Early Sandy Oregon History

N Ever wondered about the earlier history of Sandy, Oregon? Here is a quick overview of about 200 years taken from notes of Ken Funk, SHM office supervisor and docent:

1786 Wy’east eruption. Lahar washes volcanic ash and debris down the river.

Apr 1792 Capt. Robert Gray (American) crosses the bar of the Oregon River calling it Columbia after his ship.

Oct 1792 Lt. Broughton (British) sails the Columbia up to the Cascade rapids. Wy’east renamed Mt. Hood. Baring River is named.

1806 Lewis & Clark rename the Baring River “Quicksand River” and determine that it flows from Mt. Hood.

25 Sep 1808 Crawford fur trapper camp established near Clackamas Lake. Marker carved into hemlock tree.

1812 Ft. Astoria (American) established 6 miles inside the mouth of the Columbia River

1825 Ft. Vancouver (British) built

1829 Oregon City founded by Dr. John McLoughlin, Prime Factor of the Hudson’s Bay Company (Ft. Vancouver). 1st platted city west of the Rockies.

1832 First missionaries (Rev. Jason Lee) arrive in the Oregon Territory.

1840 Pioneers start to arrive in the Oregon country, rafting their wagons down the Columbia River from The Dalles to get to the Willamette Valley

1843-49 Oregon provisional government formed

1844 Oregon City becomes first incorporated city west of the Rocky Mountains

1845 Qucksand River becomes known as Sandy River

Oct-Dec 1845 Sam Barlow, Joel Palmer, William Rector, Lock and others scouted for passage route from The Dalles mission around south side of Mt. Hood to Oregon City. Devil’s Half Acre and Fort Deposit created.

1846-52 The Mount Hood Road (Barlow Toll Road) opens (152 wagons in 1846) 1st toll gate at Strickland Place on Gate Creek near Wamic. Toll $5.00/wagon $0.10/head of livestock

1848 Oregon becomes a territory. Treaty boundaries set

Oct 1849 U.S. Army soldiers establish Government Camp near Still Creek.

Oct. 1853 Francis & Lydia Revenue and daughter Mary arrive and establish their 320 acre Donation Land Claim, build their home and a trading post.

1853-1865 Francis Revenue operates 2nd Barlow Road tollgate near his place. Toll lowered to $2.50/ wagon in 1860s.

27 Jun 1856 John Henry Revenue, 1st pioneer child born in the Sandy District.

1858 1st area sawmill built on Cedar Creek

14 Feb 1859 Oregon Admission Bill passed and signed

1866-71 3rd Barlow Rd tollgate located at Summit House at Summit Meadows.

1866 Francis Revenue builds 1st Revenue Bridge

1867-68 Francis Revenue hires Egbert Alcott to teach his children in their home during the winter

1868 Francis & John (age 14) Revenue build a log cabin that serves as the schoolhouse until 1886.

1871-78 4th tollgate located at Meeting Rock at Two-mile Camp (3 miles east of Rhododendron near Laurel Hill).

13 Feb 1873 U.S. Post Office established at Richard Gerdes’ store, the Revenue Township becomes the village of Sandy

1874 The Revenues establish their general store and a hotel near the Gerdes’ store. 1879-1915 5th (last) tollgate located one mile east of Rhododendron.

1884 Original Revenue Bridge is washed out.

1884-85 2nd Revenue Bridge built and washed out.

Aug 1885 3rd Revenue Bridge (covered) is built.

1886 1st schoolhouse built near Cedar Creek

1890 Sandy Hotel built

1894 St. Mchael Catholic church built in Sandy

1902 Lutheran Church built

1908 Sandy Grade School built (Hwy 26 & Langensand)

1911 Clackamas County Bank established by Alva & Merle Deaton.

11 Aug 1911 The people of the village of Sandy vote to incorporate and elect a mayor (Ed Bruns) and city council

1912 Paul Meinig is elected mayor and the city charter is drafted.

1912 Oregon passes women’s suffrage law

Oct 1913 1st fire of Sandy destroys livery stable.

14 Nov 1913 The city charter is adopted and the City of Sandy is born. L.A. Davis hired as 1st town marshal.

1914 Sandy Union High School organized on 2nd floor of Sandy Grade School

1914-1918 WW1

1914-1916 Junker Building, 1st concrete block in Sandy, constructed.

1917 2nd fire of Sandy

1919 The State of Oregon accepts deed of the Barlow Road.

1923 3rd great fire of Sandy.

1923 Sandy Untion High School “Pioneer Building” opened on Bluff Rd (demolished abt 1965) 1924 The Barlow Rd is incorporated into the Mt. Hood Loop Hwy.

27 June 1926 “Pioneers and Early Settlers of Sandy and Vicinity” is founded. John Henry Revenue elected 1st President. Name changes to “Sandy Pioneer Association” abt 1929. Revised to “Sandy Pioneer & Historical Society” and finally Sandy Historical Society, Inc. in 1990s. Museum built 2004-2007.

1929 3rd Revenue Bridge (covered) torn down. 4th bridge built.

1951 4th Revenue Bridge is condemned

11 Nov 1952 5th Revenue Bridge opened