Clio Logo
The Charles Boyd Homestead consists of three historic structures—a ranch house, bunk house, and ice house—that are the only ranch buildings in Bend still standing from the early 1900s. Pioneer cattle rancher Charles Boyd built them between 1905 and 1909 on a 600-acre property that once had a slaughterhouse, corrals, and feedlots. The property encompasses much of what is now north Bend. Boyd provided meat to a butcher shop he owned in Bend as well as to construction crews, logging camps, and railroads. His meat-supply business was the largest in central Oregon for 25 years. The three present structures are listed together on the National Register of Historic Places and were eventually moved to this location in 1979. Today they are home to a home and garden business.

These three buildings are all that remain from the Charles Boyd Homestead. Built between 1904 and 1909, they are the only ranch buildings remaining from the early 1900s.

These three buildings are all that remain from the Charles Boyd Homestead. Built between 1904 and 1909, they are the only ranch buildings remaining from the early 1900s.

Charles Boyd was born in Ontario, Canada in 1863. He arrived in Michigan in the 1870s and then made his way to Philipsburg, Montana in 1883, where he started a meat-supply business with his brother, William. Ten years later he married his wife Anna, with whom he had five children. Boyd became a respected citizen and served two terms as mayor. Seeking new business opportunities, he left Philipsburg in 1904 and settled at a location along the Deschutes River close to rapids.

Over time, he developed the ranch. He built a partial dam and powerhouse, the corrals, feedlots, slaughterhouse, ice house (he cut large blocks of ice from Swalley Pond or ice caves in the area), barn, and hay shed. As noted above, Boyd supplied meat throughout the area. He earned a good reputation by maintaining the temperature of the meat, which he accomplished by transporting it at night. In this way, Boyd provided a critical service, especially to the logging camps which were very important to the economy and a large source of his income.

Boyd's success ended when the Great Depression began. The demand for lumber decreased significantly, which meant that the area logging camps near Bend stopped contracting with him. Competition from chain stores contributed to the decline of the business as well. Boyd passed away in 1933. The ranch stayed in the family until 1978. Where the three buildings are now was part of the original ranch and close to where the Swalley Pond was located (it was eventually filled in).

Boyd, Charles William. "Boyd, Charles, Ranch House, Bunk House and Ice House." National Park Service - National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form.

Burns, Bonnie. "A Sense of Place: The Boyd Homestead." The Homesteader. November 2015. https://www.deschuteshistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/2015-November-Homesteader.pdf.

Image Sources(Click to expand)

Ian Poellet, via Wikimedia Commons: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Boyd_Homestead_Group_-_Bend_Oregon.jpg