above mentioned people The first unit was opened in 1916.have since passed away. The roads This opening was held in June andon the project have been named for as it was so late in the season, verymany of these early settlers. little work was done until after the second opening held March 1, 1917. The Town of Boardinan C. H. Dillabough was the first home- It was in 1916 that S. H. Board- steader to file and about 40 familiesman sold 40 acres to the Boardman came atthis time. Paul and Franktownsite company and E. P. Dodd of Partlow, Charles Nizer, H. C. Mitchell,Hermiston, organizer of the company, George Mitchell, Robert and Alex Wil-platted the town. Naturally the com- son, W. A.Price, Joe Curran, Tommunity was named for the man who Hendricks, H. Cason, A. P. Ayers, J. J.spent so many years here. It was a Weston, R. Wasmer, Frank Otto,I. great loss to the community when Sam Skoubo, Leslie Packard, John L. Jenk-Boardman passed away January 26, ins, J. R. Johnson, the Attebury Bro- 1953 at the age of 78. Mrs. Sam Board- thers, W. H. Mefford, M. C. Marshall,man now resides in Salem, Oregon. Jess Lower, John Brice, Ira Berger, W.A son and daughter reside there also, W. Bechdolt, Gratton (Hi) Hoffman,a daughter in Portland and a son In Charles Hango, 0. B. Olson, Ray Brown,California. Ralph Humphrey, Earl and Frank Cra- After water was available trees mer, Adolf Skoubo, Mrs. Sam Shell,were planted on the project and many Paul M Smith, Mrs Gladys Gibbon,are still standing. A post office was Nick Faler, W. 0. King, L V. Rootopened and postxuasterS were Mrs. and their families. Of this group theOlive Payne, Mrs. Florence Root, (who following are still residents of theheld the office for 24 years), and the project:PaulPartlow,R. Wasmer,present postmaster, Mrs. Flossie Coats. Robert Harwood who came with FrankRural carriers have been C. G Blay Partlow, Elvira Harwood who is theden; his son, Louie; Leo Root; Victor daughter of John LJenkinsRayHango for 13 years) C. A. Tarmehill Brown and family Adolf Skoubo Grat and Harold Baker since 1955 Team ton Hoffman Mrs. L V Root, andand buckboard were used for many -65- years. L. V. Root built the post office Mrs. Sam Boardman started the building with residence in 1921. first Sunday school with an attendance of5. When attendance reached 13, Town's First Residents they met in the little school house 0. H. Warner of C. G. Blaydenuntil the community church was built were in a debatable tie as thecityin 1917. of Boardman's first resident. Warner built the Highway Inn, housing many Cemetery aud Community Park tourists who were fed by Mrs. Warner. The need for a cemetery was He drove the first schol bus (prob-stressed around 1920 when Mr. Harper ably horse and buggy) and was liverypassed away and his body had to be man, driving prospective settlersto the various ranches. Around 1925 hemoved toIrrigon. Members of the built a small grocery store and campExecutive Committee of the Commer- ground and traded in 1928 for thecial Club were appointed to select a present Leo Potts farm. BailengerS,suitable plot of ground. They also lo- Gorhams, Roots, Klitzes, and Cramerscated an aviation field and community werecloselyassociatedwiththepark. They also represented the club growth of the town. Mr. Ballenger isin making plans for a big barbeque in real estate at flermistofl, atthisto promote the John Day Project. This was held June 1920 on the Dillabough time. ranch and many outsiders could ob- Mr. Blayden was Boardrriafl'Sfirstserve the vast changes wrought by mayor and he started the first roseswater on sandy soil and boost the growing in town when flowers wereJohn Day Project. Hundreds attended a rarity in the desertsurroundings.and marveled at irrigation Wonders. Although in the spring the yellow hues of the cactus and sage in bloom on Telephones the desert are viewed with pleasure About 1919 a telephone line was by many people travellingtothe Boardman area to see the profusionbuilt by Walter Meade with Mrs. Leo of blooms. Root as first operator. The A. C. Chat- Credit for the first civic improve-fee family arrived in 1920 and took ment goes to Ferdinand Emberger,over the telephone company, followed who erected a water tank and the cityby the William Garners in January water works. The tank was greatly1948, who extended the lines to many overtaxed and collapsed. He is reinein-more homes. Dial phones were install- bered as the little man who pedaleded in 1957 when the Eastern Oregon his bicycle up and down the riverTelephone Company of Pilot Rock pur- in his effort to pan a little gold fromchased the franchise from the Garners. the river. It was on one of these trips Depot and Highway that he was hit by a car on the high- The depot was located at Messner way and killed. for many years. Some operators were The town was incorporated in 1921Bobby Smith, Carl