McCoin Upper - Revision history

Peter at 02:37, 8 March 2026

2026-03-08T02:37:04Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:37, 7 March 2026
Line 17:		Line 17:
	=== Family Tragedy ===		=== Family Tragedy ===

	On December 4, 1888, while Julius was away on one of his freight runs, Sarah McCoin died suddenly at the age of 33. She was buried at Juniper Haven Cemetery in Prineville. Julius and Sarah had five children: Numa Franklin, Minnie Clara, Ella Jane, Ida Frances (who died in 1885), and Walter Henry (born July 1886). At the time of Sarah's death, four children survived; three were still at home — Minnie, Ella, and Walter ~~(2)~~. Taking stock of his family's predicament, Julius decided that with Minnie in charge, his children had sufficient gumption to run the ranch during his absences, which sometimes lasted up to two weeks. He never remarried.		On December 4, 1888, while Julius was away on one of his freight runs, Sarah McCoin died suddenly at the age of 33. She was buried at Juniper Haven Cemetery in Prineville. Julius and Sarah had five children: Numa Franklin, Minnie Clara, Ella Jane, Ida Frances (who died in 1885), and Walter Henry (born July 1886). At the time of Sarah's death, four children survived; three were still at home — Minnie, Ella, and Walter. Taking stock of his family's predicament, Julius decided that with Minnie in charge, his children had sufficient gumption to run the ranch during his absences, which sometimes lasted up to two weeks. He never remarried.

	As an elderly woman, Minnie McCoin Helfrich recalled how the summer after their mother died, she and her siblings had to wash all the moldy jars and lids from the previous year's fruit canning, as in their mother's absence they had eaten the canned fruit without bothering to wash the containers. The McCoins were among the earliest homesteaders in what would become Jefferson County, and their primary agricultural endeavor included livestock such as sheep and high-quality horses, in addition to their extensive orchard.		The McCoins were among the earliest homesteaders in what would become Jefferson County, and their primary agricultural endeavor included livestock such as sheep and high-quality horses, in addition to their extensive orchard.

	''Note: An earlier version of this section, based on Jarold Ramsey's article in The Agate (Spring 2015), gave Sarah's death as the winter of 1886-87 and Walter's age as 4. These have been corrected per the [https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/22426271/sarah_frances-mccoin FindAGrave memorial for Sarah Frances McCoin] and the headstone of Walter Henry McCoin (born July 1886).''

	=== Abandonment and Sale (1930s) ===		=== Abandonment and Sale (1930s) ===

Peter: /* Rescue and Preservation (1970s-Present) */

2026-03-08T02:33:19Z

Rescue and Preservation (1970s-Present)

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:33, 7 March 2026
Line 33:		Line 33:
	In the 1970s, two U.S. Forest Service/National Grasslands range specialists from Prineville, Duane Ecker and Harry Ketrenos, discovered the abandoned McCoin orchard and undertook efforts to rescue the surviving trees. They systematically pruned the trees and cleared encroaching brush, saving the orchard from being overtaken by juniper and sagebrush.		In the 1970s, two U.S. Forest Service/National Grasslands range specialists from Prineville, Duane Ecker and Harry Ketrenos, discovered the abandoned McCoin orchard and undertook efforts to rescue the surviving trees. They systematically pruned the trees and cleared encroaching brush, saving the orchard from being overtaken by juniper and sagebrush.

	In August 2012, the Jefferson County Historical Society collaborated with the Home Orchard Society of Portland to conduct a comprehensive survey of the orchard. Expert "fruit detectives" Joanie Cooper and Shaun Shepherd carefully mapped the trees, took samples and cuttings for identification, and documented the varieties present. The survey identified approximately 63 living trees, including apple varieties such as ~~Roxbury Russet,~~ [[Northern Spy]], [[Yellow Transparent]], and ~~Astrakhan~~, as well as pears and plums in the lower orchard areas.		In August 2012, the Jefferson County Historical Society collaborated with the Home Orchard Society of Portland to conduct a comprehensive survey of the orchard. Expert "fruit detectives" Joanie Cooper and Shaun Shepherd carefully mapped the trees, took samples and cuttings for identification, and documented the varieties present. The survey identified approximately 63 living trees, including apple varieties such as [[Northern Spy]], [[Yellow Transparent]], and [[Red Astrachan]], as well as pears and plums in the lower orchard areas.

