Thatcher, Oregon facts for kids
Thatcher is a historic area in Washington County, Oregon, United States. It's not an official town anymore, but it was once a small community. You can find it about three miles north of Forest Grove, where Hillside and Thatcher roads meet.
The Story of Thatcher
Thatcher got its name from two early settlers, Harmon and Jemima Thatcher. They were pioneers who moved from Indiana in 1847. They first lived in Yamhill County before claiming land in the area that now carries their name. This was done through a special program called the Donation Land Claim Act, which helped people settle new lands.
Thatcher's Post Office
A post office was opened in Thatcher in 1895. This was an important place for people to send and receive letters and packages. However, it closed just seven years later in 1902. This happened because of something new called "rural free delivery." This meant mail carriers would deliver mail directly to homes in the countryside, so people didn't need to go to a central post office as much.
By 1990, according to a writer named Ralph Friedman, there wasn't much left to show that a community had ever been there.
The Old Post Office Building
The building that used to be the Thatcher post office was located at 5901 Thatcher Road. In 1941, Carl and Wilma Mayer bought the building and the land around it. It became their family home for many years until they passed away in 1996. The main post office building was planned to be taken down in May 2014.
Right across the road from where the old post office stood, you can find the Thatcher Grange Hall. A "Grange" is a local organization for farmers and their families. The land where the post office was is still owned by the family of Carl and Wilma Mayer.
