Ghost Town of Galena Oregon
Ghost Town of Galena Oregon
You have to go out of your way to get to Galena. It’s not on any of the main roads, but it is one gorgeous drive.
This is the first “old” building you see coming in to Galena from the south side.
An old house there in Galena. Didn’t get a better picture as the owner was coming around the front with a broom in her hand and an angry look on her face.
On the same road is a ton of old homesteads and farms.
These are only a few of the abandoned farms along the road. After a while it got to the point of “why bother to stop.” There seriously are that many!
The second to the top photo of the house with a little blue shed to the right was last owned by Cody and Marnie McConnel. They inhabited the dwelling roughly between 1955 – 1970 (If someone knows more precisely, please post). The building was an old stage coach stop years earlier. Cody and Marnie moved into it so Marnie would be more central to be able to drive children out their in “Far Country” to school every day. The McConnels built a new house on down the road a few hundred yards. Both have now died so I don’t know who inherited their property. Cody and Marnie had two children: Terry & Marnie Jo. Terry was my age (born 1946); Marnie Jo a couple years younger. The best memories of my living in Bates was going down to Terry’s and spend at least a night with him. Most memorable were the times he fired up his dad’s WW 2 Willie’s Jeep and we would head up into mountains and scout for wild game. Elk was the most desired to scout for. Back in the late 1950’s mule deer were so plentiful that it was nothing to see hundreds of them on a trek. Now you’re lucky to see half a dozen. Terry was the “official” Major of Galena; Sherriff; Treasurer; You Name It. I was the only one in our life time who ever voted, and I voted for Terry to fill all those positions.
(I don’t know how much space this will give me so I’m going to make this a Part 1 and try a Part 2 on another post).
We bought the McConells “new” house from the grandchildren. We have heard so many good stories about Marnie!
Not far from your house lived Mary (Maiden name Preston) and her husband (don’t recall his first name nor their last name) the last time I was in Galena some years back. Do they still live there?
The blue cabin behind the old hotel is actually owned by my family The White and Cockeram family. It was built by my grandfather Ronald White when i was 5 years old I am now 30. Marnie, her sister, and her mother changed my grandfathers will to make it appear that my mother and uncle never got anything from him.
Galena – Part 2:
While visiting with Terry, his mother Marnie often spoiled me rotten by cooking Chicken Fried Steak for dinner. The meat she used was often elk, though sometimes venison. Marnie in my book was one of the BEST cooks in all of Oregon, and I declare she made the very BEST Chicken Friend Steak I’ve ever eaten – period! I loved being around Terry’s dad – Cody. He had the coolest sense of humor. I loved it when he would ride with us in the Willie’s Jeep … out scouting in the mountains and canyons for anything live we could see. He was always trying to get me to laugh one way or another, and what always amazed me is that he usually kept a dead sober face while I busted a gut laughing. I don’t remember of Cody not chewing gum either. Cody knew the old mining/lumbering history of that area going back into the 1800’s. Cody hurt his back severely falling timber working for the Bates Sawmill years earlier, so he lived in pain all his waking moments until he passed. Riding in the old Willie’s Jeep was extremely hard on his back so he didn’t ride with Terry and I all that often. Terry was born a hemophiliac (severe internal bleeder) which was a very serious affliction. He loved playing sports and roughing it like the rest of us kids, but he didn’t dare risk getting hit very hard or it could kill him. Because he didn’t have a chance to excel in sports, he decide to excel in being a marksman. Terry could handle shooting a .243 caliber rifle without fear of bruising his shoulder (light recoil), and to this day I have never seen a better shot than what Terry was with that .243.
(Go to Part 3)
Part 3:
While riding the desolate roads in the Grant County high country in the Willie’s Jeep, our primary wild game to spot was coyotes. There were a lot of them in those days, so there was no problem shooting them. I don’t remember the name of Terry’s pet dog now (most incredible dog I’ve ever known!), but his dog would ride in the back of the jeep with it’s front paws on the cab — elevating his head above the cab to see ahead in any direction he wanted. His dog had eyes like those of an eagle. He could spot coyotes so far away — and when he spotted one, he would bark. When he barked, you had to try to figure out where he had spotted it; it would sometimes be so far away. But he always pointed his eyes in the direction of the coyote, so that helped us greatly. I witnessed Terry shooting coyotes nearly a mile away. All he had was a 4X scope on his rife and the Jeep to rest his rife on. Though I shouldn’t be sharing this publicly, Terry shot more HUGE bull elk and Bucks with that .243 than most hunters have harvested with their much larger caliber rifles. Terry always took either a head shot or a neck shot with that .243 … or he wouldn’t pull the trigger.