	On May 26, 2015, the Julius and Sarah McCoin Homestead and Orchard Site was officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The site is recognized as emblematic of the homesteader experience in the Grasslands as described in the Multiple Property Document "The Settlement and Abandonment of the Crooked River Grassland in Jefferson County, OR, 1868-1937."		On May 26, 2015, the Julius and Sarah McCoin Homestead and Orchard Site was officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The site is recognized as emblematic of the homesteader experience in the Grasslands as described in the Multiple Property Document "The Settlement and Abandonment of the Crooked River Grassland in Jefferson County, OR, 1868-1937."

Bot: Add McCoin family photo (early 1920s) to history section

2026-03-07T18:13:16Z

Add McCoin family photo (early 1920s) to history section

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:13, 7 March 2026
Line 8:		Line 8:

	=== The McCoin Homestead (1886-1936) ===		=== The McCoin Homestead (1886-1936) ===
			[[File:Julius McCoin Family.jpg\|thumb\|right\|300px\|The McCoin family, early 1920s. Standing, left to right: Walter McCoin, Ella McCoin Mendenhall, Minnie McCoin Helfrich, Numa McCoin. Seated: Julius McCoin. Source: [https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/22980836/numa_franklin-mccoin Find a Grave].]]


	Julius Spate McCoin (1850-1928) and Sarah Osborn McCoin homesteaded on the southeast flank of Gray Butte in the spring of 1886, claiming a 160-acre parcel under the Homestead Act. They selected a site at the head of a gully with a good spring, which provided reliable water for their orchards and livestock. The U.S. Department of the Interior issued a Homestead Patent to Julius McCoin on September 9, 1895 (BLM Serial Number ORTDAA 062819, Document 2435).		Julius Spate McCoin (1850-1928) and Sarah Osborn McCoin homesteaded on the southeast flank of Gray Butte in the spring of 1886, claiming a 160-acre parcel under the Homestead Act. They selected a site at the head of a gully with a good spring, which provided reliable water for their orchards and livestock. The U.S. Department of the Interior issued a Homestead Patent to Julius McCoin on September 9, 1895 (BLM Serial Number ORTDAA 062819, Document 2435).

Bot: Correct Sarah McCoin death date (Dec 4, 1888, not winter 1886-87), Walter's age (2, not 4), burial location (Juniper Haven Cemetery), and children's names per FindAGrave memorial and Walter McCoin headstone

2026-03-07T17:55:10Z

Correct Sarah McCoin death date (Dec 4, 1888, not winter 1886-87), Walter's age (2, not 4), burial location (Juniper Haven Cemetery), and children's names per FindAGrave memorial and Walter McCoin headstone

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:55, 7 March 2026
Line 15:		Line 15:
	=== Family Tragedy ===		=== Family Tragedy ===

	~~In the winter of 1886-1887~~, while Julius was away on one of his freight runs, Sarah McCoin died suddenly at the age of 33. She was buried in ~~the Gray Butte Cemetery, leaving behind their~~ children: Minnie ~~(9)~~, Ella (8), Walter (4), and ~~possibly a fourth child~~. Taking stock of his family's predicament, Julius decided that with Minnie in charge, his children had sufficient gumption to run the ranch during his absences, which sometimes lasted up to two weeks. He never remarried.		On December 4, 1888, while Julius was away on one of his freight runs, Sarah McCoin died suddenly at the age of 33. She was buried at Juniper Haven Cemetery in Prineville. Julius and Sarah had five children: Numa Franklin, Minnie Clara, Ella Jane, Ida Frances (who died in 1885), and Walter Henry (born July 1886). At the time of Sarah's death, four children survived; three were still at home — Minnie, Ella, and Walter (2). Taking stock of his family's predicament, Julius decided that with Minnie in charge, his children had sufficient gumption to run the ranch during his absences, which sometimes lasted up to two weeks. He never remarried.

