Horace L. Dibble House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Horace L Dibble House
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 Location in Oregon
Location in the United States
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| Location | 620 S. Molalla Ave., Molalla, Oregon |
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| Area | 0.3 acres (0.12 ha) |
| Built | 1856 |
| Architectural style | Salt box |
| NRHP reference No. | 74001675 |
| Added to NRHP | December 19, 1974 |
The Horace L. Dibble House is a historic home in Molalla, Oregon, built around 1859. It is famous for its rare "saltbox" style of architecture. This style was common in New England during America's colonial times, but it is very unusual to find a saltbox house on the West Coast.
The house has a unique shape. The front of the house has two stories, but the back slopes down to only one story. This shape looks like an old wooden box that was once used to store salt, which is how it got its name. For a house built when Oregon was first being settled, it was very modern. It had large rooms, big windows, and two fireplaces.
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The Dibble Family's Story
The house was built for Horace Lasalle Dibble and his family. Horace was born in New York in 1815. He married Julia Ann Sturges in Iowa in 1845.
Moving to Oregon
In 1852, Horace, Julia, and their three children decided to move to Oregon. They traveled overland with other family members, a long and difficult journey that many pioneers made. They settled in the Willamette Valley.
One day, while searching for lost cattle, Horace discovered a beautiful hill covered in apple trees. This spot, near what is now the town of Molalla, felt like the perfect place to build a home. He bought the land and hired a local builder, who had once been a sailor, to construct the house.
Life in the New Home
It took three years to build the house. In 1859, the Dibble family, which now included six children, moved in. Two more children were born in the house. The family lived there for 50 years.
Horace was known as a hardworking and careful man. He passed away in 1899. His wife, Julia, was remembered as a kind and loving mother who was always ready to help anyone who was sick or in need. She passed away in 1904.
From a Home to a Museum
After the Dibble family, the house had new owners. In 1909, it was sold to Dudley and Goldie Boyles. They lived there for only a few years. In 1914, Dudley was elected to a government position as the Clackamas County Recorder, and the family moved to Oregon City.
After Dudley passed away in 1930, Goldie kept the house and rented it to others. She eventually moved back to the house and lived there until she passed away in 1968.
Her family then sold the house to Ruth McBride Powers. Mrs. Powers fixed up the house and helped the Molalla Area Historical Society buy it. The historical society was formed in 1970 to turn the Dibble House into a museum for everyone to enjoy.
Visiting the Dibble House Today
The Dibble House was officially recognized as a special historic place on December 19, 1974, when it was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
Today, the Molalla Area Historical Society runs the house as a museum. You can visit and see what life was like for pioneers in the 1800s. The museum is usually open for tours on Friday and Saturday afternoons from May through October.
