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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 26, 2020)
Wednesday, August 26, 2020 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon HISTORY: Museum is seeking photos, letters, memorabilia Continued from page 3 Hodgers9 ancestral families were among the earliest set- tlers of Sisters. The Taylors and Stevens (Stevens Canyon north of Indian Ford Road) arrived in Oregon in 1851 coming to Harrisburg on the Oregon Trail and later coming over the mountains to Central Oregon. The Taylors had two daughters. Etta married William Fryrear (Fryrear Road) and Martha married Alfred Cobb (his roadhouse was located east of town on the current Lazy Z property). Martha and Alfred9s daugh- ter, Sarah Frances <Fannie=, married the aforementioned George Stevens (Stevens Hospital). After Cobb died, Martha married Charlie Hindman who had purchased the former Camp Polk property north of town, welcoming travelers on the Santiam Wagon Road, that ran from the valley to Prineville, and establishing the first post office. The Thompsons arrived in Oregon in 1852 via the Oregon Trail. Their daugh- ter Sarah Elizabeth mar- ried Harrison Stevens while still living in the Willamette Valley. Their son George, the aforementioned judge, married Sarah Cobb, and they lived in Prineville. The Thompson9s daughter Bertha married William Wilson. The Wilson9s son, also named George, married Tillie Davidson (Tillie Wilson, longtime Sisters teacher) and they had a daughter Virginia who married George Wakefield. All those Georges, Sarahs, and Williams and their inter- mingled relationships will come to life in the new Sisters Museum on the corner of East Cascade Avenue and North Larch Street when it opens on September 18. The large fam- ily tree will be on display at that time with photos from the old trunk. The new home for the museum couldn9t be more appropriate. It belonged to George and Virginia (Wilson) Wakefield. George served as Sisters first fire chief and the building behind the house was where the ambulance was parked. He also owned Wakefield9s garage, which burned in June 1960. In 1935 he bought land and started the present airport, with the help of Forest Service employees and Civilian Conservation Corps men. It had a grass landing strip. The Wakefield house is located in the same block as the home that belonged to Virginia9s parents, George and Tillie Wilson, the brown house to the east of Suttle Tea. The board of the histori- cal society would like every- one with Sisters roots to look around their attics, garages, houses, and storage areas to see if they, too, might pos- sess some long-ago photos, letters, or memorabilia that could enrich the story of Sisters history. Donations are most welcome, and they are also pleased to receive items on loan for display in the museum. If that old trunk had never been discovered before Stevens Hospital was demol- ished, and passed on to fam- ily members, a big chunk of Hodgers9 family history (and Sisters history) would be missing and never shared with the residents of Sisters and their visitors. The museum is focused on not letting Sisters history slip through their fingers. Help them in their search. Look around. If old buildings are being razed, see if there are any items of historic value. If unsure, contact the museum and ask. All the lands in SUDOKU SOLUTION for puzzle on page 20 Sellers Needed! If you are ready to list... Call me for a comprehensive fair market analysis and get your home on the market quickly to take advantage of this fast-moving market. One Point of Contact... Principal B Broker & Loan Originator Ross Kennedy Comments? Email editor@nuggetnews.com CHECK OUT THIS WEEK’S NUGGET INSERT! Principal Broker Loan Originator NMLS #1612019 Licensed in the State of Oregon 541-408-1343 Ray’s Food Place Draper Valley Farms Whole Body Chicken, Antibiotic Free Buy 1, Get 1 Free! Tillamook Ice Cream, 1.75 qt. selected $2.88 ea., fi rst 2 with coupon Sunny Delight Drinks 2 for $3, 64 oz. selected California Honeydew Melons 99 ¢ per lb. 23 PHOTO PROVIDED Martha Taylor Cobb Hindman, in her calico dress and bonnet, standing in front of the wood-clad Stevens Hospital in Prineville, started by her daughter Sarah. That is where she left her trunk of precious photographs. Sisters have stories to tell and possibly hidden bits of his- tory. If we don9t know the his- tory that is Sisters, it is easy to tear it down or dig it up, with no understanding of what is being lost. Part of the charm that attracts tourists and resi- dents alike, is Sisters9 unique character and values, passed down from the ancestors. The Sisters Historical Museum is housed in the freshly-painted white house with black trim located at 410 E. Cascade Ave. The phone number is 541-904- 0585. They are scheduled to open to the public on Friday, September 18.