Page:Oregon Geographic Names, third edition.djvu/62



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TON cat Preu ice na and be Re a chat western world which the merchants elsewhere were eager to purchase, and as a consequence the competition in trapping was keen to the point where it caused international complications. Beaver skins passed as a standard of barter, Beavers belong to the rodent family, a group notable for low mental powers. Beavers are an exception to this rule, however. They have extraordinary intelligence, though probably not as great as sometimes stated. They apparently understand something about hydraulic operations and save themselves much labor by digging canals for floating and transporting sticks and branches needed for food. They live entirely on twigs and bark, and have a gnawing capacity that is startling. There appears to be no truth in the reports that they use their flat tails as trowels, and they do not transport mud thereon. This is done by means of their front paws. The beaver is considered to be a symbol of industry, and pioneers of Oregon were quick to associate this idea with the new commonwealth. The first money was known as "Beaver Money."

BEAVER CREEK, Clackamas County. The name of Beaver Creek community was first used for a school district in the early '50s, and came from the name of the stream that flows into the Willamette River near New Era. Beaver Creek community is south of Oregon City and is a rather loosely defined area or district adjacent to the stream. In 1945 its commercial activity was centered at the Beaver Creek crossroads, elevation 528 feet, where the Beavercreek post office was in operation. The postal history of this area is complex. A post office named Beaver was established in December, 1868, with James K. Graham postmaster. The office was closed in September, 1871. Beaver post office was reestablished in March, 1882, with C. F. Vonderahe first postmaster, and operated until February, 1883. In 1945 the writer was told that this office was near the present locality of the Carus School. A post office called Mink was in service from February, 1886, until May, 1894. This office was about three miles southeast of the present Beaver Creek store, possibly on the Highland road. It was named by using an adaptation of the name of a local family, Moehnke. In fact Charles Moehnke was at one time postmaster of this office. The locality of Mink post office was later served by an office called Shubel, which was operated from December, 1897, until September, 1904, with Gustav A. Shubel postmaster. In the early '90s a post office named Beaver Creek was established, although the writer does not know its exact location. The name was changed to Beavercreek, probably in 1896. This office was in operation well after the turn of the century, and during its later life it may have been at the Beaver Creek store. Joseph R. Hoff took over this store and petitioned for a post office. An office with the name Hoff was established in April, 1916, with Hoff postmaster. Later Hoff disposed of the store and the name of the office was changed to Beavercreek December 15, 1922, and that was the style used in 1945. There are streams called Beaver Creek in almost every county in the state. The beaver were very numerous through early days in Oregon, a fact that is attested by an examination of the journals of the various fur hunters. For instance, on Sunday, April 22, 1827, Peter Skene Ogden mentioned in his diary that McKay had taken 735 beaver and otter skins on two small streams discharging into Clammitte (Klamath) River in about three weeks. No wonder we have so many Beaver creeks, and so few beaver. Hill mon. istert-live to loft may be trawn pla can Beave Ta og Beaver ) aliforn Ce the days "CUNG a robust 9.10 the e The to

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