VOL. I. AUGUST, 1899. No. 4. FIRST CHURCH BUILT IN THE ORIGINAL OREGON. The very suitable frontispiece to this number of The Native Son is a picture of the first church edifice erected in the "Old Oregon." Its surroundings are of later date, but the church itself, with the exception of its window blinds, is exactly as it appeared at the time of its erection. While, of course, there had been religious services held in private houses, and in the schoolrooms connected with the early missions before its erection, there is no doubt but this was the first building erected solely for Christian worship and service in the Pacific Northwest. It is therefore one of the most interesting monuments of the early history of this coast, and its erection dates an epoch in the progress of civilization here. This church was projected by Rev. A. F. Waller, who was appointed a missionary to the Indians at Willamette Falls and vicinity, by Jason Lee, in June, 1840. There were no white residents at this point at that time. Mr. Waller's family were the first white settlers at that place. His missionary work took in the Clackamas villages where Gladstone now is, and the villages on both sides of the Willamette at the falls. By the close of 1842 a sufficient number of white people had located there to satisfy the far-seeing Waller that this would soon become an important settlement, and that Indian missions were very soon to give place to white churches, not only here, but all over the coast. To meet what he saw was a certain change, he wrote a subscription which, in its original form, just as it was circulated by Mr. Waller and signed by those who subscribed to it, is now in the possession of the writer. It will be interesting as a bit of history if we place the form of this first subscription for any such purpose ever made west of the Rocky mountains, together with the names subscribed upon it, on this page of The Native Son. It is as follows: "Willamette Falls, Dec. 21, 1842. "We, the subscribers, do hereby agree to pay on demand the several sums set opposite our respective names, for the purpose of erecting a chapel for the use of the Methodist Episcopal church at the Willamette Falls, said house or chapel to be built as soon as possible, and held in trust for said M. E. church by a committee of five, to be elected annually by the society, and stated hearers of the congregation, at a meeting for that purpose, till a lawful corporation can be had and lawful trustees appointed to hold said house, premises, etc. "Said committee for the present year to be George Abernethy, Robert Shortess, David Carter, A. F. Waller and C. Rogers, who shall have charge of the building of said chapel, and to whom. said subscriptions shall be paid; said house to be frame, etc., and of such size as the committee shall judge proper, considering the amount of the subscription. $ 30.00 migration of 1842, consisting of 137 persons, including several families, had reached "The Falls," as Oregon City was then called, which about doubled the number of Americans in the country, and practically settled all question as to the future settlement of Oregon by an American instead of a British population. 50.00 25.00 20.00 10.00 25.00 50.00 20.00 50.00 10.00 10.00 12.00 100.00 10.00 The house, a plain, neat structure, was immediately begun and, as rapidly as possible, pushed to completion. Only a few weeks before it was begun the im The history of this church has been one of great interest, but cannot now be related. Its original location was at the upper end of Main street and on the east side of the street. Later it was removed to the location where the present Methodist Episcopal church stands, and later still removed a few feet to give place to that structure. The body of the church still stands, though occupied for other than church purposes. The building to the right in the picture is probably the oldest parsonage on the coast, it being erected only two years later than the church by Rev. G. Hines and having been occupied as a parsonage for fiftyfive years. These two landmarks of real pioneer times are worthy of careful preservation for the history they represent. H. K. HINES. OREGON'S FIRST HOP YARDS. Many stories have gone the rounds of the press relative to the beginning of this industry in Oregon, and as The Native Son has taken upon itself the task of publishing historical data regarding early industries of the Pacific coast, a word may not be amiss regarding the beginning of this great industry in the state. In 1867, Adam Weisner emigrated from the State of Wisconsin to Oregon and settled at Buena Vista, Polk county. He rented five acres of ground on the upland and planted it in hops, having brought the roots with him from Wisconsin. The upland chosen was unfit for hop culture, and the experiment resulted in a failure, although Mr. Weisner had gone to considerable expense in preparing ground, hop house, etc. George Leasure, then a resident of Polk county, purchased from Mr. Weisner sufficient roots for a five-acre tract, and planted the same in the spring of 1869 on a choice piece of bottom land in a suburb of Eugene city. This yard was a success and is still being successfully cultivated. The Leasure hop yard was the first in the state to yield a harvest and the Weisner yard the first planted. The two hop houses built by Weisner and Leasure at Buena Vista and Eugene are still standing and photographs ought to be taken of them and preserved along with photographs of other fast-passing landmarks. TO OREGON. Land where the rays of the sunset Bid adieu to a continent vast, Sheds the sheen of her floodlight last. Land where the forests are grander And tower the mountains more high, 'Neath a purer and brighter sky My home, where the lake and the river And the bright-hued maple leaves quiver There the song of the spring bird is sweeter Wafted seaward from orange grove bloom. While Columbia sweeps on to the ocean, Dear land, thou art mine; I inherit All the title to call thee mine own That bids me from labor to rest, All I ask, save an entrance in heaven, Is to sleep on thy broad, fruitful breast. WM. ANGUS M'PHERSON. |