zigzag Archives - Mount Hood History

The Modern Barlow Trail Road

The Historic Paths of Barlow Trail Road and Lolo Pass Road

Have you ever driven along Barlow Trail Road or Lolo Pass Road and wondered about their origins? These quiet, winding roads are more than just modern routes—they are living pieces of history.

Long before cars or bicycles rolled over them, these paths were game trails and footpaths used by the region’s first inhabitants. Later, Oregon Trail pioneers relied on them as lifelines to complete their westward journey. Over time, they evolved into crucial connections for local residents and the modern communities we know today.

and wondered about their origins? These quiet, winding roads are more than just modern routes—they are living pieces of history.

From Wagon Wheels to Hackett Road

In the mid-1800s, the original Barlow Trail served as a rough but vital route for settlers completing the Oregon Trail. As pioneers descended from Mount Hood, they followed the north side of the Zigzag River until they reached the Sandy River. At the big bend of the Sandy, they crossed over a log bridge built by settlers.

Later, the trail shifted to the south side of the Sandy River, leaving behind remnants of the earlier path. As a result, settlers repurposed parts of the old trail into local roads, including Hackett Road. This road, named after early settlers in the area, still carries their legacy in the name of nearby Hackett Creek.

The McIntyre Bridge: A Critical Connection

By 1910, settlers struggled to access the road on the north side of the Sandy River. Early bridges were unstable and often washed away, making travel difficult. That year, J.T. McIntyre, an early settler in Brightwood, took action. He built a sturdy bridge over the Sandy River, providing reliable access to the road on the north side.

This new bridge transformed travel in the area. Residents could now cross the river safely, and it became a key link for the growing community. Without McIntyre’s efforts, settlers on the north side would have remained isolated from the developing Mount Hood automobile road nearby. Consequently, his work played a crucial role in connecting these remote settlements.

The Road to The Truman Farm

Around the same time, Ezra and Eliza Truman homesteaded on the north side of the Sandy River, near Zigzag Ridge. Ezra, a mountain guide and farmer, relied on the newly connected road to reach his homestead. He used it to deliver milk and produce to his neighbors.

Over time, this route became known as Truman Road, named after the family who lived at its farthest end. Even after Ezra’s death in 1917, the road remained essential. It provided access to settler homes, cabins, and lodges, supporting the early tourism industry that grew alongside the increase in automobile travel to Mount Hood. Because of this, the area became a gateway for visitors exploring the region.

DeVeny Road: A Valuable Connection

In the early 1900s, Dr. William DeVeny, a Zigzag cabin owner and civic leader from Montavilla (now part of Portland), saw the need for better road access. With support from the Mount Hood Improvement Association and local government funding, he led the construction of DeVeny Road.

The new road linked the Mount Hood automobile road on the south side of the Sandy River to the east end of Truman Road on the north side. By 1913, the project was complete. Bridges were built over Bear Creek, the Zigzag River, and the Sandy River, creating a vital route for settlers, forest rangers, and early visitors to the Mount Hood wilderness. As a result, travel between the two sides of the Sandy River became much easier, further opening the area to development.

A Modern Legacy

As time passed, these roads continued to serve local communities while adapting to modern needs. In 1979, the Clackamas County Historical Society honored the pioneers by renaming Truman Road to Barlow Trail Road. This change recognized the historical importance of the original Barlow Trail.

Meanwhile, DeVeny Road became part of Lolo Pass Road, and its original name faded from memory. Yet, the routes themselves remain a testament to those who built them. Although the names have changed, their significance has not been forgotten.

Roads Worth Remembering

Today, whether you’re coming home, heading out, or simply enjoying a scenic drive, you are traveling through history. These roads are more than just asphalt and gravel—they are stories of resilience, determination, and community.

So, next time you find yourself driving down Barlow Trail Road or Lolo Pass Road, take a moment to appreciate the history beneath your wheels. After all, you are following in the footsteps and wagon tracks of those who came before us

The Town of Faubion

Faubion: The Forgotten Settlement on Mount Hood

Much has been written about how Welches, Oregon, got its name, but it isn’t the only town in the Mount Hood area that carries the legacy of its founding family. Just east of Welches and beyond the historic Zigzag Ranger Station, you’ll find Faubion Loop Road.

Although now a quiet residential area, it was once the home of the William J. Faubion family—early settlers who played a significant role in the development of the region. Their handcrafted log home and roadhouse, La Casa Monte, became a well-known stop for travelers along the old Barlow Road, which later became the Mount Hood Loop Highway.

The Faubion Family Arrives

In 1907, William and Anna Faubion moved their family to 80 acres just past Zigzag. The following year, in 1908, they built their home and named it La Casa Monte, meaning “The Mountain House.”

Like many settlers in the region, William Faubion made a living through timber work and hunting. He harvested the massive old-growth cedar trees on his land, cutting shake bolts to sell. To this day, remnants of this early logging can still be seen—several large stumps with springboard notches remain visible along Highway 26 near Faubion Loop Road.

Eventually, the family’s home evolved into something more—a place of hospitality and rest for weary travelers.

La Casa Monte: A Handcrafted Mountain Retreat

As traffic increased along the Mount Hood road, the Faubions converted their home into a roadhouse, similar to today’s bed and breakfasts. They called it La Casa Monte (“The Mountain House”), a fitting name for its rugged yet inviting presence in the wilderness.

The home itself was an architectural marvel for the time:

Built entirely from hand-split cedar lumber and shingles, without any milled wood.
Featured a large rock fireplace, made from stones collected from the banks of the Zigzag River.
Designed with a two-story structure, gabled roof, and wide eaves, making it both rustic and inviting.
The recessed front porch had arched openings, with a short staircase leading to the main entrance.

Inside, the rustic charm continued. Handmade furniture filled the rooms, and the walls were adorned with mounted animals, showcasing William’s skill as a hunter. The abundance of game in the area made hunting a necessity and a way of life for early settlers.

However, it was Anna Faubion’s cooking that truly put La Casa Monte on the map. Known especially for her huckleberry pies, she made the inn a favorite stop for early tourists heading to Mount Hood.

Faubion’s Place on the Map

As the community around the roadhouse grew, it became more than just an inn—it became a settlement of its own. The addition of a store and post office turned Faubion into an official location.

1925 – The Faubion Post Office was established.
1937 – The post office closed, but the store remained.

The store and post office were operated by Aneita (Faubion) and Thomas Brown, William and Anna’s daughter and son-in-law. It became a popular stop for early motorists and adventurers traveling up the Mount Hood road.

Much like the Rhododendron Inn, La Casa Monte served a critical role in accommodating early automobile tourists, who at the time took hours to reach Mount Hood due to the primitive roads and slow vehicles.

The Faubion Family Legacy

William and Anna Faubion had seven children—three boys and four girls. Their oldest daughter, Wilhelmina Jane (Jennie) Faubion, was born in Gladstone, Oregon, in 1890.

At twenty years old, Jennie married William “Billy” Welch, the son of Barlow Trail pioneers who had homesteaded the area that later became Welches, Oregon. She lived there until her passing in 1985 at the age of 95, connecting two of Mount Hood’s most historic families.

Most of the other Faubion children remained in the area, becoming well known as an important part of Mount Hood’s history.

The End of La Casa Monte and the Faubion Settlement

With the construction of the modern Mount Hood Highway (Highway 26), Faubion—like many other historic settlements—began to fade.

La Casa Monte was eventually lost. Few photographs exist of it today.
The store still stands, though it has since been converted into a private residence.
The post office is long gone, closing in 1937.
Faubion itself is no longer an official town, but the name lives on in Faubion Loop Road.

A Community That Remains

Although the original Faubion structures are gone, the community they helped establish continued to grow.

Arlie Mitchell, one of the first homebuyers after the property was divided into home sites, built his home here.
George Pinner constructed a beautiful stone house, which still exists today.

Despite the passage of time, residents of the area still recognize their community’s history. To this day, many locals proudly say they live “At Faubion.”

A Forgotten Piece of Mount Hood History

The story of La Casa Monte and the Faubion settlement is one of pioneering spirit, hard work, and adaptation. Like the Rhododendron Inn, Welch’s Hotel, and other historic mountain retreats, it was a vital part of early tourism on Mount Hood.

While nothing remains of La Casa Monte, the legacy of the Faubion family lives on in the land they settled, the stories they left behind, and the name that remains on maps today.

Discover More Mount Hood History

If you love learning about Oregon’s past, check out more stories at MountHoodHistory.com.

Do you have memories or stories about the Faubion family or La Casa Monte? Share them in the comments below!

Villages of Mt Hood Post Offices

The Villages of Mt Hood Post Offices

What gives a town, or in this case a village, its identity? In most cases it’s the establishment of a post office. Many feel that the establishment of a post office is truly that which makes a settlement a town or a village. The case is no different here on The Mountain, as each of our villages have been identified in that very same way. That identity still exists in places that no longer have a post office, such as Zigzag, Wemme and Faubion.

One might think that Welches, being the center of attention in our area, would have been the first post office to be established here, but it was actually the roots of the present day Brightwood post office that makes that claim. Samuel Welch, a local pioneer and Welches namesake’s first venture in the area was a hotel and general store in what was then called Salmon, Oregon, with a post office being established in 1891. His hotel was located near the present west end of Brightwood Loop near the Salmon River, and it wasn’t until 1910 that the name Brightwood was adopted. At that point in time it was located inside of McIntyre’s General Store near its present location. The Brightwood Post Office was discontinued in 1914 but reestablished in 1925.

The next in line as one travels east was Wemme. Named for E. Henry Wemme, the benefactor of the old Barlow Road, its post office was established in 1916. Wemme was discontinued upon the establishment of the new Welches post office in 1977.

The Welches post office was established at the Welch’s Ranch in June of 1905 with Linny Kern as the postmaster. Billy Welch succeeded Kern as postmaster in 1910 and served until 1940 when his wife Jennie took over. Jennie, for years the local matriarch, served until 1960 when the Welches post office was closed. The Welches post office was re-established in 1977. The original plan, at that time, was to move the Wemme post office into a new building on Welches Road, thus threatening to re-name Welches to Wemme. Because of the local outcry the postal service changed their plans and named the new post office Welches, thus insuring the perpetuation of its true identity.

In 1909, a post office was established in the little town of Rowe. Named for Henry S. Rowe, an ex-mayor of Portland who built the old Rhododendron Inn, the post office was located in Dad Miller’s store. The Rowe post office name was changed to Zigzag in 1917.

The Zigzag post office existed as its own entity until 1964 when it became a rural delivery station for the Rhododendron post office. Although the mail was sorted at Rhododendron, the mail was postmarked “Zigzag Rur St”. The Zigzag post office closed for good in 1974.

The Rhododendron post office was established in 1920 and is still operating today.

The Faubion post office, which was located in the old Cedarwood Store on what is now Faubion Loop operated from 1924 to 1932 and was operated by William Faubion, Jennie Welch’s father.

Please take some time to send a postcard to friends or relatives. Our postmasters on The Mountain are all friendly down to earth folks that would love to have you drop in. They will also remind you that they need your business to continue their existence.