(Go to Part 4)
Part 4:
Terry took head and neck shots at big elk and big muleys at 300 – 500 yard distances with his .243 and rarely missed. I brag Terry up because he never bragged himself up. That was the wonderful person he was.
Terry spent so many years of his life in the hospital getting blood transfusions because of his bleeding disease. It was never easy for Terry. The few times I’ve been able to fly out from Michigan to visit Grant County, it’s hard for me to drive through the little ghost town of Galena because of Terry’s absence. Nothing remains the same does it … except wrinkles becoming more pronounced and the memory keeps getting worse … which is mainly why I’m recording what I’ve recorded here. Tomorrow might be too late.
Hello Norm! Thanks for stopping by and telling your story. Terry seems like an incredible guy!
By the way, Rick, thanks so much for posting the photos.
Hi Norm, my name is Cary Rush. Marnie and Cody were my aunt and uncle. My mom and Marnie were sisters. I am not from Galena but visited many times in the 1960’s – 1980’s always staying at Marnie and Cody’s place. They were great people and always welcoming to any one including strangers. They moved to the old hotel in Galena from Bates in 1961and in the early 1970’s my grandfather (Frank Frey) and Cody built the house across the street where they lived. When I was a teenager in the 1970’s we would always go over to the middle fork during Elk season and hunt, always a house full at Marnie and Cody’s. Terry was a terrific hunter and marksman, I was with him walking on the road one day when all of sudden he drew his pistol (revolver I think) and shot and killed a rattlesnake at the edge of the road. One shot. Great family and I miss them all. Cody would always take us up around Windy Point for an evening drive to see deer. Marnie also made a great chocolate cake from scratch. I do remember they had a dogs named Powell and Lady back in the late 1960’s.
What a great story about Galena. Loved reading about it. Our family has property on the middle fork so my heart lies in this county.
Your story is incredible, I could read this all day long. I have lived in Oregon for 60 years
My grandfather, Louis Mckinney, and his 9 siblings grew up here. He spent the rest of his life in Baker City. It seems like my mom may have driven my grandfather and I out here 35 years ago to see the area. That whole side if my family has passed away now. Wish I knew more about their time in Galena.
My father, Walter McKinney, was born in Galena. He was the brother to Louis McKinney. My Grandparents, James and Samatha McKinney lived here. He was one of 11 siblings, all have passed away. Louis was my uncle. He had a daughter by the name of Ferrell.
Wow!! That was an incredible story and my husband, Mike & I really enjoyed reading it. My grandmother, Myrtle Kimberling bought the old home across the street from Cody & Marnie many years ago. Probably 50 or 60 years ago. To our knowledge It used to be a store, gas station and stage coach. My grandmother loved the property but never did have a way to ever go there. She was able to go just one time and spend the night in a camper. The buildings started to wither & she ended up giving the property to my parents, Ted and Charlotte Stratton, who took great care to try to maintain the weathered structures. We now own the property and my husband has taken on the tremendous job of trying to restore the buildings. We never new Terry, although he sounds like he was quite a guy!! We did visit Marnie the last couple years she was alive and would take her crab and the makings of a crab salad, which she really enjoyed. Her friendly dog with two different colored eyes would come visit us across the street while we camped there. They always had a dog. You’ll be happy to know that a ball park-field in John Day was named after Terry!! He really must have been loved! As I write this, my husband is all packed and ready to leave to go back to Galena with a load full of lumber to continue his task of renewing the buildings on our property across the street from Cody & Marnie’s. When she passed away their house was passed on to their grandson, I believe, and since then it has been sold. I hope you find your way back to Galena. You will be pleasantly surprised to see people love it as much as you and have found that precious hidden jewel of a town and although most can’t live there, come back often. If you ever do come back and you see us working on the property across the street from Cody and Marnie’s, please come and say hello and share more of your stories. Mike and Susan Miller
Can’t sleep from lower back pain (had a four-level lumbar fusion cage surgery early summer, and still healing from it), so on the computer surfing. I truly appreciate all those who are posting here. GREAT READS! KEEP POSTING! About 10 years back now (late 2016), I had a chance to stop by for a few hours and visit Marnie. Took her a pie from Chester’s in John Day. Grabbed some flowers and blessed her with those as well. Her eyes lit up. I can still see her appreciative smile. I ALWAYS loved to get Marnie to talk about her life. She was second to none in sharing her “True Life Eastern Oregon Experiences.” She would share them with serious calmness — yet there was always a quirky like smile that accompanied them while she spoke. Her eyes lit up telling stories. My kind of lady! You had to be locked in on her lips and eyes to catch that “alluring – humor in this experience I’m sharing with you, so lock in your humor radar, Norm.” When her “one of a kind” fried chicken dinner for me (Seasoned with top-secret Galena seasoning that chefs around the world would pay millions for!) was served and we polished it off with Hallmark Card commercial’s heart-warming McConnel coffee and Chester’s pie … I was able to get her talking about her memories of people she had encountered during the winter storms that would descend on that region of the world usually after New Years. After hearing story after story of people being stranded (often freaked right out of their minds due to the remoteness of the area!) … she shared of hearing that customary knock on her door during the wee hours of the morning: “Can you please help me!!!!!!?”
