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History · Dayton

Dayton’s history is
mostly unwritten

The public archives hold just one old photo of Dayton. The rest are in attics, shoeboxes and the historical society. Help start the collection.

1850established
1old images & papers
49historic places
0recent photos
Yamhill migratory labor camp. Dayton, Oregon, 1939 · Library of Congress

The story

from WikipediaRead it all ↗

The city was founded in 1850 by Andrew Smith and Joel Palmer. Palmer, who also served as superintendent of Indian affairs for Oregon, built a flour mill there. Dayton was named for Smith's hometown, Dayton, Ohio. Dayton post office was opened in 1851, with Christopher Taylor serving as postmaster.

There are many historic landmarks throughout the city. The oldest standing structure is the Joel Palmer House, built in 1852 or 1857. It has been on the National Register of Historic Places since March 16, 1987, and has been painstakingly restored. Since 1996, it has been home to a four-star restaurant of the same name as the historic house.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Timeline

built from the dates on the items below
1850Established
1939Yamhill migratory labor camp. Dayton, OregonLOC
1940–1999Nothing yet. Family albums go here.
Be one of the first

Start Dayton’s collection

The first neighbors to add old photos shape how Dayton’s history is told.

1 of 10 decades since 1900 have photos 🔁Retake an old viewYamhill migratory labor camp. Day…, 1939: stand where they stood+15 📦Share a family photoSign in to add one+10
Famous people from DaytonWriters, athletes, leaders and more who were born in Dayton.Meet them →
By decade

Dayton, decade by decade

1930s1 item
Yamhill migratory labor camp. Dayton, OregonLOCYamhill migratory labor camp. Dayton, Oregon1939
1940s–
1990s
Nothing in the archives for these yearsWeddings on Main Street, storms, parades, school pictures, the old store. If it’s in your family album, it belongs here.
📷 Add from your album
National Register of Historic Places

49 historic places in Dayton

49 places in Dayton are on the National Register of Historic Places, the country’s official list of buildings and places worth saving.

#5
Among Oregon’s most-listed townsby listings · most towns there have none
49places listed46 buildings · 3 other
0National Historic LandmarksNone here yet
48historic buildings protectedcounting each building in a district
1975first listedFrancis Fletcher House · newest: Yamhill River Lock and Dam, 1991

Where they are

Tap a dot for a photo and link. Districts show at their center.
Francis Fletcher HouseAndrew Smith HouseWilliam Hibbert HouseAvery HouseBaxter HouseBrookside CemeteryCarter-Goodrich HouseCourthouse SquareCurtis W. Powell HouseDayton High SchoolDayton Methodist Episcopal ChurchDr. Stuart HouseFischer, Carl, MeatsFletcher-Stretch HouseFoster Oil CompanyFree Methodist ChurchGabriel-Filer HouseGabriel-Will HouseHarrington HouseHarris BuildingHole HouseJessen-Goodrich HouseKrietz HouseLewis-Shippy HouseLondershausen HouseLondershausen HouseMcNamar BuildingMellinger HouseMonahan HouseMorse HouseOregon Mutual Merchant Fire Insurance Association OfficePalmer HouseRippey HouseS. C. Commercial Club-Stuckey BuildingSigler HouseBerry-Sigler Investment PropertyEvangelical United Brethren ChurchMabee-Mayberry HouseMellinger-Ponnay HouseMethodist Episcopal ParsonageHenry Bertram Sr. HouseYamhill River Lock and DamFirst Baptist ChurchCain HouseDayton Common SchoolDiehl-Seitters HouseMcNish HouseMorse HouseNichols House
BuildingsSitesStructures

