Museum Chatter: Mount Hood Naming Myths

By Lloyd Musser

Mount Hood has two ski seasons each year and each season has different participants. The winter season generally runs from December thru April. Participants in the winter ski season are primarily residents of Oregon and Washington.The summer ski season starts in June and ends in mid-August. Participants in the summer ski season are from all over the United States and include visitors from many other countries. As one would expect, the knowledge of local history is quite different between the winter and summer visitors. We were inspired to write this article after listening to a group of teenage snowboard campers from New Jersey debate the reason the snowfield at Timberline Ski Area was named Palmer Snowfield. The wise guy in the group replied that Palmer was an early Oregon snowboarder that developed a bunch of tricks. This same guy proclaimed that the Pucci ski lift was named for the cute little winter fox native to Oregon. We are sorry, but both answers are wrong. We are happy to share the correct background information for a few of the place names our summer ski season visitors might encounter during their visit to Mount Hood.
Palmer Snowfield: Formerly a glacier, now a snowfield, it was named for Joel Palmer. Palmer climbed up this snowfield in 1845, while helping Samuel Barlow locate the Barlow Road. The Barlow Road was a branch of the Oregon Trail that passed on the south side of Mount Hood en route to the Willamette Valley. Palmer went on to be an important political figure in Oregon.
Pucci Chairlift: Emilio Pucci came from Italy to Reed College in 1936 for his graduate studies. He also became the Reed Ski Team coach. His favorite ski team practice area was a glade just below and to the west of the Timberline Lodge. The area became known as Pucci Glade and his name was applied to the chairlift later built there.
Silcox Hut: This building is located at 7000’ on the Palmer Snowfield; it was originally the terminal for the first ski chairlift at Timberline Lodge, built in 1939. It is now a group bed and breakfast, operated by Timberline Lodge. The building is named for the then-chief of the U.S. Forest Service, Ferdinand Silcox.
Collins Lake Resort: Many summer skiers will stay in housing at this resort in Government Camp. The resort is built around a small lake named Collins Lake, so named because the property was owned by E.S. Collins. Mr. Collins was a very successful businessman who owned timber-related businesses in Oregon, Washington and California. His Government Camp property was, however, a place for him to relax and experiment growing fruits and vegetables at 4000’ elevation.
Mucoy Street: This street in Government Camp is not named for a man named Mucoy. O. C. Yocum, a Government Camp homesteader and developer, spelled his name backwards to name this short street when he subdivided his property. This same gentleman tried unsuccessly to change the name of the village from Government Camp to Pompeii.
Government Camp: This is the local place name that confuses visitors most. Visitors conjure up all sorts of reasons why this small alpine village uses the words government and camp in its name. The most common reason has to do with some kind of prison or prison camp run by the government. Many visitors will ask, “Where did they keep the prisoners?” or “Who was interned here?” Local service workers can recite many wild reasons for the name offered by visitors over the years.
We need to go back to the year 1849 to understand the reason the village is named Government Camp. The United States Army sent the first U.S. Mounted Rifles to Oregon that year. This large party of soldiers, horses, mules and wagons did not reach The Dalles until late fall. Here, most of the officers and enlisted men were transported to Vancouver by boat. A few soldiers were tasked with the job of taking the many horses, mules and wagons to Oregon City via the Barlow Road around the south side of Mount Hood. Their passage over the mountain was very slow due to deep snow and muddy conditions. When they reached an open meadow in the vicinity of present-day Government Camp, the soldiers decided to cache the wagons and supplies and make a run for Oregon City. Thereafter, this location was referred to as the place the government (U.S. Army) camped. The name Government Camp became official when a post office was later established.
UPCOMING MUSEUM EVENTS:
August 17, 7:00 PM. Social History Happy Hour. Author Glenn Voelz will discuss his new book Oregon Search and Rescue, which documents the long history of volunteers doing search and rescue in Oregon.
Social History Happy Hour is held on the third Saturday of each month. Doors open at 6:30. $5.00 donation asked. Beer, wine, and sodas available for sale.
Lloyd Musser is the volunteer curator at the Mt. Hood Cultural Center and Museum.
The Museum is located at 88900 E. US 26, Government Camp, Oregon. Open every day, 9 – 5 www.mthoodmuseum.org ph. 503-272-3301.