Otto’s Column

LOCAL HISTORY Columbian Road has an interesting history

Editor’s note: Otto Dick, Oregon has researched the people, places and events important in the Oregon area’s history for the Ogle County Historical Society. The following is one of a series of the articles he has written.

BY OTTO DICK

Columbian Road is a four mile road located in Pine Creek Township. Pine Creek Township is located south of Mt. Morris Township and west of Oregon Township.

Pine Creek Township is best known as the home of the White Pines State Park. Pine Creek originates in Northern Pine Creek Township and flows into the Rock River near Grand Detour. This creek is fed by several springs and run-offs from fields.

John Phelps, who was the founder of Oregon, built a sawmill operated by water power on Pine Creek in Section 27.

Columbian Road originates approximately one-half mile south of Mt Morris at the west end of Camp Road and heads south past the Pines Road at Columbian Corners continuing south as a gravel road and terminates at Judson Road.

Although this is only a four mile road that is part gravel, it contains interesting history. These points of interest are Columbian Corners, Pine Creek Town Hall, a Rainbow style bridge and Squire Sheely Farm.

Many of us have driven numerous times on the Pines Blacktop by Columbian Corners that obtained its name from the Columbian Exposition.

The Exposition was the 400 th Anniversary of the discovery of America. Pine Creek Town Hall built in 1897 was originally used for elections and Town Hall meetings. The first town meeting was held in a log schoolhouse in Section 29 in April 1950.

This was right after townships were organized in Ogle County. A two-room school was located south of Pine Creek Town Hall facing Columbian Road.

School buildings and churches were located at Columbian Corners.

Traveling on Columbian Road north from Columbian Corners you cross the CB&Q Railroad on a wonderful wood rainbow style bridge built by the Burlington and Northern Railroad.

The Burlington and Northern completed this line from Oregon to Polo in 1886. At this time there were two depots in Polo.

Before cars, Oregon fans would

ABOVE: A wooden railroad bridge remains on Columbian Road between Pines Road and Mt. Morris. BELOW: The wooden bridge goes over the Burlington Northern Railroad track. BOTTOM: The Columbian Exposition was held in Chicago in 1893.

take the Burlington Northern to Polo and then board the Illinois Central to attend sporting events in Dixon. This railroad extended to Savanna and then north to LaCrosse, Wisc. Finally, on this route we traveled to St. Paul and Minneapolis, Minnesota on the (Twin Zephyr).

The Squire Sheely Farm was located on Columbian Road south of Mt. Morris. Mary Jane Schumaker a resident of Pine Creek living near the Pines Park wrote “everyone knew him”. He kept many animals on his farm including bison, a bear and exotic birds.

The structure where he kept the bear still stands and is visible as

you drive by. He entered his team of horses in parades. He stood with one foot on each horse until the end of the parade.

In early October, 2000 his stepson, Bugs performed this same riding style in the Autumn on Parade held in Oregon.

So Columbus discovered the New World in 1492 and 400 years later the World’s Fair Columbian Exposition was held in Chicago.

Dedication ceremonies for the Fair were held on Oct. 21, 1892. The fairgrounds opened to the public May 1, 1893.

Now a narrow road four miles long named Columbian Road in Ogle County reminds us of the Columbian Exposition and Christopher Columbus.

Even I with my short memory recalls 1492 (518 years past).