February 27, 2013 by craigtomlinson

Camp Creek Road Real Estate, Lane County Oregon

The Camp Creek Road area and its many offshoots are unique and beautiful places to live in Lane County, Oregon. Hobby farms, country properties, and long-driveway out-of-sight houses are all present. Housing options range from country estates to humble dwellings with just enough land for a horse or two. I can’t think of another area that feels like Camp Creek, which is its own little pretty and serene enclave. And, while it’s many things country, it’s anything but the city.

The Camp Creek area is especially popular with retirees and commuters, since there are very few jobs or employers to speak of along Camp Creek. The entire road is only 8.5 miles, so it’s a quick trip to either Highway 126 at Walterville, where Camp Creek Road ends to the southeast, or Marcola Road, where it ends to the northwest. So, it’s about 10 or 15 minutes to Springfield, which is close-in country, by my definition. But definitely country–horses and cows are numerous and small farms are plentiful.

Camp Creek is one of the few small roads that span between two areas: The Mohawk Valley and the McKenzie Valley. At the Marcola Road end, Camp Creek Road is in the Mohawk valley and it has that feel to it. After a couple of miles, though, it changes to McKenzie valley, both by definition and in feel. Camp Creek Road hugs the base of the Camp Creek Hills, running between them and the McKenzie River. With a setting like that, it makes for a beautiful place to live.

The settled area of Camp Creek encompasses perhaps 5,000 acres, depending on which areas you include. Much of the property with dwellings on it is the low lying flat areas, occupying ancient flood plains. These areas are popular for farming and grazing, which is a trend that started in the mid-1800s when settlement by European-heritage people began. The Camp Creek Hills, per se, are generally in the 1000′-2000′ range and make good tree growing property, which is how they are most frequently used.

Property sizes range from under an acre to over 140 acres, when bare timber properties are excluded. Parcels that are 3-4 acres are especially common. Around 4 acres is a nice size for a hobby farm because when parcels get too large they tend to own you, which is to say they take a lot of time to maintain. Property values, according to the County, range from 12K to over 1.3 Mm, so there’s a huge range. Average house and lot value is around 250K, or $133/s.f., according to the County. There is a very large range in house sizes from about 400 s.f. to over 7,000 s.f., with average size being a little under 2,000 s.f.

There are more waterfront properties in the Camp Creek area than typical. Camp Creek Road follows the McKenzie River for several miles, affording some properties beautiful views. Nearby, is also EWEB’s Walterville diversion canal, which also provides waterfront properties. There is also Camp Creek and numerous other creeks that provide for housing options on or near the water.

Sales data from RMLS, over the last 24 months, reveal 13 actives, 2 pendings and 19 solds; information was current at the time of this posting. Prices ranged from about 27K to 850K. Approximate average values for the Camp Creek area are as follows:

List Price: 275K
Closing Price: 256K
Total House Size (s.f.): 1,680
Days on Market: 151
Year Built: 1974
Price per size $/s.f.: $123

Zoning designations common in the Camp Creek Road area are: RR, F2 and EFU. The area is not within any UGB designation, so land development and building permits are controlled by Lane County. The Camp Creek Road area is in the Springfield School District, and schools are Walterville, Briggs, and Thurston. Camp Creek Elementary School closed in 2011 after being opened over 60 years ago. Some of the Camp Creek Road area is within the 100 year flood plain so flood insurance may be necessary.

When houses were built in the Camp Creek area is interesting. The oldest house dates to 1900, according to County records. From 1900 to 1949 a total of only 76 houses were built. Poor roads, world wars, the Great Depression, and a lack of relative prosperity explain the low building rate. Building increased in the 1950s and 1960s, and 127 homes were built. Our economy was in a post-war boom and a growing middle class, due to the strong timber industry, wanted to have a little slice of country living and built houses along Camp Creek.

Time of building along Camp Creek.

The largest building spike occurred in the 1970s, with 155 houses being built in that decade alone. Relative prosperity and Oregon’s new-found popularity by the counterculture probably explain this. There were also many fewer restrictions to building in the country; Oregon’s restrictive land use laws were enacted in 1973 and made rural development much more difficult, a trend which continues to this day. Building was off in the 1980s due to hard economic times in Oregon. Lane County’s economy had recovered by the 1990s and building was up again, to over 100 houses.

