|
1811: |
Wilson Price
Hunt, leading the John Jacob Astor overland expedition, passes through
Baker Valley know then as The Lone Tree Valley. Hunt is responsible for
first crossing the Blue mountains to the Columbia, thus establishing a
passage for the western end of the Oregon Trail, the major travel route to
the West. He arrived in Astoria in 1812. |
|
1841: |
Through 1869
more than 250,000 Americans take the Oregon Trail to the west, starting
their journey in Independence, Missouri. Nearing the end of their journey,
they arrived at Farewell Bend on the Snake River and proceeded to conquer
the treacherous Burnt River Canyon. The Trail ahead led them across
Virtue Flat to Flagstaff Hill and into Powder River Valley. In the
distance lay the challenge of the Blue Mountain crossing.
|
|
1845: |
Famous “Lost Wagon Train.” In August 1845, a
group of wagons, led by Stephen Meek, left the Oregon Trail for a short
cut to Western Oregon. After suffering many hardships and deaths, the
survivors reached The Dalles in October. While camped at a tributary of
the John Day River, small yellow pebbles were found along the water’s
edge. NOT realizing that the pebbles were gold, they were left behind in
an old blue bucket and the legend of the “Lost Blue Bucket Mine” was born.
|
|
1847: |
The Whitman
Massacre. The news of conflict with the Indians discouraged the settlement
of Eastern Oregon until more military protection could be supplied.
|
|
1861: |
Gold
discovered in Baker County. Four men, searching for the fabled “Lost Blue
Bucket Mine,” found gold in Griffin Gulch, south of where Baker City is
now located. |
|
1862: |
In the
Spring, the town of Auburn was laid out in Blue Canyon and soon mushroomed
to the unbelievable population of about 5,000 people! It was even
considered a lively prospect for the Capitol of Oregon. |
|
1862: |
In October,
Baker County was established and named after Col. Edward Dickinson Baker,
Oregon’s first Senator. Baker died during the Civil War at the Battle of
Balls Bluff, the only member of Congress to die in that conflict. The
first county seat of Baker County was the town of Auburn. |
|
1862: |
Sumpter was
established. |
|
1862: |
Express Ranch
was established as a Wells Fargo stage station. It was later renamed
Durkee when the railroad purchased the right of way. |
|
1862: |
The Chandler
Wagon Train arrived in Powder River Valley in September and settled at
Pine City at the foot of the Elkhorn Ridge of the Blue mountains. The town
was moved down the mountain and renamed Pocahontas. |
|
1862: |
First school
for Baker County organized at Auburn. |
|
1863: |
The Sisley
Toll Road built from Weatherby to connect with the Old’s Ferry Toll Road
to the Snake River and Old’s Ferry. |
|
1863: |
Gold was
discovered at Sparta. |
|
1863: |
The 125 mile
long Eldorado Ditch surveyed and started. Probably the world’s longest
hand-dug ditch. It was constructed mostly by Chinese labor. |
|
1865: |
The first
hotel, Reid & Fletcher’s Western Hotel, was built and served as the
headquarters for overland stages which passed through Baker City five
times a week |
|
1865: |
The post
office moved ( unofficially, but later approved) from Auburn to Baker City
for more efficient handling of the mail. |
|
1866: |
Baker City
was made the county seat by an act of the state legislature, but Auburn
refused to relinquish the records. Following the official vote of the
people in 1868, the records were confiscated in an early morning surprise
visit of the new Baker County officials. |
|
1868: |
First
organized church services held by Methodists. |
|
1870: |
The
Bedrock Democrat, first
newspaper of Baker City, published in May. |
|
1871: |
A small frame
Catholic Church was the first church of Baker City. |
|
1874: |
The
incorporation of Baker City. |
|
1884: |
Cornucopia
was established after gold was discovered in the area. |
|
1884: |
Transcontinental Railroad reached Baker City. |
|
1886: |
The business
block of Baker City’s Front Street was almost completely destroyed by
fire. |
|
1889: |
Baker City
completed the new public school to house twelve grades. It was the second
public high school in Oregon. |
|
1889: |
The Hotel
Warshauer constructed, the most elegant structure between Portland and
Denver. This was the forerunner of the Geiser Grand Hotel. |
|
1890: |
Sumpter
Valley Railway was incorporated to carry logs from Sumpter Valley to the
Baker City sawmills. |
|
1890: |
The
population of Baker City is 6,663, larger than either Boise or Spokane.
The Street Railway was due to be in operation the same year. |
|
1891: |
Community of
Unity established. |
|
1892: |
Sawmill in
Baker City completed by the Oregon Lumber Company. |
|
1892: |
Sumpter
Valley Railroad reached Sumpter. |
|
1898: |
The first
telephone service arrived at Baker City. |
|
1900: |
The Baker
City Opera House was completed. |
|
1900: |
The Alpha
Club was organized with the goal of providing Baker County and City with a
free public library. |
|
1901: |
Population of
Sumpter is 3,000 with over 80 businesses. |
|
1908: |
Town of
Copperfield established to house mining and railroad crews working at the
Snake River. Copperfield was known for its lawlessness. It was destroyed
by fire in 1914. |
|
1909: |
The town of
Robinette served as a railhead for the Oregon Shortline. It was flooded
out by the backwaters of the Snake River Dams in the 1950’s. |
|
1910: |
Sumpter
Valley Railway extended to Prairie City to serve ranchers and farmers as
well as lumber and mining. |
|
1911: |
Baker City
residents voted to drop “City” from their name. |
|
1913: |
Dredging in
the Sumpter Valley began, temporarily revitalizing the mining industry. |
|
1913: |
“Armstrong”
nugget, weighing 80.4 oz., was discovered by George Armstrong. |
|
1916: |
The limestone
quarry at Lime expanded. Between 1923 and 1980, over 6.5 million tons of
stone was taken from the area. |
|
1917: |
A fire,
starting in the kitchen of the Capital Hotel, destroyed much of Sumpter.
The town’s water supply fails thirty minutes after the start of the fire
and dynamite is finally used to stop the flames. The fire, combined with
the shutdown of the gold mines, ended the boom of Sumpter. |
|
1933: |
Anthony Lakes
Ski Area was established and named in honor of Dr. Anthony, a pioneer
circuit-riding doctor of early years. |
|
1975: |
Congress
established the Hells Canyon National Recreation Area. |
|
1978: |
The Baker
Historic District is listed in the National register. |
|
1990: |
Voters
restored “City” to the name of Baker City. |
|
1992: |
Opening of
the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center on Flagstaff Hill. |
