A Deeper Look: Lincoln County

Near Yachats, Lincoln County, OR

He grants peace to your borders and satisfies you with the finest of wheat. Psalms 147:14NIV

At one time Lincoln County was mostly the Siletz Indian Reservation. The area also was difficult to access for many years until roads were built in the twentieth century, as a result there is a bit less pioneer history than in some counties.  Lincoln County was created out the western portions of Benton and Polk Counties in 1893 and lies just south of Tillamook County. The county seat is Newport.

Lincoln County

The treatment of the Native tribes in this area, and the history of the Coast Indian Reservation makes for sad reading. You can learn more here.

While numerous tribes were removed to the Coast Indian Reservation during the 1850’s, the original tribes in southern Lincoln County were the Alsea and Yaquina coastal Indians. They all but disappeared during the chaotic years of European settlement and relocation of the tribes, but the town of Yachats, in southern Lincoln County, is built on a seashell midden (dump) and the old graves of the earlier inhabitants. During the building of Highway 101 near Yachats during the 1920’s many skeletons and artifacts were uncovered. More recently, the remains of a pit-house were found in Yachats and dated to 570 A.D.  The area had been inhabited by the tribes for about 1500 years.

The modern-day Yachats is a charming place, very high on the list of places to visit on tourist sites and known for its community of artists and writers.

In the 1920’s the Rev. Rolla Phelps, an Evangelical Church minister, and his wife Stella, made wagon trips to coastal towns to preach – a sort of twentieth century circuit rider – and saw in Yachats a need for a church. He purchased a double lot for $200 in 1929 and built the Little Log Church by the Sea with Douglas fir logs. It was built in the shape of a cross. While Rev. Phelps was a member of the Evangelical Church, by the 1950’s most of the members were Presbyterian, so a switch was made. Eventually, with the Douglas fir logs not holding up well in the damp climate and the congregation outgrowing the size of the structure, a new church was built, and the Yachats Community Presbyterian Church was dedicated at another location in 1970. The old log structure was given to the historical society and eventually rebuilt with as much of the original logs salvaged as possible. Today it is The Little Log Church and Museum and displays historical collections as well as being a venue for weddings, concerts, and other gatherings.

An interesting historical footnote is that Stella, the pastor’s wife who played the organ, had a peg leg. An indent in the foot pedal of the organ can still be seen.

The election results for Lincoln County don’t seem to be displayed on the county website yet, so we are uncertain who won positions for the County Commissioners. There were several candidates. There are three commissioners.

The headquarters of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians is in Siletz in Lincoln County. The Siletz Tribal Council is the Legislative branch of the government, the tribe being a sovereign nation. The Council has nine members, Delores Pigsley is Chairman; “Bud” Lane III is Vice-chairman; and Sharon Edenfield is secretary.

How do we pray for Lincoln County?

But with you there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence, serve you. Psalm 130:4 NIV

The charming town of Yachats is built on the old graves and midden of the previous inhabitants. Unfortunately, that seems a fitting symbol of the fate of the Native Americans in this area, and one that cries out for reflection and repentance.

Pray for forgiveness for the sins of our forefathers in the treatment of the local natives.

Pray for the current leadership, the new Lincoln County Commissioners and the Siletz Tribal Council (Delores Pigsley, Bud Lane, and Sharon Edenfield are the leaders plus 6 more).

Pray that the efforts of pastors who worked so hard to preach the gospel in the area in the early days and to build churches out of what was available continue to bear good fruit.