HISTORICAL SITES

There are numerous buildings and sites in Marion County having special historic, cultural and architectural significance as part of the heritage of the County. As well as being inhabited by native populations thousands of years ago, it is an area of some of the earliest pioneer settlements in the Willamette Valley.

Marion County recognizes that the historical and cultural resources of the County should be preserved. Nonrenewable, they hold importance for County citizens for varied reasons. Cultural reminders show the continuity and influence of the past, emphasize changes, teach about previous and possible events and fascinate the imagination. Early architecture and implements made in a less technological era are admired as well.

An inventory of historical sites, areas, structures and objects has been compiled with the aid of the Marion County Historical Society and State Parks Historian. Thirty-seven sites have been identified as appropriate for the cultural preservation designation.

Factors that were considered were their antiquity, association with historic and famous events, unique mode of construction or architectural design, relationship to the cultural history of the community and County, recognition in an official historic register and identification with persons who have significantly contributed to the history of the County. The sites are identified on Table 26 and the Parks and Recreation Map located in the Comprehensive Plan report.

Presently various efforts are being made to preserve and protect these limited County resources. Private individuals, historical associations and governmental agencies are involved, using a variety of methods to achieve preservation.

Preservation has primarily depended on private ownership and interest. It is often possible only if it is economically feasible to maintain the site for a contemporary use, such as a home, church, store, museum or restaurant.

Ninety-five Century Farms have been designated in the County. These are lands that have been farmed by the same family continuously for 100 years or more. Marion County has the largest number of these in the State.

Eleven sites in rural Marion County are listed on the National Register of Historic Places and more may continually be added. Those on the register may be eligible for matching grants and tax benefits.

Local historical association activities are largely educational in nature. Government support of historical preservation has been indicated since the early 1900s and especially in recent years. Both State and Federal governments are actively encouraging the identification and preservation of historical resources.

Beginning in 1906, the Federal Antiquities Act protected historic ruins or antiquities on Federal lands. The National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 established a program of matching grants-in-aid for preservation efforts to State and local groups. It also created an advisory council which comments on possible adverse effects of Federal projects on sites or eligible for National Register of Historic Places.

The 1969 National Environmental Policy Act states, “it is the continuing responsibility of the Federal Government to preserve important historic, cultural and natural aspects of our national heritage.” Any Federally funded project must be evaluated for its environmental impact, including the effect on historical areas.

The Archaeological and Historical Preservation Act (1974) also provides for cultural resources protection in Federal projects, emphasizing recovery of prehistoric and historic data.

ORS 271.710 authorizes the State, County, city or park and recreation district to obtain easements to preserve historical places. In 1977, ORS 97.740 prohibited tampering with native Indian burial grounds and ORS 273.990 classified the removal of archeological or historical materials from State lands as a Class B misdemeanor.

ORS 358.475 declares that it is State policy to preserve and maintain property of State historical significance. It established a tax relief mechanism that can make preservation of an historical site economically possible, in that property on the National Register may qualify for a tax freeze for 15 consecutive years. Information on this tax freeze, Federal match-money and eligibility for National Register may be obtained from the State Historic Preservation Office. Historic Preservation Loan Information is available from the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Archaeological sites in the County have not been systematically explored and have usually been discovered by accident. Land cultivation, road and house building and drainage ditches have uncovered and sometimes destroyed artifacts in the County. Often these sites are explored, artifacts extracted, and intended modern day use is continued. Thus, the potential for future study of many of these sites has been destroyed. Basketry, weapons (mainly arrowheads) and domestic tools of stone and bone are the most common objects found. Prehistoric camps have commonly been established near streams but there seems to be no distinct pattern of where archaeological finds take place. Artifacts have been found scattered throughout the County and many were discovered in isolation. It is not desirable to reveal specific site locations due to potential destruction by amateurs.

These archaeological findings can be seen at University of Oregon’s Anthropology Department, Eaton Hall at Willamette University, Horner Museum at Oregon State University, Oregon Historical Society’s exhibit in Portland and in numerous private collections.

Table No. 26
Historical Sites in Rural Marion County 

Abiqua Trail* – prehistory – Major travel route for numerous Indian tribes before written records of Marion County History. Still visible in some places.

Alexio Aubichom House – early 1840 – Oldest Oregon home still on original site.

Aurora Colony Historic* NR – 1857 – 1877 – Christian Communal Society Farming community. At least 21 original buildings remain including an octagonal building used for musical instrument storage.

Sam Brown House NR – 1856 – Classical revival architecture. Formerly an inn convenient to the transport routes of the railroad and Salem-Oregon city road.

