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A History of the Community of Liberal, Oregon |
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Other Local History Links Wilhoit Mineral Springs History Page Willamette Valley Southern Railway
Prior to its current designation as Oregon State Highway 213, the "Cascade Highway South" from Liberal to Salem, was number as Route 215. |
Harrison Wright emigrated from Missouri in 1844 and established the first commercial enterprise in the area - a ferry across the Molalla River. In 1866 a bridge was built spanning the river at the site or Wright's Ferry. He was a state legislator during the 1860s. Mr. Wright was instrumental in securing a post office here and it began service on on April 9, 1850 and was named the first postmaster. It was discontinued in 1851 and reestablished December 2, 1868 near what is now the center of the town of Molalla. Another post office was established in Liberal in 1893 but it was discontinued in 1918 when service was merged with the Molalla branch. The exact origin of the name of the community is lost in the past. Some believe that it was named for Liberal, Missouri (which was named for its Liberal politics). However the prevailing belief, shared by many old-timers including the late Dee Wright, a local historian, was that is was named because of the liberal credit policies of the local store. Below are individual histories of various locations in the community of Liberal starting at the Northernmost point at the Molalla River and traveling south towards Molalla. Wagon Wheel (Wright's) Park This was once a very popular and well maintained park. It sported picnic sites, swimming holes, ball fields, etc. Due to floods in the early 1960s and subsequent changes in the course of the river, that was all washed away. This county park is now no more than an poorly maintained gravel parking area with a couple of portable toilets and access to the river. It is still a popular summer swimming location on hot days.
The Liberal Store
Mr. and Mrs. Vick and their only child Frances, lived there. The large area over the store was originally a dance hall and meeting place before it was converted to apartments. Liberal in the 1920s is described as "a thriving community" when Southern Pacific Railway made two round trips a day between Canby and Molalla and the Willamette Valley Southern Railway Trolley was making four round trips daily from Oregon City to Molalla. There was a board sidewalk from the store up to the church on the hill. "It was great fun to walk up the board sidewalk to the Southern Pacific Station, catch the train to the Canby Fair, stay all day and come back that evening. The passenger coach had elegant red plush seats."[2] The structure also served as a post office until a post office was established in Mulino. The store was designated as a local landmark by the Molalla Historical Society in 1979. The Liberal Store is owned and operated as a general store with living quarters upstairs. The home just down from the store is an arts and crafts style home built in 1931. [ Click link above for more information ] [ Click link above for more information ]
Victor Hugo Dunton House (1916) [ Click link above for more information ] Stipp Residence Off of Hwy 213 on Molalla Avenue is the Stipp residence built in 1911. It was sold outside of the family in the 1990s to Gingrich Farms. The house is used as a rental property and the fields were planted in filbert orchards. Stipp Barn Next door to the Stipp residence is the Stipp barn built in 1911. This 40 foot by 70 foot barn cost $1200 to construct and was fitted with 26 boxing and patent stanchions. It has board and batten siding with a cupola and gable roof and sliding side wall and windows. Satrum - Dyvbad Milling
The mill utilizes the Oregon Pacific Railroad to carry in raw materials and trucks the feed that is manufactures to its farms six days a week. Liberal Schoolhouse The Liberal School was the classic single room schoolhouse located on Molalla Avenue across from the Stipp Property near the SP Railroad tracks (now the Oregon Pacific Railroad). The school was attended by several generations of our family as well as those of the local community. Family members, including the founder of our farm, Victor Hugo Dunton, also served as teacher. The school was closed in the middle of the 1949-1950 school year and the students absorbed into the various schools of the Molalla School District. The property was sold and the structure then served as a private residence for many years until it fell into disrepair and was torn down in about 2000 to make room for a modular home.
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Copyright © 1996-2008 by Mike Dunton |
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