Occupying a commanding position in the center of a grassy square situated in Oregon City on the west side of Main between Eighth and Ninth Streets is the Clackamas County Court House- a substantial stone edifice. It was considered one of the finest court houses in the state, when it was built in 1884. This building took the place of the original courthouse where the first plat of San Francisco was filed. In those early days Oregon City had the only Court house on the Pacific Coast west of the Cascade Mountains.
In 1829 Dr. John McLoughlin laid claim to some land near Willamette Falls by making a number of improvements on it. He said that he believed this locality was 'destined by nature to become the best place for commerce in the country'. As time went on a number of settlers located there. The city was platted and named, by Dr. McLoughlin, 'Oregon City,' and became incorporated under the laws of the Provisional Government in 1844. This picture was probably taken around 1845, when the population did not exceed five hundred and when Portland was just a convenient camping place between Fort Vancouver and Oregon City.
This is the Methodist Episcopal Church - the first protestant church built in Oregon. The building was begun in 1842 and completed in 1844. It was located at the corner of Seventh and Main in Oregon City.
Dr. McLoughlin, while connected with the Hudson Bay Co, had selected a place near Willamette Falls as the natural location for a future city. When he severed his relationship with that company he established himself at this place and in 1846 built this home on the east side of the present Main Street of Oregon City, opposite the Oregon City Woolen Mills. Several years ago people wishing to honor the memory of Dr. McLoughlin formed an association, purchased this house, and moved it to a location which they named McLoughlin Park just north of Seventh Street on the bluff in Oregon City. This old home of the benevelent pioneer fur trader has been repaired and renovated and now stands as a memorial to Dr. McLoughlin - kindly autocrat of the early Northwest, friend of Oregon and founder of Oregon City.
Mrs. Dye's home is on the Heights, Oregon City, overlooking the Willamette River. "Not only pioneers but voyagers of the Hudson Bay era, Indians and Missionaries have made pilgrimages to this home and told again the tales of the other days."
