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Saturday, July 14, 2012

Pendleton, Oregon ~ Old Wild West Town



Pendleton, Oregon is the quintessential “Cowboy Town”.  
It is famous for the Pendleton Wool Mill
 started back in 1909.  It was started by Thomas Kay
 a British weaver who started the mill 
by making blankets for the Indians.  
The factory is famous for its blankets and wool shirts. 
 The mill gives a state-of-the-art tour, 
but I did not have the time to take it, 
this trip.  I’ll save that for another day.




Pendleton is also world famous for its Rodeo.  
 The Pendleton Round-up.  
 This event takes place every year in mid-September.   
The term “Let’er-Buck” is a cowboy slogan
 that comes from early round-up days.  
 The rodeo first started in 1910 by a local attorney 
Roy Raley . . . when he decided to have a rodeo after 
the harvest that year, and the rest is history.
    
There is also a historic tour that takes you into Pendleton’s 
underground tunnels.  These tunnels were dug by 
the Chinese between 1870 and 1930, 
they were the homes of a butcher shop, an ice plant, 
a Chinese laundry, as well as many illegal saloons, 
bordellos and opium dens.  
 At one time during Pendleton’s Wild West history 
the city supported 18 bordellos and 32 saloons.   
In my opinion that would be a town to giddy-up 
and 
ride around rather than through. 
 


This is a view from the highway, 
of the valley just before entering Pendleton.



 
The town today is a warm and friendly western town 
with warm brick front stores lining the main street 
and the town has some lovely Queen Anne homes set on tree lined streets. 
 A reminder of its rich and colorful history. 


 
I did not spend a lot of time here, but had to get off
 the main highway for about an hour and stretch my legs.  
 I had a curiosity and wanted to see this historic cowboy town.   
I will most definitely be back when I have more time to look around. 



 While there I when into the most marvelous junk shop.   
It was literally piled high with stacks of history. 
 The owner was the lovely and charming 95 years young lady, Elnor Alkio.  
 She managed her shop with the help of her little dog.   
Her inventory was unbelievable with a mix of everything from 
Native American artifacts, 18 and 1900’s Chinese artifacts , 
19 and 20th centry evertything and Early American cowboy.   
I only spent about ½ hour there, because I had a long drive home 
and was homesick enough to want to be on the road.  

 

The perfect boots for the Shabby Chic Cowgirl.

 
  The Cayuse, Umatilla and Walla Walla people make up 
the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation.
These are the natives of the Pendleton area.  


Look at the old saloon mirror and shelves.
  This must have been 20 feet long.
 

I never made it upstairs,
but a sign read up-stairs Vintage Clothes.

Old baby stroller.

 
Native American Baskets.



 Some of these antique Chinene dishes were way beyond my price range,
 but if you are a true collector . . . You may know their worth. 


If you ever get the chance to travel 
anywhere near this town . . .don’t miss the opportunity 
to spend a couple days seeing the sights.  
 I will be back again when I have more time to spend.
 
  Happy traveling & remember to take a little trip off the beaten path,
you never know what adventures await you.

have a wonderful weekend,  
Connie









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36 comments:

  1. Connie- What a great little town to visit. My friend from Minnesota goes out there on vacation to see the rodeo. It is an amazing place...and so is that shop!!! xo Diana

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    1. Hi Diana, You'll have to go along with your friend, one of this times. Does she ride in the rodeo? It is a very interesting town with a lot of western history. Thanks for stopping by, I always enjoy seeing your lovely smile. Have a great week. Connie :)

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  2. I have never spent as much time in Pendleton as I would have liked...and I'm only an hour away! I need to make the short trip there this summer, I can see. I've done the Underground Tour with a friend, when it was "live." I think that's only a couple of times a year. Believe it or not, I've never gone to the Pendleton Round Up! Wonderful post about a short visit to Pendleton!

