Wyeth, Oregon facts for kids
Wyeth is a small, undeveloped area in Hood River County, Oregon, United States. It's a great spot for camping and exploring nature in the beautiful Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. You can find it right off Interstate 84 (I-84).
Wyeth used to be a railway station and even had its own post office from 1901 to 1936. It was named after a famous explorer named Nathaniel J. Wyeth. He built some important forts a long time ago, like Fort Hall in what is now Pocatello, Idaho, and the Fort William trading post on Sauvie Island. Today, this area is known as the Wyeth State Recreation Area.
You can find Wyeth about 51 miles east of Portland. Just take exit #51 on I-84, then go a quarter-mile west on Herman Creek Road. It's also a starting point for several hiking trails, including Wyeth Trail #411, the Gorge Trail #400, and the path to Gorton Creek Falls.
A Look Back at Wyeth's History
Wyeth has a long history as a place where people settled. In the 1930s, it became home to a special camp run by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). The CCC was a program during the Great Depression that helped young men find work. They built parks, planted trees, and helped improve the environment.
During World War II in the 1940s, the old CCC camp became Camp 21. This was a Civilian Public Service (CPS) camp for people called Conscientious Objectors. These were people who, for reasons of conscience or religion, chose not to fight in the war. Instead, they helped their country by doing other important work. They took over the abandoned CCC buildings.
Some well-known people lived at Camp 21 during this time. They included an architect named Kemper Nomland, an actor named Lew Ayres, a politician named George Brown, Jr., and another actor, director, and writer named Kermit Sheets.
