Echo Historical Museum

06/15/2025

Let's try this again. It was supposed to paste as a pdf with the mailing addressThe number of people who have joined or supported the Echo Historical Museum has been shrinking over the years as many of our long-time supporters have passed away, but expenses for things like insurance have risen dramatically. We hope you will consider joining or making a donation. Please consider sharing this with friends and family who might be interesting in supporting the museum. Remember the museum building is now 105 years old and is on the National Register.
Some history and facts about the museum and its collection are below. The museum is facing a financial delama and needs to broaden our support base. We have had a major decline in visitors and thus income since closure from COVID19 that has not returned. While we still have a money market donated by Joe Andrews, our insurance coverage because of the architecture and age of the building and collections has risen to over $3000 and the funds he donated will be depleted quickly if we have to continue paying these rates as well as building upkeep. We have been attempting to find another carrier, but there is little interest in insuring an historic building like the museum. This year thanks to one donor we have funds to pay the insurance, but hope donors and members can help develop a cushion for the future.
As you know the museum is in the former Bank of Echo which was built in 1920 and is now on the National Register of Historic Places. It is a unique and basically irreplaceable example of BeauxArts architecture . The museum was created when Cunha Brothers, loaned the building to a group of, primarily Echo ladies: Bennie Tolar, Jo Fullerton, Mildred Dorn, Gloria Lampkin, et.al. to create a bicentennial museum. After the Bicenntennial celebration, they did not want to see it end and Echo Rancher Joe Andrews became the benefactor of the project. He purchased the building and donated it and funding to the newly created Non-Profit Museum Board of Directors. The collection is also unique and irreplaceable. The museum houses the unique Ripper Family collection (the building that houses the H&P Cafe was the Ripper store) of Native American artifacts collected from all over the west. Echo Area memorabilia and artifacts including school annuals and memorabilia in one safe. There are also items donated by area families and two volumes of bound early Echo newspapers that are in fragile condition. Oscar Thomson.was a 49er and early merchant/packer with partner Robert Stanfield in Umatilla Landing when it was the major shipping point on the Columbia River supplying goods to mines and miners in the Boise Basin, Baker and John Day areas. Both men began acquiring land on Butter Creek and became major ranchers and their children were involved in many efforts to develop and promote Echo from banking to telephone and electricity companies. Oscar (O.F.) was also the 4th County Sheriff and sheriff when the county records and seat were transferred secretly from Umatilla to Pendleton after the election to transfer the seat. His family has donated his badge gun and other memorabilia from that era. Mail to PoBox 205, Echo, OR 97826, check or money order or drop by museum when it is open.

Name: ______
Address:_____
Email___________ phone:_____
Individual $10__;___
HOUSEHOLD $25 _______ Patron $50______ Sustaining $100______

Donations: $__________
Comments:___________________________

06/15/2025

The number of people who have joined or supported the Echo Historical Museum has been shrinking over the years as many of our long-time supporters have passed away, but expenses for things like insurance have risen dramatically. We hope you will consider joining or making a donation. Please consider sharing this with friends and family who might be interesting in supporting the museum. Remember the museum building is now 105 years old and is on the National Register.
Some history and facts about the museum and its collection are below. The museum is facing a financial delama and needs to broaden our support base. We have had a major decline in visitors and thus income since closure from COVID19 that has not returned. While we still have a money market donated by Joe Andrews, our insurance coverage because of the architecture and age of the building and collections has risen to over $3000 and the funds he donated will be depleted quickly if we have to continue paying these rates as well as building upkeep. We have been attempting to find another carrier, but there is little interest in insuring an historic building like the museum. This year thanks to one donor we have funds to pay the insurance, but hope donors and members can help develop a cushion for the future.
As you know the museum is in the former Bank of Echo which was built in 1920 and is now on the National Register of Historic Places. It is a unique and basically irreplaceable example of BeauxArts architecture . The museum was created when Cunha Brothers, loaned the building to a group of, primarily Echo ladies: Bennie Tolar, Jo Fullerton, Mildred Dorn, Gloria Lampkin, et.al. to create a bicentennial museum. After the Bicenntennial celebration, they did not want to see it end and Echo Rancher Joe Andrews became the benefactor of the project. He purchased the building and donated it and funding to the newly created Non-Profit Museum Board of Directors. The collection is also unique and irreplaceable. The museum houses the unique Ripper Family collection (the building that houses the H&P Cafe was the Ripper store) of Native American artifacts collected from all over the west. Echo Area memorabilia and artifacts including school annuals and memorabilia in one safe. There are also items donated by area families and two volumes of bound early Echo newspapers that are in fragile condition. Oscar Thomson.was a 49er and early merchant/packer with partner Robert Stanfield in Umatilla Landing when it was the major shipping point on the Columbia River supplying goods to mines and miners in the Boise Basin, Baker and John Day areas. Both men began acquiring land on Butter Creek and became major ranchers and their children were involved in many efforts to develop and promote Echo from banking to telephone and electricity companies. Oscar (O.F.) was also the 4th County Sheriff and sheriff when the county records and seat were transferred secretly from Umatilla to Pendleton after the election to transfer the seat. His family has donated his badge gun and other memorabilia from that era.

