Tillamook County Historical Society

Tillamook County Historical Society

Historical Society Awards Locals

The Tillamook County Historical Society held its annual dinner and meeting January 23, electing its new slate of officers.

Karen Hirte will be President, Sally Rissel, Vice President, Bill Minshall Secretary, Willard Berry, Treasurer. The board members for 2012 will be Vic Afholter, Don Best, Lise Zimmerman, Walt Rigterink and Diane Colcord.

The Society was pleased to present awards and donations to two organizations for 2011 Historian of the Year:

the Northwest Old Iron Club Branch 159 for preserving, restoring and displaying early American tools, farming and logging equipment, as well as vintage cars and trucks and displays or demonstrations of equipment (such as the steam donkey on the Pioneer Museum grounds) at local parades and community events ensuring new generations will learn of the past and appreciate the contributions of their forebears, and to the Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad in recognition of their preservation of history through restoration of passenger cars and steam engines and preservation of antique steam railroad and logging equipment. Through their efforts, this history comes alive, educating the public today as we appreciate our past.

The Society was also pleased to present Denise Porter with the 2011 County Historian Award of the Year, thanks to her ongoing contributions through her writings about dairy families, the agricultural heritage of Tillamook County and more. She was not present, but the plaque will be on display at the Pioneer Museum behind the front desk. Congratulations, Denise!

Tillamook County Historical Society Seeks New Members

The Tillamook County Historical Society is getting near the end of another successful year of projects and activities and seeking interested persons to help with events for the coming year.

Our trip over the Trask Toll Road proved more popular than ever, with between 50 and 60 cars and vans making the 47 mile trip to the top of the summit and descending the east side to the Flying M Ranch where we had lunch. We couldn’t have had a more beautiful day to take in the view. It was almost too nice to let us fully understand the hardship of winter wet and cold stage coach travel.

Another trip, this one on foot, took us to the new Tillamook County Pioneer Museum’s historic Kilchis Point. This was the site of one of the largest Native American communities on the Oregon Coast and an early pioneer settlement. The Morning Star was launched into Tillamook Bay from here as well. Kilchis Point is also part of the Tillamook County Quilt Trail. The Historical Society paid for the quilt block displayed on the Museum building at Kilchis Point and member Diane Colcord designed the block. The Quilt Trail Coalition painted the block.

Several plaques are in the process of being placed on historical buildings and a list of possible and/or unfinished projects are on the agenda.

Preserving and celebrating Tillamook County history is the main goal of our organization. If this interests you, please join us for our monthly meetings and consider becoming an active member, perhaps even a board member. The current board has been working long and faithfully and would love to have some help, see new faces and hear new ideas to keep the organization vibrant and moving forward. The minimum required time is approximately an hour a month (attendance at board meetings). The amount of time you want to invest beyond that is up to you. To hear more about how you might get involved, call one of our board members and join as at our Annual Meeting and Dinner January 23, 2012.

Board Members: Sally Rissel, President: 503-965-6973; Jim Reeher, Vice President: 503 842 4965; Bill Minshall, Secretary: 503-392-3984; Karen Hirte, Treasurer: 503-368-4078. Diane Colcord: 503-815-8477; Vic Affolter: 503 842 8585; Don Best: 503-355-2335; Willard Berry: 503 842 2497; Lise Zimmerman: 503-801-4367.

TCHS Newsletter

The latest issue of the Tillamook County Historical Society's newsletter is out! Download and view the current issue below:

View the January 2012 Issue

The Tillamook County Historical Society

The Tillamook County Historical Society was founded in 1984 to bring together those persons interested in preserving the history of Tillamook County. A separate organization from the Tillamook Pioneer Museum and Tillamook Pioneer Association, the Society has concentrated on doing a number of projects such as placing historic plaques, conducting historical tours, printing books about local history and producing a quarterly newsletter with local history topics and upcoming events.

The Society schedules quarterly meetings and an annual dinner of the general membership where a speaker or program is planned. Members are welcome to attend the monthly board meetings as well. Annual dues are $10.00 for Family Membership.

Trask River Toll Road Tour

Watch for news of a repeat next year of the Trask Toll Road tour with a twist. Yamhill County Historical Society is planning a trip from their side over the mountain to Tillamook, ending at the Pioneer Museum where one of the original stagecoaches resides on the lower level. Check back in summertime for more information. Meanwhile, check out the map showing the original route and the current road and where they intersect.

- View Trask River Toll Road history

- View Trask River Toll Road Map

The Tillamook County Historical Society

Walking Tours of Historic Downtown Tillamook

A walking tour brochure is available for self-guided tours at the front desk of the Pioneer Museum. The tour highlighted historical buildings such as the Thayer Bank, constructed in 1894 from local sandstone; the post office (listed on the National Historic Registry) built in 1940, with its mural by Lucia Wiley, a nationally recognized fresco painter of that era (www.muralist.org); private residences viewed from the street showing gothic, Italianate, plantation and bungalow styles of architecture; the former United Brethren Church, built in 1896; the Tillamook Hotel, built in three stages from 1900 to the 1940s and many more locations.

The Tillamook County Pioneer Museum is located at 2106 2nd Street in Tillamook, Oregon. For further information, call Sally Rissel at 503-965-6973 or Ruby Fry-Matson at the Pioneer Museum at 503-842-4553.

Download and/or view or printout the following brochures, maps and Membership Forms (pdf) for the Tillamook County Historical Society and the Walking Tour of Downtown Tillamook:

- TCHS Goals and Objectives

- Tillamook City Map, circa early 1900's

- Tillamook City Building Information