100 years of a country store

Store is steeped in history

The history of the Camp Sherman Store is peopled with both familiar and lesser-known names. After Frank Leithauser built the first permanent building in 1917 to house the store, in 1922 Ross Ornduff of Moro removed that building and constructed the present store.

The post office was housed in the store with mail delivered from April to September, and Ornduff was named the first postmaster.

Rod and Evelyn Foster ran the store from 1925 to 1940. In 1928 the post office became a year-round operation. During the Fosters' 15 years, the store had 32-volt electricity from a turbine across the river that provided power for the store refrigerator, an iron, and a small heater in the house.

Local Camp Sherman resident and builder Luther Metke owned the store during World War II, and his daughter Mae Dodd was the proprietor. Mary Lou Loar owned the store for a number of years until the 1990s. New gas pumps were installed in 1993 to the relief of the residents.

In 1976 the separate post office was added onto the store building. The old-fashioned interior was salvaged from an old post office elsewhere in Oregon that was being replaced. Stepping into the post office is like stepping back in time.

The land on which the store sits in Tract G is leased from the U.S. Forest Service, like the cabins along the river. On the store shelves is an amazing variety of foodstuffs, camping supplies, clothing, gift items, and, of course, a whole section devoted to supplying the needs of the fly-fishers.

Current proprietors Roger and Kathy White think part of the reason Camp Sherman, and the store, has been able to retain its unique character and ambiance is due to the fact the Forest Service controls the land.

"The Forest Service keeps the (Metolius) basin here the same," he explained.

The Whites have done their part to maintain the integrity of the store that has served generations of families over the years. Walking into it today is not that different than it was in the 1950s.

Roger and Kathy both think Camp Sherman is "the happiest place on earth." They both expressed their belief that the cosmic energy and synchronicity in this piece of paradise is what makes it so special to so many people.

Roger laughs when he hears people who have discovered Camp Sherman express their desire to keep it a secret.

When queried about plans for retirement, Roger hedges some, saying, "It's a moving target." They have purchased a cabin down river a little for when the time comes.

For now, they are in the thick of their high season, which runs from mid-May to mid-October. In the winter the store is open three days a week. They are already planning their trips to the gift and food shows in New York City, Seattle, and Las Vegas, so that target is definitely still moving.

On the next visit to the Camp Sherman store, sit awhile on the front porch or around the side on the deck. Watch the people, listen for the wind in the pines, notice the sunlight playing off the ripples in that beautiful river, and enjoy the experience of being in this special corner of the world.