PAST AND PRESENT
Archeological findings have provided evidence of native populations existing in our area in prehistoric times. Although we don’t have exact dates, estimates are they were inhabitants since 6,000 BCE. In more recent times, historians tell us that the known people of this area were the Clackamas Indians. This “tribe” of Native Americans traditionally lived along the Clackamas River. In 1806, Lewis and Clark estimated their population to be approximately 1,800 living in 11 villages. Early contacts with European and American explorers brought diseases to the indigenous people even before settlers arrived. Dispersal of Native peoples and diseases such as measles, malaria, and small pox devastated these and other tribes. In a single generation, everything changed. By 1855, the 88 surviving members of the tribe were relocated to Grand Ronde, Or. Descendants of the Clackamas belong to the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde, an Indian reservation located in the Grand Ronde, OR community and near Lincoln City, OR.
The REDLAND community was reportedly named for the color of the soil in the area.
There was a Redland Post Office established in March 21, 1892 with William J Johnson, the first of five postmasters. With the extension of Rural Free Delivery (RFD), the post office was closed October 12, 1903.
The intersection of Redland Road and Fischer’s Mill Road that we now call “Redland” was originally called Evergreen. In this small commercial area referred to as “Redland” we have the Redland Store, The Redland Station, Clear Creek Communications, and the Redland Café. Also located here are the Redland Grade School (Oregon City School District #62), the Redland Grange, Clackamas Fire Station, and St. Philip Benizi Catholic Church. The original Redland School was located near the intersection of Redland Road and Ridge Road, known informally now as “Four Corners”.
Telephone service in Redland was first started by William H Bonney in the early 1900’s. William Bonney and Howard Delano personally put in a single line system and called it The Home Telephone Company. Local lore is that Will and Howard strung the phone lines along livestock fence lines. In 1906, the Home Telephone Company became Clear Creek Mutual Telephone Company. The stock that had been issued for The Home Telephone Company was transferred to the new company and additional stock was offered for sale – a cooperative was born. Old company records show $800 changed hands. (Information from “Clear Lines”, Sept 1996 Newsletter of the Clear Creek Telephone.) Present name: Clear Creek Communications – with telephone, internet, and home security services.
CLEAR CREEK POST OFFICE: was established in the current VIOLA vicinity on October 20, 1867 with Oliver P. Mattoon first postmaster. The name was changed to VIOLA on Jan 25, 1876. (Information from Oregon Geographical Names by Lewis A McArthur)
VIOLA: “It is said to have been named for Mrs. Violet Harding, the wife of an early settler in the locality. Viola community has preserved a one-room school house built in 1894.” In 1949, members of the community purchased the school for $200, restored it, and renamed it the Viola Community Club. The building is still in use and may be rented for meetings and events. (Information from Oregon Geographical Names by Lewis A McArthur)
HARDING: “George A. Harding, for more than half a century a much-respected resident of Oregon City, was born in Sydney, Australia, in 1843, and after a short visit in California, arrived in Oregon in 1857. He was a director of the Willamette Valley Southern Railway Company, and this station (Harding) on that line was named for him on that account. He died September 23, 1926.” Harding Road and Harding Grange are also named as a result of George Harding’s connection to the area. (Information from Oregon Geographical Names by Lewis A McArthur)
FISCHER MILL: an area on Redland Road that is centered around the Fischer family store and business, Fischers Mill Supply. The present-day business is conducted by Dean Fischer, the fourth generation to continue this enterprise. Gustav Franz Fischer arrived in the USA from Germany in 1879. He married Emielei “Amelia” Johanna Baltrush in 1901 in Logan, and they operated a gristmill and general store also in Logan. In 1929, Gustav’s son, Gilbert Gustav Fischer married Lillian Scheef, and they began operating the business in its present location. The grist mill was originally water-powered by Clear Creek but was converted to gas and later diesel. In 1945, the Fischers began selling tractors. Next, son Gene Fischer and daughter Arlene Fischer took over management of the company business, increasing the range of farm products sold. At present, Gene’s son, Dean Fischer conducts the family business which has expanded greatly. In addition to selling and servicing a huge selection of farm implements, the original store also sells parts and hardware. (Source: Capitol Press and Ancestry.com)
LOGAN: an area on Springwater Road which is loosely centered around the grade school. The former Logan Elementary School now houses Springwater Environmental Sciences School. This is a public charter school for grades K-8.
“ Logan community and post office were named for Major-General John A Logan of Civil War and political fame. The post office was established June 13, 1884 with Lafayette Hunniston, first postmaster. This office was on the flat or table land west of Clackamas River and east of Clear Creek. The locality is well known although the post office was closed Oct 12, 1903 as the result of the extension of Rural Free Delivery. General John A Logan was Republican candidate for vice-president in 1884 when the post office was established. His name had been frequently in the news which may have been the reason that the post office was named for him.” (Information from Oregon Geographical Names by Lewis A McArthur)
At present: the Redland-Viola-Fischers Mill areas are unincorporated parts of Clackamas County with Oregon City or Estacada addresses. Much of the land is agricultural with an emphasis on Christmas tree production.
Two historical cemeteries exist and are still currently in use:
The Redland Pioneer Cemetery on the corner of Redland Road and Lyons Road
The Logan Pleasant View Cemetery off Springwater Road and Gerber Road.
Other historical cemeteries: Viola Cemetery off Redland Road, S Jubb Road, and Sprague Cemetery, a small family cemetery in Redland off Lyons Road.
Remembering our state's wildfire history 2020:
On Labor Day weekend, September 2020, Oregon experienced 16 major fires, two of them in our region. One million acres burned in the state, 4,000 homes were destroyed, 40,000 people were evacuated, and 11 people died. Most of the residents in our area were evacuated for up to a week. Livestock in our area were also evacuated. The cost of the fire damage: $130 million. In our area, fire crews from several western states came to fight the fires along with our local fire fighters and ODF fire crews. Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) is responsible for 16 million acres, about half the total in the state. The US Bureau of Land Management is responsible for 2.3 million acres.