Image provided by: North Santiam Historic Society; Gates, OR
About The Mill City enterprise. (Mill City, Or.) 1949-1998 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 26, 1959)
•—THE MILL CITY ENTERPRISE • hunting or prospecting trips,. A good ing gold. Mineral mines were also dis THURSDAY. FEBRUARY 26, 1959 lead pack horse was worth a fortune, covered on the Northfork—a coal ' — j and the pride and joy of his owner. mine at Gates—besides the ever- The end horse was the next most re growing number of sawmills to lure Marion county side, about where Jer liable, and could be counted on to stand men and families. ry’s Tavern standy today. A large his ground. Those in between, which Ì1 With the coming of the railroad, awniiil and the Postoffice was on I might number 1, 2 or 3, were joined many Chinese had been imported for the Linn county side of the river on nose to tail in front, and if all went labor, and later it was not uncommon land owned by H. N. Wilson, today. well good time was made. BUT, to find one or more left behind in a bend he immediately came upon the The schoolhouse, one room, with snakes, bees, bear or cougar coming growing settlement, who would labor By Mrs. II. N. Wilson This being the time when everyone Tollgate entrance, and too late to pump on porch, stood on what is too close often upset man made plans, long and diligently for sir.all fees. is looking “back” into Oregon's past, turn back and hide the saddle! After now at the Martha Bowes farm across and no typewriter can set down the Some gave laundry service. O’ *, a we thought it might be fun and in their loads were checked and toll fees from the Gates Airport. About three awful string of heiroglyphics poured cook, was one of a few who had been teresting too. BUT. we’ll never be a taken care of they only drove a short miles further east the town of Minto forth by the ‘packer* when trouble privileged to have a wife. But the historian! Just try to relate some ways before deciding to make camp, was growing steadily, there also was overtook him on the trail. wife had died and bur.al was in a small a schoolhouse, and a bridge across Business places were open early plot within sight of his kitchen. Very happening well known to most every for they had traveled far that day. About noon the next day, they the river at that point. Roads on the (no banker's hours in those days) and often, prompted by his longing f r her one- say the Great Chicago Fire about the turn of the centeiy when stopped to cook their dinner, and the Marion County side had not been one could do their shopping or repair or because there was leftover rue. he Mrs. Murphy's brown cow kicked over brother. Bob, had made a fire by the put through—all travel going up on ing and head homeward by early af could be seen prayerfully carrying the the lantern which c. used such a con roadside, in a sort of trench He then the Linn county side. The bridge at ternoon. Men did most of the going hot bowl of ri e, arms extended fr out flagration. Right off someoni says, st.rred up a bat'h of sour dough (.a es was located in the same gen and buying for their families. Only the in front, placing it on the mound and no, no, it was a black cow, and the biscuits (right in the top of the flour eral area as the one used today. Belle Watlings (of “Gone With the shortly returning to his w rk. On e ladies name wa« Smith (or was it sack), and was cooking them in a Rumor has it that the one used at the Wind” fame) traveled much, but rum a bystander smiled broadly, and th•> Brown), and EVERYBODY knows heavy iron skillet, tipping it to get time of this story blew down in a ors say a team of fast-stepping blacks Chinese hestitatej a m ment, then Mrs. Murphy is the gal who makes the reflected heat, when a heavy high wind, and was replaced by the could always be found for those "lad said sorrowfully (with the usual team ¡".nd wagon passed. A few mo old red covered one, most folks will ies” who traveled in the early dusk Chinese confusion between our ‘r’s and CHOWDER See what 1 mean? Now, when Marco Polo wrote of ments later, the wagon stopped and a recall. or just before dawn. •T’s) “You raff my lice—me raff you Men in these communities formed his 30 year’s travel in the Far and man came striding back to the fire f rowers”. When supplies had to be brot in, or Middle East, 100 years before Colum and put out his hand, saying “Howdy a large band, which had a large brass word had been received that new ships The little sawmills which depended at Gates. Oregon bus, he used a Preface which went in Bob!” Taken by surprise, it was a section and played for many large would be arriving from “around the on men and horses gave way to the it» equipped to handle all types part, as follows: ‘'Some things in moment before Bob recognised his and happy gatherings and dances. Horn”, perhaps bringing old friends ‘iron horse,’ which wound its way deed there be herein, which he be former employer in the John Day One 4th of July event was staged in or relatives, the heavy wagens would through all our hills here and fed the of -unall engine rebuilding and held not: but these he heard from country! After a bit of news-gather an open pavillion, made of donated prepare to “roll”. Everyone in the set big sawmill towns where man, and his men of credit and veracity!" We feel ing, as they called it, the employer lumber and free labor at the site of tlement would make out a list of paycheck was owned by the Lumber repairing. Motel. Community this fits