	As an elderly woman, Minnie McCoin Helfrich recalled how the summer after their mother died, she and her siblings had to wash all the moldy jars and lids from the previous year's fruit canning, as in their mother's absence they had eaten the canned fruit without bothering to wash the containers. The McCoins were among the earliest homesteaders in what would become Jefferson County, and their primary agricultural endeavor included livestock such as sheep and high-quality horses, in addition to their extensive orchard.		As an elderly woman, Minnie McCoin Helfrich recalled how the summer after their mother died, she and her siblings had to wash all the moldy jars and lids from the previous year's fruit canning, as in their mother's absence they had eaten the canned fruit without bothering to wash the containers. The McCoins were among the earliest homesteaders in what would become Jefferson County, and their primary agricultural endeavor included livestock such as sheep and high-quality horses, in addition to their extensive orchard.

			''Note: An earlier version of this section, based on Jarold Ramsey's article in The Agate (Spring 2015), gave Sarah's death as the winter of 1886-87 and Walter's age as 4. These have been corrected per the [https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/22426271/sarah_frances-mccoin FindAGrave memorial for Sarah Frances McCoin] and the headstone of Walter Henry McCoin (born July 1886).''

	=== Abandonment and Sale (1930s) ===		=== Abandonment and Sale (1930s) ===
Line 44:		Line 46:
	Today, the McCoin Orchard stands near the Gray Butte Trailhead as a living monument to the pioneer families who settled Central Oregon and a valuable repository of heritage fruit tree genetics.		Today, the McCoin Orchard stands near the Gray Butte Trailhead as a living monument to the pioneer families who settled Central Oregon and a valuable repository of heritage fruit tree genetics.

	''Sources: Jefferson County Historical Society "The Agate" (Spring 2015); Duane Ecker, "CRNG Apple Orchard Legacy Notes" (2001); Oregon Historic Sites Database; Home Orchard Society/JCHS 2012 Survey; Madras Pioneer; Oregon State Archives''		''Sources: Jefferson County Historical Society "The Agate" (Spring 2015); Duane Ecker, "CRNG Apple Orchard Legacy Notes" (2001); Oregon Historic Sites Database; Home Orchard Society/JCHS 2012 Survey; Madras Pioneer; Oregon State Archives; [https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/22426271/sarah_frances-mccoin Find a Grave: Sarah Frances McCoin]''

	== Orchard Map ==		== Orchard Map ==

Peter: /* Orchard Map */

2026-03-03T17:25:55Z

Orchard Map

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:25, 3 March 2026
Line 51:		Line 51:
	\|?Has field tag		\|?Has field tag
	\|?Has condition		\|?Has condition
			\|?Has variety
	\|format=leaflet		\|format=leaflet
	\|height=400px		\|height=400px

Bot: Remove obsolete infobox parameters (now auto-calculated)

2026-02-05T17:10:13Z

Remove obsolete infobox parameters (now auto-calculated)

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:10, 5 February 2026
Line 2:		Line 2:
	\|name=McCoin Upper		\|name=McCoin Upper
	\|location=CRNG, OCHOCO NF		\|location=CRNG, OCHOCO NF
	~~\|tree_count=31~~
	~~\|species_breakdown=22 apple, 9 pear~~
	~~\|variety_count=9~~
	}}		}}
	The '''McCoin Upper''' orchard contains 31 documented heritage fruit trees.		The '''McCoin Upper''' orchard contains 31 documented heritage fruit trees.

