How the Great flood of 1862 and The Salem Flood of 1890 Impacted West Salem's development

By Thistle Nelson, West Side Newspaper

Splashing in puddles is a time-honored tradition amongst schoolchildren and anyone who still appreciates the little things in life. I think you'd be hard-pressed to find a native Oregonian on this side of the Cascades who doesn't appreciate a bit of rain. Now that we’re in the heart of spring, many people are flocking to the nearest body of water to enjoy a day of leisure, myself included.

Water can create wonderful things: it can also destroy.

Willamette River’s first major flood was The Great Flood of 1861. A series of storms from November 1861 to January 1862 caused widespread flooding in Oregon, Washington, and California; even Utah and Nevada were affected. November 1861 was cold and wet, and a great deal of snow was deposited in the mountains.  

However, December warmed considerably and the snow turned to rain. The warm rain melted the accumulated snow, resulting in a rapid increase in runoff. Every part of what is now West Salem below the Eola Hills would have been underwater. The entire Salem riverplain, including the land that became West Salem, experienced widespread destruction because of this flood.

Despite this devastation, settlers still wanted to make their homes in the floodplains because of the flat / fertile soil and the river access for transportation. But these settlers would learn the hard way that the idea of lightning not striking the same place twice is just a myth. 

The first pioneer settlement on the west shore of the Willamette River, below what is now called Rickreall Creek, was Cincinnati. The town was founded in 1844, and by 1851 it had a general store, a blacksmith, a sawmill, and other businesses. In 1855 the name of the town was changed to Eola.

The Salem flood of 1890 was the second largest flood of the Willamette River in recorded history. The Salem Flood of 1890 happened in early February, during a period of intense, record-breaking rainfall and rapid snowmelt that overwhelmed the river’s capacity. This overflow of the Willamette River also covered all of the present downtown area of Salem and the town of Eola. The Great Flood of 1861 badly silted Richreall Creek, which caused the small town of Eola a lot of problems. But, the Salem Flood of 1890 was the final nail in Eola’s coffin as It was almost completely destroyed. 

The only remaining building from this washed away town is the first schoolhouse, built in 1853, which has since been converted into a place of worship you can visit to this day.

Now, the reason I'm telling you all of this is because these floods didn't just damage the Salem area. They reshaped settlement patterns, pushed development away from the floodplain, and made the Polk County side of the river (modern West Salem) increasingly attractive as a safer, high-ground alternative. 

Families who lived in the flood plains grew tired of having to rebuild their settlements again and again. The higher ground near the Eola Hills was a better long-term investment.  As the ferries connected the two sides of the river, the west bank became a natural hub for travelers, farmers, and merchants who no longer trusted the flood-prone areas of West Salem. 

Mother nature has a way of redrawing our maps for us, whether we want her to or not. Even though it’s painful to lose something you've worked hard for, it's necessary to take losses as learning opportunities and when all is said and done to find the silver linings. If it weren't for these floods, West Salem might not be the wonderful city it is today.