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    1. Hello Evelyn, I am so happy to see that you came over to visit. I was so impressed with this dear lady and the fact that she still got up each morning and opened her shop. Not only that but she was dressed to perfection, with a lovely dress, make-up and jewelry. The body gets old and stiff, I'm only 66,(seems very young to her 95) but many a day I only shower, comb my hair, brush my teeth and call it finished. She was a delightful gal. Her shop is called The Collectors Gallery at 223 S.E Court (the main street). Pop in, I'm positive that you will find many items to capture with your camera. Have a lovely week. Connie :)

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  3. Hi Connie! I am a native born Oregonian, lived in Oregon my entire life but have never visited Pendleton. After reading your post I can see that I need to visit this beautiful little city. Thank you for the tour you offered here. 8)

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    1. Hi Brandy, Thank you for stopping by my blog. I hope that you do plan a trip to Pendleton. If you like cowboys and rodeos check for the dates of the Pendleton Round-up. It is a top notch rodeo and world famous. Thanks again for visiting, I love company. Connie :)

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  4. A wonderful aside and fabulous finds. The shop owner and her little dog are a special capture. We are thinking of going out west. Have RV traveled to Dodge City, Kansas. A small comfortable old town. The heat is overwhelming and I feel sorrow for the farmers. This was a fun ramble.

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    1. Well, if you make it as far west as Oregon, check Pendleton out. It is on the eastern boarder close to Washington and Idaho. Beautiful country. Happy travels. Connie :)

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  5. Wow! lots of neat stuff! Looks like a great place to visit.

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    1. Hi Debbie, Elnor was a marvelous lady. It was hard to believe that at 95 she was still getting up each morning and running her shop. The shop was piled high with everything but the kitchen sick . . . I did see a very old electric range (from the late 30's or early 40's). When I say piled, I mean piled . . .you could literally dig under piles of stacked items. It could someday be turned museum. I was in awe of the lady and her shop. If I lived there I would love to sit with her and hear the stories she could tell. Thank you for stopping in. I love company. Connie :)

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  6. Hey Connie,

    What a very cool little town! I'm going to have to check it out on the web - I love Pendelton items but can't afford them. What a great place to stretch your legs and take a break from driving.

    I enjoyed all your photos!

    Hugs,
    Kay

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    1. Hi Kay. It was a great place to stop and stretch and meeting Elnor and going through her shop was the icing on the cake. My husband's grandmother is the only other woman that I've ever met that was still running a business at 95. She lived to be 102 . . . I love meeting strong independent women. They are such an inspiration. Thanks for popping in and visiting, every-time I see you here I get a warm and fuzzy feeling . . . like a visit from and old friend. Have a wonderful week. Connie :)

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  7. Wow Connie what a town and what a junk shop, that lady is amazing! It's so wonderful to see your country through your eyes. I shall look forward forward to seeing more on your next visit.
    Sarah x

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    1. Hi Sarah, Thanks for visiting my blog. I'm happy that you enjoyed the tour of Pendleton, Oregon and the sweet little lady and her junk shop. That is one of the things that I enjoy most about blogging, is seeing the world through the eyes of other women like myself. You get a much better picture than you do from tourist guides. Have a wonderful week. Connie :)

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  8. What an interesting town. I would've spent hours in the junk shop, for sure! Thanks for taking us on your trip. I'm your newest follower!

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    1. Hello Jennifer, I am tickled pink to see you here and the fact that you are following me is like the whipped cream on an ice cream sundae. I'm glad that you enjoyed my little side trip to Pendleton, Oregon. Miss Elnor was a delightful surprise and her shop was amazing. Next visit I will plan on spending more time. Have a wonderful week. Connie :)

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  9. What a lovely post.

    Thank you so much for the nice comment you left me on my blog. :D

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    1. Hi, and thank you for visiting and your "lovely" comment. Connie :)

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  10. wow what a fun stop. Sweet lady with a great shop! I love little old towns and miss living in one!

