Page:Oregon Geographic Names, third edition.djvu/378

 aurel

Hill for the rhododendrons that grew thereon rather than true laurels.

LAVA, Deschutes County, Lava was the name once applied to a post office near the Deschutes River south of Bend in what was then Crook County. The name was derived from Lava Butte and its remarkable lava flows, which were a little to the northeast. The locality was from time to time served by offices with other names. Crater post office was established February 18, 1888, with David A. Findley first postmaster. This office, which was discontinued May 21, 1890, is shown on a map of 1889 as being just a little north of the Vandevert ranch. It was obviously named for Lava Butte and the nearby lava flows. A post office named Carlisle was established at the Vandevert ranch on May 10, 1893, with William P. Vandevert postmaster. Vandevert family tradition says that Mrs. Vandevert, who was from Kentucky, was an admirer of John G. Carlisle of that state who became secretary of the treasury in 1893. She named the office in compliment to Carlisle. This office was closed April 6, 1895. It was planned to reestablish the office with a new name Lava, and this was done on June 11, 1895, with Sarah J. Potter postmaster. However, this order was rescinded and Lava post office was not actively established until April 8, 1896, when David W. Aldridge was appointed postmaster. Lava office was on the Aldridge ranch a few miles north of the Vandevert place. On December 29, 1899, Mrs. Sadie Vandevert was appointed postiaster of Lava and the office was moved to the W. P. Vandevert ranch. The office operated until November, 1908.

LAVA BUTTE, Deschutes County. Lava Butte is a conspicuous lapilli cone with a deep crater in its summit. From the south base of this butte a stream of basaltic lava was poured out, which flowed to the northwest and dammed Deschutes River which resulted in Benham Falls. For detailed information about Lava Butte and its flow, see USGS Bulletin 252, by I. C. Russell, page 110. The butte is composed of cinders and scoriaceous fragments and volcanic bombs. The name Lava described the flow at the base of the butte rather than the butte itself. Russell gives the opinion that in 1903 the flow was more than 150 years old. There was once a post office called Lava not far from the butte, but it has been discontinued.

LAVA LAKE, Deschutes County. This is the source of Deschutes River, and takes its name from the surrounding lava flows. Lava Lake ordinarily has no surface outlet, but during high water flows through an open channel to Little Lava Lake nearby, from which flows Deschutes River. The name Big Lava Lake is wrong.

LAVA RIVER CAVE, Deschutes County. Lava River Cave is really a lava tunnel about two miles long, caused by the outflow of the molten lava after the top had hardened. It is near Lava Butte. It is open at one place for a distance of about 400 feet, and is 30 to 40 feet deep and 50 feet wide. In this section the roof has fallen in. The floor of the cave is covered with fine sand, apparently deposited by a stream. Land along the course of the Lava River has been given by The Shevlin-Hixon Company to the state for a park adjacent to The Dalles-California Highway. The lava flow forming the river came at an earlier date than the outflow from the base of Lava Butte. For additional information see editorial page of the Oregonian, December 9, 1925, and USGS Bulletin 252.

LAVERTY LAKE, Wallowa County. Laverty Lake is in the Wallowa