Scappoose Historical Society Timeline
1852
12 October, William Watts born 1803
KY, arrived in Oregon with his second wife Nancy Jane with whom he had two
children Robert and Elizabeth; settled Donation Land Claim 1358, 10 December
1852. The claims were for 320 acres and an additional 320 acres for the wife.
His son Benjamin M. (wrote Ben Watts
Trail Log), had Donation Land Claim 1450. William had seven children from his
first marriage to Elizabeth M. Naylor and all five sons came to Oregon
including John W. (wrote “Foghorn”
Diary), James W., Francis and Thomas. William with his third wife, Mary Ann
Butterworth, had four children Henry Clay (his daughter Alice Mary Watts wrote about the family in 1981), Ewing Jolly,
Isabelle (her daughter Ida Marion Strong
Seggel wrote about the family in 1976) and Ida Ann.
1861 12 December James Washington Watts
married Elizabeth Matilda Nessly, parents of Minnie Annette, James Grant and
William Thomas; Elizabeth later married John Ralph Watts a cousin of James
Washington Watts.
1872
14 August death of James Washington
Watts.
1873 27 April marriage of Elizabeth Matilda
Watts to John Ralph Watts. Three daughters born to them: Lillie May Perry,
Marie Ellen Eskridge and Maude Elizabeth
Collier (wrote about the family in 1976).
1864
23 October James Grant Watts born in Scappoose, Oregon. (Wrote history of
Scappoose 1852-1934)
1868 25 December Arizona Rosamund Ewing born
in DesMoines, Iowa.
1888 2
February Daniel (Dee) William Price married Minnie Annette Watts.
1890 17
September James Grant Watts married Arizona Rosamund (Rose) Ewing.
1891 4 June
birth of son Raymond Ewing Watts, who died 16 June 1904.
1894 25
April birth of daughter Hazel Mildred Watts who married Rev. Vernon Walter
Cooke 16 May 1917.
1898 20
December birth of daughter Helen Lucille who married Reverdy Mead Clothier 1
January 1924.
1902 James Grant Watts built Watts house in
Scappoose, Oregon.
1905 1 February birth of son James Loring Watts who married Irene K.
Leach 12 March 1938. (Wrote about the family in 1976)
16
April death of John Ralph Watts, second husband of Elizabeth Matilda Watts.
1909 Cook
book produced by the Columbia County Ladies Aid Society.
1920 2 January death of Elizabeth Matilda
Nessly Watts. Scappoose Street named for her. Will in Columbia Co. She
bequeathed land for public schools.
13
April first special election held, J G Watts elected first mayor
1921 13 July City of Scappoose Incorporated
and adopted its first charter, voted on Aug. 13 at Watts and Price Hall,
Scappoose, Oregon, formally adopted November 1, 1921
1922 City
water system complete
1924 Street
lights installed
Cook
book produced by the Scappoose Ladies Aid Society.
1927 Electricity
connected to homes
1928 Scappoose
Garden Club Organized
1929 Library
started by Rose Watts, Caroline Dorris and Lena Burg, November 29 tea, over 100
books donated.
1931 Fire at Watts and Price store, library books
moved to Watts home
1938
22 April Scappoose Garden Club
reorganized. Gladys Wheeler President, Rose Watts Vice-President, Amy Frakes
Secretary-Treasurer.
1956 24
April James Grant Watts died.
1958 Scappoose Public Library built as part of Fire
Station building, dedication October 20, books to be moved
by the high school
students. About 4,000 to 5,000 books. Corner stone placed with items of
interest.
1959 31
January Rose Watts died.
Beverly
Kennedy became librarian and would serve for over thirty years, retiring in
1992.
1969 June 26 – City of Scappoose purchased the
Watts house from James Loring Watts and Irene L. Watts for $20,000. About this
time it is estimated that there were 16,000 books in the library.
1974 October
- Formed society, city moved offices into Watts house
December
3 – Society members met with City Council
December
5 – Society incorporated with non-profit status, Mary Pintarich president,
chairperson
1975 January
21 – Society met with city and established guidelines
September
29 – Society bylaws adopted
6 October – Council
behind society 1976 project to rejuvenate the Watts house, received grant,
society to oversee the museum
1977 June
24 – Children’s Museum opened, overseen by the Woman’s Club of Scappoose
1980 February
19 – Watts house designated first historic landmark of Scappoose
November
28 – Watts house place on National Register of Historic Places
1981 January
5 – Watts house recognized by State Historic Preservation Office
1983
May 2 – Final Woman’s Club meeting,
turned over Children’s Museum and funding to Scappoose Historical Society, copy
of minutes
1987 December 5 – Watts house non-profit
status reinstated by Oregon Corporation Division
1988
42 members
March 3 – Vivian R. Urie
president, chairperson and registered agent of society
1989 June 20 – Irene Watts a member of the
society is quoted, “Home was purchased by the city with the understanding it
was a historical site and would become a museum eventually.”
June 20 Board minutes of
Scappoose Historical Society
1997 20 members
November 22 – The 22 year
relationship between city and the society, city report
Scappoose High School advanced
wood working class and instructor donated their time to construct the display
cases, Scappoose Woman’s Club treasury provided funds, Scappoose Senior
Citizens donated a quilt that they made as a bicentennial project
2004 ReAnna Sharp president of society
2006
29 members
2012
Barbara Hayden president of society
2016
Elaine Thompson president of society,
24 members
2017 Karen Holmberg president of society
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