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A HISTORY OF MOSIER

By Jan Leininger

Equally as sincere as in attracting apple investors was the desire to build up the town of Mosier. The logic was that as more people came to take up residence here that there would naturally follow a need for businesses, e.g., clothing, groceries, housing, medical, services, etc. In 1909 and 1910, the business roster read:

• Alex Stewart............ General Merchandise
• W.A. Husbands, Blacksmith
• Hardwick & Nord......... Contractors & Builders
• W.E. Chown Hardware
• Graham's Bakery & Restaurant
• Geo. Chamberlain........ Real Estate
• Mosier Market........... Denny & Harvey
• Alex Stewart............ Notary Public and Fire Ins.
• David Robinson.......... Physician & Surgeon
• H.G. Kibbee............. Notary Public
• Nichol Bros............. Groceries, Gents' Furnishings, Flour,
• Feed, Gloves, Family Medicines, etc.
• J.K. McGregor........... Real Estate
• H.F. Bothfur............ Real Estate; Ins. & Loans
• The Pines............... John Wellberg, Prop.
• C.A. Frey............... Contractor & Builder
• Mosier Valley Telephone Co.
• Commercial Club of Mosier Valley
• Mosier Depot
• Civic Improvement Club
• C.S.Vincent............. Horse Shoeing
• E.E. Fraederick......... Instructor in Piano & Organ
• The Arthur and Burt Drug Co.
• Mosier Lumber Co.
• Mosier Livery and Feed Stable
• Mosier Barber Shop...... J.E. Cole
• The Oaks................ a pool hall
• D.D. Hail............... Real Estate
• Swetland Lumber Co.
• F. Clark Shoe & Harness Repair
• Mosier Hills Land & Orchard Co.
• Burggraf & Wilfert...... Real Estate
• the Mosier Bulletin

Other businesses came soon after such as the Mosier Book Store, the Mosier Box Factory, and the Wilson Bros.' car dealership.

In looking at the list of businesses during these early years, a number stand out as being especially interesting:

The C.A. Hage Cider Factory was located where Mrs. Joseph Verschingel now lives. At one point the plant handled 25,000 gallons of cider a year. The 1916 Mosier Bulletin advertised-"25¢ a gallon or cheaper from 5 gallons up.

The Mosier Telephone Co. was established in 1912 and later operated (1919+ ) by Tom Lelliot. This former business is now occupied by the Lester Kennedys as a residence.

Mrs. Lelliot was city librarian from 1920-1942. This building, built in 1912, is still serving as our city library and city council meeting hall. Miss Emily Husbands was the first librarian.

The Mosier Valley Bank dates from 1909-1929. It was housed in the building now occupied by the post office, from the year 1914. The vault is readily visible from the business window. The first president was J.N. Mosier; its vice-president Alex Stewart; and its cashier, R.M. Ross.

The W.A. Husbands' Blacksmith Shop offered in 1917:

• four new shoes, #3 or less, $2.00
• four new shoes, #4 or 5, $2.50
• four new shoes, #6 or 7, $3.00
• four new shoes, #8, $3.50

City of Mosier Photo 1, looking north	City of Mosier Photo 2 , looking south
Mosier Main Street, looking south	Mosier Main Street, looking north

The Mosier Post Office, established in 1884, had as its first Postmaster a Mr. Jack J. Lynch. Mr. Lynch was also the first depot agent. Others were Jonah Mosier, 1892-94; Martha Mosier, 1894-99; Alex Stewart, 1899-1903; and Rachael Stewart, 1903-10. The post office itself was a small building near the railroad depot during its beginning years. From there, it operated out of the Mosier home, then from the Alex Stewart home, then from the southeast corner of 3rd and Main Streets, and then in 1929, moved into current location, the former bank building. Miss Lenora Hunter began as a clerk and assumed the postmaster role in 1910 for nearly 38 years. Her estate was left to the Chenowith School District and a scholarship under her name is awarded each year at Wahtonka High School to one of its graduating seniors. Willis Gholston became postmaster in 1948 and retired some 30 years later in 1978. Mrs.. Mamie Spratt is our current postmaster.

The Mosier Bulletin was begun in 1909 by Guy Kibbe with Roger Moe as its editor. It was a weekly paper and a year's subscription amounted to $1.50 Prior to 1909, local news was noted in

The Chronicle under such interesting headings as: Mosier Gleanings, 'Mosier Mutterings, "Mosier Musings", and "Mosier Jottlings". Copies of the Mosier Bulletin from 1909 to 1916 can be viewed in The Dalles City Library on microfilm. They really make for interesting reading but go when you have plenty Or time t! Florence Stager, Bertha Gove, Charlene Maine, and Glenna McCargar have been Moslem correspondents over the years.

• What contributed to the growth of Mosier's business section?
• Why did it diminish?
• What might encourage businesses to reinstate themselves in Mosier?
• What would be the advantages/disadvantages of a larger business sector?

Churches, as you might guess, play an important role in any community. The Mosier Bulletin in 1909 stated the advantages of living in Mosier were threefold: 1) church and Sunday School privileges, 2) an excellent school, and 3) an absence of saloons. There made "for morality, decency, and good citizenship". The present Grange Hall was originally built as a Baptist Church in 1898. It was converted to its current role in 1944.