Name: ______
Address:_____
Email___________ phone:_____
Individual $10__;___
HOUSEHOLD $25 _______ Patron $50______ Sustaining $100______

Donations: $__________
Comments:___________________________

11/27/2023

The museum is planning to create a special display honoring the Echo State Champion 2023 Football team. We will display it next season and it will become part of the permanent school collection.

The museum uses the walk-in safe on the left or east side to house Echo School items. If you haven't gone in and looked it over it's worth browsing. There are trophies, various uniforms, band hats and lots of photos. There is even the old bass drum used up thru the 1980s, thanks Todd Rohde. There are most annuals. Mick Tolar put together lots of information and articles on sports over the decades.

The display will include a jersey autographed by the players and coaches, photos and we are wanting to put a list together of everyone who attended the game. You can list your name as an attendee, followed by a heart emoji if you are an alumni, in the comments below or come by the museum next spring and sign the game list. Once a Cougar always one. If you weren't able to attend, or even if you were and would like to send a note of congratulations to the team to go in the album, send it to me at PO Box 416, Echo or the museum at PO Box 205, Echo 97826. Also photos. Mindy Neely has sent me a bunch that I will include and more are welcome. Additionally my family took a photo of our #10 cheering section/family fans and other families probably did the same, If you have photos of your family with your player, please provide us with a copy with everyone's names listed on the back.

01/02/2023

Thanks to Cunningham Sheep for sharing this drone video of sheep being herded thru Echo to, I assume, the main ranch at Nolin, via old Hwy 30/Reith Road.

Pride in our agricultural heritage remains today. When Echo was settled raising sheep was one of the first commodities, but large sheep operations are limited in the USA today, with Cunningham among, if not the largest. The vacant area between the firehall and railroad tracks was where the stockyards were located. C. 1907, Echo was the largest shipping point for sheep. Cattle and wool also were shipped out of here. The vacant area across the tracks from the stockyards was where the wool scouring plant was located

This gives an interesting perspective on Echo's many historic buildings and is a reminder of days gone by. Even in the 1960s Echo students could watch from the classroom as sheep were herded thru town, often to mountain Ranges.

As you look at the buildings, remember the Masonic Lodge, Fife Apartments (Edwards Building) and the original county jail are among tge oldest buildings remaining in Umatilla County, although, they like the sheep, had to travel to get here. The buildings were in Umatilla when it was Umatilla Landing in the 1860s. This is recycling at its finest, long before it became a catch phrase. Then it was called survival and waste not want not.

10/11/2022

07/29/2022

With projections of 110 plus temperatures Saturday and Sunday, the museum will not be open Saturday or Sunday. Stay cool and hydrated everyone.

06/22/2022

Ever Heard of "World class" Wrestler/Grappler and Coach Martin Burns, known as Farmer Burns?
I came across a reference in Bennie Tolar's Book "Echoes from the Past" where she talks about Farmer Burns being from Echo. So I looked in the U of O newspaper archive and found that while Farmer Burns wasn't actually from Echo (he was born in and died in IA) he did live in Echo. Burns was installed in the Wrestling Hall of Fame posthumously. He was most noted for his ability to spot and train other wrestlers. The photo is him with Frank Gotch who he trained and became a professional wrestler also. Some of the newspaper articles from the late teens mention that one of his sons was an up and coming wrestler too.
When collecting historical information for the city's cultural inventory, Echo resident Fred Dorn had told me that a "world famous" wrestler lived in Echo when his older brothers were young and coached the local boys on wrestling in the old city hall building (this building set behind the current city hall in part of the George Park. The current City Hall was built in 1916 and the old one was used for sporting events for a time afterward). Fred told me that none of the young men from surrounding towns "messed with" the Echo boys because they knew how to fight. I assume that Fred was talking about Farmer Burns. I have been told that wrestling in those days was a combination of brawling, boxing and wrestling. Wikipedia has an article about Burns. The photo shows Burns with one of the wrestlers Frank Gotch who he trained. Burns is the smaller man on the left. He weighed only 165 lbs. But was reportedly so strong he often beat those in the 180 to 200+ weight class.

