National Register of Historic Places listings in Gilliam County, Oregon facts for kids
Gilliam County is a beautiful area in Oregon, known for its wide-open spaces and rich history. It's named after Colonel Cornelius Gilliam, an important figure in Oregon's early days. This county is home to several special places that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These places are like time capsules, helping us learn about the past and how people lived long ago.
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Historic Places in Gilliam County
Gilliam County has some amazing historic spots. These places are protected because they tell important stories about the area's past. Let's explore a few of them!
The S. B. Barker Building: A Historic General Store
Imagine a time when people didn't have huge supermarkets or online shopping. They went to a "general store" for almost everything! The S. B. Barker Building in Condon, Oregon is a perfect example of one of these important stores. It was built in 1903 and is a great example of Italianate architecture, which was a popular style back then.
This building was right in the middle of downtown Condon. It served the many ranches and farms in eastern Oregon during the early 1900s. The store sold everything from tools to food, connecting the community.
The first owner, Simon Bradbury Barker, ran the store from 1903 to 1918. Later, James Dunn Burns owned it from 1926 to 1986. Both men were very important in Gilliam County. They were leaders in business and local government. Simon Barker even became a well-known businessman across the entire state of Oregon! This building shows how important these stores and their owners were to the growth of small towns.
Condon Commercial Historic District: A Walk Through Time
The Condon Commercial Historic District includes a section of Main Street in Condon. A "historic district" is an area where many buildings are old and important to the town's history. Walking through this district is like taking a step back in time. You can see how the town looked and felt when it was first growing. It helps us understand the businesses and daily life of people who lived here long ago.
Silas A. Rice Log House: A Pioneer Home
The Silas A. Rice Log House is another fascinating historic spot in Condon, located near Burns Park. This log house gives us a peek into how early settlers and pioneers lived. Log houses were common homes when people first moved to this area. They were built using logs from trees, showing how people used natural resources to create their homes. This house reminds us of the hard work and simple lives of the first families who settled in Gilliam County.
See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Oregon
- Listings in neighboring counties: Klickitat, Morrow, Sherman, Wasco, Wheeler
- Historic preservation
- History of Oregon
- Lists of Oregon-related topics
External links
- Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, National Register Program
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places site