Marnie referred to them as “City Slickers”. Anyone NOT from Grant County and west of the Cascade Mountain Range was a “City Slicker” to her pretty much. Know doubt in her mind … “City Slickers” were to be pitied. “Too Busy! Too rushed-rushed!”, she would say. “Don’t know what REAL living is all about!”
Lost hunters came to Cody’s and Marnie’s. There were many of them over the years. Bugg-eyed – freaked out – panic striken “City Slickers.” They got calmed down. They got fed. They got a good night’s sleep until rescue came in a almost heavenly cocooned warm and comforting spare bed. Car breakdown folks were happy to find live bodies in Galena: the McConnel’s residence. None were ever turned away. None were forced to wait until the McConnels woke up at daybreak to come to the door. Someone always opened the door when the desperate knock was heard.
There’s folks like McConnels all over the world. But none BETTER than Cody and Marnie. WHY? Because I say so. I voted myself to be the U.S. Ambassador of Galena, Oregon. Terry seconded the motion.
My grandfather is from galena Ralph g Hatley, people would come from all around &as far as Canada to bare nuckle fight him,Any of you Remember These back country fights? I happen to carry his name with pride never had opportunity to meet him, he passed when my dad Ralph a Hatley was a young boy from sumpter. Our roots are ther in galena & sumpter .I’ll be back one day to see them all as I’ll be laid to rest in sumpter cemetery when time comes.AT LEAST I HOPE SO. KIDS NOW DONT UNDERSTAND THE OLD WAYS FAMILY FIRST.
back in the 70s I knew Terry Cody and Marnie great people lot of good hunting trips.Cody saw me get bucked off a horse and called me cowboy copes for years great memories.
This is Mike ,We have been working on some building in Galena To bring back a little of the past ,So if you get a chance stop by ,I think you will be pleasantly surprised.
Hello Mike! Thanks for stopping by! What kind of stuff are you all working on? Do you have pictures to share?
Hi Rick, The family has owned property in Galena over 60 years , If you were to go on youtube you could see the progress being done it might surprise you, I think a Bank might be in the works ,To be named after my late father-in-law,( BANK OF TED) as you can see we are having fun.
Great video footage of Galena: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-e1WExMz7dI
Mike Says, Thanks for looking on youtube its fun to see a ghost town come back to life.
Ralph Hatley (above) is my cousin. Our grandmother Gwendola Nelson is buried in Galena along with her mother Emma Nelson. I remember them both, but they passed away when I was very young. Great grandma Emma grew up in Bates and got lost as a 4 year old. A man found her 5 days later. It’s an amazing true story. Mentioned in the Austin/Bates book. Emma’s parents Rasmus and Hannah Nelson ran the Susanville post office. The post office is now in a local’s backyard. I am so looking forward to taking another trip this summer to Galena. The Hatleys from Sumpter also have a lot of history. My grandmother Gwen married Ralph Hatley. I would love any shared information. Did anyone know of Marvin Combs?
Melissa, If you do come to galena stop by the church and say hello , We love hearing stories of the pass. We would love to meet you . Mike ,Susan,Scott, Jason,Gary
Mike, will do for sure. I’ve been talking with Mary. The post office was in galena not Susanville but there was a post office stolen from galena and moved up to Susanville. I don’t know what year. I’m still learning info. I was there last summer. Took a day trip from monument. I didn’t know about Mary back then, but looking forward to meeting her. My siblings and some of my dads siblings are holy to put my dads remains by his mom up there.