06/09/2022

Fort Henrietta newsletter #4
December 1985
John Woodward, PhD, Editor
Four years before Fort Henrietta was constructed the Utilla Indian Agency, Trading Post and Post Office occupied the same ground on the west bank of the Umatilla River. The first Utilla Agent was Elias Wampole. How Agent Wampole celebrated the Christmas of 1851 at his isolated post is unknown. He wrote that on December 18 the Nez Perce Chief Otter Skin and other Indians ate with Wampole in the agency during what Wampole called their "Christmas visit." Another guest at the agent's table may have been A.F. Royer, who was Utilla Post Master, who was a licensed trader the at the agency. Royer, however, may have left the agency prior to Christmas 1851, having sold his trading stock including horses to Wampole between September 25 and October 11. The post office was officially discontinued January 1852.
Wampole's dinner with Otter Skin's group must have been somewhat cramped; the agent complained in a letter 12 days later "that having but one room finished it has to be kitchen, parlor, office." The agency in December 1851 was supplied with flour, to***co, tea, sugar and coffee. Wampole wrote that he prepared meals of chicken and "good" beef. Fall salmon and Indian grown potatoes were also likely available, brought by Indians who practiced trading along the Oregon Trail. Wampole may have given his "Christmas visit" guests presents of to***co; in his letter of December 30 he requested additional to***co for gifts By the mid 19th century, to***co leaves intended to be smoked in pipes were often rolled and twisted into rope-like shapes or packed in bales or boxes. The agent may have given other gifts as well; early in 1852 he presented a Britannia mug to the Cayuse Chief Tauitau and supplied muslin cloth for burial wrappings. Britannia metal was a pewter-like alloy of tin, copper and antimony which was often silver plated.
Four years after Elias Wampole spent Christmas Eve, perhaps alone, in his unfinished house the site of the subsequently destroyed Utilla Agency was the location of Fort Henrietta. The 1855 December weather in the Columbia Plateau was severe; Militia Volunteer Plympton Kelly wrote in his diary that December 23 temperature was at the Walla Walla Valley 29 degrees below zero. The following night it was 2 degrees colder, his diary of 25, 1855 reads tersely "Christmas as cold as the past two days." In what manner the militia celebrated Christmas is unrecorded but survival in the conditions of bitter cold must have been of paramount concern. The two blockhouses and what other structures were constructed provided shelter for the volunteers and teamsters occupying the small log fort.
The preliminary analysis of the artifacts recovered by 1984 and 1985 Fort Henrietta Site archaeological excavations is now nearly complete. The total number of specimens will exceed 15,000. Ceramic sherds account for about 2% of the total site assemblage. The largest number of sherds has been revovered from "sheet trash" deposited on the site between 1885 and 1905. A few important specimens however, can be attributed to the earlier Utilla Agency-Fort Henrietta occupation. At least 30 types of ceramic wares are represented including pottery made in England, the United States, China, Japan and possibly Portugal. The earliest may date to1840 and latest to 1930.
Ceramic artifacts are very important to historical archaeology. James Deetz in "In Small Things Forgotten" emphasizes that ceramics in America have been primarily associated with foodways. The pottery on a site is dictated by four factors: availability, need, function and social status. Mass produced dinnerware is especially enlightening because by the mid 19th century it was commonly designed, manufactured, transported over great distances, used, broken and discarded within a few years. The study of the provenance of ceramic artifacts recovered from an archaeological site also reveals the site's sequence of cultural deposition.
(Continued)
Figure 1 shows a broken, toy porcelain saucer. Two of its fragments were found during the excavation of archaeological test pit 8, 20 cm. below the present surface. Several months later the 3rd fragment was found at the same depth during excavation of pit 11. The toy saucer pieces were associated with glass bottle sherds and other kitchen midden artifacts. Examination of the "Sears and Roebuck's Mail Order Catalog" available for the 1900 Christmas season illustrates "Toy China Sets" with 16 pieces for 15 cents. The molded pattern shown in the advertisement appears identical with the 6excavated specimen. One of the broken bottle sherds found near the saucer fragment in pit 11 could be identified as being from a bottle containing "WARNERS SAFE KIDNEY & LIVER CURE," a high proof patent medicine popular between 1880 and 1905. The paper label on Warner's bottle of this period claimed that the contents cured "Brights Disease, Jaundice, Gravel, Stone , Catarrh of Bladder, Pain in the Back, Headache, Dropsy, Impotency, Inflammation of Kidneys, Liver and Urinary Organs, Tumors, Abscesses, Irregular Periods, Convulsions, Female Complaints, Change of Life and was beneficial in gestation, debility, malaria, heart, blood and other disease caused by deranged Kidney and Liver."
The archaeological implications are clear, the 20 cm. deep artifacts from pits 8 and 11 include debris of everyday life. These artifacts were probably from a single household living near the old fort site about 45 years after its abandonment. Future "Fort Henrietta Newsletters" will explore the significance of the ceramic artifacts from the site.
Merry Christmas and Thanks to the volunteer crews who worked enthusiastically on the site during during 1985.
[Note displays of artifacts are in the foyer of the Echo City Hall/Community Center ball room and the rest of the artifacts remain in boxes stored in city hall that are in still in baggies marked with date, test pit$ and depth. Researchers who might want to look at these artifacts will need to contact Echo City Hall.

05/20/2022

The attached photo shows why it is great to grow up in a small town and attend our small school. I wanted to share a program that was started a couple of years ago to honor Echo graduates. Each graduating senior has a banner with one of their senior photos on it. The city then hangs the banners on the decorative Main Street light poles. This is Charlei and she is the 6th generation of her family to graduate from Echo Schools. The seniors get to keep their banners upon graduation. Go Cougars.