as built — a capacious structure: 24-by-36 feet. The Wheatland Church next became the public school building. New desks were bought for the 50 pupils, and Maude Williamson was the teacher.
Sunday church services continued in the building until 1906, but it also was the schoolhouse until a smaller replacement building served that purpose. Wheatland School was consolidated with Hopewell in 1945, and the newer, smaller structure was moved to Hopewell to serve as gym and community hall.
Because of increased trade resulting from the advent of steam power, Wheatland had developed into an important shipping point and was one of the better equipped ports.
But then, the beautiful Willamette that had nurtured Wheatland turned nasty. The 1861 flood washed out the lower portion of the town’s shipping facilities. It devastated Zieber’s business and wiped out the local warehouse where 7,000 bushels of wheat were stored.
And fire in 1872 burned Hendrick’s great mill, although he rebuilt and added a merchandising business, continuing his milling and warehouse business until the 1890s.
In 1881, Wheatland’s population was 319. The town had at least 15 businesses.
But the shipping port was challenged by the coming of the railroads. Shipping dramatically declined. The mighty Willamette knuckled down to the rails. The hotels closed. In 1903, the post office was discontinued.
The 1915 Oregon Almanac listed Wheatland’s population as 85.
Today, sitting in the car, awaiting our turn for river crossing, I visualize this site of Wheatland in its heyday: shipments of wheat departing, more wagons arriving, important visitors checking in at the hotels, businesses humming.
Today, the Methodist Mission across the river from the Matheny Ferry site is gone. Gay’s brick house has crumbled. An entire town has disappeared. All that remains today is Wheatland Ferry — after 170 years.
And I am reminded: Time is the great obliterator of all things — except, to date, the Wheatland Ferry.
Elaine Rohse can be reached at email@example.com.