Praying for Oregon Counties: Union

For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, that flow out of mountains and hills; Deuteronomy 8:7.

Union County is in eastern Oregon, created from part of Baker County in 1864. LaGrande, population 13,000, is the county seat, although for awhile there was competition for that honor from the town of Union. The town of Union is a bit off the beaten path now, as I-84 takes you through LaGrande, but is about 15 miles away on OR 203. It was once a major transportation and shipping hub when the area was first settled.

I’ve always liked LaGrande and the Grand Ronde Valley. It is a gorgeous and restful place to arrive after the long dry drive along the Columbia and then into the Blue Mountains.

The Grand Ronde Valley is surrounded by the Blue Mountains and is 35 miles long and 15 miles wide. Drained by the Grand Ronde River, the valley was a summer gathering place for several Native American tribes including the Nez Perce, Cayuse, Umatilla, Walla Walla and Shoshone. Some of these tribes were not friendly to each other, but they suspended hostilities while summer camping in the “Valley of Peace.” They hunted, fished, gathered berries and partook of the healing waters of the mineral springs. The pioneers coming from the harsh section of Oregon trail in western Idaho and eastern Oregon experienced it as a magical place, a lush valley surrounded by majestic mountains.

North Powder church, Union County, OR

About eleven miles from LaGrande is the site of the former town of Nibley. Just before 1900 a couple of businessmen from Utah, members of the LDS church, or “Mormons,” bought up several thousand acres of land in the Grand Ronde Valley and established Oregon Sugar Company, the first sugar beet processing plant in the Pacific Northwest. They encouraged Utah farmers to relocate and grow sugar beets, but the enterprise was never very successful. Nibley was the company town and was closed in the early twentieth century after the sugar beet factory closed.

Another interesting place near LaGrande is the Hot Lake Resort, originally built in 1864 near the site of thermal springs. The mineral water was believed to have health benefits and the resort and sanitorium drew international visitors. It was also the first commercial building in the world to use geothermal heating. An entire wing was destroyed by fire in the 1930’s and after that it was used for various purposes including an asylum, retirement home, and a nurse training school. For a time it was closed, but now is a bed and breakfast with a museum - and reputed to be haunted. I have a standing invitation to spend a weekend there with a friend who lives in the area.

Recently Gary Bell, LaGrande city Police Chief, issued a statement addressing concerns the community was expressing over vandalism and trespassing in the downtown area. This is a problem that has increased the last couple of years and the leaders are taking steps to deal with it.

How do we pray for Union County?

Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. I Timothy 2: 1-2

The Union County Board of Commissioners is made up of three non-partisan positions. Currently these are held by are held by Paul Anderes, Matt Scarfo, and Donna Beverage. 

• Pray for the Board of Commissioners and the Union County Sheriff”s Office as well as the LaGrande police officers and Chief Gary Bell.
•  Pray for a resolution to the trespassing and vandalism in downtown LaGrande, and the safety of the local residents and business owners.
• Pray that peace be restored to the Valley of Peace.