Smith Homestead-Metolius: Difference between revisions
Bot: Add crosslinks (3 links) |
Remove obsolete infobox parameters (now auto-calculated) |
||
| Line 2: | Line 2: | ||
|name=Smith Homestead-Metolius | |name=Smith Homestead-Metolius | ||
|location=Sisters RD, Deschutes NF | |location=Sisters RD, Deschutes NF | ||
}} | }} | ||
Latest revision as of 12:10, 5 February 2026
| Smith Homestead-Metolius | |
|---|---|
| Location | Sisters RD, Deschutes NF |
| Tree Count | 5 |
| Species | 4 apple,1 pear |
| Varieties | 2 identified |
History
The Smith Family Homestead
The Smith Homestead-Metolius orchard was established by William F. Smith and his wife Katie (née Catherine). William was born in Louisiana around 1844, and Katie was born in Illinois around 1855. The couple came to Central Oregon around 1910 and homesteaded along with their two children, Elva and Oliver.
Site Location
According to historical records, the Smith Cabin was located along the southern bank of the Metolius River, just north of Green Ridge and near the northern portion of the Horn of the Metolius. The homestead site is identified as T10S R10E Section 29. The Smiths had to pack everything into the homestead site on horseback at first, as the site was nearly inaccessible. They built their cabin on a flat area with a small meadow known as Smith Flat.
Life at the Homestead
Elva Smith was a school teacher who taught at the Warm Springs Reservation during the week. She would cross the swift-moving Metolius on horseback to return home on weekends. A primitive log foot bridge crossed the river near the Smith Cabin.
Elva also filed a homestead claim at this site and patented her claim on December 19, 1921. The original cabins burned during a forest fire in 1931. The property remained in the family until 1950 when it was sold to timber interests. There are still a few surviving fruit trees located at the homestead site.
The Orchard Today
Two heritage apple trees survive at the Smith Homestead-Metolius site:
- Tree #163 - DNA-identified as Grimes Golden, a famous American heritage variety discovered in West Virginia around 1830
- Tree #164 - A unique variety (UAF5) matching samples from other regional orchards including Cyrus Horse Camp
Sources: "Oregon's Sisters Country" by Raymond R. Hatton (page 244); USDA-ARS-AFRS DNA analysis 2024; National Wild and Scenic Rivers System - Metolius River
