Pendleton, Oregon history

This land was quickly platted and sold off at auction. It became one of the principal wool-shipping centers in the inland Northwest, particularly after the construction of the Oregon Railway & Navigation Company railroad in September 1882.

The town gained a transcontinental connection on December 1, 1884, when the tracks of the Oregon Short Line and the OR&N were joined at Huntington.

By 1890, geographer Donald Meinig notes, Pendleton was “one of the most prosperous and progressive towns in the interior.” It had well-graded streets, a new electric light system, a new water system, eight churches, a good public school system, and twenty fraternal organizations.

The mill, originally built in 1893, began as a wool scouring plant, which washed raw wool before shipping.

In 1895, the scouring plant was enlarged and converted into a woolen mill which made bed blankets and robes for Native Americans.

A City Hall was constructed in 1908.

In 1909, the Bishops opened the facility and constructed a new, more efficient mill with aid of a local bond issue.

In 1910 local attorney Roy Raley, who had an excellent flare for theatrics, decided to have a rodeo after harvest and the famous Pendleton Round-Up was born.

The Umatilla River levy, and the water transmission line were completed around 1915.

In 1924, the legendary Pendleton virgin wool men's shirt was born.

By 1929, Pendleton was making a full line of men's virgin wool sportswear.

Pendleton, like many communities in Oregon, was hard hit by the depression of the 1930's.

A major change occurred in the City's organization in 1948 when the community adopted a Council/Manager form of government.

A new thread was woven into the Pendleton corporate cloth in 1949 - womenswear manufacturing.

In 1972, Pendleton became a year-round sportswear resource, introducing distinctively styled, non-wool menswear and womenswear for spring and summer wear.

In September, 1994 voters approved a $2.95 million general obligation bond issue to convert the Helen McCune Junior High School to a City Hall and Library.