most suitably the following started that he knew and recognized the Oak Park i Company. Wastes were enormous in his old “hand” by the way he handled sings were most popular and held things needed and one or two men the woods. Reportedly, man could glimpses. (called the Purser) would oversee the With means of travel, and high that skillet in cooking the sourdough often. walk for miles on ‘down’ logs, never ★ Here the couple lived until Febru purchasas, making substitutes when | needing to set his foot on the earth ways such as we know to-day, dis bread! Many were the times, on the necessary. Money was always scarce, tance is practically forgotten—one prairie, when he had watched him ary 1959 when they purchased pro Power Saw Bar Work and necessities came first, but the itself. But, finally, conservation has just GOES. Those who go hunting turn out a bitch of biscuits for the perty in the City of Gates, where ladies then, as now) did a bit of ‘wish prevailed, and the good earth is rap they sfill make their home—now 87 or fishing can zip from the coast to crew. done to perfection! idly growing more trees. The hills, _ known to _ all us full thinking' and often a few extras lakes and rivers still remain—our The cooks always carried their and 79 _ years of age, ★ the end of the trails in Eastern Ore on the list, just in one case! One lady gon all in one day, and with little bat. h of "starter” for their sour-¡"Ned and Daisy” Richards. "•reatest ASSETS! And God Given. Early day travel in the wet Oregon who lived in the area which is now With the new superhighways, and the effort or expense. Back in 1905— dough bread. If something happened Chain Sharpening and Re country was often difficult, and trans Salem, had a fresh cow one spring, speed of transportation, the future they borrowed a starter from well, on June 6th to be exact—a young to it, and her wish was for some Tin Milk pairing couple and their 6-year-old daughter someone else. For meat they had *ev- portation took many twists. A horse Puns, liked they used to use back east, of Oregon is unl.mited—but this par- I ticular area is a paradise for sports left John Day, Oregon on a one-way eral “hams” and “shouldi^s” of deer back was the only sure way of getting which were so easy to skim the trip to Mill City where a new home and elk meat, which had been salted through many times. A heavy wagon cream from. The caravan went to the men, with recreational facilities for ★ awaited them. Their househld goods and smoked at their John Day hon e two or four horses was needed for fast growing town of Portland, but in every member of the family, available and supplies had been loaded into before they left. This was sliced and freight. Many had canopy tops to pro all his searching, the purser could find most all the year ’round. Picnicing, Bring lls your Lawn Mower, two wagons; one called the freight fried, it d.d not require much cook tect the merchandise, and swayed bad no such items. Rather than go back swimming, fishing, boating, hiking, wagon driven by the wife's brother, ing however, when thin. However ly when loaded. Mud, as you can empty handed, this particular buyer skiing, skating! Pump or Garden Tractor En Could we but see it, our greatest the other to be their camp wagon, good, one longed for a change of diet imagine, played a big part. Going came up with a dandy solution, but which held their food, clothing and sometimes, the wife told us, and down into a ‘draw’ and getting up opportunity for the future lies iti gines for overhauling. made of heavy china, not tin. When daily needs. Two horses were hitched twice camp was made by a lake and out of it, and fording rivers, added sharing our Oregon Wonderland with the lady, Aunt Jonny, saw them, she to each load, leaving a mare and a big catch of fish were salted down peril. In case a wagon mired down, a was aghast! Blushing furiously, she others. All America is on the move, ★ small colt and a saddle pony to fot- and carried along on their trip. Com- young boy would walk out on the and with a hospitality similar to that ing to a roadside store just at dusk wagon tongue, unhitch the lead team, ac epted them however. Years later for which the South is fam >u , or the low or be led. she confided that "those six very . friendly ‘Howdy’ known to Texas, The weather was warm, dry and one evening, and needing bread, th" 'imb on one and take them to the All Work Guaranteed white, very large, oversize cups with roads well defined, but dusty— and man routed out the owner (it hid •ar, v/iv re it wrs hitcher up again handles looked very pretty sitting on tourist dollars can be harvested here, already closed up for the night), ai 1 . till the load out backwards. This sort the with no need for roulette or devious beginnings of u town all hud my spring house shelf full of milk”. ■* friendly sameness- a wooden general his wife finally said she could spare of ruse was u-ed on a balky horse, al- means, because the beauty of old (Some storekeepers with a twinkle in .he prici prie«. . igo 1 so (1 (I .