What's Left of Shaniko

Tuesday, April 27 was a party sunny day as we headed east up the Columbia River, turned right at Biggs and climbed the long winding highway out of the gorge.  We stopped for lunch at the old town of Shaniko on the high plains.  The town began as a farming settlement in the 1870s.  It was first known as Cross Hollows.  The Columbia Southern Railway helped make it an important center for wheat, cattle and sheep production.  For a while, it was known as "The Wool Capital of the World."  The name was later changed to Shaniko and it incorporated in 1902.

At the time of the 2000 Census, Shaniko had a population of 26.  It hasn't grown much since then.  In fact, it may have shrunk a bit.  In any case, it's still an interesting place.  It's evident that the locals take pride in their town and are trying hard to preserve and restore what remains.

We chatted with the Postmaster for a while and bought out her supply of post card stamps (all 3).  She told us the Hotel Shaniko (below), the largest building in town, has been vacant and for sale for the past three years. She said the absentee owner has turned down offers because he feels "Shaniko has not yet suffered enough."  She didn't elaborate and we didn't ask.  It sounded like a personal thing.

Shaniko's boardwalks are in good shape and the old 3-cell jail is intact and being preserved.  Vacant lots and fields around town are littered with old car and truck bodies, farming equipment and other abandoned hardware from long ago.  Ron is particularly fascinated by old relics (and junk).

A decade ago, the old Shaniko School was falling apart.  The wood was bare, the roof was half gone and it appeared to be ready to fall.  We were happy to see that it has since been repaired, painted a beautiful (?) green and is now a museum (open in the summer).

Shaniko has managed to maintain a sense of historic character.  It hasn't been cheapened by fast food joints, gas stations or motels.  Just a small variety/grocery store and the Post Office provide for the local needs.  A few arts and crafts shops are also open during the summer months to bring in a few dollars and bolster the local tourist economy.  We were too early.  The sky was darkening and rain was approaching, so we took cover, finished our lunch and continued south toward Bend.