The Story Behind Wemme, Oregon
Wemme, Oregon—a place with a peculiar name. Is it pronounced “Weemy” or “Wemmy”? And how did it get its name and who was E. Henry Wemme?
Pronounced “Wemmy,” this small village often goes unnoticed as travelers speed along Highway 26. The four-lane road today gives little hint of how the route to Mount Hood once looked. Yet, the name Wemme is closely tied to the highway’s history and development.
From the Barlow Road to the Mount Hood Highway
To understand E. Henry Wemme, we must start with the Barlow Road. Established in 1845 by Oregon Trail pioneer Samuel Barlow, this rugged toll road provided access to Mount Hood’s south side. It was the primary route for early Portland-area adventurers seeking the mountain’s beauty.
Over the years, different companies owned the road, and its condition varied. At times, it was well-maintained. At others, it fell into disrepair.
E. Henry Wemme: Oregon’s First Motorist
In 1912, Portland businessman E. Henry Wemme purchased the Barlow Road for $5,400. A pioneer of Oregon’s automobile era, Wemme bought the state’s first car, an 1899 Stanley Steamer.
His fortune came from the tent and awning business he operated during the Alaskan Gold Rush, supplying miners with essential gear. By 1915, Wemme had spent $25,000 improving the road. He then removed the toll, allowing free public travel.
When Wemme passed away in 1917, his attorney George W. Joseph inherited the road. Two years later, in 1919, the Oregon Highway Commission accepted it, paving the way for the Mount Hood Loop Highway we know today.
The Changing Identity of Wemme
Before modern highways and automobiles, Wemme felt separate from nearby communities. Back then, wooded, rutted, unpaved roads made travel slow. Each village functioned as an independent community.
As roads improved, villages lost their distinct identities. Faster travel connected once-isolated towns, blending them into a continuous stretch along the highway.
When Welches Almost Became Wemme
Few people know that in 1977, Welches nearly became Wemme. The U.S. Postal Service planned to close the Wemme post office and replace it with a modern facility further east. At the time, Welches had no post office of its own.
Local resident Bill White saw a problem. The new post office wasn’t in Wemme, so he petitioned the postal service to name it after Welches instead. His efforts succeeded, preserving the community’s name and identity.
Wemme Today
Today, you’ll pass through Wemme in the blink of an eye. Almost as soon as you enter, you’re already leaving—headed toward Welches. But despite its small size, Wemme is home to terrific businesses and restaurants worth stopping for.
Next time you drive through, slow down. Take a moment to appreciate the history behind this often-overlooked village and the man for whom it was named for.
I grew up at Government Camp where my dad was the District Ranger for the Forest Service. I attended Welches Grade School. The bus picked us up at the Ranger Station and took us down the mountain to school. I remember the only day that we missed school even during the winter was when the boiler quit working. Sometimes it would snow so much we would have to ski down to the bus stop at the Ranger Station. I spent summers running through the woods on the Oregon Trail which was in our back yard. Winters were spent skiing at Government Camp and Timberline. Wonderful memories. Thanks for the website.
I lived on Welches Rd and most of the time that I lived there, I worked at the Barlow Trail Inn, which itself has quite an interesting history as being a roadhouse on the old Barlow Trail. Also, for a short time I worked at the Bowman’s Country Club on Welches Rd. I lived there during the time that the new Post Office was built at Welches, so it’s pretty fascinating to get to read this bit of history of the area where I lived and worked. Thank You for making this website and sharing the history of that area.