William Case Farm NR – 1860 – Classical architecture. Shows early use of brick kilns and lumber frame barns.

Champoeg Area* (Champoeg State Park) – 1830s – fur trade. Site of formation of Provisional Government of Oregon, 1843.

Champoeg Cemetery* – 1826 – Burial place of early French Prairie settlers.

Rice Dunbar House – 1851 – Classical revival. A foundation of handhewn fir and native rocks, original woodwork and doorknobs brought “around the Horn” are some lasting features Dunbar included.

Gallon House Bride* – 1916 – Covered wooden bridge.

Geer Fruit Farm – 1851 – Meetings related to statehood were held here prior to 1859. 1880 stone fruit house and original fireplaces are still used.

Halls Ferry and Landing* – 1868.

Hauxhurst Mill Site* – 1835 – Located on Champoeg Creek, this is one of Oregon’s first grist mills.

Hoefer and Zorn House – 1870 – Includes original furnishings and 1896 additions of a bell and windmill tower. Site of 1847 grist mill.

Butteville* – 1830s – Settled by retired fur trappers from Hudson Bay Company. It was an important mercantile center in 1845.

McCallister House – 1906.

Daniel MacCleay School – 1893 – Presently used as a community center.

George McCorkle House NR – 1851 – Classical revival style. A two-story central hall home, prevalent in Marion County.

Donald Manson Farm Site – 1858 – Fur trade. An 1860 barn is the only structure remaining.

Mt. Angel Abbey Library* – 1970 – International architecture. Designed by Alar Alto, renowned Finnish architect.

Mt. Angel Monastery Chapel* – 1884 – Located in the cemetery, this is the oldest seminary west of the Rockies.

Port Manning House NR – 1884 – One of the best remaining examples of Italianate architecture. Originally located in Salem at Ferry and Winter Streets.

Robert Newell House* – 1852 – Classical architecture. Presently restored as a public museum.

Niagara Dam Site* (Niagara County Park) – 1890 – Continuous floods contributed to the demise of this former townsite and hopes of producing hydroelectric power here.

Pleasant Grove Presbyterian Church NR – 1858 – Vernacular architecture. An example of the once numerous small churches in the meeting house tradition. Still occasionally used.

John and Thomas Kirk Residence – 1882.

Willamette Post Site* – 1813 – Fur post established as a depot and dispatch point to Fort Astoria. All traces lost in flood of 1861.

Schrum House – 1848 – Western Colonial. Schrum was a member of the Oregon constitutional convention in 1857. A barn on this property was the hiding place for five senators in 1860 who were boycotting the majority-supported antislavery vote.

John Stauffer House and Barn* NR – 1865 – One of the oldest remaining log structures in Oregon. Associated with the Aurora colony, it features handhewn logs chinked in Pennsylvania-German tradition.

Waldo House – 1852 – Waldo is credited with achievements in education and industry in the County.

Wheatland Ferry* – 1884 – Grain, produce, freight and passengers utilized the ferry services when river transportation was a major mode. An updated ferry still operates.

Willamette Mission site* (probable location) – 1834 – Initial base of Methodist Missionary action throughout the Columbia Basin.

George Boone Miller Barn NR – 1864 – Sole remaining agricultural building built by French Canadian settlers Joseph Laderaute and Syprian Belleque. Unique detail and design of sloped roof and joinery.

Fairfield Landing – 1851 – An important shipping center on the Willamette River during the steamboat era. A former store is now converted to a grainery and the former saloon is now used as a residence.

Hamilton Campbell House NR – Classical revival. Campbell was listed as an architect for the Oregon Mission. Arriving in 1840, he worked on several mission buildings. He became a local preacher to Indians, speaking their dialects. In 1849, he engraved the first dies for coins issued by the provisional government.

James Mechlin Anderson House NR – 1855 – Classical revival. Built with 1849 Gold Rush savings, it has unique parlor trim and dairy cellar.

Miller Cemetery Church NR – 1882 – Constructed primarily for use as nondenominational burying church. Sloping floor, reverse entry and dual doors are some adaptations designed for this use.

St. Louis Catholic Church – 1845 – Rebuilt in 1880. Still in use. Built on the site of the original St. Louis Cemetery. The remains of Marie Dorian, who was the guide and only woman of the 1811 Astor Expedition (Hunt Party), are buried underneath the church.

Santiam Pass* – 1859 – (State Highway 22). A major early route linking eastern and western Oregon.

* – Indicate sites generally open to the public.

NR – Identifies sites listed on the National Historical Register. These sites are open to the public at least once each year.