Heppner
By Steve Lent, Crook County Historian
Heppner is located along Willow Creek in Morrow County, Oregon. The area around the community had been used by early stockmen for grazing. The site was originally known as Standsbury Flat, named after an early settler George W. Standsbury. In 1872 Jackson Morrow, a merchant, and Henry Heppner, a prominent businessman formed a partnership and built a store at Standsbury Flat. A post office was established at the site in on Feb. 3, 1873. The post office was named Butter Creek. The first postmaster was George Standsbury. The name of the post office was soon changed to Heppner in honor of Henry Heppner. A stage line began running between Pendleton and The Dalles and passed though the small community. A school was established in 1873.
Morrow County was created from part of Umatilla and Wasco counties in 1885. The post office was moved from the Umatilla role to the Morrow County role. Heppner was designated the temporary county seat. The first elections were held in the newly formed county in 1886 and Heppner narrowly defeated nearby Lexington for the permanent county seat. Heppner was incorporated on February 9, 1887.
The Oregon Railroad and Navigation Company constructed a railroad spur from the Columbia River up the Willow Creek drainage to Heppner in 1888. The arrival of the railroad significantly increased the economic prospects of the community. The population doubled from 318 to 675 from 1880 to 1890. The railroad allowed for shipment of agricultural products and livestock.
A disastrous flood on June 14, 1903 destroyed many of the buildings in the community. A large thunderstorm created a downpour and resulted in a major flash flood that rushed down Willow Creek through the town. It was estimated that 247 people drowned from the flood. Many people moved away from Heppner after the flood. It took many years for it to regain the pre-flood population.
A major sawmill was built in Heppner in 1940 by the Heppner Lumber Company. It became a major source of economic income and jobs. It burned down in 1949 but was rebuilt. The Kinzua Lumber Company purchased the mill in 1959 and a stud mill in 1972. Kinzua moved their headquarters to Heppner after they closed their mill at Kinzua. The mill was modernized and operated for several years but eventually closed down. It was a significant blow to the economy of the community.