The 2000s to present day have been marked by moderate building in the Camp Creek area. Much of the low hanging fruit had been picked, that is to say, many properties that were easy and made sense to develop were already built. And, the Great Recession that began in 2008 brought building to a near halt. Development in the last couple of decades has trended towards secluded country estates. There’s even a gated community now, which is pretty rare in Lane County.

The Camp Creek Hills are start of the Western Cascades. Some 30 to 40 million years ago this area was ocean and the volcanoes to the east of the shoreline erupted ash and lava to form the Western Cascades. The Camp Creek Road area is thought to be about 25-30 million years old At several times, the land tilted upward and the ocean eventually retreated to its present location, about 60 miles to the west. The area was glaciated from 2 million years ago, until about 11,000 years ago.

The Mohawk and McKenzie Valley area, and probably all of Lane County, is thought to have been inhabited for about the last 10,000 years. The aboriginal inhabitants fared poorly with the coming of European settlers, mostly because of disease. Europeans had antibodies which the Native Americans did not, and disease decimated the Natives. The few remaining natives in the Mohawk and McKenzie Valley were moved in 1856 to the Grand Ronde Reservation, which most widely known for the Spirit Mountain Casino.

1855 survey of the Camp Creek area.

When the original surveys of the Mohawk and McKenzie Valley areas were done around 1855 there were very few settlers present. Camp Creek Road has likely existed for a very long time since it’s a natural route along the McKenzie River. It was well established by 1855, and is shown on the original survey of the area. Now, of course, the area is built up and there are thousands of inhabitants. Most work in Eugene Springfield and the average travel time to work is around 1/2 hour.

There are many street like driveways off Camp Creek Road that aren’t named. Named roads and streets are: Sky High Drive, High Ranch Drive, Oakshire Drive, Ellington Drive, Easy Lane, Whitsell Lane, Oakpoint Road, Swearingen Road, Missy Lane, Barker Road, Upper Camp Creek Road, Worth Road, Gemstone Road, Cress Creek Road, Mitten Lane, Mitch Lane, Shenandoah Loop, Ermi Bee Lane, Maranatha Lane, Periwinkle Road, MJ Chase Road, Charley Lane, Stephens Road, Bowen Drive, Patrick Road, Emerald Way, Ruby Lane, Kickbusch Lane, Indian Ford Road, Heather Drive, East of Eden Road, Millican Road, Miller Avenue, Easton Lane, Bryant Lane and McKenzie Acres Drive.

The Camp Creek Road area is a beautiful spot to own real estate. Buying or selling country property in Lane County can be a challenge, but a good realtor who is familiar with the area can be a great aid to you.. If you are interested in real estate along Goats Road or other country properties in Lane County, Oregon, please contact me. Or you can search listings here.

Camp Creek.

McKenzie River in the Camp Creek area.

EWEB canal, Camp Creek area.

EWEB powerplant at Walterville.

BPA tower.

Windmill.

Old barn with mountains in the background.

A barn from days gone bye.

This building has seen better days.

Historic building.

Old church.

Restored old logging arch.

Beautiful horse pasture.

Horse property.

Grazing cows are common along Camp Creek.

Paper boxes in front of a gated community.

Fenced pasture along Camp Creek, Lane County, Oregon.

February 23, 2013 by craigtomlinson

Marcola Oregon Real Estate

The town of Marcola is the center of population and activity in the scenic Mohawk Valley in Lane County, Oregon. Marcola and the surrounding area provide both a small town atmosphere and rural country living. The area is mostly a bedroom community to Eugene and Springfield, being only a few minutes away by car.

The Mohawk Valley is east northeast of Springfield and generally follows Marcola Road. The town of Marcola is about 10 miles NNE from the end of 42nd Street in Springfield. Formerly a bustling economic center of the Mohawk Valley, it is now a peaceful hamlet of about 400 people. Marcola isn’t incorporated, but you can still delineate between town and country. This post is about both the town as well as the country properties to the north that have a Marcola mailing address.

