Author taps interest in local historical society

Jean Nave with her book on the Cache Mountain Fire. Photo by Conrad Weiler

Author Jean Nave is exploring whether there is interest in forming a new historical society in the Sisters area.

"We have such a rich historical background in our area that it would be nice to form a group and pull things together in the Sisters area,"said Nave, who presently heads the Black Butte Ranch (BBR) Historical Society. "Black Butte Ranch was originally a working ranch and, going way back, was a major trail for the Great Plains Native-Americans.

"Sisters has its history as a western style town of the 19th century. The old Santiam wagon road carried people and products in and out of Central Oregon while passing through what now is Black Butte Ranch and the Sisters area.

"Camp Sherman's Johnson land lies on the headwaters of the wild and scenic Metolius River and Sam Johnson owned much of the Black Butte Ranch property before Howard Morgan purchased it in 1940. These ties and many others are wonderful landmarks of local history that should be remembered and shared."

At BBR, La Verne Blatt and Ed Denniston serve with Nave on the three-member historical society board.

"Ed has been very helpful with his accounting and tax experience in establishing a 501-C3 status for our group,"said Nave. "He has worked very hard on this and done an outstanding job."

Nave's BBR group has over 3,000 historical photos of early days at BBR and she plans to scan these and produce digital images for historical posterity.

"But there are other historical materials from Camp Sherman and Sisters that should be preserved for future generations as well,"said Nave. "That's why I'd like to see formation of a Sisters Country Historical Society."

Persons interested in forming a Sisters Country historical society, or seeking more information, should contact Jean Nave at 595-2547.