The Legendary Mrs. Pierce: She Killed a Bear With Her Hoe

The Legendary Mrs. Pierce: She Killed a Bear With Her Hoe

A Strong Mountain Woman

Pioneer Grit And An Unforgettable Bear Story

I’ve spent a lot of time talking with old-timers and the family members of folks who’ve lived up here in the Mountain Community for years. In one or two conversations, I’d 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. At the time, I didn’t know much more about her—but I would later learn that her name was Mrs. Eliza A. Pierce, and her story is the stuff of mountain legend. Around here, she’s best remembered as the legendary Mrs. Pierce.

The Legendary Mrs. Pierce

The Legendary Mrs. Pierce and Her Mountain Homestead

The Legendary Mrs. Pierce was no ordinary pioneer. In the early 1900s, she made her home at the junction of the Sandy and Zigzag Rivers near Mount Hood, Oregon. At over 60 years old, she arrived with almost nothing but determination and a 10-acre tract of untamed land in the area known as Sharon Springs.

What followed is hard to imagine. She built her own home, leveled her cabin site with a wheelbarrow, and filled it with earth carried from the upper slope of her property. She constructed a stone foundation by hand, built fences from cedar logs she split herself, and laid out a productive farm with strawberries, potatoes, pigs, goats, and a garden full of flowers—including 125 rose bushes she carefully watered with buckets hauled from a spring.

In later years, she added a springhouse, a chicken coop, and even a plank sidewalk to make water-carrying easier. She engineered drainage channels to redirect flooding and built a potato house to store her harvests through the mountain winters. Her efforts transformed the landscape, and by all accounts, she did every bit of it herself.

A Bear, a Hoe, and a Moment That Became Legend

One spring morning, a black bear chased her neighbor, Mr. Hutchinson, from his nearby cabin. The bear wandered into Mrs. Pierce’s yard while she worked in her garden. Without a rifle nearby, she grabbed her hoe and stood her ground—fighting off and killing the bear before help arrived.

The Legendary Mrs. Pierce didn’t just survive that encounter—she became famous for it. The story was reported in multiple Oregon newspapers. One article even joked that the old standard of “a good dog and a trusty rifle” was no longer necessary, since “everyone can afford a hoe, and bears are plentiful.”

The Legendary Mrs. Pierce

Grit, Heart, and Generosity

Even without the bear story, Mrs. Pierce was remarkable. She lived alone not out of necessity, but by choice. Though she had adult children and money invested in Portland, she stayed on her land because she loved the forest and the work. She said she was “in love with nature” and wanted to do things for herself.

Neighbors admired her independence, but also her generosity. When someone fell ill nearby, she’d be the one to bring remedies. When others were in trouble, she offered help. In one instance, two young men offered to carry her heavy sack of supplies a mile from the road. She accepted the help—but later remarked, only half-jokingly, that she could’ve spanked both of them.

Mrs. Pierce also crafted and sold fine baskets and paintings. And in the quietest, most touching detail of all, she grew flowers to take to her late husband’s grave—making time for tenderness even in the hardest of lives.

Sharon Springs and the Changing Mountain

The land around Mrs. Pierce’s homestead was once part of the Sharon Springs tract, originally owned by W.R. McGarry. She was one of many who purchased land in this area and transformed it into something livable. Other settlers followed—among them Archibald and Nettie Howard, who built the nearby Mount Hood Hotel, and summer residents like the Vanes and the Baileys.

While others relied on hired help to develop their properties, Mrs. Pierce did the work with her own hands. Her land rose in value because of what she built, not what she bought. At one time, her 10-acre tract was valued at $25 per acre. Within a few years, land in the area was selling for $100 or more.

Why The Legendary Mrs. Pierce Still Matters

Even in her own time, The Legendary Mrs. Pierce was admired across Oregon. A 1912 newspaper feature titled “Woman’s Will vs. Nature’s Wilderness” told her story in poetic detail—describing her farm as a triumph of willpower over wildness. Her life was a blend of hard labor and quiet dignity, built not for show, but for survival and meaning.

She didn’t just live in the Mount Hood wilderness—she mastered it. She dug it, planted it, protected it, and made it her own. When we think of pioneers, we often think of names on roads or plaques. But Mrs. Pierce left something just as lasting: a story of what it means to be strong, self-reliant, and deeply rooted in place.

Today, her name might not be on any maps. But ask around long enough, and someone will remember. The woman who killed a bear with a hoe.

For Further Reading

If you’re interested in the people and places that shaped the Mount Hood corridor during Mrs. Pierce’s time, here are a few more stories from the archive:

Howard’s Hotel at Sharon Springs

Howard’s Hotel at Sharon Springs

A Lost Piece of Zigzag’s Oregon’s History

A Mysterious Rock Wall and a Forgotten Hotel

Howard’s Hotel at Sharon Springs – As you drive along the east end of Barlow Trail Road near the confluence of the Sandy and Zigzag Rivers, you may notice an old moss-covered rock wall. Weathered by time and nature, this beautifully crafted basalt and stone wall stands as a silent sentinel to the past. Yet, few—if any—know its origins. A 1920 map already labeled it as an “old rock wall.” Historical accounts mention it as a marker near old bridge brow logs from an original Barlow Trail crossing. But why was it built? What once stood behind those stones?

Piecing together historical maps, newspaper articles, and land records points to one answer: Howard’s Hotel at Sharon Springs. Built in the early 1910s, this long-forgotten inn lasted only a few years before fire destroyed it. Unlike the well-remembered Welch’s Hotel in Welches, McIntyre’s early hotel, or the Rhododendron Inn, Howard’s Hotel vanished from collective memory. Yet, its story is worth rediscovering.

The Mount Hood Road and the Growth of Tourism

The land where Howard’s Hotel stood was known as Sharon Springs, named after a small, year-round spring that still flows into Clear Creek near the Sandy and Zigzag Rivers. W.R. McGarry originally owned the land and subdivided it in the early 1900s as tourism in the Mount Hood region grew.

This growth followed the expansion of the Barlow Road, a pioneer-era route that later became a toll road. By the early 1900s, it transitioned into an automobile road, drawing more visitors. Travelers sought lodging along the way to Government Camp and Mount Hood’s higher elevations. Hotels and lodges sprang up to serve them.

Seeing an opportunity, Mr. and Mrs. Archibald Howard built a hotel at Sharon Springs, close to the Barlow Road and Mount Hood’s foothills.

Howard's Hotel at Sharon Springs

Howard’s Hotel at Sharon Springs: Built for the Boom

Constructed in 1910, Howard’s Hotel was a three-story, 14-room cedar structure. It stood on the north side of the Sandy River along the old north bank road.

From the start, challenges arose. In 1911, a freshet washed away a crucial bridge over the Sandy River near the hotel and damaged two others, the Zigzag River and Bear Creek bridges. Access became difficult, forcing visitors to detour through Brightwood, where J.T. McIntyre had built a bridge.

Plans to rebuild the bridges were made, but the setback likely hurt the hotel’s early success. Meanwhile, competitors like Welch’s Hotel and the Rhododendron Inn thrived with easier access.

Howard's Hotel at Sharon Springs

The Fire That Erased Howard’s Hotel

On a September night in 1912, disaster struck.

A report in The Oregonian (September 14, 1912) stated:

“The home of Mr. and Mrs. S. Howard, near the junction of Sandy and Zigzag River, in the Mount Hood district, known as the Howard Hotel, was destroyed by fire a few nights ago, and Mrs. Howard, who was alone at the time, barely escaped with her life. Fire started in the lower story from sparks from the fireplace after Mrs. Howard had retired for the night in an upper room.”

Mrs. Howard woke to flames blocking the stairs. Forced to escape through a side window, she fled in her night robe.

The hotel burned completely, with nothing saved. The financial loss ranged from $3,500 to $4,000. With no efforts to rebuild, Howard’s Hotel disappeared from both the landscape and local memory.

Why Has Howard’s Hotel Been Forgotten?

Unlike Welch’s Hotel, the Rhododendron Inn, or McIntyre’s Hotel, Howard’s Hotel lasted barely two years. No surviving photographs or major advertisements recorded its existence. Without a rebuilt structure or continued operation, history left it behind.

Nearby hotels thrived because they became part of a lasting tourism infrastructure. Welch’s Hotel evolved into the town of Welches. Rhododendron and Government Camp grew into permanent tourism hubs. But Howard’s Hotel faded, leaving only the rock wall as a possible clue to its past.

A Call for Further Investigation

The rock wall remains the only visible evidence of Howard’s Hotel. Its basalt and stone construction, multiple entryways, and elevated stone columns suggest more than a simple boundary wall.

Could forgotten records, lost photographs, or hidden remnants beneath the forest floor reveal more?

For now, the story of Howard’s Hotel at Sharon Springs remains an intriguing historical mystery—one that deserves to be remembered.

Conclusion: Preserving the Lost History of Howard’s Hotel at Sharon Springs

Howard’s Hotel burned in 1912, but its legacy should not be forgotten. Among the histories of Welches, Brightwood, and Rhododendron, it represents the challenges of early tourism in the Mount Hood wilderness.

Next time you pass through Zigzag, take a moment to consider the rock wall, the spring at Sharon Springs, and the stories hidden beneath the surface.

The past is still there—waiting to be uncovered.

Zigzag Cabin Owner: A Local Legend

Zigzag Cabin Owner: A Local Legend

Portland’s Buffalo Bill – William DeVeny

An Active Community Participant

In the early 1900s, Portland’s Montavilla neighborhood was home to one of its most fascinating figures: Dr. William DeVeny. Known as the “Buffalo Bill of Portland,” William DeVeny was a community leader, civic advocate, and larger-than-life character. His influence stretched beyond Montavilla and into the Mount Hood region, where he worked to improve access to the wilderness.

DeVeny’s striking appearance—long hair, a thick beard, and signature buckskin attire—earned him his nickname. According to some accounts, Buffalo Bill Cody himself gave him the title. Yet, DeVeny was more than just a local icon—he was a man of action.

A Visionary for Montavilla

DeVeny dedicated himself to improving Montavilla. As secretary of the Montavilla Board of Trade, he led efforts to attract new businesses, including a fruit cannery, chair factory, and broom factory. He also pushed for better schools, clean water, and libraries, believing these essentials would help Montavilla thrive.

One of his most ambitious projects was Montavilla’s annexation to Portland. He argued that annexation would bring stronger infrastructure, including deeper water mains to prevent freezing and increased school funding. Although his campaign initially failed, he continued to fight for it.

In 1907, he ran for city council, hoping to create more change. However, his campaign faced controversy when petition collectors submitted duplicate signatures. Though DeVeny did not commit fraud, officials removed his name from the ballot. This setback ended his political aspirations, but not his commitment to the community.

He saw the need for better roads in the region. To improve access, he led the construction of a road connecting the Mount Hood automobile road to Truman Road on the north side of the Sandy River. The project, called DeVeny Road, required the building of several bridges. This new route made travel easier for settlers, forest rangers, and tourists.

Building Roads to Mount Hood

DeVeny’s passion for development extended into the Mount Hood wilderness. He owned a cabin near the mountain, which he called The Scout’s Rest, inspired by Buffalo Bill Cody’s Nebraska ranch.

By 1913, construction was complete. This road became a key link for travelers and helped boost tourism in the Mount Hood region. Eventually, it was renamed Lolo Pass Road, but DeVeny’s work remains a vital part of the area’s history.

A Complex and Evolving Figure

DeVeny’s views changed over time. Once a supporter of military training for boys, he later spoke out against war, particularly as World War I approached. Some believe he changed his stance because his sons became eligible for the draft.

Beyond civic work, DeVeny was a skilled chiropodist (foot doctor) and an accomplished photographer. Alongside his wife, Martha, he operated photography studios before settling in Portland.

He also supported women’s suffrage and equal rights, reflecting a progressive mindset that was ahead of his time.

A Lasting Legacy

Dr. William DeVeny passed away in 1918 at age 65. The Oregonian honored him as a civic leader, community advocate, and friend of famous frontiersmen. His contributions to Montavilla and Mount Hood shaped Oregon’s history in ways still seen today.

Today, hikers in Mount Hood’s forests and residents in Montavilla’s streets walk paths influenced by his work. His life is a powerful reminder of how one determined individual can shape a community’s future.