The Blue Mountain eagle. (John Day, Or.) 1972-current, September 15, 2021, Image 33

The Blue Mountain eagle., September 15, 2021, Page 33, Image 33

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Newspaper Page Text17 GRAB BAG AN ASSORTMENT OF MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS SEPTEMBER 15�22, 2021 Roadside fortress tells a historic horse tale Find the site along Highway 26 By Cheryl Hoefl er GO! Magazine M OUNT VERNON — Old barns and buildings are scattered across the Eastern Oregon landscape. Ever wonder what tales they would share if only their walls could talk? A simple, small stone struc- ture near Mount Vernon in Grant County bears an unlikely story — and a slice of local history to go with it. The building was erected to protect, of all things, a prized racehorse. As the story goes, in the late 1870s local settler David Jen- kins took possession of a sorrel mare from a traveler. From this mare a black stallion was born, which Jenkins named Mount Vernon — and who happened to have racing talent in his blood. Some years later, fearing theft by Native Americans in the area, Jenkins had a stone fortress constructed to protect his valu- able equine possession. As it turns out, no harm or threats ever came to the horse. In 1877, a post offi ce was established at the nearby com- munity of Mount Vernon, named after the noteworthy animal. Mount Vernon — the horse — achieved fame for many years competing in trotting races throughout the state before being sold when he was 17 to a Portland man in 1893. He died in 1917 at age 41. The unmarked stone barn stands today — now protected by a fence — a couple miles east of Mount Vernon on Highway 26. Cheryl Hoefl er/Go! Magazine This stone structure was built to house a prized racehorse named Mount Vernon, near the animal’s namesake town of Mount Vernon in Grant County. Thousands of titles Your Adventure Awaits! Unlimited # of sessions at ’ 2400 Resort Street Baker City, OR 97814 Explore the ONLINE LIBRARY at www.bakerlib.org 541.523.6419 info@bakerlib.org