Wasco County
Towns & Places
| ANTELOPE
-- population 37
As if it wasn't enough that their ancestors had to face all the hardships of the Oregon Trail and pioneer life, Wasco County residents more than 100 years later found themselves facing a new challenge: the Rajneeshees. In the 1980s, this area once again made history, this time by fighting in the more civilized fashion that is favored today. Followers of the Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh moved in to the city of Antelope government, attempting a takeover by registering to vote homeless people brought in from outside the county and state. Rajneeshpuram was developed on 64,000 acres near the John Day River, and the Rajneesh followers renamed the town of Antelope to…Rajneeshpuram. Baghwan's organization infringed upon the tiny community in many other ways. There was a takeover of the entire culture of the Antelope area by "Rajneeshpuram." There was violence. In true pioneer spirit, local residents refused to take that while lying down, and they fought back. Law enforcement officials conducted an investigation that led to the arrest of the Bhagwan's personal secretary on charges of theft and attempted murder. The Bhagwan was indicted on federal immigration charges and deported to India. The mortgage holder repossessed Rajneeshpuram in 1989 and the little town of Antelope got back to the business of being a sleepy little town. According to the 1910 Polk City Directory (page 122), "....for the past fiftenn years, and was incorporated as a city in 1897. This place is in the middle of a far-famed stock country, shipping annually not less than 100,000 head of sheep and a large number of horses and cattle. There is a splendid public school, employing three teachers. The town owns its own water works system, which is self-supporting and affords revenue to the city."
MAUPIN
-- pop. 478
Dr. Elwood and his first office, near what is now the south county line Maupin Railroad Depot (Date Unknown)
If anyone knows where we can find a history
of the area's railroads
Maupin School, 1915
On the western edge of the county is the agricultural community of Mosier. Its mainstay is the fruit that grows very well in this part of Oregon. It is little wonder our ancestors enjoyed this area, where the natural sources of food were both abundant and delicious. If the eating hadn't been enough to keep them, the view certainly was. The views and viewpoints in the area are so spectacular that they have since been made both state and national places of interest, and in at least one case (see Crown Point) the funds were provided for a facility from which to do the viewing. Polk's 1910 City Directory gives the following description of Mosier: "The Town of Mosier, the shipping and commercial center of the district, is located on the Columbia River, as well as on the main line of the Oregon Railroad & Navigation Company, and though but five years old has made very good growth. It has good schools with a ten-grade course in the town, and six district schools in the surrounding territory, the rapid growth of school population already demanding expansion of present facilities, and plans for same are now under consideration. There are several church buildings and congregations are maintained by the Baptist, Episcopal, Methodist, Adventist and Christian churches. Among the business interests represented are the Mosier Valley Bank, the Mosier Bulletin, a newspaper having its own plant and building, a hotel, two sawmills, two planing mills and box factories; the usual supply of stores, barber ship, blacksmith shop, a butcher and a baker, a livery and feed stable, a boarding house. Population about 500."
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