welches

Fires, Fear, and Fighting Back: The Week the Forest Burned Near Mt. Hood

Zigzag Ranger Station 10-14-1952

It all started late in the season around midnight on October 13, 1952. The forest around Mt. Hood was as dry as a bone. Trouble came, starting south of the Mt. Hood Highway just east of Rhododendron. Flames popped up near Yocum Falls, moving their way down through Laurel Canyon and stretching toward Flag Mountain. At first, officials thought a tree falling on a power line might have been ignited the fire. The Sandy Electric Company asserted that the initial fire at Yocum Falls might have been caused by men violating the hunting ban rather than a 33,000-volt power line.

A second fire broke out from wind blown embers near Still Creek along the north slope of Zigzag Canyon, threatening summer homes in that area. The fire caused landslides and loosened large rocks at the top of ridges, sending them toward the Zigzag River, making the situation more even more dangerous for firefighters.

Homes in Mt. Hood Region Threatened by Forest Fires

By Tuesday, October 14, another fire erupted, burning up Henry Creek toward Devils Canyon near Rhododendron. The dry east winds were blowing with their typical intensity, fanning the flames and making life miserable for everyone, especially the firefighters.

Crews prepare to fight fires at the Zigzag Ranger Station, Zigzag Oregon

The Mt. Hood Highway was closed, roadblocks went up at Sandy and Bend, only letting through emergency vehicles and buses. Traffic was rerouted through the Columbia River Gorge or the North Santiam Highway. Firefighters hosed down wooden bridges on the highway, while residents were hosing down the roofs of their homes and cabins, hoping to keep the embers at bay. Folks living nearby in Rhododendron got ready to pack up and leave if needed. The county’s civil defense agency was on high alert, ready to step in if the fires threatened private homes. Fortunately, that didn’t happen.

Radio dispatcher communicating during the forest fires

Come Wednesday, October 15, things got even worse. A third fire started near Brightwood around noon that day, burning through heavy ferns and second-growth timber. In that fire arson was suspected as it was reported by local residents that two teenage boys in a blue coupe were seen speeding away from the area. Police put out the word to watch for them, but the boys were never found.

Tired from all-night battle against forest fire which blackened the butte north and east of Brightwood, crew headed by Eldon Stroup, (second from left), ranger from Umpqua National Forest, rests after coming off shift. Men are, (from left) John Burr, Ted Winter and Jim Hawkins.

By Thursday, October 16, the fires had everyone on edge. The Brightwood fire made a run toward the Bull Run watershed, where Portland gets its water. Winds pushed the flames up Boulder Creek closer to Bull Run. In Rhododendron, a 120-man crew was scrambling to put a fire line around the blaze near Henry Creek. A total of 400 firefighters were working in the area. Meanwhile at Zigzag Ranger Station, local women volunteered to make sandwiches to help keep the fire crews fed.

Logistics, supplies, at the Zigzag Ranger Station, Zigzag Oregon.

Finally, Friday brought some good news. The firefighters had the upper hand, and by October 17, they had most of the fires contained. Crews—all 700 of them—had been working around the clock, with another 200 focused just on Brightwood. The fires had burned an estimated 1,200 acres by then, with the Brightwood blaze alone covering anywhere from 300 to 400 acres. But the danger wasn’t over yet. Northeast winds and low humidity kept everyone on alert, hoping the forecast might bring some long-overdue rain.

A firefighter mans a hose in the forest near Mount Hood Oregon.

When it was all said and done, the fires left their mark, but they also showed what a community can do when disaster strikes. From firefighters risking it all on the front lines to locals supporting firefighting efforts, folks hosing down their homes and making sandwiches, it was a team effort. The forest would heal, but the stories of that fiery week in October 1952 will endure.

These photo are scanned from negatives from my personal collection.

A scorched hillside from the fire near Mt Hood

The forest burns during the forest fires near Mount Hood Oregon

Portland’s Buffalo Bill – William DeVeny

Zigzag Cabin Owner: A Local Legend

In the early 1900s, the Montavilla neighborhood of Portland, Oregon, was home to one of its most fascinating figures: Dr. William DeVeny. Known as the “Buffalo Bill of Portland,” DeVeny was a community leader, civic advocate, and larger-than-life character who left a lasting legacy in Montavilla and the Mount Hood region.

