Dayville becomes a town
Published 8:07 am Wednesday, September 24, 2014
- Once upon a time, there was a business in Picture Gorge, about six miles west of Dayville. In this photo, circa 1946, Scotty Dryden's service station and store was a popular landmark at the intersection of highways 19 and 26. According to some, the spot was so precarious, that when flushing the restroom's toilet, you could see the John Day River below. The structure was damaged in the flood of 1964, and burned later that year.
On Oct. 25, 1913, the residents of Dayville voted to become an incorporated town.
Soon after – presumably to maintain law and order for the fledgling community – the town established a governing body, and built council chambers and a jail.
The first city council meeting was held on Jan. 13, 1914. The jail and chambers were erected also that year, and located on Franklin Avenue, where the Fish House Inn now is.
According to current city recorder Ruthie Moore, city council minutes from that time state the cost for the structure was $331.33. It had two cells, constructed by stacking two-by-fours on top of one another.
In 1955, the jail became a liquor store. Later, it was converted to a town library, and in 1994, it became the city hall. It was moved from Franklin Avenue to School House Drive, adjacent to the fire hall, and in 1995, moved to its present location across from the park.
