Old Stone House

Introduction

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The Old Stone House is thought to be the oldest building in the county and one of the oldest in Eastern Oregon. It was built in 1872 by a man named Louis Rinehart who operated it as a stagecoach inn on the Oregon Trail. Rinehart built it using locally sourced sandstone. Its design is simple but has arched windows and doorway on the first floor as well as a reconstructed second-story porch. Now a museum, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972.

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The Old Stone House was built in 1872 and is believed to be the city's oldest building.

Backstory and Context

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Vale had been a popular resting stop for settlers heading west on the Oregon Trail for a number of years by the time the Old Stone House was built. Settlers could cross the Malheur River here relatively easily and there were hot springs nearby. The Old Stone House was the community's first permanent building and was a perfect fit for the settlement as it provided a place for travelers to rest. It also operated as a store and post office. In 1878, settlers in the area took refuge inside during the Bannock War in 1878. What it was used for during most of the 20th century is unclear, though it appears it was a private residence for a time. The city officially began to consider designating it a historic building in the 1970s.

Sources

"History." City of Vale, Oregon. Accessed 30, 2020. https://www.cityofvale.com/about/history.

Park, Elizabeth Walton. "Old Stone House." National Park Service - National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form. May 19, 1972. https://npgallery.nps.gov/NRHP/GetAsset/NRHP/72001085_text.

Image Sources(Click to expand)

Wikimedia Commons: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Stone_House_1873,_Vale,_OR.jpg

Additional Information

National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form: Old Stone House