Doering and Lee and a well was drilled and a pump- ing plant installed. March 1926 saWMeade. The railroad built a depot at a small electric plant installed (neverBoardrnan in 1922 and Ralph Davis too dependable). ru 1930, Paul Hatchwas the station agent. purchased the plant and started ex- The highway was surveyed in Feb- tending lines into the country. BEAruary 1917 and grading was well un- lines were run to most of the projectderway the spring of 1919 under the farms in 1939. supervision of F. L. Brown. -66- Organizations land. Col. E. E. Faville, editor of West- The Greenfield Grange organizedern Farmer and Whitney L.Bois, April 1919 through the efforts of SamChairman ofthe Land Settlement Shell and Charles Wicklander. ThereCommittee were introduced by Sam was a Charter of 70 members. SomeBoardman. Norma Gibbons, about 13 first officers were C. H. Diflabough,years old gave a recitation. People Charles Nizer, Sam Shell, Adolf Skou-attended from Irrigon, Alderdale, lone, Heppner, Hermiston, and other nearby bo,R. G. Mitchell, Homer Mitchell, Mrs. Ira Berger, 0. B. Olson, Mrs. Nizer, points. Mrs. F. H. Edwards, Mrs. Ray Brown Schools and Mrs. Dillabough. They met at the The first school was opened in the school and Root's Hall until the oldfall of 1916 under the direction of Miss bank building was purchased in 1932.Clara Voyen. There were 11 pupils Otherorganizationswerethefrom the Barnes, Rands, Klitz, Paine, Home Economics Club organized AprilBlayden, Boardman and Mitchell fam- 1927; IOOF in April 1923; Rebekah's inilies. School was located in Boardman's November 1925; Modern Woodman infield about where Erwin Flock's home April 1922; Royal Neighbors in Marchnow stands. The house was later pur- 1923; and the American Legion waschased by Paul Smith; and at present organized in December 1921 and wasDwight Ewing uses it for his home. named for Elmer Mefford who diedPrevious to 1916 a small school oper- in the flu epidemic during service.ated at Castle Rock. It was later aban- Women's Auxiliary organized in 1922.doned and the building moved to The Ladies Aid of the non-denomi-Boardmanasatemporaryschool national Community Church organizedbuilding. Primary grades were held in May 1919 with first officers, Mrs.in the Community Church until the Sam Boardman, Mrs Blayden, and Mrs.school building was completed in 1918; W. W. Bechdolt. October 1919 the P- (the center section only.) The audi- TA was formed. At the first meetingtorium waspartitionedintoclass hot lunches were discussed,result-rooms and the high school classes ing in a splendidly equipped cafeteriawere held in the present library and recently remodeled to conform withoffice. The wings were added in 1919 state regulations. and dedicatory exercises were held Land Settlement Committee Picnic March 1920. E. Francis Williams of Among the interesting events tak-Portland was the designing architect ing place was the large picnic heldand a great deal of foresight was put inune 1926 at the Porter ranch, nowinto his plans for a pleasant building owned by Russell Miller, with moreto be used for many years to come. than 400 people attending. The oc-Plans were included for parallel wings casion was the visit of the Land Settle- to extend east from the present build. ment Committee from the Portlanding, but these were never erected. The and State Chambers of Commerce. Vis-building and equipment was to cost itors were taken around the Board..$12,000 and spiraling prices during man and Irrigon projects to show theWorld War I raised it to $35,000. 1927 points of interest and the results ofsaw the building of the old gymnas- irrigation water. Following the largeium and 1953 the new gymnasium picnic dinner, speeches were given bydesigned by H. Brande Cesswell of Marshall N. Dana, assistant publisherWalla Walla, Washington. First school of the Oregon Journa1 at that timeboard members were L. M. Allen, M. and now assistant t0 the presidentC. Marshall, H. H. Waston, and school of the U. S. National Bank at Port-clerks through the years were L. V. -67- Root, Mrs. Boardman, Claire Harter,Turkeys and rabbits have been raised Mrs. Lee Meade, Martha Titus Cramer,and Frank Otto had the first apiary. Ed Barlow, LaVern Partlow, FlossieArthur Allen also had bees for many Coats and Margaret Thorpe. years. Around 1927 many turkeys were Other Additions raised and hundreds of pounds were J. F. Barlow and sons of Heppnersold annually. purchased stock and fixtures of the There have been many efforts to service station from the Latourell Autopromote the sale of the produce. Dur- Company in 1925. The Guy Barlowsing early years efforts were made to operated the station for years andinterest Libby & Heinz in setting up their entire family added much to thea salting stationfor cucumbers to development of Boardman. enable the growers to preserve them Leo