Just Peachy

Date of visit: October 1, 2011
Population: 76,639 (2010 Census)

Incorporated in 1905, Bend is the sixth largest city in Oregon and the largest city east of the Cascades, although as with any big western city it started out as a small frontier village in the 1870s. The name comes from Farewell Bend, which was used to describe a point along the Deschutes River where travelers on the pioneer stage road bade farewell to the river as they journeyed west. Upstream and downstream of this spot the river travels through a canyon where fording is difficult, but the spot where Bend now sits provided an accessible crossing. The Warm Springs name for this fordable spot on the river was “Wychick.”

For awhile in the early years, Bend seemed to suffer an identity crisis. Because the name “Farewell Bend” was already taken by a post office along the Snake River, the community that grew up along the Deschutes River became known as “Bend.” For a short while between January 1903 and March 1904 it was changed to “Deschutes” and then the post office reversed the name back to “Bend.” Other names that were unsuccessfully tried at some point were “Pilot Butte” (the name of the prominent hill in town) and “Statts” (the name of the old stage office).

Bend doesn’t suffer from an identity crisis these days. Although winters are much colder than in the Willamette Valley on the other side of the mountains, Bend gets more than 300 days of sunshine a year (not the same as 300 sunny days, incidentally). It’s close proximity to summer hiking and biking trails and winter skiing makes it a popular vacation destination, and tourism is one of the biggest industries in Bend.

The beautiful Bend Public Library

Trinity Episcopal Church

Post Office

The Tower Theater, which was renovated in 2004

Downtown Bend

The Deschutes Brewery, possibly the best beer and food in town

The Fun Farm is a wacky private “park” near Bend

Map of Bend

Oregon Towns Project

Date of visit: September 17, 2011
Population: 8,920 (2010 Census)

White people first settled in the Fairview area around 1850 because of the good farmland. Early residents liked the name “Fairview” but a town on the coast already had that name, so they called their town Cleone until the coastal town’s post office closed in 1914.

The native population had been greatly reduced by disease, but there were a few left living the area as white settlers began moving in. Old John, or Indian John, was a well-known Native American in the area. He was about 14 or 15 years old when Lewis & Clark passed through on their epic trek. He once showed a Fairview resident a silver spoon that had been given to him by Lewis & Clark. The Oregon Historical Society has a three-legged cast-iron camp skillet that used to belong to Old John and which is believed to have originated with the Lewis & Clark expedition.

He tanned hides, fished, helped take care of neighbor’s cattle, hoed potato fields, and acted as caretaker when families were away. His wife died from diphtheria in the 1850s and as he grew older his neighbors watched out for him and made sure he was getting enough to eat. At one point he was robbed of his life savings, $80, by a white man. Fairview residents tried to find the thief and bring him to justice, but were unsuccessful. Eventually Indian John ended up at the County Poor Farm and died in 1893. His exact age was unknown, but he was over 100 and by some accounts he was over 125 years old.

Beautifully carved sign at Fairview Community Park.

Fairview City Jail, built in 1915 and seldom used.

The Heslin House, built in 1893 and now a museum.

Fairview Library.

Fairview City Hall.

Smith Memorial Presbyterian Church.

Map of Fairview

Oregon Towns Project

Date of visit: September 4, 2011
Population: 4,989 (2010 Census)

Warrenton sits on land that was originally occupied by the Clatsop Indians, but in 1851 they ceded 90% of their land to the U.S. Government. They were the only Oregon tribe that wasn’t moved to a reservation after giving up their land.

Daniel Knight Warren, who emigrated to Oregon from New York via the Oregon Trail in 1852, bought 160 acres here in 1870 and started recruiting people to come settle the area. He built a dike along the Skipanon River to protect against flooding and laid out a town with tree-lined streets. He offered bonuses and free lots to people who built houses in his new town. Warren built his own house here in 1885, a beautiful house that is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Today Warrenton is a quiet bedroom community of Astoria and serves as the gateway to nearby Fort Stevens State Park.

The house that Daniel Warren built in 1885

Lighthouse Park

Warrenton Municipal Center

Map of Warrenton

Oregon Towns Project