Page:Oregon Geographic Names, third edition.djvu/537



writer cannot determine the exact location. The first post office in this locality was called Scotts, and it was established February 4, 1867, with Daniel G. Leonard first postmaster. This office was at or close to the mouth of Rock Creek near the place known as Leonards Bridge. Leonards Bridge was over John Day River and was a toll enterprise. The name Scotts seems to have been derived from a local settler or landowner. There is a Scott Canyon making into John Day River a few miles south of Rock Creek. The name of the post office called Scotts was changed to Rockville on November 26, 1878, and Thomas S. Lang became postmaster. It was in operation until August 2, 1889. It is apparent from a War Department map of 1887 that when the name was changed to Rockvile, the ofhce was moved eastward two or three miles. Thomas Lang was an early day sheep raiser in the Heppner area and he carried on part of his activities near lower Rock Creek in what is now Gilliam County. Later he was a well-known citizen at The Dalles. He used a canyon to the northeast of Rockville to get his wool down to the Columbia River boats, and this canyon is still known as Lang Canyon. Scotts post office referred to above was apparently the first post office in what is now Gilliam County.

ROCKVILLE, Malheur County. Rockville is on the east border of the county in the Sucker Creek drainage and about fifteen miles north of Sheaville. There is plenty of rock in the area and the name is descriptive. Rockville post office was established January 27, 1912, with Etta E. Mullinax first postmaster.

ROCKWOOD, Multnomah County. Rockwood community on the Base Line Road a little over two miles northwest of Gresham was named for the rocks and trees that characterized the locality in earlier days. The post office was established March 14, 1882, with Cyrus C. Lewis first postmaster. The office was closed February 28, 1903, with the advent of rural delivery. Lewis, the first storekeeper, wanted a post office to help his mercantile establishment. Francis Tegart, frequently called Lord Tegart, local landowner, is said to have applied the name Rockwood in the hope of impressing members of his family in Ireland with his "estate." When the post office was established, he insisted on the selection of the name Rockwood. Rocky BUTTE, Multnomah County. This butte has been known in the past as Wiberg Butte, but that name has fallen into disuse. The present name is appropriate because of the quarry on the east face. Rocky Point, Klamath County. Rocky Point bears a descriptive name for a place on the shore of Pelican Bay of Upper Klamath Lake. It is an area that has been used for some years by summer residents. A post office called Pelican was established in this vicinity on July 5, 1888, with Charles Stidham first of five postmasters. This office ran along until October 29, 1907, when it was closed to Ashland. The next office for the Pelican Bay area was named Recreation, established October 15, 1913, with May D. Willson first postmaster. This office operated on and off until February 11, 1924, when the name was changed to Pelican Bay. The name Pelican Bay was changed to Rocky Point on June 30, 1924, and that is the way it was in the 1945 Postal Guide. It may be noted that there was at one time a railroad station on the east side of Upper Klamath Lake opposite Pelican Bay with the name Pelican.