Marcola feels like, and is, a small town. Lots sizes are typical of older small towns at about 1/3 acre each. Most are zoned RR1, meaning further lot subdivision isn’t likely under the current zoning. There are a little under 150 properties, depending which you include as being in town, making for a population of say 300 to 400 people. Median property value, according to the County, is under 100K, which is cheaper than average for Lane County. Municipally supplied water is available from the Marcola Water District, but there is no public sewage system, so each house has its own septic tank. Marcola has its own school district with two schools: Marcola Elementary, and Mohawk Junior and Senior High. Marcola is not incorporated, meaning there are no Marcola taxes per se. It also has curbs, gutters and sidewalks in some areas, which is uncommon, if not unique for an unincorporated town in Lane County. Marcola is near the Mohawk River, so some properties are within the floodplain.

Properties that have a Marcola address, but are outside of town are more numerous, numbering about 450, depending on how you count. Average size is close to 5 acres and average values are about 180K, nearly double those in town. Zoning is typical of country property, and commonly found zones are: RR5, RR10, F2 and EFU.

When both town and country areas of Marcola are considered, there are close to 600 properties. Sizes range from 400 s.f. to over 5,000 s.f., with an average of 1,440 s.f. Median values range from minimal to over $950K, with a median of about $155K. Average price per square foot is: $108/s.f. The oldest house dates to 1880 and there are 5 houses in the area built in the 1800s. Average age of the houses is 1978.

Sales data from RMLS, over the last 24 months, reveal 4 actives, 2 pendings and 26 solds; information was current at the time of this posting. Prices ranged from about $59K to $430K. Median price was $209K at $117/s.f. Average time on the market was 75 days, less than average.

It’s hard to imagine now, but the greater Marcola area, including the towns of Marcola, Wendling and Mabel, were once boom towns from about 1900 to 1950. Timber reigned supreme and hundreds, if not thousands, lived and worked in the area. When the big timber ran out, economic activity and populations dwindled.

In the glory days of the Marcola area, the following were there: A rail depot and railroad with service to Eugene, multiple mills, hotels, an Oddfellows Lodge, a butcher & meat shop, a drug store, 2 service stations & a mechanic, a tailor shop, a barber shop, a theater for motion pictures and vaudeville shows, miniature golf courses, a WoW Hall, a pool hall, a candy store, a soda shop, a shoe repair shop, a photo studio, livery barn, and YMCA hall with a bowling alley. There are a few business and the like now in Marcola, but it has fared better than Mabel and Wendling, which remain merely as spots on a map. Mostly the area is a pretty and quiet place to live.

Marcola started with the first post office which was built in 1862. Originally called Isabelle, it was renamed after the first Postmistress, Mary Cole, to Marcola. Within 15 years, mills started being built nearby. The completion of the railroad from Springfield to Wendling in about 1900 allowed logs and lumber to be easily transported, and the timber industry boomed. The Fischer Mill in Marcola was a thriving concern for over 50 years, but ceased to be economically viable when the big timber was gone, closing in 1956. Nearly all of the mill has been removed, but you can still see where it stood. In fact, it was purchased, subdivided, and parts of it are for sale.

1855 survey of the Marcola area showing some of the location original homesteads.

Streets in the town of Marcola include: A Street, Alcorn Street, B Street, Carson Street, Green Lane, Marcola Road, McDonald Lane, Mudoch Street, Queen Street, Railroad Lane, Savage Street, School House Street, Treston Lane, Walling Street, and Whitmore Street.

Streets near the town of Marcola with a Marcola address include: Ann Lane, Bethany Lane, Bunker Hill Road, Cartwright Creek Road, Dream Hill Road, Drury Creek Road, Fir Ridge Road, Hazel Lane, Hileman Road, Holland Lane, Honeybee Lane, Howard Road, Johnson Road, Kelso Lane, Log Creek Road, Luzkow Lane, Martin Lane, May Way, Meadow Creek Lane, Mohawk Loop Road, Mohawk River Road, Old Marcola Road, Paschelke Road, Pauls Road, Queens Road, Saddle View Dr, Shotgun Creek Road, Spring Valley Lane, Sykes Lane, Thetford Lane, Wendling Road, and Woods Road

Marcola and the surrounding area are beautiful spots to own real estate. You get your choice between small town or rural country property. Buying or selling country property in Lane County can be a challenge, but a good realtor who is familiar with the area can be a great aid to you.. If you are interested in real estate near Marcola or other country properties in Lane County, Oregon, please contact me. Or you can search listings here.

Pastoral scene near Marcola, Oregon.

Old but still working barn near Marcola, Oregon.

