Photo: Barlow Road, Clackamas & Wasco County Historical Societies
The Sandy River
| The history of the town of Sandy could conceivably start at the naming of the River Lewis and Clark named Quicksand River. It was noticed that the river carried a large amount of silt, making it cloudy at times. It is written that Lewis and Clark inquired of the Indians the reason, and from the information given that it is caused because of its source on the side of Mt. Hood. When the sun shines upon the west slopes of the mountain it loosens the volcanic sand and ash, which is carried downstream to the Columbia River. Through time the river was named the Sandy River. There have been times when some have tried to change the name; it once was called the Trout River for a short period of time. The Sandy River name stuck. The whole valley through which it flows was called the Sandy Valley, or Sandy River Country. The town of Sandy, by way of it's location took its name from the river. |
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Photo: Barlow Road, Clackamas & Wasco County Historical Societies |
On December 9th 1845 Samuel K. Barlow petitioned the Provisional Government of the Oregon Territory, at the time located at Oregon City for a charter to build a wagon road across the shoulder of Mt. Hood. A route blazed by himself and Joel Palmer during their migration to the Willamette Valley as a protest against the costly river route down the Columbia River. It was granted December 18, and after Samuel Barlow acquired a partner in Phillip Foster and work was started that following spring. The official name given to it was the Mount Hood Road, but it was called The Barlow Road. The Barlow Road passed through the future town site of Sandy on its way to Eagle Creek and eventually to Oregon City. |
| In 1853 Francis Revenue and family crossed the Oregon Trail with their team of Oxen, and seeking a place to live found his perfect spot at a site not far from the place the road crossed the Sandy River. Seeking to capitalize on the traffic on the road, and because of the distance to the nearest center of commerce, Oregon City, he established a much-needed trading post. Unknowing to him, he was paving the way for others to settle in the area, and the ultimate establishment of the town of Sandy. For a short period of time the town site of Sandy was called Revenue. In the 1860's several other families settled near the Revenues. Names include the Coalmans, Sievers, St. Johns and Moignettes. In 1870 Francis Revenue built the first bridge across the Sandy River. And after his 9th child was born he established a school on his property. |
  Photo: Whistle Punks and Mysery Whips, Sandy Pioneer and Historical Assoc. |
 Photo: 80 Years in the Same Neighborhood, Phil Jonsrud & The Sandy Historical Society |
Even though Francis Revenue started settlement in the area the actual town of Sandy was started a few miles south of the Revenue farm on a hillside. In 1872 Richard Gerdes bought 34.5 acres from George Sharrock's homestead, and on February 13, 1873 he opened a store and Sandy's first post office. Sandy had a population of 20. In 1876 Gerdes sold his store to Friedrich Meinig who, in the latter 1880's built a larger store located near the present day intersection of Highway 26 and Ten Eyck road. The store became a center point of the community prompting others to buy property and establish commerce in the area. In 1874 Francis Revenue and his oldest son John bought property near the Gerdes store and established their own trading post and hotel, moving their business from their property to the new town site. This group of buildings was located from the present locations of the Beaverbrooke Dental Clinic to the Ace Hardware store at the intersection of Highway 26 and highway 211. Because of the establishment of lumber mills and logging, as well as the construction of the Bull Run water system Sandy saw brisk growth, but had no real direction. Sandy was a tough town. A local Sandy government wasn't established until November 14, 1913, giving it the organization and a plan it would need to move into the 20th century. |
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 Photo: Gary Randall, Brightwood, Oregon |