When they were listed

The Register began in 1966. Dayton’s busiest decade was the 1980s.
Francis Fletcher HouseListed 1975Francis Fletcher HouseBuildingArchitectureAndrew Smith HouseListed 1976Andrew Smith HouseBuildingTown planningArchitectureWilliam Hibbert HouseListed 1978William Hibbert HouseBuilt 1906CommerceArchitectureAvery HouseListed 1987Avery HouseBuildingArchitectureBaxter HouseListed 1987Baxter HouseBuildingArchitectureBrookside CemeteryListed 1987Brookside CemeterySiteLandscape designExploration/SettlementCarter-Goodrich HouseListed 1987Carter-Goodrich HouseBuilt 1908ArchitectureCourthouse SquareListed 1987Courthouse SquareSiteExploration/SettlementCurtis W. Powell HouseListed 1987Curtis W. Powell HouseBuilt 1917ArchitectureDayton High SchoolListed 1987Dayton High SchoolBuilt 1937ArchitectureDayton Methodist Episcopal ChurchListed 1987Dayton Methodist Episcopal ChurchBuildingReligionDr. Stuart HouseListed 1987Dr. Stuart HouseBuildingCommerceFischer, Carl, MeatsListed 1987Fischer, Carl, MeatsBuilt 1918ArchitectureFletcher-Stretch HouseListed 1987Fletcher-Stretch HouseBuildingArchitectureFoster Oil CompanyListed 1987Foster Oil CompanyBuilt 1936ArchitectureFree Methodist ChurchListed 1987Free Methodist ChurchBuildingReligionGabriel-Filer HouseListed 1987Gabriel-Filer HouseBuilt 1916CommerceGabriel-Will HouseListed 1987Gabriel-Will HouseBuildingArchitectureHarrington HouseListed 1987Harrington HouseBuilt 1879ArchitectureHarris BuildingListed 1987Harris BuildingBuilt 1913CommerceHole HouseListed 1987Hole HouseBuilt 1910CommerceJessen-Goodrich HouseListed 1987Jessen-Goodrich HouseBuildingArchitectureKrietz HouseListed 1987Krietz HouseBuildingArchitectureLewis-Shippy HouseListed 1987Lewis-Shippy HouseBuilt 1891ArchitectureLondershausen HouseListed 1987Londershausen HouseBuildingCommerceLondershausen HouseListed 1987Londershausen HouseBuildingArchitectureMcNamar BuildingListed 1987McNamar BuildingBuilt 1912CommerceMellinger HouseListed 1987Mellinger HouseBuilt 1904ArchitectureMonahan HouseListed 1987Monahan HouseBuildingArchitectureMorse HouseListed 1987Morse HouseBuildingArchitectureOregon Mutual Merchant Fire Insurance Association OfficeListed 1987Oregon Mutual Merchant Fire Insurance Association OfficeBuildingArchitecturePalmer HouseListed 1987Palmer HouseBuildingExploration/SettlementArchitectureRippey HouseListed 1987Rippey HouseBuildingCommerceArchitectureS. C. Commercial Club-Stuckey BuildingListed 1987S. C. Commercial Club-Stuckey BuildingBuilt 1911CommerceArchitectureSigler HouseListed 1987Sigler HouseBuilt 1904CommerceArchitectureBerry-Sigler Investment PropertyListed 1987Berry-Sigler Investment PropertyBuilt 1916Town planningCommerceArchitectureEvangelical United Brethren ChurchListed 1987Evangelical United Brethren ChurchBuildingArchitectureReligionMabee-Mayberry HouseListed 1987Mabee-Mayberry HouseBuildingArchitectureMellinger-Ponnay HouseListed 1987Mellinger-Ponnay HouseBuilt 1891ArchitectureMethodist Episcopal ParsonageListed 1987Methodist Episcopal ParsonageBuildingReligionHenry Bertram Sr. HouseListed 1988Henry Bertram Sr. HouseBuilt 1892ArchitectureYamhill River Lock and DamListed 1991Yamhill River Lock and DamStructureTransportationPoliticsListed 1979First Baptist ChurchBuildingArchitectureListed 1987Cain HouseBuildingArchitectureListed 1987Dayton Common SchoolBuildingExploration/SettlementListed 1987Diehl-Seitters HouseBuildingArchitectureListed 1987McNish HouseBuildingArchitectureListed 1987Morse HouseBuildingArchitectureListed 1987Nichols HouseBuildingCommerce
National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places (05/22/2026) · styles from the National Archives catalog · photos from Wikimedia Commons, credited on each place

Then & now

No then-and-now pairs yet. Take a photo from the same spot as Yamhill migratory labor camp. Dayton, Oregon (1939) and it appears here side by side.

🔁 Retake this view · +15

Stories next door

nearby towns’ history
📜 Lafayette📜 St. Paul📜 Dundee📜 McMinnville

From the Library of Congress (1) and the National Register (17). Images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.

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