Scappoose, named "gravelly plains" by the Chinook Indians and once covered by an iceage ocean, served as prime Indian hunting grounds. Chief Casino of the Kiersinno Tribe held stewardship over his people and their lands. The plains of wild grass fed herds of elk and deer, the rivers supplied spawning beds for salmon and ancient forests covered the hills.
Scappoose was a meeting place. The Chinook tribes held annual PowWows complete with feast, trading, gaming and horse races. Descendants of the nonnative settlers from Maine, Kansas, Nebraska, Czechoslovakia and Switzerland continue the Indians' legacy through festivals and celebrations today.
According to "The History of Scappoose" by James Loring Watts, a descendant of the early settlers, the bounty of wildlife astounded Lewis and Clark during their 1804 - 1806 travels, and later captured the attention of migratory fur traders.
Rich in natural resources, Scappoose offered occupations for loggers, brick makers, blacksmiths, shingle millers and dairy farmers in the early years, to gravel mining operators and pickle/sauerkraut makers today. Scappoose residents enjoy their quiet life a short drive away from bustling metropolitan areas.
1828
The first nonnative inhabitant, was Thomas McKay, stepson of John McLoughlin, commander of Fort Vancouver. The fort, up the river from Scappoose, was a thriving trade center for the Hudson's Bay Company. McLoughlin assigned McKay to find pasture land for the fort's expanding herd of horses. McKay found it in the wild grasslands of Scappoose. He established a home ranch northeast of the present day Scappoose airport. McKay married a Chinook princess, daughter of the highest Chinook Indian Chief, Chief Concomley.
Coming from the sea, was James Bates, an American sailor, who jumped ship at Scappoose Bay and became the area's first farmer.
1829
A Boston merchant trader, Captain Dominus, sailed his ship "The Owyhee", into Scappoose Bay and brought the deadly plague to "gravelly plains". With little natural resistance, the Indians died in large numbers. Chief Casino survived and succeeded Chief Concomley as the highest ranking chief of the Chinook tribes.
1842
The first wagon train rolled to a stop in Scappoose. The David A. Cloninger family is believed to have arrived with this group of settlers.
1850
Passed by Congress, the Act, allowed settlers to claim large tracts of land if they agreed to improve it.
1852
Arriving by wagon train, Mr. and Mrs. William Watts and their six children and one nephew landed in Scappoose and built a homestead. The Watts family brought a civic spirit to Scappoose. Timothy Lambertson and Malcolm McKay build a sawmill.
1853
The first organized school for girls and boys was built on donated land on West Land Road. The first teacher was Ben Watts. The first paid school teacher was Miss Lily Taylor.
1855
During the last Indian uprising, the nonnative settlers hastily built a block hose on West Lane Road for protection.
1856
S.T. Gosa build a dock, store and post office on his Multnomah Channel claim.
1863
The Columbia River became a vital trade toute, with sidewheelers and then stern wheelers traveling up the Columbia River and Multnomah Channel moving goods and people. Cordwood and milk were primary exports of the area. The fare to Portland was 25 cents.
1869
Transcontinental railroad completed.
1880
Dairy farmers settle on the plains, nowadays the site for gravel mining operations.
1883
The last wagon train crossed the plains over the Oregon Trail bring the Asa Holiday family. By this time the trail was six tracks wide and worn 6 feet deep by ox teams and highwheeled wagons. William W. West platted the land east of the railroad, build a home, a store and a post office.
1884
William W. West donated six acres to the railroad to build a depot and switching yards if they would call it "Scappoose Depot".
1888
J.G. Watts and D.W. Price bought West's store. They moved the store to a twostory wooden building and renamed it "Watts and Price General Merchandise." The second floor housed the first library and community center. The 1931 fire destroyed the store. The former store site is now the Frakes Building.
1894
William W. West established a sevenblock business district between Columbia River Highway 30 and SW First Street. William W. West platted land across from the business district as a residential tract.
1902
James Grant Watts built his home in 1902. It remained in the family until 1975, when his son, James Loring Watts, sold the property to the city for development as a museum. In its early days the Watts' house served as a home for teachers and a library. In 1976 it began serving as Scappoose City Hall, and was registered as a National Historic Site. The Scappoose Historical Society maintains the museum in the upstairs bedrooms and in the basement. The museum features items of Scappoose's heritage including the shawl worn by Elizabeth M. Watts, wooden yokes used on the oxen teams, a section of the first wooden water line, hightop button shoes, a child's cradle and a button hook.
1903
Langdon home was the first home built with indoor water and plumbing.
1906
Chapman logging camp bunk house was turn into a school site.
1908
A twostory school was built on land donated by Elizabeth M. Watts and housed grades one through high school. The bell from the bell tower can be seen on the lawn of Otto petersen School on Columbia River Highway 30.
1912
The first public school transportation in the state started with Gustav Lange. His wagon "bus" brought children from the remote regions of Dutch Canyon and Chapman. Today these remote regions are minutes from town.
1915
A scrap of wallpaper in the Lilly Shell boarding house tore loose, fell against a hot stove and ignited. Roaring though the boarding house and six other residences, a store and a confectionery shop, the fire gutted much of the downtown area.
1920
J.G. Watts elected first mayor.
1921
Scappoose adopted its first charter and became the City of Scappoose.
1922
City water system complete.
1924
Street lights installed.
1927
Electricity connected to homes.
1931
Fire moves the library from Watts/Price store to Watts house. Fast action by many volunteers saved the library's books. They passed the books hand to hand from the burning store to the front parlor of the Watts house. The city library remained there until the construction of the library in 1959.
1940
PUD formed by grange organizations. State and local granges, led by the Tarbell family of Warren Grange, bound together and formed a people's utility district to bring Bonneville Dam power to their rural farms and businesses.
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