Did you know that Morrow County used to be part of Umatilla
County?
Yeah. That is pretty amazing huh. We broke away from Umatilla County Febuary 16, 1885,
Heppner was chosen for the seat of the county. Morrow County extends
for the Columbia River to the Blue Moutains, and has 2059 square miles.
The elevation changes from 250 feet to 6000 feet in the Blue Moutains.
C. Franklin Sutton wrote a poem about the Heppner Flood called
Heppner's Sorrow here are the words.
"Death, in madly tearing torrents
rushed upon a peaceful town, sweeping everything before it, rooting up
and tearing down.
Not a word of warning was heard, till death held in close embrace
Fathers, Mothers, Sisters, Brothers terror stamped on each face.
Onward rushing maddened water, can no force thy power stay... Must grim
death and desolation mar this peaceful Sabbath day
Too Late! Tis done, the setting sun hides his face in a rain of tears,
hearts have cherished now have perished lost to us through coming
years.
Hearts must bleed and fingers tremble, as we raise a
lifeless form from a grave the dulge gave each victim of that dreadful
storm.
A happy home becomes a tomb, a dress for a church becomes a shroud, a
couch of cheer becomes a blur, and peaceful songs are wailing loud.
Heppner, peaceful moutain village, we deploy thy awful scrouge, while
the music of thy valleys echoes back the solumn dirge. Love is mourning
yet adorning crowns eternal for love's sake: till love meets them and
love greets them on that strand where souls awake."
I found all my information at http://www.rootsweb.com