Pondosa, Oregon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Pondosa, Oregon
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View of Pondosa in 1952
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 Pondosa, Oregon
Location in Oregon
Pondosa, Oregon
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Oregon |
| County | Union |
| Elevation | 3,261 ft (994 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| GNIS feature ID | 1136642 |
Pondosa is a place in Union County, Oregon, United States. It's known as an unincorporated community, which means it's not officially a town with its own local government. Today, Pondosa is also considered a ghost town, a place where most people have left, and buildings are often empty.
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What Happened to Pondosa?
Pondosa has an interesting story about how it started and why it became a ghost town. Many towns, especially in the past, grew up around a single industry, like a factory or a mine. When that industry closed, the town often faded away.
How Pondosa Began
The story of Pondosa began in 1927. Four brothers named Stoddard, from a nearby town called La Grande, bought some land. They decided to move their sawmill, which was part of the Grande Ronde Lumber Company, to this new spot. The sawmill was a place where logs were cut into lumber.
Why the Name Pondosa?
The new community was named Pondosa because of the many Ponderosa Pine trees growing in the area. These tall, strong trees were perfect for lumber. In the same year, a post office was opened, which was a big step for the new community.
The Sawmill's Journey
The sawmill was the heart of Pondosa. It provided jobs and brought people to live there.
New Owners and Changes
In 1931, a man named Truman Collins bought the mill. He was part of The Collins Companies, a business from Portland. The mill continued to operate, supporting the community.
The Mill's Final Sale
Years later, in 1956, the mill was sold again. This time, Boise Cascade bought it. However, Boise Cascade had plans to close the mill down. This news was a big blow to Pondosa. At that time, over 500 people lived in the community, and many depended on the mill for their jobs.
The End of Pondosa
The decision to close the mill marked the beginning of the end for Pondosa. People started to move away to find work elsewhere.
The Fire of 1959
On June 20, 1959, a serious fire swept through Pondosa. It caused a lot of damage to most of the buildings. After the fire, the post office, which had been there since 1927, was officially closed. With the mill gone and many buildings damaged, Pondosa slowly became the ghost town it is today.
