Joseph Sherar facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Joseph H. Sherar
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Joseph Sherar
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| Born | November 16, 1833 Vermont, United States
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| Died | February 11, 1908 |
| Citizenship | U.S. |
| Occupation | Bridge owner, stage station and hotel owner, road builder |
| Known for | Bridge named after him over the Deschutes River |
| Spouse(s) | Jane A. Herbert |
| Parent(s) | John Sherar and his wife (both from Ireland) |
Joseph Sherar (born November 16, 1833 – died February 11, 1908) was an important person in Oregon's history. He was a road builder in the 1800s. With his wife, Jane, he owned a special bridge over the Deschutes River. They also ran a hotel and a place for stagecoaches nearby.
This bridge and the buildings were close to Sherars Falls. This waterfall was a traditional fishing spot for the native people. Joseph Sherar made the bridge and about 60 miles (97 km) of the road better. He and Jane ran the Sherar Bridge Hotel from 1871 until they passed away. Today, a concrete bridge stands in place of Sherar's old wooden one. It carries Oregon Route 216 over the river.
Joseph Sherar's Early Life
Joseph Sherar was born in Vermont in 1833. His parents had moved there from Ireland. When Joseph was two, his family moved to St. Lawrence County, New York. He lived there for the next 20 years.
In 1855, Joseph left New York and went to California. He tried different jobs there, like mining and farming. He also hauled goods using pack animals. In 1862, he moved to Oregon. He started a business in The Dalles. He hauled supplies over rough trails to mining camps. Joseph and his partners even named some places along their route, like Bakeoven.
In 1863, Joseph married Jane A. Herbert. Jane was born in Illinois in 1848. Her family moved to The Dalles in 1850. In 1864, the Sherars sold their hauling business. They then moved to Dufur and later to Tygh Valley.
Building Sherars Bridge and Hotel
In 1871, Joseph and Jane Sherar bought land and a bridge. This bridge crossed the Deschutes River in Wasco County. They spent about $7,000 to buy the property. Later, they spent another $75,000 to improve the wagon road. The bridge was located below Sherars Falls. This spot had been used for crossing the river for a long time. People used boats in the 1850s and then a bridge after 1860.
The waterfall was a special fishing place for the Tygh people. These Native Americans used wooden platforms and dip nets. They caught salmon and steelhead swimming upstream.
Joseph Sherar built a stagecoach station and a hotel near the bridge. This area became known as Sherars Bridge. He replaced the old bridge with a stronger one. He ran it as a toll bridge, meaning people paid to cross. The money helped pay for improving and keeping up the bridge. The road was called The Dalles – Canyon City Wagon Road. Joseph hired local Native American workers. They slowly made the road better for 30 miles (48 km) on each side of the river.
By 1893, the Sherar Bridge Hotel was a large, three-story building. It had 33 rooms and was well-known to travelers. The bridge stayed important throughout Joseph and Jane's lives. Jane Sherar died in 1907, and Joseph passed away a year later. Later, a fire destroyed the hotel in 1938.
Today, Oregon Route 216 crosses the river on a concrete bridge. It is downstream from Sherars Falls. The waterfall drops 15 feet (4.6 m) into a horseshoe-shaped area. It is still a tribal fishing site and is on the Warm Springs Indian Reservation.
Sherars Bridge Post Office
In 1868, an earlier owner of the bridge, Ezra L. Hemingway, started a post office. It was called Deschutes and was on his land next to the bridge. Joseph Sherar became the postmaster in 1872. In 1883, the post office was renamed Sherars Bridge or Sherar Bridge. It closed in 1907, reopened in 1922, and finally closed for good in 1938.