• ■ Lot i. y by lit was heading home), store with hitchingposts or wracks a loaf, so he handed her thè Mother Nature has never ceased to his eye, often named these ‘left hand both front and back. Their gait was one nickle, returned to his wa.;. n.'but tale were tol l of more drastic ed sugar bowls’.) thrill mankind. We can find no better slow but steady, and about 30 miles and started on. Minutes later t i meth I -, like building a fire under the slogan than: Mehama grew to be a very busy | GATES—Gateway to a Spoilsman’s was average for a day! Breakfast storekeeper', wife cam running do n ; poor critter. A« late as 1931, pack horses could crossroads town—the river often low Paradise! was cooked and eaten bef. re they the road aft**r th<*m and handed him Phone 7351 Gates, Oregon started out each day; noon day din a handful of money! It seems, in the be seen heading east up the canyon, and easy to cross in early days. Many SUBSCRIBE TO THE MILL CITY ner was a hearty one, with left over du-k, he had handed her a $5 gold going to the Lakes for fishing, or on traveled to the Quartzv ’I» area, hunt I X I'FRl’RISE TODAY: $3.00 a Year food wrapped and carried on for their piece, (very common d en) miste .-1 supper, if pos-ilile, which wa.-. eaten mg it for a nickle. For tn i,ios pa c, as soon as “camp” was made just people were honest in t lOr-e da «, before du.-k and everything .settled though most agreed it did not pay to with travelers for the night Few thought it wise get took friendly to travel by night. • along the way. Then on through Swiaahome, Fos- The r trip took them through Prine ville, Mitchell, Redmond and Sisters ter, Lebanon and on uo to Scio whi h toward the mountains. The Santiam was a flourishing little town. They Pass was unknown then, of < ourse, all were allowed to camp inside the city travel going south through Post and limits, in a vacant lot with a picket on to the much talked of Tollgate fence on two sides. The horses were Roa. Rumor had it that one paid tied to a section of the picket fence. toll on everything owned, but it was Th.- small colt got too nosey, and generally conceded to be worth it meandered off, too far, it seems, for since the owner maintained a good the mare, who finally whinnied shril road all the way through his land. ly, reared up en her hind legs, and After leaving Post quite a distance broke loose, tak ng a section of the they put a saddle on the pony and fence with her as she cantered out the brother,Bob, was to ride ahead to into the street. Poli .e came quickly, reconnoiter a bit. It seems the toll from all directions, and the young was so niiK'h for a horse, but as couple feared a bit of trouble, but much as S'J.50 for a horse with -addle. the police only wanted to help, and But as he trotted along atound a mare and colt were soon in their places again. Territory was more familiar now, as the young couple had been raised on this section, and at Mehama they met and talked to many they had known. After passing Lyons they met an oldtime friend, an older man Between named Hobson, and with a studied Portland-Salem- Idanha look he remarked "Why, Daisy, you’re all way points tanned!” Dahy smiled, but hid her Allied Van I Alien Agent eyes with her sunbonnet. (Indies did Local & Nationwide not SASS or make smart remarks in those days, but inside she thought, Household Moving “If you had been where I've been Stayton Phone BO 9-£870 these past two weeks you'd be TAN, Sadem MM 3-1636 too.) SHIP IT WRIGHT Their last meal on the road was fixed at noon in the shade of the old red six-sided barn which stood until about 10 years ago, on the farm now owned by Jack Johnston, near Lyons. This old landmark, sturdy with high Don’t Worry .. six gable roof will be remembered by many and was reportedly built at least 30 years previously by a man nsmtsl Bill Surrey. Then on up to - ** Mill City, tv a home on the north side among the hills, the site of the orig \W* inal homestead of her mother. Mrs. L. J. Thomas, who had proved up on the land under President Benjamin Harrison, 1888-1893. They had been 18 day s on the road. • ♦ • v Weather had been most perfect all the way. The looked forward to the future., and knew they would be hap py here. There was wood for fuel everywhere; wild game and rabbits; * -••• So/ it with HOWtZS all the fish you could want, any time Ì you dropped a hook tn the water. A Just pivk up v»H«r ’pbone couple of men could go a short ways and call us and wohin a into the hills after breakfast and •hort time a beautiful Kow er have meat for dirner as many as 1 atlt . . perfect tor the six or eight deer might be brought occasion . • ■ will be ii> 4 down at a time—there was no limit, «perde way to those «<••< IF YOU DO THEN ADVERTISE REGULARLY but meat was not wasted. Dressed out want to remember and hung in a shelter, it was shared , lw« J va« .e IN THE MILL CITY ENTERPRISE. with others in need of meat. Hams *nd mrmOc ar «Xe laa OHMM. «W (UO. , shoulders were salted heavily and BEST COVERAGE OF THE UPPER CANYON OF later smoked about as pork is cured Mta FLOWERS* today Steaks were salted, peppered ANY NEWSPAPER IN THE WORLD. stano V.,.. and sugared and stored layer for '~x /«€#«•■• fatar««»' tm. layer in earthen crocks- kept for We Also Specialize in weeks and delicious when friend. COMMERCIAL PRINTING Women knew all the native plants, gathering such as horehound, Ore Consult us on your next order. gon grape, elderberry, yarrow and F LORIST cascata (or Chittum, as the Indians called it) in the summer, and after t & NURSERY 1 drvi-g. sfired it for later use in case of illness. Ml. KO 9 2531 The railroad had been put through — a roor ing and boarding house at 319 W Gates was run by the young wife’s I un<le, Alb rt Cate«. This was on the Mrs. H. N. Wilson Writes Glimpses Into the Past Subscribe to The Mill City Enterprise Newspaper S3 a Year SAW SHOP Marshall's Saw Shop WRIGHT TRUCK LINE Its Neve? too Late/ F CUSTOMERS ?» LEIGH HAROLD
