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Unrefined Sparta in 19th Century
By Phyllis Badgley
Recent conversation with local resident
Catharine Ott brought interesting insight to the colorful history of
Sparta, OR. Sparta, now designated a Baker County ghost town, lies 20
miles N.E. of Baker City. The area today is sparsely settled, a handful
of residents comprise the population.
In late 1800's Sparta was an established outpost for
miners. Post Office opened in 1872, closed 1952. Emigrant Sigmund
Heilner constructed in 1872 a stone building to house dry goods and
groceries. The structure remains presently in Sparta. Catharine Ott ,81,
graciously shared photos for this article.
Joe Wright operated the Sparta store, which was prime
source of supplies for the mining community. Wright was a confirmed
bachelor whose "true love" refused to come west when he migrated from
Eastern states. His disappointment was so deep that he never married for
the remainder of his life. See photo #1
Joe, the merchant, developed close friendship with
Catharine Ott's grandparents, the James Shaver family. These ties were
so steadfast that years later, when Joe Wright fell ill, he was cared
for in his final days in the Shaver home. Catharine Ott at the time an
impressionable 8 year old, remembers the scene of Mr. Wright's body
lying in state in the front parlor of her Grandmother Shaver's
residence.
Pioneering families of the area were of necessity hardy
souls. Their strength was tried when they endured bitter winters and
cleared roof high snowdrifts. Daily chores consisted of breaking solidly
frozen ice in watering troughs. Mud was a year round common denominator,
but no deterrent to gold seekers who flocked to the area.
Ott smiled when she related the women's view of
primitive living under disagreeable circumstances. Her Mother among
other women referred to their living quarters as "could ya shacks",
connotation meaning "could you live HERE and still love him?"
While gold searching was principle venture for men folk
in Sparta, uppermost in the minds of the Mother's was school larnin' for
children. In 1891 a batten board one room school was constructed. By
1898 teacher Victoria Worsham had 15 students under her tutelage. (See
photo #3 ) She is shown at left. In the picture Catharine Ott provided,
her Mother Virgie Shave is shown 5th from left. A small girl in striped
dress. Several Macy children are shown, their relatives continue
residing today in Baker City. Norma Macy Smith is of that heritage line.
Apparently in a formal photo of 1898, young boys considered a hat a
necessity, while bare feet were admissible.
Chinese laborers were in the area to help construct the
22 mile long Sparta Ditch, which provided water for sluicing gold. One
Chinese gentleman, Aw-Wing, became a special friend of the James Shaver
family. The name Aw-Wing transposes into "Mr." Because Aw-Wing held
James Shaver in high regard, the Chinaman had a photo taken (a rare
occasion) and presented it with respect to friend Shaver. Aw-Wing chose
to pose on the porch of his one room residence, where a weather beaten
board with Chinese lettering identified his home. He also chose to hold
his prized possession, a primitive musical instrument. ( See photo #2)
When strumming 3 strings held by wooden pegs, the plaintive twang
reminded Aw-Wing of his homeland. The slightly faded photo, mounted on
cardboard , today remains with the Shaver family offspring.
This closes an intriguing chapter of Sparta, OR. A
community marked by close knit, caring residents of the nineteenth
century, who triumphed over trauma. They survived only by aiding each
other in times of trial. A small cemetery on adjacent knoll is mute
testimony of the dream seekers who failed.
Similar stories of truth abound from other Baker County
ghost towns, but remain untold. Perhaps another boomtown would result if
a few specks of hidden treasure surface, and rumors catch the attention
of modern prospectors.
Printed here with the permission of
Baker City Herald
Baker
County |
