Thurston, Springfield, Oregon facts for kids
Thurston is a neighborhood located in the eastern part of Springfield, Oregon, in the United States. It sits right along Oregon Route 126. Before it became part of Springfield, Thurston was a separate, small community that even had its own post office.
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Discovering Thurston's History
Thurston has a long history, going back many years.
Early Beginnings and Settlers
The first official claims for land in the Thurston area by white settlers happened in 1851. These were made under something called the Donation Land Claim Act. This law allowed people to claim land if they moved to certain areas and lived there.
A small community started to grow where Thurston Road and 66th Street meet. It was like a crossroads where people could find a general store and even a blacksmith shop. A blacksmith is someone who works with metal, often making tools or fixing things.
How Thurston Got Its Name
The community was named after an important early settler, George H. Thurston. He was a "pioneer," which means he was one of the first people to explore and settle in a new area. George H. Thurston was the son of Samuel Thurston, another well-known person from that time.
The Thurston Post Office
The Thurston post office first opened in 1877. A post office is where you send and receive mail. Today, if you have a post office box in Thurston, its ZIP code is 97482. For mail delivered directly to homes in Thurston, the ZIP code is 97478.
Thurston Community Hall
The Thurston Community Hall was built in 1912. This building was special because it was the first in Oregon to use curved laminated beams. These are strong wooden beams made by gluing together many layers of wood.
Today, this hall is known as the Thurston Grange Hall. A Grange is a community organization, often for farmers and their families, that helps with social events and community projects. The hall is still used by the community today!
