Dolph, Oregon
Encyclopedia
Dolph is an unincorporated
locale in Tillamook County
, Oregon
, United States, near the Yamhill County
line. It is located at the junction of Oregon Route 22 and Oregon Route 130 between Grande Ronde
and Hebo
, on the Little Nestucca River
. It is within the Siuslaw National Forest
in the Northern Oregon Coast Range
and is considered ghost town
.
Dolph was named for U.S. Senator Joseph N. Dolph
. The locale was originally a toll gate
and traveler's rest stop at the summit of the stagecoach
road from the Willamette Valley
to the Oregon Coast
on the Tillamook-Yamhill county line. This road, built by Jordan Fuqua, went from Grand Ronde to Woods
. Dolph post office opened in 1886, and a school was started in 1889. At one time the community also had a hotel, a store, a sawmill
, a barrel and stave factory
, a livery stable
, a blacksmith shop
, and a campground.
About a half mile from what today is the junction of OR 22 and OR 130—the current site of Dolph—there was another toll gate and the blacksmith shop of George Baxter, who maintained the road that followed the Little Nestucca River. Baxter also was the proprietor of a sulphur springs
resort there. Soaking in mineral springs for one's health was a popular pastime
in the late 19th to mid-20th century.
In 1916-1917, a new public road was built from the Little Nestucca road over Sourgrass Summit to join the old road at the summit at Dolph. Because the new route to the coast was free, there was no longer a need to collect tolls and the town no longer had a reason to exist. As a result, the school was moved to west of OR 22 near Baxter's hot springs resort. The post office closed in 1921. Dolph school closed in 1930 when it was combined with the Castle Rock
school to form Hebo School District. Nothing remains at the old town site but an apple orchard and a small cemetery on a hilltop a half a mile away.
Today there is also nothing left at the new town site, although as of 1940, there was still a hot springs resort there.
; it was a station on the Southern Pacific Railroad. The station was also known as "Brown".
45.1056653°N 123.7898358°W
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
locale in Tillamook County
Tillamook County, Oregon
Tillamook County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. The county is named for the Tillamook, a Native American tribe who were living in the area in the early 19th century at the time of European American settlement. In 2010, the county's population was 25,250...
, Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
, United States, near the Yamhill County
Yamhill County, Oregon
-National protected areas:*Siuslaw National Forest *Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge -Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 84,992 people, 28,732 households, and 21,376 families residing in the county. The population density was 119 people per square mile . There were 30,270...
line. It is located at the junction of Oregon Route 22 and Oregon Route 130 between Grande Ronde
Grand Ronde, Oregon
Grand Ronde is a census-designated place and unincorporated community in Polk County, Oregon, United States. Originally named "Grand Ronde Agency", the name of this city is a variation of the French Grande Ronde or "fine large valley", a description given to the area by the employees of the...
and Hebo
Hebo, Oregon
Hebo is an unincorporated community in Tillamook County, Oregon, United States. For statistical purposes, the United States Census Bureau has defined Hebo as a census-designated place . The census definition of the area may not precisely correspond to local understanding of the area with the same...
, on the Little Nestucca River
Little Nestucca River
The Little Nestucca River is a river, approximately 20 mi long, on the Pacific coast of northwest Oregon in the United States. It drains an area of the Central Oregon Coast Range west of the Willamette Valley....
. It is within the Siuslaw National Forest
Siuslaw National Forest
Siuslaw National Forest is a national forest in western Oregon, United States. Established in 1908, the Siuslaw is made up of a wide variety of ecosystems, ranging from coastal forests to sand dunes.- Geography :...
in the Northern Oregon Coast Range
Northern Oregon Coast Range
The Northern Oregon Coast Range is the northern section of the Oregon Coast Range, in the Pacific Coast Ranges physiographic region, located in the northwest portion of the state of Oregon, United States. This section of the mountain range, part of the Pacific Coast Ranges, contains peaks as high...
and is considered ghost town
Ghost town
A ghost town is an abandoned town or city. A town often becomes a ghost town because the economic activity that supported it has failed, or due to natural or human-caused disasters such as floods, government actions, uncontrolled lawlessness, war, or nuclear disasters...
.
Dolph was named for U.S. Senator Joseph N. Dolph
Joseph N. Dolph
Joseph Norton Dolph was an American politician and attorney in the state of Oregon. A native of the state of New York, he immigrated to Oregon over the Oregon Trail and settled in Portland where he became the state's federal district attorney...