DeVeny’s striking appearance, with long hair, a thick beard, and his signature buckskin attire, earned him his nickname, reportedly bestowed by Buffalo Bill Cody himself. But DeVeny was more than a local icon—he was a man of action.

A Visionary for Montavilla

DeVeny was deeply committed to improving Montavilla. As secretary of the Montavilla Board of Trade, he led efforts to attract businesses to the area, including a fruit cannery, chair factory, and broom factory. He championed better schools, clean water, and libraries, believing these were the keys to a thriving community.

One of his most ambitious campaigns was advocating for Montavilla’s annexation to Portland. DeVeny argued that annexation would bring essential improvements, such as deeper water mains to prevent freezing in winter and better funding for schools. Although his push faced resistance and was defeated in initial votes, DeVeny persisted, convinced that annexation would benefit the neighborhood.

In 1907, his political aspirations led him to run for city council. However, his campaign was marred by a petition controversy when hired collectors submitted duplicate signatures. Though he was not directly involved, his name was removed from the ballot, marking a setback in his political career.

Connecting the Mount Hood Wilderness

DeVeny’s passion for community development extended beyond Montavilla to the wilderness surrounding Mount Hood. He owned a cabin near the mountain, which he named The Scout’s Rest in homage to Buffalo Bill Cody’s Nebraska ranch.

Recognizing the importance of accessibility, DeVeny spearheaded the construction of a road connecting the Mount Hood automobile road to Truman Road on the north side of the Sandy River. Known as DeVeny Road, the project required multiple bridges and opened vital pathways for settlers, forest rangers, and tourists.

Completed in 1913, the road was a significant milestone in connecting communities and encouraging tourism in the Mount Hood region. Although later renamed Lolo Pass Road, DeVeny’s efforts are still remembered as a crucial step in the area’s development.

A Complex Character

Throughout his life, DeVeny’s views evolved. Once an advocate for military training for boys, he later voiced support for anti-war sentiments, particularly during the early days of World War I. Some speculate that his shift was influenced by his sons’ draft eligibility.

Beyond his civic and political work, DeVeny was a skilled chiropodist and photographer, operating studios with his wife, Martha, before settling in Portland. He was also an advocate for women’s suffrage and equal rights, reflecting his progressive outlook for the time.

A Lasting Legacy

Dr. William DeVeny passed away in 1918 at the age of 65. He was remembered by The Oregonian as a civic leader, community advocate, and friend of famous frontiersmen. His contributions to Montavilla and Mount Hood have left an indelible mark on Oregon’s history.

Today, as visitors travel the trails of Mount Hood or walk the streets of Montavilla, they tread paths shaped by DeVeny’s vision. His life serves as a reminder of the impact one person can have on a community, blending progress with a pioneer’s spirit

Mount Hood’s Native Trails

It’s not commonly known but our little home on the slopes of Mount Hood is a very culturally important place. For generations the native people would come each season from all directions between Spring and Autumn to stay and live their lives.

Where we live was once a confluence of three important ancient trails. One came from the Columbia River Gorge via what is now called Lolo Pass. Another came over from Central Oregon via the south side of Mount Hood – It was followed in places by the old Barlow Trail. The third being the trail that came from the west from the Willamette Valley.

The tribes from all around Mount Hood would gather each season to occupy ancestral camps between Government Camp and the confluence of the Sandy and the Salmon Rivers, including the Salmon River Valley.

The reason for this convergence was to gather important supplies and to trade with the other people who would come to stay. While the men would hunt and fish the women would harvest food and medicinal roots and herbs from the plentiful wetlands in the area, harvest huckleberries and prepare the bounty for transportation back to their Winter homes at the end of the season.

This whole tradition had taken place here for thousands of years. It wasn’t until the end of the 19th Century, when the native population was dwindling from disease and was being relocated to reservations did this tradition start to fade.

Samuel and Billy Welch would coexist with the Indians until the influx of non-native people started coming to recreate and to live. By that time the native people were practically gone from the area. Once the traditions had faded the natives still would come across the Barlow Trail to travel to the Willamette Valley. Many times they were bringing herds of horse or sheep to be sold and would spend the night in Welches with their herds in corrals supplied by Billy Welch.

In this modern age it’s hard to imagine the place we call home being how it had been for millennia and occupied by the native people who had been here for so long. It seems like ancient history in our minds but in reality it wasn’t so long ago.