Root built a movie house a-while small and fresh and they could bout the same time. Later it was turn-be picked up at frequent intervals at ed into a grocery store by Jack Gor-the company's convenience. ham in 1928. He sold the store to In recent years several farmers Charles Stoitnow who later sold it toraised early potatoes on a large scale the present owner and operator, Walt-for export. One of the most success- er Hayes. ful years was 1956 when approximat- The Adventist Church was builtely 175 carloads were shipped out of prior to 1922 and later converted toBoardman. the Lutheran Church. The Catholic Another crop to be tried was a Church was erected in 1929. Land forcross between the currant and huckle- the churches was donated by E.P. berry known locally as the Pruter- Dodd of Hermiston. berry. This name was derived from A golf course was opened in 1925the people who succeeded with this in the desert across from Messner andexperiment, Mr. and Mrs. John Pruter. flourished for some time. Recent Civic Improvements Ditch Riders There have been many civic im- The following ditch riders haveprovements in recent years. In 1955 been in charge of the irrigation pro- about 10 miles of country roads were ject: C. P. Stanyen, Dan Ransier (whooiled. The Columbia River Highway came in 1919 and rode ditches forwas moved south of town and the 28 years until he died in 1947); Char- main street of town was oiled con- lie Wooley (until 1953); and Roy Ball,necting it to the service road running the present ditch rider. parallel to the new highway. Several Epidemics businesses moved to the service strip In February and March.1926, and new ones built. Dewey's Chev- there was a small-pox epidemic affec-ron Station, Walley's Associated, Gron- ting many project homes. In 1937quist'sMobile and Allen'sTexaco there were several cases of typhoidwere the first to locate. At this time fever with some deaths the Hitchin' Post Cafe was built and Crops and Stock in 1953 Mabel Peck and Maxine Crow- Many crops have been tried overder took over the Little Dutch Oven the years, among them being mint,from Ernie Knopp. They replaced the broom corn,potatoes, melons, sorg- building in 1954 naming it the M and hum, corn, hay, grain, asparagus, andM Cafe. In 1946 S. C. Russell struggled even the lowly earthworm was cul-through the war time problem of pro- tured. Cattle, sheep and hogs havecuring materials to build a new Shell been predominate. Charlie Dillon hadStation. When the highway moved, the first poultry plant of any size,he closed the business and in 1956 -68- built a new Shell Station now oper-way engineers during the construc- ated by his son, Vernon. In a mattertion. of 2 or 3 years, they will be moving Many original homes on the pro. again making way for the new Johnject have been modernized and others Day Dam. torn down or abandoned. New homes Glen Carpenter owns a farm bord-replaced homesteaders shacks though ering on the new highway and hea few shacks remain on the project. built modern cabins as the BoardmanService Stations on the old highway Motel. He opened for business in 1951are now lovely homes. while the highway was relocating. Bombing Range Smith's Motel moved from the old Most of the time since World War highway site, but was later destroyedII Boardman has had an active Air by fire and never replaced. The Nug-Force Base and bombing range now get Motel was built around 1954. Er-used by the Navy. These men and their win Flock's trailer court and melonwives have added much to the com- stand has been in operation for manymunity. In 1954 with their help a City years. Park was made in the center of town New fair buildings were erectedand is now enjoyed by local people and tourists who stop for picnic lunch- in 1952 at Boardman to house thees in the cool shade. The flag pole North Morrow County Fair which haswas erected in 1955, donated by the been an annual event since 1921. Air Force Wives Club. The same year In 1948 a new water system wasthe Tillicum Club added the play- installed with larger pipes in townground equipment to the park and and meters added. The City Hall wasArthur Allen and George Weise con- built across from the school grounds.structed a wading pool. Dedication In 1956 a fire truck was purchasedceremonies were held in 1956. and a nice building erected for it onChamber of Commerce and Present Main Street. This same year the new Organizations automatic street lights were installed. in 1952 the Cemetery Association was The active Chamber of Commerce formed and later a well drilled andwas organized in 1956 and is now a pump house with a sprinkler sy5 working closely with the Planning tern installed for the increased size.Committee in plans for the new town Kuhn's Garage was built on MainBoardman will be proud to call "home" Street in 1955 moving from the build-in its new location - approximately ing owned by Arthur Allen, tile orig-south and east of the new Shell Sta- inal Latourell's Garage. Many exist-tion. ing buildings have made improve- Active organizations at present are ments and the Boardman Supply en-Greenfield Grange and its Home Ec- larged to carry a supply of most any-onomics Committee, Tillicum Club, (of thing the customers would want -the General Federation of Women's feed,lumber,clothing,appliances,Clubs), P-TA, Garden Club, Ladies fishing supplies, etc. The Grange re Aid Society, Chamber of Commerce cently tore out the old kitchen andand Home Extension Unit as well as dining room, built in the '30's andthe Church organizations Many 4 II part of the original building was re-clubs are active and there has been modeled contain three rooms whichan F F A. project in school over are excellent. The building was used30 years for many things over the years- Boardman is a popular place for binkcannerygrocerystorefeedhunting geese ducks and pheasants store, and headquarters for the high-and in recentears has become very -69- popular for sturgeon and steciheadtrain.This trainof seven covered fishing. It is also close to deer huntingwagons re-enacted the long trek, made areas, by many a pioneer, from indepen. Business enterprises tried over thedence, Missouri to Independence, Ore. years are co-op feed store, coal sell- gon. ing by the carload, cannery, broom Starting in April, 1959, these 23 factory,cheesefactoryand manyOregon people led by Gordon Serpa, others. J. C. Ballenger had a lumbera rancher from Ashland, Oregon, fol- yard in early years, later sold to W.lowed the old Oregon Trail, as close. A. Price. The Arlington Hulden Motorly as possible. Company operated a supply store in the building for a time, sold it to They spent the night in Boardman Robert Parker. He, in turn, solditon August 4,1959, camping at the to George Weise, now operating it ? North Morrow County fairgrounds. The entire county turned out to Welcome Boardman Supply. them with a huge salmon feast and Fares an evening of entertainment. Several fires have occurred, among The wagons continued on to The them the coal chute at Messner burn-Dalles where they went by barge down ed prior to 1926. A large grocery storethe Columbia River, just like the early was lost where the City Park is nowpioneers, to Oswego on the Willamette located. Smith's Motel burned and aRiver. The train arrived at its des- grocery store was lost and all stocktination,Independence,Oregonon in a fire. In October 1929 a disastrousAugust 15, 1959 when a big celebra- fire occurred on Blalock Island, wheretion was held to welcome the party the pumping plant burned at a lossthat proved "pioneering" had not died. of $2,000. Even as late as 1957, $4,000 worth of gold was taken in an enter- Boardmczn's Future prise on the Island. The blacksmith Boardman has been in the news engine used to pump water for 400recently as being affected by the new acres of alfalfa was ruined, this pro.John Day Dam. in the next few years ject owned by the Riverside Farmingthe town will have to be relocated. Company. So, for the second time in 42 years, The Dilabougha who originallythe town of Boardman will be built settled near the canal in the '20's andfrom scratch, so the history of Board- also homesteaded a mile west ofman has a bright future and an in- Boardman on the ColumblaRiver high-teresting one. way near the river, had a grove of Boaniman is proud to show the trees that became famous for a placeworld the wonderful advantages of for picnics. In July 1959 a desert firethe climate the Columbia River and started accidently on U. S.30, de-Columbia highway with the growing voured many acres of desert range-Port facility, farming, business, edu- land and before it was successfullycational, religious, social and cultural controlled close to the west end of theopportunities.It'willundoubtedly project, took 450 acres of privatelyshow development with the new John owned desert pasture and the DiUa-Day Dam as a tourist and resort area bough place of importance on the Columbia. Cetezmial Wagon Train Passes So the history of Morrow County Through Boanfmafl has developed through a very color Highlight of the year 1959 - Ore ful past to the present. gon s centennial year - wasthe night New methods of travel and corn- encampment of the Centennial wagonmunications new developments In in dustry, agriculture and lumbering willall contributed their bit to the char- effect the county's progress in manyacter of the people. They are not ways. easily swayed in opinion, nor are they But the eternal hills, in the south-insensitive to real need. The moral ern part of the county, and the sage-fiber gives great promise of steady brush prairies that touch the mightyprogress in Morrow County - the Columbia River, on the north, haveland of promise. £