Celilo

Of all locations along the Columbia Gorge, what was once known as Celilo Falls is undoubtedly the one most mourned by Native Americans.  The photo above tells the story fairly well: Celilo was the best fishing hole for many miles along the Columbia River and local Indian tribes had used it for several generations to provide them with vast amounts of fish. Many crudely-built platforms provided a way for fishermen to stand or lie down to lean out as far as possible over the Columbia's treacherous waters: cables strung across the river also enabled use of cable cars for hauling fish and people back and forth. This resource ceased to exist after the Columbia was dammed in the 1950s.

According to the 1910 Polk City Directory: "Population 20, A postoffice and station on the O.R.& N. and the Columbia river. First settled in 1883, one hundred miles east of Portland and twelve east of The Dalles, the banking point. Salmon canning is the chief industry. Private telephone connection. Boats come and go weekly from  Lewiston, Idaho, and all towns enroute. Mail, daily."

The following appeared in "History of Wasco County, Oregon" by William H. McNeal,  page 262

Bakeoven 
by Jess Fleming
After Henry Wakerlig sold the Bakeoven ranch and post office to Malcolm Moody, Mr. Thorp became the postmaster with the post office in his farmhome. Then George Mickle became the next postmaster and moved the office to his farm-home; from there it went to the Claud Wilson farm home. In 1914 my father Frank Fleming moved the Bakeoven post office to his Dead Dog ranch, about half way between Flanagan and Bakeoven, where my mother Eva Fleming became postmaster. After their retirement to The
Dalles in 1918 I became acting postmaster of Bakeoven until the office was closed March 30, 1918. Jim Hinton and Tom Ward are now the owners of Bakeoven, which is a part of their 90,000 acre ranch. The original house, Inn or hotel burned although the blacksmith shop still stands. There are no buildings at Flanagan. The Bakeoven, Flanagan and Criterion districts are now served mail by a Star-contract route out of Maupin which goes out The Dalles-California Highway (97) to Shaniko and returns to Maupin over the Bakeoven-Flanagan road, on a twice a week service basis.

Some of the old timers of Bakeoven that I remember are: Harry Adams, stage and freight operator; L.C. Albrecht, the blacksmith; George Von Borstel, sheepman who retired to Germany and whose son Henry Von Borstel was deported to Germany from 8 Mile creek during World War II; Tome Brady was a sheepherder; "Uncle Tom" Burgess, the likeable store and Inn keeper; J.M. Davis and Herman Isenburger moved away early; John Farrar went over to Antelope; John Flanagan moved away early; Emil Hachler went over to Wapinitia......