Bakeoven, Oregon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bakeoven, Oregon
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 Bakeoven, Oregon
Location in Oregon
Bakeoven, Oregon
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Oregon |
| County | Wasco |
| Elevation | 2,667 ft (813 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (PST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| Area code(s) | 541 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1136023 |
Bakeoven is a small, quiet place in Wasco County, Oregon. It's not a city or town with its own government, but rather an "unincorporated community." This means it's a group of homes and buildings that are part of the larger county. Bakeoven is located southeast of Maupin and northwest of Shaniko, right along Bakeoven Creek. This creek eventually flows into the Deschutes River.
Contents
Discovering Bakeoven, Oregon
Bakeoven is a historic spot in Oregon, known for its unique past. It's a great example of how places got their names during the early days of settlement.
The Story Behind the Name
Bakeoven got its unique name way back in 1862. A special oven made of clay and stone was built here. This oven was used to bake bread! The bread was sold to miners who were traveling along a trail. They were on their way from The Dalles to gold mines near Canyon City.
The story goes that the baker was a trader with horses carrying flour. One night, Native Americans drove his horses away. A well-known pioneer and businessman named Joseph Sherar is thought to have been there when this happened.
A Busy Crossroads
By 1905, Bakeoven had become a small but important community. It was located where two stagecoach roads met. Stagecoaches were like early buses, carrying people and mail.
At this crossroads, you could find a post office, a hotel, a general store, and a blacksmith shop. The road from Prineville and the road from Canyon City joined here. Then, they continued as one road all the way to The Dalles. This main road was later part of a special route called The Dalles Military Road.
The Bakeoven Post Office
A post office named "Bake Oven" (two words) first opened in 1875. Ellen Burgess was the very first postmaster, which means she was in charge of the mail. This post office closed in 1913. For about a year, mail for Bakeoven was handled by a nearby post office called Flanagan.
Then, in 1914, the "Bakeoven" (one word) post office reopened. However, it closed again just four years later, in 1918.