Melissa, One thing for sure ,if we all pull are stories togather we could write a book ,a best seller.We have try to keep some of the pass alive in Galena,We added a jail last summer and it”s up and running,And a bank is also in the plan.
Mike,
My husband and I just visited Galena and Susanville this past Saturday. We wanted to get pictures of the buildings and the remaining houses but were unsure of a safe place to stop. We also wanted to respect property owners privacy. We are interested in the history of both Galena and Susanville and would like to learn more, including the history of the mines. I saw evidence of dredging on the drive up to Galena.
I run a photography studio here in Pendleton called, Wayfaring Photography Studio, which specializes in outdoor/travel photography. My husband runs a ghost hunting group called, Pendleton Oregon Paranormal Society. Since ghost hunting is on the back burner due to COVID-19, he was switched gears and starting videographing historic sites. We would love to be able to take pictures/film of Galena and learn more about the history. We are planning on making a return trip most likely in June. You can find both our groups on Facebook. Currently only the Photography Studio is on Instagram. You can contact either of us through Facebook.
Mike, if you read back on the Blog my wife Susan Stratton -Miller talks about our history with Galena – Her mother was born in a tent in Galena, For the most part in the summer we are their ever other weekend ,You are most welcome to come by and see us and we can talk,
Jenn:
We are leaving the Portland area to go to Galena on Tuesday, June 2. It will be a short visit. We will be returning Friday morning. If you’re interested in visiting, we will for sure be there at the time. It is quite a unique property if I don’t say so myself. We’d love to meet you and your husband. Mike
Sorry it has taken so long to reply. With Covid-19 and car issues, things have been chaotic lately. We are planning a trip for 8/29 and would like to stop by a video and photograph the town. If you are available, we would like to know more about Galena. You can contact me by email at [email protected]
That is my studio email account and you can reach me easier through that method.
Jennifer , catch up with you in Galena .
Does anyone know if there is a tiny piece of land for sale near Galena? Cheap. Fixing to retire and I’m looking for a place to hang my hat.
Sorry , Don”t know of any , Property is hard to come by .
I have heard that my great-grandfather’s first wife is buried in the cemetery in Galena. Her name was Mary Edith Whitaker Ingraham. His name was Randall O Ingraham. He was a miner at the Ophir Mine outside of Susanville. He was injured in a mine cave in in the early 1900’s. Is the cemetery still there and are there headstones? I would love to get over there sometime to see where she is buried and see Susanville and the Ophir Mine area.
I’m not sure if my comment went through. My great-grandfather’s first wife is supposed to have been buried in the Galena Cemetery in the early 1900’s. Does anyone know if there are any type of records of the cemetery? Her name was Mary Edith Whitaker Ingraham. My great-grandfathers name was Randall O. Ingraham. He was a miner in the Ophir Mine and was injured in a mine collapse in the early 1900’s.
The cemetery is still their , And headstones are still in place , People are still being buried their, is that the reason you are looking to hang your Hat their ?
Not looking to move there. When we move, it will be to Idaho where out grandkids are. I would just like to see the town and Susanville because that is where my great-grandfather was mining for gold in the early 1900’s.
It;s a great place to go , Their are lot of places to visit in that area , you will have fun exploring ,
I grew up in Fox Oregon and long Creek family use to own the hotel and store in long creek Kahler is oldest family name i can remember. I used to ride dirt bike and four wheelers up those old logging roads picking huckleberry. I have either walked road horse or dirt bike across whole Malheur National Forest. Fished middle north Nd south fork of John day rivers. I still go every year up there we have 4 different generations of family land there. I can’t wait to retire no better place to be im in Portland last 20 years but still can’t help waving to everyone while heading to Chester’s Thriftways or the Dairy Queen.
When you are up that way stop by and say hello , We are always happy to talk the talk,you can find us in the church of Galena Mike and Susan .
Mike , Does anyone have Past picture of Galena in the old days, I have property in galena looking for any information about Galena .
My dad has been building in Galena for the past few years. He has a YouTube channel. You just look up Galena Oregon. He has a bunch of replicas built. His name is Gary!!
My family owns the blue cabin behind the old hotel in the second picture. I do apologize for my other reply if it went through. I knew Marnie well, her dog I believe her name was Lizzy was always over at our cabin playing, and Marnie’s huckleberry cheese cakes where out of this world. My grandfather and his friend Larry built their cabins right next to each other and it has been in my family since I was 5.