Before the Interstate 5 freeway was built in 1967, the main north-south highway through the Willamette Valley was 99E, which goes through the center of Halsey. It was a dirt or gravel road until it was paved with in 1937. The City Hall was on the west side of Highway 99, in the center of town. It was blown down in the Columbus Day storm of 1962. For many years after that, Halsey used the old City Library building, that was built on West 1st Street in 1929, as a City Hall.
In 1997, members of the Planning Commission considered converting the old Halsey Southern Pacific Depot into a new larger City Hall. It had not been used as a depot since the mid 1950’s when passenger service was halted in Halsey. In 1998, Smith Seed Company donated the empty Depot building to Halsey. It was moved in March of 2000 to City property at the intersection of Highway 99E and American Drive. It was finally completed in December 2012.
The original depot was only one level, which is now the upper level of the new structure
You may ask why is this cache part of the Stand By Me cache series, Halsey was not featured in the movie. This is true. The rail line out of Brownsville no loner exist as well. But railroads are a prominent feature in the movie and this is a way to get to see move of the area.