In the earliest years of the 20th century, a group of government surveyors came through this area and before long settlers arrived, taking up land claims via the Homestead Law. It only took 4 years for the entire Agency Plains to be settled (100,000 acres). An article in a Methodist publication in Portland inspired a group of Germans to relocate and form a “colony” here, and they immediately took up dryland farming. They spent year after year hauling water from the rivers far below and picking rocks from their fields, which seemed to grow just as a hardy weed would, popping up anew year to year.
“Early among the trials and joys of the German homemakers came the first sorrow. A younger child of William Gomer accidentally shot his baby brother. No time was lost in finding a burial place. Charles Winters and Bill Grittan, whose land joined across the road from where the church was meeting, gave an acre each, to be used “forever” as a cemetery.”
The church was built around the same time. Before long it was decided that a bell was needed. In a single day in July 1904, members gave an offering of $16.20, thus starting the fund. In 1905 a tower was added to the front and the new bell installed.
This gentle rise was locally known as “Methodist Hill” for the church and cemetery and later the school a half mile to the north, which was built in 1905. In 1912, the church was relocated to the brand new town of Metolius, where the railroad had just arrived. The town developers offered the church a free lot in town if it would move.
In walking around this cemetery you will come across the names of those people that found their way to this area long ago, and some perhaps not so long ago. Enjoy the scenery as this is one of those rare vantage points in Jefferson County that gives you a view of the mountains as well as the quilted fields growing various crops. Most of the pioneers resting in this cemetery lived their lives before irrigation came to the area. If only they could have seen the bountiful fields of green!
This is a really easy cache meant to share our local history with fellow geocachers. Cache itself is an ammo can especially painted by Zzzoey. Also there’s a Zzzoey painted rock (Geofly #96)for the first finder. Hope you enjoy the hunt and the history.
