Donnybrook, Oregon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Donnybrook, Oregon
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 Donnybrook, Oregon
Location in Oregon
Donnybrook, Oregon
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Oregon |
| County | Jefferson |
| Elevation | 3,396 ft (1,035 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| ZIP code |
97711
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| Area code(s) | 458 and 541 |
Donnybrook is a small, historic community in Jefferson County, Oregon, in the United States. It's not a city or town with its own government, but rather an "unincorporated community." This means it's a place where people live, but it's part of the larger county for services. Donnybrook is located about 20 miles south of Antelope and 10 miles east of Ashwood. This area was once known by other names, like "Axehandle" and "Kilts."
Contents
The Story of Donnybrook's Names
Donnybrook has had a few different names over the years, each with its own interesting story!
How "Axehandle" Got Its Name
The area first known as "Axehandle" was located a little south of where Donnybrook is today (at 44°45′02″N 120°39′04″W / 44.7506839°N 120.6511421°W). This name came from Axehandle Spring. In the late 1800s, some wood haulers from Antelope were bringing wood from the Blue Mountains. They found a broken axe handle near a watering hole, and that's how the spring, and later the whole area with several ranches, got its unique name.
The Brawl That Named Donnybrook
The name "Donnybrook" was given to the area (located at 44°45′15″N 120°39′04″W / 44.7542950°N 120.6511423°W) by a man named Joe Brannon. He named it after a big fight, or "brawl," that happened among some Irish sheepherders. This happened during the homestead era, a time when people could claim land to settle and farm. The word "donnybrook" itself comes from the famous Donnybrook Fair in Donnybrook, Dublin, Ireland, which was known for its lively (and sometimes rowdy) gatherings. At one point, Donnybrook even had its own school!
The "Kilts" Post Office
A man named Jesse Kilts settled in this area. When a post office was opened on September 15, 1914, it was named "Kilts" after him. His wife, Ruth Kilts, became the first postmaster, which means she was in charge of the post office.
The Kilts post office stayed open until June 29, 1940. Even though there was a post office named Kilts, many of the people who had lived in the area for a long time still called it "Donnybrook." This is mentioned in a book called Oregon Geographic Names. Today, maps and atlases usually show the area as "Donnybrook."
A Moving Post Office
During the pioneer days, it was common for post offices to move around a lot. The Kilts post office was no different. It was often located inside private homes. According to author Ralph Friedman, by 1993, only one of the homes that had served as the post office was still standing. The others had either burned down or been torn down. One known location for the Kilts post office was 44°44′19″N 120°35′44″W / 44.7387402°N 120.5955845°W.
