Camp Polk Meadow Historical Timeline

8,000 B.C. – 1813

Native Americans camped in this meadow of plentiful food and water.  Wasco people may have referred to the creek and meadow here as “Why-chus” (“a place to cross water”), Paiute people as “Sic-se-qua” (“tall rye grass”).  Early white settlers referred to the creek as Squaw Creek.

1814 – 1842

European trappers and explorers enter the area:  Joseph Gervais, Finan McDonald, Thomas McKay, Peter Skene Ogden, possibly Nathaniel J. Wyeth and Stephen Meek, and others.

1843

John Charles Fremont expedition, guided by Kit Carson and Billy Chinook (of the Wasco people) cross the meadow on their way to California.

1843-1845

Westward migration begins along the Oregon Trail.

1846

U.S. acquires “The Oregon Country” from Britain (present-day Oregon, Washington and parts of Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming).

1855

Army Corps of Topographical Engineers railroad survey crews camp here and explore mountain pass routes across the mid-Cascades.  They draw the first map locating creeks east of the Cascades in relation to Willamette Valley watersheds.

1859

Oregon becomes the 33rd state of the Union.

1859-1860

Adventurers, cattlemen and gold seekers find trails crossing the Cascades from the Willamette Valley to Central Oregon.  In 1860 Abraham Lincoln was elected President.

1861-1865

U.S. Civil War.

1862-1864

Samuel and Jane Hindman leave Omaha to go west on Oregon Trail.  The Willamette Valley and Cascade Mountain Military Wagon Road Company surveys a route suitable for wagons between Albany and the Deschutes River at Lower Bridge.  It follows the South Santiam River, and crosses the Cascades at Big Lake and Whychus Creek at this meadow.

1865-1866

Forty soldiers are sent to protect commerce along the new wagon road from hostile Indians.  The road company with help from the soldiers clears a narrow wagon track over the mid-Cascades.  The soldiers build 8 log structures here and over-winter September – May.  They name their camp for Polk County – home to most of the soldiers and their Captain.

1867-1885

Early Central Oregon pioneer settlement begins in Prineville area.

1869-1871

Hindman (“Hineman”) family settles here.  In 1871 Hindmans and others build 75’x50’ barn and stable.  The Hindmans maintain wagon road, operate store and post office, and house travelers.

1875

Post office established at Camp Polk for mail between Eugene and Prineville.

1877

“Hindman Bridge” spans Deschutes River at Lower Bridge, replacing ford.

1878

Travel from Willamette Valley begins to cross Whychus Creek at future site of Sisters en route to Tetherow Crossing on the Deschutes, instead of the Camp Polk-Lower Bridge route.

1880

Hindman Cemetery established on knoll overlooking meadow.

1883

First school established between Camp Polk and Sisters (8–10 pupils).  Fryrear family homesteads north portion of Camp Polk Meadow, digs irrigation ditches to grow grass, clover, oats, rye, wheat and barley.

1885

Bridge over Deschutes River at Tetherow directs more Cascades traffic via Sisters, by-passing Camp Polk.

1888

Camp Polk post office moves to Sisters.

1889

First irrigation diversion dam built on Whychus Creek.

1901

Town of Sisters platted.

1920

Samuel Hindman dies at Camp Polk home. Duckett/Spoo lumber mill operates across the meadow where the road and creek intersect.

1931

Hindman Road (now, Camp Polk Rd.) established as a County Road.

1946

City of Sisters incorporated.

Early 1960’s

Last steelhead and salmon return up Whychus Creek, due to downstream fish passage difficulties at the Pelton-Round Butte Dam complex.

1960

Hindman house torn down.

1964

Whychus Creek flooding in Sisters prompts straightening and deepening of creek channel by the Army Corps of Engineers.

1979

Hindman Barn placed on Deschutes County list of historical sites.

2000

145 acres acquired by the Deschutes Basin Land Trust with assistance of Portland General Electric, Anderson Family, Oregon Water Trust, Deschutes River Conservancy and Upper Deschutes Watershed Council.

2001

Restoration of Camp Polk ecosystem and wildlife preserve begins.  Land Trust to improve Whychus Creek flow and fish habitat and conserve and interpret history of site.

Timeline courtesy of Martin Winch. To learn more about Camp Polk Meadow's ecology and history, read Biography of a Place.