The history of The Mountain includes the history of its native people.

An extremely rare image of a native woman and two children that was taken at the old Brightwood Store

Tawney’s Mountain Home

In the early days the Welches Hotel wasn’t the only resort in the Salmon River Valley in the foothills of Mount Hood, Oregon. About a mile past the Welch’s place, at the end of the road, was Tawney’s Mountain Home. Situated along the Salmon River with vast stretches of wilderness surrounding it, Tawney’s Hotel was an outdoor vacation destination from 1910 to 1945.

The hotel was built on a portion of the old Walkley family homestead south of Welches. The Walkley’s didn’t operate a hotel, but they kept boarders in their home. John Maulding and his wife bought the property in 1906, which included 100 acres and the Walkley home. The home was remodeled and enlarged using the homestead house for the dining room, with an addition for lodging, turning it into what was known as the Maulding’s Hotel.

In 1909 Francis H. Tawney and his wife Henriett leased the property and in 1910 they purchased it and started improvements to the hotel. In 1913 a fire burned a large portion of the old hotel building. A new two story addition was quickly built and new hotel was ready for guests in 1914.

Tawney's Hotel, Welches Oregon before the fire — Tawney’s Hotel, Welches Oregon before the fire

Tawney’s Hotel was a large building with 15 guest rooms. Because the hotel was so popular, they erected tent cabins on the grounds outside to accommodate more guests. As you entered the building you came into a huge living area with a large rock fireplace. There was a large staircase leading to the upper floor where the guest rooms were located. Adjoining the living room was a huge dining room with its own fireplace and a large dining table. There was only one indoor bathroom, with commode and a bathtub. It was located off the dining room. It was said that you practically needed a reservation if you wanted to use it.

Back then a week’s stay cost $10, including meals. Mrs. Tawney, with the help of Emily, the wife of their only son Clyde, cooked for the guests. She served the meals Family Style with full platters of chicken, roast beef, and steak. She always had jams, fresh bread, pies, and canned foods available. She made large sugar cookies for the children, but it was common for the adults to raid the cookie jar.

Tent Bungalows at Tawney's Hotel, Welches Oregon — Tent Bungalows at Tawney’s Hotel, Welches Oregon

Keeping the hotel supplied with food could be challenging during busy times. There could be up to 150 people there to enjoy a Sunday dinner. In addition to the food that they supplied themselves some staples and canned goods were delivered once a week from Portland. There was also a butcher wagon who would make daily deliveries from Sandy to the hotels and cabin residents during the summer. He would arrive and open the doors to the insulated wagon to show different cuts of beef and lamb packed in ice.

The Tawney’s kept their own animals, including cows, pigs, and chickens. They had horses for guests to ride and a pair of donkeys for the children. Frequently Mr. Tawney would take a party of people on a wagon trip to Government Camp to pick huckleberries and have a picnic lunch.

Tawney’s Hotel, Welches Oregon after the fire showing new addition.

They had a garden, an apple orchard and had berries for pies. They also used wild game and trout from the river and local creeks, sometimes supplied by the guests. The Salmon River was located nearby and provided lots of swimming and fishing. In 1910, B. Trenkman, C.J. Cook, and L. Therleson made a 1.5-hour trip up to Camp Creek for fishing. The three men came back with 286 trout. It was said to be one of the best meals at the Tawney Hotel.

Nell Howe, a longtime resident, remembered on summer days the most wonderful food. She said, “In the summertime the tables in the dining room were full for every meal and sometimes people were waiting their turn.” When guests looked back, they remember their fun summer memories of swimming in the river, fishing, helping with the chores, and enjoying the food.

Guests at Tawney's Hotel, Welches Oregon — Guests at Tawney’s Hotel, Welches Oregon

The hotel closed its doors in 1945, most likely due to the loss of business and the scarcity and cost of goods during World War II. The Tawney’s were in their later years by this time and the work involved in running a business like that was in their past. Mr. Tawney passed away in 1947 and soon after Mrs. Tawney moved to Portland with her daughter and son-in-law. She lived until 1959.

Sometime in the late 1950’s the old Tawney’s Mountain Home collapsed under the load of a heavy snowstorm. The property sold and the new owner demolished what was left of the old building leaving the two stone fireplaces as the only evidence of the good old days of Tawney’s Mountain Home and a significant part of the history of Welches Oregon.