. The locale was originally a toll gate
Toll road
A toll road is a privately or publicly built road for which a driver pays a toll for use. Structures for which tolls are charged include toll bridges and toll tunnels. Non-toll roads are financed using other sources of revenue, most typically fuel tax or general tax funds...
and traveler's rest stop at the summit of the stagecoach
Stagecoach
A stagecoach is a type of covered wagon for passengers and goods, strongly sprung and drawn by four horses, usually four-in-hand. Widely used before the introduction of railway transport, it made regular trips between stages or stations, which were places of rest provided for stagecoach travelers...
road from the Willamette Valley
Willamette Valley
The Willamette Valley is the most populated region in the state of Oregon of the United States. Located in the state's northwest, the region is surrounded by tall mountain ranges to the east, west and south and the valley's floor is broad, flat and fertile because of Ice Age conditions...
to the Oregon Coast
Oregon Coast
The Oregon Coast is a region of the U.S. state of Oregon. It runs generally north-south along the Pacific Ocean, forming the western border of the state; the region is bounded to the east by the Oregon Coast Range. The Oregon Coast stretches approximately from the Columbia River in the north to...
on the Tillamook-Yamhill county line. This road, built by Jordan Fuqua, went from Grand Ronde to Woods
Woods, Oregon
Woods is an unincorporated community in Tillamook County, Oregon, United States. Woods lies at the intersection of Brooten Road, Resort Drive, and Ferry Road and is just north of Pacific City....
. Dolph post office opened in 1886, and a school was started in 1889. At one time the community also had a hotel, a store, a sawmill
Sawmill
A sawmill is a facility where logs are cut into boards.-Sawmill process:A sawmill's basic operation is much like those of hundreds of years ago; a log enters on one end and dimensional lumber exits on the other end....
, a barrel and stave factory
Cooper (profession)
Traditionally, a cooper is someone who makes wooden staved vessels of a conical form, of greater length than breadth, bound together with hoops and possessing flat ends or heads...
, a livery stable
Livery yard
A livery yard or livery stable , or boarding stable is a stable where horse owners pay a weekly or monthly fee to keep their horses. A livery or boarding yard is not usually a riding school and the horses are not normally for hire...
, a blacksmith shop
Blacksmith
A blacksmith is a person who creates objects from wrought iron or steel by forging the metal; that is, by using tools to hammer, bend, and cut...
, and a campground.
About a half mile from what today is the junction of OR 22 and OR 130—the current site of Dolph—there was another toll gate and the blacksmith shop of George Baxter, who maintained the road that followed the Little Nestucca River. Baxter also was the proprietor of a sulphur springs
Mineral spring
Mineral springs are naturally occurring springs that produce water containing minerals, or other dissolved substances, that alter its taste or give it a purported therapeutic value...
resort there. Soaking in mineral springs for one's health was a popular pastime
Mineral spa
Mineral spas are resorts developed around naturally occurring mineral spring locales.- Origins :Spas grew in reputation in the nineteenth century on into the late middle-twentieth century for their purported healing or healthful benefits to those wealthy enough to partake of their waters...
in the late 19th to mid-20th century.
In 1916-1917, a new public road was built from the Little Nestucca road over Sourgrass Summit to join the old road at the summit at Dolph. Because the new route to the coast was free, there was no longer a need to collect tolls and the town no longer had a reason to exist. As a result, the school was moved to west of OR 22 near Baxter's hot springs resort. The post office closed in 1921. Dolph school closed in 1930 when it was combined with the Castle Rock
Castle Rock, Tillamook County, Oregon
Castle Rock is an unincorporated locale in Tillamook County, Oregon, United States. It is located in the Northern Oregon Coast Range within the Siuslaw National Forest on Oregon Route 22 near Three Rivers. The nearest major community is Hebo. Castle Rock has an elevation of .-Further reading:*...
school to form Hebo School District. Nothing remains at the old town site but an apple orchard and a small cemetery on a hilltop a half a mile away.
Today there is also nothing left at the new town site, although as of 1940, there was still a hot springs resort there.
Polk County
There is also a historic locale named Dolph in Polk CountyPolk County, Oregon
Polk County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. The county is named for James Knox Polk, the 11th president of the United States. In 2010, its population was 75,403. The seat of the county is Dallas....
; it was a station on the Southern Pacific Railroad. The station was also known as "Brown".
External links
- 1909 image of Dolph from the Oregon Postcard Index
- Historic images of Dolph from Salem Public Library
- Location of Dolph in Polk County: 44.9440066°N 123.2945470°W
45.1056653°N 123.7898358°W