Smock
Prairie
One of the old farming communities up on
the hill just north and west of what is now Maupin, Smock Prairie had its
own schoolhouse until the 1940s. At that point the students were absorbed
into the Maupin school district. The schoolhouse was moved in more recent
years from its original location to a location near Wamic/Juniper Flat.
Victor
Victor School, 1904 Class Photo
Teacher: Lelah Driver (very top of pyramid)
Left to Right:
(Front Row)
Arthur Morris, Don Miller, Faye Snodgrass, Glenn Morris, Rosa Morris, Anna
Huston, Minnie Gray, Elfia Daughton
(Row Two) Joseph Gray, Bernard Huston,
Ralph Snodgrass, Frank Huston, Sylvester Gray, Roy Crabtree, Frestus Martin,
Pearl Morris, Gladys Morris, Ida Alexander, Blanch Martin
(Row Three) Lester Crabtree, Chester
Crabtree, Willie Gray, Rosa Huston, Bertie Daughton, Ellis Daughton, Garnet
Evick
(Row Four) Katie Morris, Silva Huston,
Lena Snodgrass, Ada Miller, Lois Batty, Elsa Young, Edna Morris, Violet
Miller, Hattie Young
Students from Victor, Wamic, Wapinitia,
Juniper Flat, Smock Prairie
The following appeared in "History of Wasco
County, Oregon" by William H. McNeal, 1953
Victor, Oregon
The post office of Victor, located on Wapinitia
or Juniper Flat, 40 miles south of The Dalles, on the old stage road between
Tygh (Tygh Valley) and Wapinitia; was established November 14, 1893 with
Viola Jones, postmaster and her husband A.L. Jones general store operator.
They sold it to Fred S. Gorton who became the second store owner and postmaster.
At one time Mr. Gorton was Wasco County surveyor and was also survgeyor
for the building of the Great Southern Railroad from The Dalles to Dufur.
He sold to Alfonse Evick who became the third owner and postmaster and
very popular citizen who enjoyed a thriving business. Mr Evick sold to
Wm. H. Talcott who was listed by the 1910 directory as store owner and
postmaster. The post office was closed November 12, 1912 and shortly thereafter
Mr. Talcott moved his store to the new town of Maupin, which was springing
up with the building of the railroads up the Deschutes river.
The Maupin Times in 1914 said Victor had
a store, blacksmith shop, United Brethren church, two or three dwellings,
barns and other buildings. A. J. Jones established the store in 1893 and
sold to Fred S. Gordon who built a larger store building which burned almost
upon completion. He rebuilt and restocked merchandise and continued to
do a good business. Frank Dean had a harness shop and also enjoyed a good
business. The Lyon brothers operated the blacksmith shop and it passed
into the hands of Jeff Padget, Henry Holland, Alex Martin, Charles Crofoot,
O.M. Fraley and Henry Holland. Alfonse Evick bought the store from Mr.
Gordon and did a flourishing business. He sold to W.H. Talcott who moved
the store to Maupin in 1914. Mr. Gordon established The Dalles to Wapinitia
stage line.
The Name VICTOR
Bertha Kirsh, Maupin Historian checked with
Mrs. Floyd Kelley, keeper of the records of the Kelley Cemetery and they
noted that Victor Jones, infant son of A.J. Jones was born April 14, 1895
and died February 25, 189(6); and without doubt the post office was named
prior to his birth and in his honor by the Jones family. This is very unusual
and indicates much discussion of the name which predominated in the minds
of the Jones family.
1898 Residents
The Dalles directory of 1898 lists the following
farm families receiving mail at the VICTOR post office and who, after
1912, were listed as Maupin residents:
Nathan Alexander, I.D. & L.E. Bentley,
S.G. Blackerby, H.R. Blue, J.P.B. Boen, Ed Bothwell, A.J. Breeding, J.S.
Brown, Chris, F.M., John F., & John L Confer, A.A, H.M., J.W. and O.B.
Derthick, J.H., L.C. Henwegan, Marion Huston, A.J. Jones, L.J. Kelley,
Albert, J.K., J.M. & W.F. McClure, J.B. Manly, A.F. Martin, R.W. Morris,
Wm. G. Morris, R.A. Paquett, Mary Price, R.D. Pitcher, H.W. Powell, Tom
Settl( ),C.N. Shinn, Omaha Smith, teacher; Asa Stogsdill, teacher; T.J.
Snow and J. Stein. Apparently overlooked for this list: J. J. Gray
Wapinitia
See also, Victor
 
Wapinitia Schoolhouse, about
1930 -- and of course, the corresponding outhouse
(photo of outhouse provided by current K-12
student project for Wasco County schools)
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