Shaniko: From Wool Capital to Ghost Town

by Helen Guyton Rees

Shaniko, located in the vast high desert of Oregon's interior, fairly leaped into being when the Columbia Southern Railroad terminated its line at Cross Hollows in 1900. For the next ten years, it was the hub of transportation and business center for wool, wheat, cattle and sheep. Laced with many folksy anecdotes and rare, historic photos, this is a fine human history of a now-famous "Ghost Town." Second edition. 5 1/2 x 8 1/2. 176 pages.

Genres: History

166 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1982

Reviews

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shaniko: From Wool Capital to Ghost Town by Helen Rees is as dry and quirky as Shaniko is today. The book is filled with facts, people, places, and little side stories that paint a perfect picture of pioneer life. Trending towards history book rather than interwoven story, this book forms a complete picture of the rise and continuation of Shaniko. I picked this book up on a visit to Shaniko in 2019, read it over the winter, then brought my mom to Shaniko to relive the experiences in the book. My trip with my mom through Central Oregon was enhanced by this book. I recommend this book as a coffee table read. Read it in pieces, chunks, or straight through and you’ll gain a deeper appreciation for the pioneer life in Central Oregon.

[Colin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good general history and gets five stars for publishing the book of collected records, memories, and notes of this very interesting central Oregon town, and four stars for reading. This book provides a great sense of how Shaniko came into existence and how its fortunes dwindled. A very fun read for anyone interested in Oregon and western history.

[Spence Williams · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good stories of a little rail boom town at the turn of the 19th Century that was well past it’s prime by the Great Depression. She does a great job chronicling the times and people of the immediate area of Shaniko, Kent, Bakeoven and other communities in southeastern Wasco County.