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    1. Hello Shannon, it is great to see you here . . . yes, Elnor is a sweet lady and an incredibly strong woman, an inspiration at 95 years. I love small towns too . . . they are the heart beat of America. Have a marvelous week. Connie :)

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  11. Oh wow ...that was some shop to visit...pity I live on the other side of the world. xx

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    1. Hello Bron, it is very nice to see you this morning. I just got home from my morning walk and I'm taking a coffee break before cleaning house. Monday is the day I really give the house the major week cleaning. Pendleton was a great little town to visit, I'll have to stop again when I have more time. Ninety-five year old Elnor was amazing. Have a marvelous week. Connie :)

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  12. Looks like an interesting place to visit.
    I love to know about the history of small towns and this one looks to have a lot.

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    1. Tracy your mini book is amazing. So many charming details. I love it. Thanks for popping in and visiting. If you ever get a chance to visit Pendleton, Oregon, play on spending a couple days . . . there is a lot to see in that little town. Have a great week. Connie :)

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  13. What a wonderful post Connie, I love peeping into your world, the vintage shop looked a true treasure trove.. an the photos of the town and roads are so very interesting
    Thea x
    P.S. Thank you for your sweet words and wishes

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    1. Hello Thea,
      Thanks so much for your visit and the sweet comment you left. The junk shop in Pendleton was amazing, but even more amazing was the shop owner. What an awesome woman . . . 95 years and still opening her shop each day.

      Your home is so charming. You can see the love you put into it in every little detail. I love the color of your accent wall. I want to do that, but I can't seem to make up my mind about colors. I use to said, "Oh, it's only paint, if you don't like it paint again". Now that I'm older . . . painting is a much harder job.
      Have a wonderful week, Connie :)

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  14. Oh what fun, I love little towns! That is my favorite kind of shop where you have to dig for treasures...And those boots...Adorable!

    Carol

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    1. Hi Carol, those boots were made for line-dancing. Don't you think? It is great to see you here, thanks for the lovely visit. It is a great shop! Have a great week. Connie :)

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  15. Thanks for this wonderful look around town! I have driven across OR several times and know that steep highway there at Pendleton! I love the Pendleton blankets!! My Grandmother had them on the beds at her house... (I think some of my cousins must have those now.)

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    1. The hill known as Cabbage Batch Hill, is a dozy. Very steep and soooooooooooooo many switch-backs. My husband used to climb it in a semi, years ago when he drove truck. It was not his favorite thing to do. Thanks so much for your sweet visit . . . I just love reading comments and getting a chance to know you better. Have a marvelous week. Connie :)

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  16. Dear Connie, I'm so glad I have my android so I can read and follow your blog. Someone broke into our home the other night and stole our computor (among a few other things). I still have my phone, though, so I can keep up to date. It somehow makes things feel a bit as normal after all. I wish you a marvellous week, and thank you for your lovely blog, the pictures and the nice things you write.
    Maria

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    1. Maria, I am so sorry to hear your bad news. It must be a horrible thing to come home to. I do hope they find your things and the people responsible. Keep a positive outlook and don't let them steal your joy as well. To better times, Connie :)

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  17. Hi Connie, what a lovely post! I loved all of the pictures. I have relatives that live there but haven't been to visit them for years. I went to the rodeo in 1982, and to the woollen mills a couple of years prior. I really want to go on the underground tour. I'm going to need to convince my hubby to take that drive. Thanks so much.

    Kathy M.

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    1. Hi Kathy, I am delighted that I inspired you to take a little road trip. It's wonderful that you have relatives in Pendleton, that means lots of catching-up and home-cooked family dinners. Thank so much for stopping by, I truly enjoy seeing your bright smile pop up on my screen. Have a great week, Connie :)

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  18. We lived in OR a good portion of our lives prior to moving to AZ, but I only remember going through Pendleton to or from other places. Now I wish we had spent some time there. We are trying not to let that happen here in AZ. We've taken lots of day trips, here & there, to see some of the older & more historical towns. It's such a fun and rewarding thing to do.

    CAS

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    1. Hi Cas, it is so good to hear from you. I was just like you I had passed Pendleton on the freeway many times, but never stopped. This was a fun adventure. I only stay there about an hour and half, but it broke up the trip and simulated the mind. This country of ours has so many little nooks and crannies, and so many lovely people . . . it's just nice to slow down and enjoy what is right under our noses. Thanks so much for stopping by. Connie :)

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