We are pleased and proud of our role in saving one of Redmond - and Oregon's - significant historic sites.  This is going to be a huge project, and tremendously challenging, but we are looking forward to bringing history into the present and we are up for the journey!

The Tetherow house was built in 1878 or 1879 and is believed to be the oldest standing house in Deschutes County.  The original owner was Andrew Jackson (A.J.) Tetherow, son of Solomon Tetherow, the leader of the Lost Meek wagon train of 1845, who discovered the Blue Bucket Mine.  A.J. lived on the property with his wife and four children, and one of his children lived on the property until 1928.

The property was used as a home, inn, campsite, store, farm, ranch, orchard, garden, dairy, blacksmith, and brewery.  The property also served as a store and stopping point (or way station) from 1879 to 1898.  The store was supplied with goods and foods (sugar, flour, bacon).  In 1898, J.A. Isham leased the property from the Tetherows and moved his family onto the property.  Isham established an inn and kept the hay station and stage stop until around. 1910. In 1903, one of his daughters became the first bride to be married in the newly established town of Madras.

The site served as one of only three Deschutes River crossings during the settlement days of Central Oregon.  Originally, the crossing was operated by cable ferry and later, a bridge was built.  The crossing was a part of the Willamette Valley and Cascade Mountain Military Road, the chief corridor of passage from Springfield to Prineville and the Ochoco Mountains. 

Historically, its significance to Central Oregon is as a critical point of transportation.   Reports indicate that as many as 20 wagons and 100,000 head of cattle per day crossed the river at Tetherow Crossing.  According to Phillip Brogan, an Oregon author and historian, the first diversion of water from the Deschutes River for irrigation was on the Tetherow Ranch.

Current status

Tetherow Property was dedicated as a historical site in 1976, and the house was used as a caretaker’s residence until approximately 1999.  Additions over the years have altered the original structure into the larger structure that stands today.  Deschutes County deeded the property to Redmond Area Park and Recreation in 2004 to develop into a public park.  RAPRD had a consultant review the property in 2004, who determined that the core of the original house still exists. 

We have always hoped to preserve the original 12’ x 25’ original homestead and rehabilitate the structure for safe public use.  During the recession, the community suffered a prolonged period of double-digit unemployment and development was paused.  We are prepared to resume rehabilitation of the historic structure and transformation of the property into a public park, complete with accessible trails and interpretive signage, and we have hired a full-time Development Director to assist in that endeavor.

Our ultimate goal is to preserve the home and restore its historic character.  This would require demolition and removal of the various additions to the house.  We then hope to construct an adjacent modern structure to make the original homestead more functional for community use.  This indoor space may be used as a classroom for community programs, meeting space, family gatherings, etc. 

We have concept drawings for the park improvements.  Our next step will be to get an architectural plan for the house and plans to transform the surrounding property into a public park with trails and educational/interpretive signage.  

We are only at the beginning of this challenging project but we believe in the enormous potential contribution of the Tetherow property to Redmond's history and to our community as a natural public space.  We are excited to shepherd it through to completion.  Visit our Take Action page to see how you can get involved or donate  to support the Tetherow project here: