2014 was the 100 year anniversary of my Grandpa Hutch homesteading in Oregon. We decided to have a family reunion on the homestead which is 320 acres in the Catlow Valley of Eastern Oregon. Catlow Valley is in Harney County, near the town of Frenchglen, about 4500 feet of elevation and part of the Oregon high desert. About 6 inches of rain this year, a few grasses and lots of sage brush. It doesn't look like much of a place to homestead and in fact it wasn't. Previous years to 1914 had much more rain and when Grandpa first arrived it was pretty green. The first year year there was the last year of sufficient rainfall to raise any crops. This is what it currently looks like.
Pretty dry country and not what you would call farm land. It is surrounded by Rock Creek Ranch which raises some hay but is mostly cattle grazing. The Miller's let us cross their land to make our infrequent visits. We head down this fence row for a few miles and then about a mile out into the sage brush to get to the home site on the homestead.
When my Dad passed away we built a marker and spread some of his ashes here. This year my Mom also passed away and we spread some hers here too.
While parts of the foundation from the house are still visible, the only artifact on the site is the remains of the tractor that Grandpa brought to plow the land. It was delivered to Crane, OR by rail and then drove cross country to Catlow Valley, a distance of about 85 miles. The steel wheels and frame are all that's left.
Sunrise in the Catlow Valley
Campsites on the homestead.
This is way more comfortable than our first time staying here. By the 1st of September nighttime temperatures are below freezing.
No comments:
Post a Comment