Tawney's Mountain Home Advert — Tawney’s Mountain Home Advert

Oregon pioneer history

Oregon pioneer history (1806–1890) is the period in the history of Oregon Country and Oregon Territory, in the present day state of Oregon and Northwestern

Arlie Mitchell Barlow Road’s last Tollgate Keeper.

Arlie Edward Mitchell, 89, thought to be the last living Barlow Road tollgate keeper, dies June 1. (1976)

Mitchell died in Gresham after an extended illness. Services were held Monday with internment at Lincoln Memorial Park.

In his later years Mitchell was well known for his recollections of operating the Barlow tollgate. He was present in 1970 when the tollgate near Rhododendron was dedicated.

He recalled that it was his duty during his period as a gatekeeper from 1906 to 1908 to keep track of the people, animals and wagons that passed through the gate.

That included counting sheep, flocks of them brought across the Barlow’s route over Mt. Hood. Mitchell recalled one flock of sheep that numbered about 3000.

He liked to tell the story of the Indian woman so fat that she got stuck in the small gate. Everyone had a good laugh including her Indian companions who teased her before helping her out of her predicament.

Mitchell was born Dec. 6, 1886, the son of Stephen and Ellen Mitchell, on a farm near Sandy.

He attended a public school two miles from his home and went to work at an early age in sawmills and logging camps. For several seasons he worked with Lige Coalman as a guide on Mt Hood.

He was widely known as a builder. In 1908 he helped build the first grade and high school in Sandy and the Odd Fellows Hall. Years later he helped build Smith’s Garage and did some work on the Masonic Hall.

He spent four years in the Forest Service building and maintaining telephone lines. He traveled by saddle horse with a pack horse to carry his tools, tent and personal belongings, cooking his meals over a campfire.

Mitchell joined the Navy in 1917 eventually making 16 crossings from New York to Europe. He served in England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales and France and remembered the great cheering for “The Yanks” on Armistice Day in Belfast.

Mitchell served aboard the captured German vessel, “Emporator”, which was pressed into service as a troop ship and transport. Eventually he was transferred to a destroyer travelling through the Panama Canal.

He was fond of telling about a week’s stop in Mexico where he swapped an old pair of dungarees for a bunch of bananas.

Following his discharge. from the Navy Mitchell worked on bridges at Zigzag River znc Sill Creek. He buillt many summer homes including his own.

In 1928 he married Anna Ringness. A few years later he drew a homestead in Tule Lake, Calif., where the couple lived a year building a house and farm home for his brother, Harry, who survives him. Also surviving is another brother, John, of Sandy.

after “proving up” the homestead the Mitchells moved back to the Faubion area on Mt. Hood. He became treasurer of the Faubion Summer Home Association and held office for at least 35 years. He also served several times as a director of the Welches School Board.

Mitchell is survived by his wife, Anna, Rhododendron; a son, Edward; a daughter, Ellen and four grandchildren.

George Pinner – Master Stonemason

George Pinner, Master Stonemason, Faubion Oregon

George Pinner built most of the stone fireplace through the Mount Hood corridor during the 1920’s and 1930’s, many for Henry Steiner’s cabins. He was known for his shaped arched facing of solid stone and his use of convex mortar coving. George Pinner didn’t use round river run but, instead, would split and shape the stones to fit together, typically with a keystone in the center of the arch. George Pinner also carved the stone curbing for the White House in Washington DC.

George Pinner lived in the little settlement of Faubion situated between the towns of Zigzag and Rhododendron. He built his home out of solid stone. His home is still there and is located on what is now Faubion Loop Road.

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Welches Oregon Pioneer Homesteaders

Here’s a photo of the first Welches Oregon pioneer homesteaders. This is probably one of the earliest photos of the Welches area, certainly of the early residents and is an important piece of Welches Oregon history.

Front row from left – Billy Welch and Firmer Walkley. Standing from the left – August Hornecker, Sam Welch, John Copper and Ira Welch.

Photographed at the Walkley homestead near the junction of Welches Road and Bridge Street. The Walkley homestead was where Tawney’s Mountain Home was located. Tawney’s was built in 1909 and was a destination for many visitors to the area until 1949 when it was closed. The old hotel finally fell into the ground and was demolished sometime around 1955.

