Page:Oregon Geographic Names, third edition.djvu/215



Benton. It was established August 6, 1874, with Matthew Brand postmaster, and was named for the stream flowing into Alsea Bay. The creek was named for the accumulations of driftwood on its banks. There is also a Drift Creek in Lincoln County flowing into Siletz Bay. The name of the office was changed to Collins in January, 1876, in honor of a local family. The name of this office was changed to Waldport in June, 1881, and back to Collins in February, 1882. This post office called Waldport may have been on the north side of Alsea Bay, not on the south side. Collins was changed to Lutgens in May, 1890, and Lutgens was changed to Stanford in July, 1893. Stanford it remained until June, 1897, when it became Lutgens again. The name of the office was changed to Nice in April, 1917, and was closed in November, 1919. This post office had eight names during its forty-five years of service, a record in the opinion of the compiler. No other Oregon office seems to have approached this mark. It is obvious that the office was moved a number of times. However, the offices mentioned above were all in the general vicinity of Alsea Bay. Lutgens was named for Albert H. Lutgens, also spelled Lutjens, and Nice was named for Harry Nice. Both of these men were local residents. The compiler has been unable to learn why Stanford post office was so named. Drift CREEK, Marion County. This stream was named Drift Creek in early days because of the accumulation of driftwood along its banks. Its upper reaches were in heavily wooded country.

DRURY CREEK, Lane County. This stream, a tributary to Mohawk River from the northwest, was named for a family of early settlers. The post office and community Mable, situated a little to the south of the mouth of the stream was named for Miss Mable Drury. Dry River, Crook and Deschutes counties. This is the bed of an ancient river that once drained the High Desert. The course of the channel is well marked from the west end of the desert to Crooked River, a distance of more than 50 miles. In some places the dry bed is in a canyon, and in other places in a narrow defile between abrupt basalt walls. The Ochoco highway between Redmond and Prineville crosses this defile at a point where an excellent view may be had of it. In many places water may be uncovered by digging in the gravel bed.

DRYDEN, Josephine County. Dryden, in the Deer Creek Valley east of Selma, was named for John Dryden, famous English poet, playwright and critic, who lived from 1631 to 1700. Mrs. Alma Harmon Kiphart of Eugene, a native of the Deer Creek country, sent this information, which has been confirmed by other sources. A paragraph from Mrs. Kiphart's letter of March 20, 1947, is as follows: "Dryden post office was named by J. P. (Perry) Mills, a Deer Creek Valley pioneer, for John Dryden the poet. Mr. Mills was a great reader and had in his possession many good books. It was through his influence that the post office was established. Early in 1900 he went to the Soldiers' Home at Roseburg, where he spent his last days. The establishment of this office is one of my fondest recollections." Dryden post office was established February 8, 1892, with Mary E. Tolin first of a long line of postmasters. In the summer of 1946 the compiler drove up Deer Creek to satisfy his curiosity about this isolated office and found it still in service and in good order.

DRYLAKE, Crook County. This post office was in the south part of Crook County. There is a small lake nearby which fills with water in the