History & lodging

[Company Logo Image] Lodging and History

History

Long before the first white settlers began arriving, this area was populated by the Molalla Indian tribe. The community grew around the crossing point of two Indian trails. Descendents of the Molalla tribe now live on the Grande Ronde Reservation in western Oregon. The last known full-blooded Molalla Indian died in 1913.

Seeking fertile soils, ample water and rich grasses, the pioneers were attracted to the Willamette Valley. William Russell filed the first land claim in the area in 1840. In 1850 a post office was opened and the community started to grow. By 1856, the first schools were operating and the town had become a thriving agricultural and trade center. The year 1857 brought the first general store.

The year 1913 was a year of “firsts” for Molalla. It welcomed the first steam train, the first Molalla Buckeroo, the first bank, the first locally published weekly newspaper and the incorporation of the city.

Over the years, timber and lumber became one of the community’s biggest commodities. As a result, several sawmills came into being. Timber remained the mainstay of the community’s economy until the 1980’s. Two large mills still operate today, as do several small family owned mills.

One can still get a glimpse of pioneer life by visiting the Dibble and Von der Ahe houses on S. Molalla Avenue. The Dibble House was built in 1859 and was restored by the Molalla Area Historical Society in 1972. The Von der Ahe House was moved from the Carus area near Oregon City to its present site. It served as a stagecoach stop along the Portland to Salem route in the 1800’s.

Molalla’s rich past is still reflected today in our commitment to our rural lifestyle and quality of life.

For more information on the history of the area, go to the Molalla Public Library or visit the Dibble/Von Der Ahe Complex.