Bot: Move Condition Summary below Trees section

2026-02-03T21:52:15Z

Move Condition Summary below Trees section

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:52, 3 February 2026
Line 60:		Line 60:
	\|scrollwheelzoom=off		\|scrollwheelzoom=off
	}}		}}

	~~{{Condition summary\|orchard=McCoin Upper}}~~

	== Trees ==		== Trees ==

	{{Orchard tree list\|orchard=McCoin Upper}}		{{Orchard tree list\|orchard=McCoin Upper}}

			{{Condition summary\|orchard=McCoin Upper}}

	== Varieties ==		== Varieties ==

Bot: Bot: Add Related Orchards section

2026-02-03T04:19:35Z

Bot: Add Related Orchards section

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:19, 3 February 2026
Line 88:		Line 88:

	[[File:McCoin_Map_GoogEarth.pdf\|thumb\|600px\|Spatial map with imagery]]		[[File:McCoin_Map_GoogEarth.pdf\|thumb\|600px\|Spatial map with imagery]]

			== Related Orchards ==
			'''McCoin Homestead Orchards'''

			The McCoin Upper and Lower orchards are part of the original McCoin homestead established by Julius and Sarah McCoin in 1886.

			* [[McCoin Lower]]

	[[Category:Orchards with Unique Trees]]		[[Category:Orchards with Unique Trees]]
	[[Category:Orchards]]		[[Category:Orchards]]
	[[Category:Crooked River National Grassland]]		[[Category:Crooked River National Grassland]]

Bot: Bot: Add crosslinks (2 links)

2026-02-03T04:19:20Z

Bot: Add crosslinks (2 links)

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:19, 3 February 2026
Line 32:		Line 32:
	In the 1970s, two U.S. Forest Service/National Grasslands range specialists from Prineville, Duane Ecker and Harry Ketrenos, discovered the abandoned McCoin orchard and undertook efforts to rescue the surviving trees. They systematically pruned the trees and cleared encroaching brush, saving the orchard from being overtaken by juniper and sagebrush.		In the 1970s, two U.S. Forest Service/National Grasslands range specialists from Prineville, Duane Ecker and Harry Ketrenos, discovered the abandoned McCoin orchard and undertook efforts to rescue the surviving trees. They systematically pruned the trees and cleared encroaching brush, saving the orchard from being overtaken by juniper and sagebrush.

	In August 2012, the Jefferson County Historical Society collaborated with the Home Orchard Society of Portland to conduct a comprehensive survey of the orchard. Expert "fruit detectives" Joanie Cooper and Shaun Shepherd carefully mapped the trees, took samples and cuttings for identification, and documented the varieties present. The survey identified approximately 63 living trees, including apple varieties such as Roxbury Russet, Northern Spy, Yellow Transparent, and Astrakhan, as well as pears and plums in the lower orchard areas.		In August 2012, the Jefferson County Historical Society collaborated with the Home Orchard Society of Portland to conduct a comprehensive survey of the orchard. Expert "fruit detectives" Joanie Cooper and Shaun Shepherd carefully mapped the trees, took samples and cuttings for identification, and documented the varieties present. The survey identified approximately 63 living trees, including apple varieties such as Roxbury Russet, [[Northern Spy]], [[Yellow Transparent]], and Astrakhan, as well as pears and plums in the lower orchard areas.

	On May 26, 2015, the Julius and Sarah McCoin Homestead and Orchard Site was officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The site is recognized as emblematic of the homesteader experience in the Grasslands as described in the Multiple Property Document "The Settlement and Abandonment of the Crooked River Grassland in Jefferson County, OR, 1868-1937."		On May 26, 2015, the Julius and Sarah McCoin Homestead and Orchard Site was officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The site is recognized as emblematic of the homesteader experience in the Grasslands as described in the Multiple Property Document "The Settlement and Abandonment of the Crooked River Grassland in Jefferson County, OR, 1868-1937."

Bot: Bot: Update to dynamic SMW map

2026-02-03T02:06:36Z

Bot: Update to dynamic SMW map

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:06, 2 February 2026
Line 50:		Line 50:

	== Orchard Map ==		== Orchard Map ==
	{{#ask: [[Has orchard::McCoin Upper]] [[Has ~~latitude~~::+]] ~~[[Has longitude::+]]~~		{{#ask: [[Has orchard::McCoin Upper]] [[Has coordinates::+]]
	~~\|?Has latitude~~		\|?Has coordinates
	\|?Has ~~longitude~~
	\|?Has field tag		\|?Has field tag
	\|?Has condition		\|?Has condition