The Welch’s Ranch in Welches Oregon

And how it became a town and a tourist destination

In 1882, before Welches Oregon became a destination, it was a family homestead ranch. Samuel Welch, an emigrant from Virginia, homesteaded in the valley in 1882. His son William, as well as Edward Kopper, Billy’s first wife’s father, homesteaded in the valley in 1889.

Welch's Ranch — Welch’s Ranch Welches Oregon

Samuel “Uncle Sam” Welch and his son William “Billy” Welch homesteaded adjoining 160-acre sections of the Salmon River Valley on the southwestern foothills of Mount Hood. Samuel Welch’s deed was signed by Benjamin Harrison on April 19, 1889, and was recorded in the Clackamas County Courthouse on April 27, 1893. The deed to Billy Welch’s place was signed by President William McKinley, June 11, 1897, and was recorded August 23, 1898.

Samuel and Billy bought up other homesteads in the valley until they owned approximately 1000 acres covering the whole valley floor from Walkley’s homestead on the south to “Dutch Fred’s” Homestead to the north (Near present Fairway Av) and extending up the slopes of Hunchback Mountain to the east and Huckleberry Mountain to the west.

The ranch had pastures, corrals, and barns for livestock, including a herd of dairy cows, a few head of beef cattle, some sheep, and several pigs. It had an apple orchard and a large vegetable garden. Also available were an abundance of fish in the river and creeks and hills covered with deer and elk. There were stables and a blacksmith shop. As time passed it became a stop for stages and then motorized coaches that carried passengers along the old road to Mount Hood.

In 1889 Samuel died and deeded his property to Billy. Billy’s first wife, Mamie Kopper Welch, died in 1902. Tourists used to come to the valley in the summer to camp. In 1905 Clinton Kern and a Mr. Wren leased the property and opened it as a hotel resort, which they operated until 1909. The old dance hall was razed, and a large dining hall was erected behind the hotel near the banks of the Salmon River.

To compensate for the loss of the dance hall Billy enlarged his store, which he maintained control of, and added a room in back with a pool table and a second story that was used as a dance hall. It had an east facing balcony where perspiring dancers could get fresh air and, especially on a moonlit night, a view across the pasture toward Hunchback Mountain.

In April 1911 Billy Welch and Jennie Faubion were married. Jennie’s family homesteaded the little settlement of Faubion, just a couplie of miles east of Welches. Together they ran the resort, the store, post office and the dance hall above the store.

In 1905 the Welches post office was established. It was named Welches because the postal service didn’t allow apostrophes in a town name. Billy Welch served as the postmaster from 1905 until 1940. After Billy’s death in 1942 Jennie Welch carried on the responsibilities of postmaster until 1960 when she retired. After Jennie retired the Welches post office was closed and moved to Wemme where it served the community for 17 years when a new post office was built in Welches.

Back then community bonfires, taffy pulls and roasting marshmallows on long sticks were popular. The children were sent out to drag back wood for the fire, which the adults would pile, wigwam style, in piles over 10 feet tall. Campers would sit around the fire and sing songs. Sometimes the festivities were helped along with a little “fortified cider”. The children enjoyed singing “old standards” such as the folk song “Ninety-Nine Blue Bottles,” which was first published in 1910. (Similar to 99 Bottles of Beer). There were several good story tellers that would entrance the folks around the fire with fascinating stories. They would usually end the evening.

And then there were the dances. There were dances in the dance hall every Saturday night. Back then most everyone would come to the dances. Parents of small children would bring blankets and tuck the little ones in the corners of the hall. Billy Welch and one or more other local fiddlers would provide the music. Billy, with his eyes half closed, would pump out “old tunes with a lively beat” while dancers shook the building as they whirled and danced two-steps, schottisches, and the Paul Jones, interspersed with an occasion square dance and a waltz to allow the dancers to catch their breaths.

The valley was becoming a popular spot for summer vacations. In 1910 Tawney’s Hotel, about a mile south of the Welches Ranch at the end of the road, was entertaining guests. Other lodges were being built including the Arrah Wanna Lodge, about a mile down the Salmon River and the Rhododendron Inn in Rhododendron.

