The Dalles Chronicle Sunday, August 15, 2004 History Mystery Photo [Text Only] Last weeks photo, drew a number of responses, though it fooled quite a few people who thought it was a home in The Dalles. Instead, this is the home visible from old Highway 30 about two miles west of Mosier. Mr. Agidius added In the mid 1940s they raised strawberries on the north side of the road. Grant and Marlyn Wilson planted the cherry trees, apples and pears on it. Current owner Tom Garnier supplied more background: The house was rebuilt in 1913 after it was destroyed by a fire in 1912. Mr. Mayer or as everyone referred to him as Markie purchased the property in 1910 and remodeled the existing structure to the point that it could not be recognized this is according to the Mosier Bulletin of that time. Markie Mayer was the son of a prominent Portland business man and later partner in the family business. He spent 32 years living in New York City during the Gilded Age (roughly 1880 until 1912.) He was friends with and credited with giving the nickname to Diamond Jim Brady and also a friend of Lillian Russell. Diamond Jim visited Markie at the orchard where, it is reported, Diamond Jim told Markie that he heard that there was money in these apples and Markie casually replied yes and that he had put every cent into them! I think Markie must have had a sense of humor and he never made money farming. Markie never lived in the house but at the Benson Hotel in downtown Portland after 1912. He used the house for entertainment. It was a working orchard, chicken farm, and ranch. He called it Mayerdale. Written permission to reprint given by The Dalles Chronicle, The Dalles, Oregon Copied and submitted by Earline Wasser Member of Columbia Gorge Genealogical Society c/o The Dalles/Wasco County Public Library 722 Court Street The Dalles, Oregon 97058 http://community.gorge.net/genealogy [Note: new website address] Browse http://historysavers.com/orwasco/ recently updated information regarding Wasco County - Links are at the bottom of page The Dalles Chronicle http://www.thedalleschronicle.com/ http://searches.rootsweb.com/ "Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds you plant." Robert Louis Stevenson Incoming and Outgoing mail protected by Trend Micro PC-cillin program