Special offer

Niagara Park, Marion County Oregon

By
Real Estate Agent with Oregon Licensed Broker with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Real Estate Professionals 920100185
  • ADA Accessible: Restroom, drinking fountain and picnic tables
  • Historical site
  • Fire Pits
  • Picnic tables Niagara Park Santiam River oregon
  • 60 acres

 

The Niagara Park area has a colorful history in the Santiam Canyon.  According to the historical marker on site; "the area  acquired its name in September 1890 when a town site was platted to be followed by the establishment of a post office in October of that year.  In the late 1890's a rubble masonry Dam was started to develop power for a mill designed to make paper from straw. "

 

 

 

Niagara Park Santiam River oregon 2

 

 

"At stages in the river flow surged through a cleft 4'3" wide.  Difficulties in constructing the Dam caused the paper mill project to be abandoned.  Hydroelectric development continued at intervals but floods and erosions caused the project to be abandoned in 1912 after approximately $100,000 had been spent."  About this time, large numbers of Chinese workers were brought in to work on a rail line that was to be constructed over the Santiam Pass. This led to the belief by some that Chinese workers built the dam, misinformation that has kept the China Dam legend alive.  The rock work is truly a work of art and my family and I have spent many hours exploring the rocks and watching the river. 

 

 

 

Rockwork at Niagara County Park

Niagara Park Santiam River oregon 3

Niagara Park

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Niagara Park

 

At the turn of the century, Niagara had a large store, hotel, numerous dwellings and a tavern.  It gained fame at one time for the smallest post office in the United States 6x8 feet.  The post office was discontinued June 14, 1934."

One of my high school friends, lived on the site of the former Post Office and she used the small building as her bedroom.  I always thought it was fascinating she lived in a piece of history.  There are several fishing holes on this stretch of the river. 

I love Oregon, let me show you why! 

Posted by

 I Love Oregon!  Let Me Show You Why!

Leslie Stewart, CRS, eCertified, Licensed Oregon Broker

Now More Than Ever, Experience Counts! 

 Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Real Estate Professionals, Bonebrake and Co LLC, 1155 First St, Stayton Or 97383     w503-385-0033  

 

Comments (15)

Luke Rummell
A1 Realty.Com - Newport, OR

http://www.mydwelling.com/profile/LukeRummell

This Area is a true beautyful Place.

Also you need to see Sublimity,Aumsvile, And Other small Oregon Willamett Valley Towns,

Watch and be careful when you are fishing or around the Santiam River I have witness a drowning and you never come back alive...

Jun 28, 2008 03:55 PM
Nancy Pav
Century 21 Redwood Realty - Ashburn, VA
Nancy Pav, Your "GottaHave" Realtor

Leslie,

I can see why you love Oregon.  From your pictures, it looks absolutely beautiful.

Jun 29, 2008 01:15 AM
Leslie Stewart
Oregon Licensed Broker with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Real Estate Professionals - Stayton, OR
Realtor, ABR, CRS, Oregon Licensed Broker

Luke-Thank you, this is one of my favorite canyon getaways.  You are so right about the Santiam River it is very pretty, but a dangerous place.  You should not go in the river unless you know what you are doing. 

Nancy- thank you, I hope someday you can visit. 

Jun 29, 2008 03:24 AM
Roxanne Schilling
Coldwell Banker Lake Tulloch - Copperopolis, CA

Gorgeous Pictures!!!!!  Rains too much for me.

 

Roxanne Schilling, Realtor at Lake Tulloch

Jun 29, 2008 11:13 AM
Fred Chamberlin
Guild Mortgage Co - Oak Harbor WA - Oak Harbor, WA
Oak Harbor/Whidbeynulls, #1 Experienced FHA Mortgage Consultant

Wow Leslie,

You should definately be on the Chamber of Commerce. Was at Detroit Lake two weekends ago, weather was wonderful. No such thing as too much rain here, just right. Right?

As for the river, the upper part can be and is very dangerous for the novice. I agree with you that a professional guide should be used until you know the Santiam. I grew up on a farm with the Santiam as out border, and even down past Stayton, it can be tough.

I love your pictures, keep it up. I am in Eugene now, but I spent my youth along the Santiam from Marion Forks on down. It is a great river for fun and scenery.

Have a great week,

Fred Chamberlin-Alpine Mortgage

Jun 30, 2008 08:41 AM
Leslie Stewart
Oregon Licensed Broker with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Real Estate Professionals - Stayton, OR
Realtor, ABR, CRS, Oregon Licensed Broker

Thanks Fred- I appreciate the comments!  We camp a lot at Marion Forks, in former years at the Guard Station and now at the Fish Hatchery.  There is a cute, little known campground there.  Short on facilities but long on privacy! 

Jun 30, 2008 11:30 AM
Anonymous
Anonymous

Ive been going to niagara park for 48 years now and havea historical interest in it. Ive made a few friends there and one of them grew up in Idanha. He said as a boy he would play around those parts and he said he saw chinese working on the dam project....everything Ive read says otherwise...but hes a reputable person ...one of the buisness owners there in mill city. Wouldnt it make sense for some of the chinese to want to make a few extra bucks? Anyways I wish i could find out more about Oneil and calleghan and their blue prints of exactly what they were trying to accomplish. Your right the rubble walls are fantastic and what an amazing amount of labor it had to be! Ive found evidence of blasting with dynamite and remains of the structure that once stood on top of the dam by the catacombs. I guess a handfull of Bulgarians did most of the rock work. It seems there was a huge landslide on the eastern side of the bluff which covers the entrance to the diversion tunnel. I think this was man made because of the amount of rock which is there. There is evidence left of a bridge which was made to span the narrows so people could get to the other side. I think if the dam project was ever completed the river would look totally different through there. If anyone else has information about this subject or a collection of photos I would be interested in purchasing them.Is the post office incorporated into the white house off to the left of Niagara Heights road ...the house right to the left of the water wheel?            

Sep 15, 2008 03:59 PM
#7
Leslie Stewart
Oregon Licensed Broker with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Real Estate Professionals - Stayton, OR
Realtor, ABR, CRS, Oregon Licensed Broker

Thanks for the comment.  The post office is actually up the hill further to the left. 

Sep 16, 2008 06:06 AM
Margaret Oscilia
Creative Concepts-Home Staging and Contracting, Salem Oregon - Salem, OR
Home Stager, Salem Oregon

Leslie -- This is a lovely post and photos.  We stopped at this park on the way home from Redmond a few weeks ago (after driving by it I don't know how many dozens of times and found it a wonderful rest stop!  Thanks for taking time to show how beautiful the Santiam Canyon and the Salem area can be! 

Sep 19, 2008 03:10 AM
Leslie Stewart
Oregon Licensed Broker with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Real Estate Professionals - Stayton, OR
Realtor, ABR, CRS, Oregon Licensed Broker

Thanks Margaret.  It is a fun place to stop, see the river and admire the work. 

Sep 19, 2008 05:33 AM
Mary Strang
Viroqua, WI

Looks like you have to hike into that spot, great photos!

Sep 22, 2008 01:11 AM
Tanya Venable
Orlando, FL
SEO, Mobile SEO, and Internet Marketing Consultant

Leslie, great shots! This is a beautiful park. It looks like a great place to visit.

Sep 22, 2008 01:15 AM
Leslie Stewart
Oregon Licensed Broker with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Real Estate Professionals - Stayton, OR
Realtor, ABR, CRS, Oregon Licensed Broker

Mary - it is a little bit of a walk, downstairs but good access. 

Tanya - It is a nice place, one of my local favorites.

Sep 22, 2008 09:13 AM
Anonymous
tom neff

I'll definitely come down from West Linn and check out Niagara Park. What an interesting story. TN

Apr 05, 2009 07:15 PM
#14
Leslie Stewart
Oregon Licensed Broker with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Real Estate Professionals - Stayton, OR
Realtor, ABR, CRS, Oregon Licensed Broker

Thanks Tom, it is a nice little stop on the way to Detroit or Bend.  Very interesting history.

Apr 17, 2009 06:52 AM