Billy slowly converted the ranch to an outdoor vacation resort with a hotel and facilities for campers, hikers, hunters, anglers, and their families. Tent cabins were added when there were no longer enough rooms to meet the demand for lodging. Campers were arranged throughout the area around the hotel and along the Salmon River.

Billy allowed people to camp along the Salmon River, with many of the people returning each year to the same camp spots. After a while Billy subdivided a portion of his property to allow those people to purchase their plot of land. Most of the people built small family cabins and the era of vacation cabins began.

The first vacation cabin south of the Welches Hotel was put there by the Kaderly family. Mr. Kaderly arranged with Billy to move Uncle Sam’s original homestead cabin to a location about 300 feet south of Billy’s home. Except for the hand-hewn foundation and stringers, the whole cabin was constructed of all hand split cedar. In time more cabins were constructed by other families to the south of the hotel facing the meadow along the road toward the Walkley place.

The stage to Mount Hood leaving Welches.

In about 1885 Sam sold 5 acres to Mr. and Mrs. John Roberts of Gresham. They built a cabin on the property. Their son Ed helped Billy in the Welches Store for several years. In 1903 Ed married Dora Owens and in 1910 they built their home on the original Roberts property. In 1913 Ed opened a small photo and candy shop that developed into Roberts Country Store. It was located not far south of the Welches Hotel. Ed died March 29, 1963, at the age of 84.

In 1928, Mr. Ralph Waale leased the Welch pasture with an option to buy. They constructed a nine-hole golf course and operated it until 1939, when they relinquished it to the Welch’s. Billy and Jennie continued operation until 1942, when Billy Welch died. It went through several owners before it was sold to Mr. Eugene Bowman.

CLICK HERE to read more about the development of the Mt Hood Golf Course, Rippling River and the Resort on The Mountain.

Mrs Pierce of Welches Killed a Bear With a Hoe

Mrs Pierce of Welches Killed a Bear With a Hoe – I have spent a lot of time talking with old timers and family

Mrs Pierce of Welches Killed a Bear With a Hoe

Mrs Pierce of Welches Killed a Bear With a Hoe – I have spent a lot of time talking with old timers and family members of those who have lived up here in the Mountain Community for quite a few years now. In one or two conversations I’ve heard tell of a woman who gained local notoriety for killing a bear that invaded her space with a garden hoe. That’s right a woman killed a bear with a hoe.

This afternoon while perusing newspaper archives I happened across this newspaper clipping. Well what do you know? It’s a true story.

The Oregon Daily Journal (Portland Oregon) 20 March 1915

“Gresham Outlook: When Mrs. Pierce of Welches killed a bear with a hoe last Saturday she set an example for all the people of the mountain country. The usual plan of warfare on bears is a good dog and a trusty rifle, but it has been proved that they are no longer needed. The sport should become popular now, because everyone can afford a hoe, and bears are plentiful.”

Welches Oregon Bear Hoe Portland Oregon Daily Journal 20 March 1915

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Reliance Mt Hood Stages

Reliance Mt Hood Stages – First Autos to Mount Hood

Reliance Mt Hood Stages – In the early days of the road to Mount Hood, after the immigrant era, the road allowed the burgeoning new city of Portland to access the mountain for recreation. Mountain climbing and hiking the trails in the foothills in those days was the primary activity in the area. Skiing had yet to become an activity on the mountain.

Automobiles were starting to become a practical means of transportation, but was still primitive. Most people didn’t own a car which gave stage companies an opportunity to carry fun seekers to and from the lodges and roadhouses on Mount Hood. This also gave inn keepers an opportunity to host these people because a trip to Mount Hood wasn’t a simple day trip. Many times a trip to The Mountain was a week minimum investment in time.

Lodges such as Arrah Wanna, Welches Ranch, Tawney’s Mountain Home, La Casa Monte, The Rhododendron Tavern and the Government Camp Hotel all sprang up due to a need to recreational lodging.

The flyer below gives a great representation of the mileage, the lodging available and cost of a trip to the mountain.

Those days were primitive and simple and difficult compared to this day and age, but the life that was lived seems much more fun and adventure filled than the way we live today.

Mt Hood By Motor Stage
Mt. Hood – South Side
Reliance Mt Hood Stages
Mountain Division
“The Mt. Hood Line”
10th Season of Reliable Service

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Irvington Garage and Auto Co. Inc.
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