The picturesque spot known as Camp Sherman lies in the southwest corner of Jefferson County within the Metolius Basin, a geologic treasure trove that provides hints into the formation of the basin. Between volcanoes, glaciers, earthquakes, and a fault scarp (vertical movement of one side of a fault in the earth’s surface), the basin is now bounded by Black Butte on the south, the Cascade Mountains to the west, Green Ridge on the east, and Jefferson Creek to the north.
The history of Camp Sherman is as unique as the place itself. Peoples’ eyes light up when questioned about the old days and many residents have more than one story to share.
Native Americans
Indigenous people were visiting the basin and its fish-filled river for centuries before Captain John C. Fremont crossed the Metolius River on December 1, 1843, with his Indian guide. Mpto-ly-as is a Native American word meaning white fish or “stinking fish” for all the salmon that came up the river to spawn and die. Artifacts have been unearthed at multiple archaeological sites that indicate the Metolius basin has had human inhabitants since before the eruption of Mt. Mazama (Crater Lake) 7,700 years ago.
One long-time Camp Sherman resident recalled that in the early to mid-1930s, an Indian woman would visit each summer with huckleberries to sell, carried in a deer skin pouch. She was dressed in doeskin, with her baby in a papoose on her back, and riding horseback.
In 1855, a United States treaty deeded land to the Native Americans and established Warm Springs Reservation where the Warm Springs, Wasco, and Paiute tribes still live today as the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs.
Homesteaders
In 1862, the Homestead Act opened up settlement in the western U.S., allowing any American to put in a claim for up to 160 acres of free land. General Land Office records of 1881 show there were five homesteads within the upper Metolius basin.
Camp Sherman Cabins
The next influx of inhabitants to the basin came from Sherman County beginning in 1908. There are various stories related to how that county’s wheat farmers discovered the Metolius but, once they did, whole families began to make annual pilgrimages every summer to camp on the river’s bank, fish, and recreate. Lots were available to rent from the Federal government for $5-$15 a year. They were allowed to build cabins as long as they were neat and substantial.
Regulations required there be 50 feet of space between the riverbank and the cabin, with that space to remain open to the public, which is still the case today on both sides of the river.
William Henrichs, O.L. Belshe, and Martin Hansen, all of Sherman County, built the first three cabins in 1916. Judge Henrichs is credited with naming the enclave Camp Sherman, after posting signs along the route from Sherman County to the Metolius, to guide the farmers.
Camp Sherman Store and Post Office
The heart of Camp Sherman has always been the store and post office. The store began as a platform tent and was run by Dick Fuller. After the tent, a small store was built in 1917 by Frank Leithauser, who had the grocery store in Sisters. In 1922, the current building was constructed by Ross Ornduff from Sherman County. Until 1976, when a separate building was built, the post office was always located inside the store.
The Chapel in the Pines
The Chapel in the Pines was originally part of the Shevlin-Hixon logging town that moved from area to area in south Deschutes County as timber was cut. In 1950, Shevlin ceased operation and Brooks-Scanlon purchased their buildings. A long-time resident of Camp Sherman and an executive with Brooks-Scanlon, Lloyd Blakely, had the chapel moved in the fall of 1957 to Camp Sherman – in two pieces. With the efforts of many people and businesses, the little chapel was refurbished and ready for congregates. When services began, there was a Catholic mass on Sunday morning and a Protestant service in the afternoon. Since 1980, there has been one non-denominational service on Sunday morning.
Lodging
Camp Sherman has always been known for its river and fishing. Early on, tourists began to come stay and play, requiring lodging to be built, particularly Hansen’s Resort (later called Lake Creek Lodge), the Heising Ranch, Circle M Ranch, the old Metolius River Lodge, and Camp Sherman Resort. Later came Haglund’s Resort, Twin View Resort, The Pines Resort off Metke Lane, and Metolius Meadows guest ranch.
The Community Hall
Nowhere are the traditions of Camp Sherman more evident than at the Comm-unity Hall. It has been the scene of potlucks, community meetings, memorial services, school programs, weddings and receptions, and dances. The Fourth of July pancake breakfasts over the years have raised funds for a number of worthy causes.
The original construction of the hall was a total community effort. When it was decided that residents of Camp Sherman needed a place to gather, in the spring of 1948 building began, on land donated by the McMullins. On the first day, 50 volunteers arrived to help clear the building site, aided by Sisters garage owner George Wakefield who used his wrecker to pull out jack pines.
Local full-time residents did all the construction work while summer residents contributed equipment and furnishings for the completed hall. There were a number of fund raising events held as well, including a bear barbecue.
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