Waconda, Oregon
Waconda was once a station on the Oregon Electric Railway and it formerly had a post office by the same name. The station was named when the railroad was built through the area in 1907, and the post office was established in 1912. There was previously a community called Waconda about a mile south of Gervais established in 1870 on the former line of the Oregon & California Railroad (now owned by Union Pacific). The name may come from the Great Plains Native American word "Wakonda" (something consecrated). Waconda was one of a series of OE stations with Native American names; one station to the south was named for Chinookan leader Comcomly and the next one to the north was named for Kalapuyan "Chief" Quinaby.
In 1915, Waconda had a store and a population of 40. An American Foursquare house near the ruins of the OE station once served as the post office and is still standing.
Agriculture in the area includes the growing of hops, berries, fruit, and the production dairy products.
Further reading
- Mabey, Kaylyn (February 17, 2019). "Old Waconda". Willamette Heritage. (originally in the Statesman Journal)
References
- ^ Burke, Thomas C. Burke (1915). The State of Oregon: Its Resources and Opportunities; Official Pamphlet Published for the Information of Homeseekers, Settlers and Investors. Oregon State Immigration Commission.
- ^ Oregon Atlas & Gazetteer (7th ed.). Yarmouth, Maine: DeLorme. 2008. p. 28. ISBN 978-0-89933-347-2.
- ^ McArthur, Lewis A.; McArthur, Lewis L. (2003) [1928]. Oregon Geographic Names (7th ed.). Portland, Oregon: Oregon Historical Society Press. p. 997-998. ISBN 978-0875952772.
- ^ Sullivan, Wes. "Electric Railway Waconda". Willamette Heritage. Retrieved July 7, 2024.
- ^ Friedman, Ralph (1990). In Search of Western Oregon. Caldwell, Idaho: The Caxton Printers, Ltd. p. 474. ISBN 0-87004-332-3.
External links
- Historic images of Waconda from Salem Public Library
- 1963 Aerial photo of Waconda from the University of Oregon digital archives