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 built around 1859 in Molalla, Oregon. It was built for Horace Lasalle Dibble and his family. This house is special because it's a rare example of a "saltbox" style home in the western United States. Saltbox houses are usually found in older parts of New England.
The house has two stories on its front side and one story at the back. It was quite large for a home built during the early settlement times. It features big rooms, large windows, and two fireplaces.
Contents
The Dibble Family's Journey
Horace Lasalle Dibble was born in 1815 in New York. He married Julia Ann Sturges in Iowa in 1845. In 1852, Horace, Julia, and their three children traveled a long way to Oregon. They settled in the Willamette Valley.
Finding the Perfect Spot
One day, while looking for lost cattle, Horace found a beautiful spot. It was a small hill covered with apple trees near what is now Molalla. He decided this was where he wanted to build his home.
He bought the land from a woman named Rachel Larkins. Horace then hired a local builder, who was a former sailor. It took the builder three years to finish the house.
Life in the New Home
The Dibble family, now with six children, moved into their new home in 1859. Two more children were born to them in the house. The family lived there until 1909. Horace Dibble passed away in 1899, and Julia passed away in 1904. She was known as a very kind and helpful person.
New Owners and a Museum
In 1909, the house was rented out and then sold to Dudley and Goldie Boyles. They lived in the house for only five years. In 1914, Dudley was elected to a county position, and they moved away.
Keeping the House Alive
Dudley Boyles sadly died in a car accident in 1930. Goldie was left to raise their two daughters. She kept ownership of the house, renting it out for many years. Eventually, she returned to Molalla and lived in the house until her death in 1968.
After Goldie's passing, her family sold the house to Ruth McBride Powers. Ruth began some repair work on the house. She then arranged for it to be bought by the Molalla Area Historical Society.
A Home for History
The Molalla Area Historical Society was started in 1970. Their main goal was to fix up the Dibble House and turn it into a museum.
The Dibble House was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places on December 19, 1974. This means it is recognized as an important historical building.
Today, the Dibble House is a museum run by the Molalla Area Historical Society. You can visit it for tours on Fridays and Saturdays from 1 PM to 4 PM, from May through October. You can also arrange a visit by appointment.
