Rinehart Stone House Museum

06/16/2026

Thanks for being a top engager and making it on to our weekly engagement list! 🤩

Karen Christensen, Judy Hawkins Oliver, Cheryl Bieker Frey, Malheur Nursery Malheur Country Historical Society

06/09/2026

For years I’ve tried to figure out the historical changes to Vale by referencing photos, newspapers and Sanborn Fire Insurance maps.

Vale’s original Riverside Park (now called Wadleigh Park) actually had Bully Creek as a feature in the park. This is shown on the 1911 map and covered over on the 1941 corrected version.

Two major Bully Creek flood events with the original old dam failure in 1925; a second flood in 1957 resulted in the current Bully Creek Dam constructed by the Bureau of Reclamation in 1962-63.

Over the course of time a levy system was installed around Vale along the Malheur River and the mouth of Bully Creek; in addition to the water courses being altered as shown on the two versions of Sanborn maps.

Included are a 1941 photo reference of Riverside Park by WPA photographer Russell Lee from the Library of Congress.

History is full of mysteries 💕 Do you have a mystery to share?

Betty Duncan
Museum Docent

For further information https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanborn_maps

06/07/2026

This was the first Bully Creek Dam that failed during an early spring chinook resulting in the Vale flood in February of 1925.

A recent post on here included a 1950 Argus Observer article written by editor Dottie Edward’s who experienced the flood first hand.

The second Vale flood occurred in 1957. The present day Bully Creek Dam was built by the Bureau of Reclamation in 1962-63 and happens to be 63 years old this year in 2026.

06/06/2026

I am reposting this in larger print so hopefully it will aid reading the article.

101 years ago

Earlier Vale flooding happened in 1925, a quarter century before 1957’s flood most remember.

06/05/2026

101 years ago

Earlier Vale flooding happened in 1925, a quarter century before 1957’s flood most remember.

06/05/2026