Boyd was a town in Wasco County, Oregon, United States, disincorporated in 1955, and now vacant except for a few abandoned homes, weathered outbuildings, and a derelict wooden grain elevator surrounded by the wheat fields, which still produce the grain that used to fill it. The site was recently[when?] bought and turned into farmland. The site of the former settlement is 9.5 miles (15.3 km) southeast of The Dalles, on the east side of U.S. Route 197 from which it is visible at a distance.
Boyd, Oregon
1908 photo of Boyd courtesy Gilhousen Family Association.
During the western migration, settlers traversing the Barlow Road would have passed through or near Boyd as early as 1847, but the earliest recorded community was established over a decade later, when gold was discovered near John Day in 1861, and a larger strike the next year in Canyon City, Oregon.
The spot near the banks of Fifteenmile Creek that would become the community of Boyd was already a stagecoach stop, with an inn, Eleven Mile House. The area became a busy one when as many as 150 miners, 200 pack animals, and ten to twelve freight wagons left The Dalles for Canyon City every day. Freight wagon and pack team traffic brought the need for wayfarer accommodations, a blacksmith, wheelwrights and livery stables, so a community developed around Eleven Mile House. It also served the growing number of homesteaders farming in the immediate vicinity.
In 1863, a schoolhouse was built on Fifteenmile Creek east of Boyd. The school building was also used for religious services. The community continued to grow. A flour mill was built, ultimately purchased by a T.P. Boyd and his four sons, after whom the town was to be named. The U.S. Government granted a post office under that name, which was located in the general store.
The community still increasing in size, a town plat was drawn in 1895, several businesses sprang up, and a Methodist church established, sharing a pastor with the congregation in Dufur, Oregon. The Boyd school became District #21.
Boyd General Store proprietor James C. Greenlee's daughter, Alma, in front of their family home in town. Circa early 1900s. Courtesy Gilhousen Family Association.
The Great Southern Railroad began passing directly through town in 1905 and carrying passengers, freight, mail and wheat, and Boyd thrived until the 1923 construction of The Dalles – California Highway, now U.S. Route 197, bypassed the town. The following years were difficult for the little town. The Great Depression took its toll on local business, already suffering from low wheat prices and decreasing numbers of travelers whom those businesses served. The convenience of trips to nearby Dufur and The Dalles made merchant services in Boyd superfluous. The Post office was closed in 1952.
Further readingedit
Zopf, Nancy Ward. 2001. A Road, a Railroad, and a Country Store; The Story of Boyd Oregon. Wasco County Historical Museum Press, The Dalles, Oregon.
boyd, oregon, boyd, town, wasco, county, oregon, united, states, disincorporated, 1955, vacant, except, abandoned, homes, weathered, outbuildings, derelict, wooden, grain, elevator, surrounded, wheat, fields, which, still, produce, grain, that, used, fill, sit. Boyd was a town in Wasco County Oregon United States disincorporated in 1955 and now vacant except for a few abandoned homes weathered outbuildings and a derelict wooden grain elevator surrounded by the wheat fields which still produce the grain that used to fill it The site was recently when bought and turned into farmland The site of the former settlement is 9 5 miles 15 3 km southeast of The Dalles on the east side of U S Route 197 from which it is visible at a distance Boyd Oregon1908 photo of Boyd courtesy Gilhousen Family Association Coordinates 45 29 21 N 121 04 56 W 45 4892875 N 121 0822909 W 45 4892875 121 0822909CountryUnited StatesStateOregonCountyWascoEstablished1861Disincorporated1955Area Total0 sq mi 0 km2 Elevation1 227 ft 374 m Population 2022 TotalseveralTime zoneUTC 8 Pacific Summer DST UTC 7 Pacific ZIP code97021Area codes458 and 541 Contents 1 History 2 Further reading 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksHistory editDuring the western migration settlers traversing the Barlow Road would have passed through or near Boyd as early as 1847 but the earliest recorded community was established over a decade later when gold was discovered near John Day in 1861 and a larger strike the next year in Canyon City Oregon The spot near the banks of Fifteenmile Creek that would become the community of Boyd was already a stagecoach stop with an inn Eleven Mile House The area became a busy one when as many as 150 miners 200 pack animals and ten to twelve freight wagons left The Dalles for Canyon City every day Freight wagon and pack team traffic brought the need for wayfarer accommodations a blacksmith wheelwrights and livery stables so a community developed around Eleven Mile House It also served the growing number of homesteaders farming in the immediate vicinity In 1863 a schoolhouse was built on Fifteenmile Creek east of Boyd The school building was also used for religious services The community continued to grow A flour mill was built ultimately purchased by a T P Boyd and his four sons after whom the town was to be named The U S Government granted a post office under that name which was located in the general store The community still increasing in size a town plat was drawn in 1895 several businesses sprang up and a Methodist church established sharing a pastor with the congregation in Dufur Oregon The Boyd school became District 21 nbsp Boyd General Store proprietor James C Greenlee s daughter Alma in front of their family home in town Circa early 1900s Courtesy Gilhousen Family Association The Great Southern Railroad began passing directly through town in 1905 and carrying passengers freight mail and wheat and Boyd thrived until the 1923 construction of The Dalles California Highway now U S Route 197 bypassed the town The following years were difficult for the little town The Great Depression took its toll on local business already suffering from low wheat prices and decreasing numbers of travelers whom those businesses served The convenience of trips to nearby Dufur and The Dalles made merchant services in Boyd superfluous The Post office was closed in 1952 Further reading editZopf Nancy Ward 2001 A Road a Railroad and a Country Store The Story of Boyd Oregon Wasco County Historical Museum Press The Dalles Oregon See also editList of ghost towns in OregonReferences editGibson Nancy January 8 2006 From Elevenmile House to a town to orchards a history of Boyd The Dalles Chronicle pp A8 McNeal William H 1954 History of Wasco County Oregon The Dalles Oregon Optimist p 287 External links editPhoto of derelict grain elevator Photo of barn near the town Zopf Nancy Boyd The Oregon Encyclopedia Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Boyd Oregon amp oldid 1166631865, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