Where there are barns, there are often cows nearby.

One of the covered bridges in the area.

One of the few remaining remnants of the old Wendling mill complex.

February 21, 2013 by craigtomlinson

Saunders Road Lane County Oregon Country Property

Saunders Road is a quiet little dead end street in the beautiful Mohawk Valley in Lane County, Oregon. Only a handful of country properties with acreage are there, and they are not frequently on the market. Saunders Road is very close to Marcola, and only minutes away from Springfield or Eugene.

The Mohawk Valley is east northeast of Springfield and generally follows Marcola Road through and past the town of Marcola. Saunders Road intersects Marcola Road, less than 1/2 mile from Parsons Creek Road. Saunders Road is less than a mile in length and there are only a few developed properties on it, ranging from 3 to 5 acres. There are also a few undeveloped lots for sale, awaiting someone to build their country dream home.

The County shows the value of properties along Saunders Road from about 91K to over 300K, with a median value of around 157K. Property Sales data from RMLS over the last 24 months reveal no actives, pendings or solds. Most houses along Saunders road were built between the 1960s and the 1980s. House sizes range from 880 SF to over 2,200 SF, with a median size of about 1,100 SF. Median house value, according the County, is about $142/SF, at the time of this posting.

Zoning designations common along Saunders Road are: RR5, and F2. It is not within any UGB designation, so land development and building permits are controlled by Lane County. Saunders Road is in the Marcola School District, and schools are Marcola and Mohawk.

Development of and along Saunders Road started in the 1960s with the conversion of forest property to rural residential. This continues today and there are several undeveloped F2 lots for sale, which is fairly rare, these days. Adherents of country living swear by it and would rather “fight than switch,” as some old ad jingle went. Building a house in the country is, however, more complicated and typically more expensive than one in the city. Finding and talking with someone familiar with building in Lane County is a good idea.

Saunders Road is a beautiful spot to own real estate. Buying or selling country property in Lane County can be a challenge, but a good realtor who is familiar with the area can be a great aid to you. If you are interested in real estate along Saunders Road or other country properties in Lane County, Oregon, please contact me. Or you can search listings here.

February 19, 2013 by craigtomlinson

Parsons Creek Road, Mohawk Valley Oregon, Real Estate

Parsons Creek Road, and its many offshoots, including: Pioch Ln., Rose Rd., Pentilla Rd., Regal Ln., Jones Acres Rd., Trestle Dr., Boiler Creek Rd., and Ewing Rd., are beautiful places to live in the scenic Mohawk Valley in Lane County, Oregon. The area has a secluded feel to it, and reminds me of Lane County from days gone by. Country properties are interspersed with timber properties and the area seems like you are up in the woods.

The Mohawk Valley is east northeast of Springfield and generally follows Marcola Road. Parsons Creek Road starts from Marcola Road, less than a mile from the town of Marcola, which is about 10 miles from Springfield. Parsons Creek Road is about 3 miles long, and eventually turns into logging road to the west. Parsons Creek Road and its offshoot roads, which I’m considering the Parsons Creek Road area, comprise an area of some 1,500 acres, lending to its enclave feel. There are around 375 properties with undeveloped timber property comprising more than half of the total. Parsons Creek was named after Richard Henry Parsons. He came to Oregon in 1853, and is known for establishing the Marcola post office and other civic works.

Houses in the Parsons Creek area date from 1900 with most of the development occurring after 1970. Developed property sizes range from under an acre to over 15 acres, with 4 acres and under being especially common. Undeveloped timber property is as large as 640 acres, a whole section or 1 mile by 1 mile, but small wood lots, under 5 acres are surprisingly common. Property information is below.

Developed property values, according to the County, range from minimal to over 680K, so there’s quite a range. Sales data from RMLS, over the last 24 months, reveal 1 active, 0 pendings and 4 solds; information was current at the time of this posting. Prices ranged from about 130K to 475K.

Zoning designations common along the Parsons Creek Road area are: RR, F, and EFU. The area is not within any UGB designation, so land development and building permits are controlled by Lane County. The Parsons Creek Road area is in the Mohawk School District, and schools are Marcola and Mohawk. Not much of the Parsons Creek Road area is within the 100 year flood plain. Wells and septic tanks are the norm in the Parsons Creek area.

Many would like to take an undeveloped piece of timber property and turn it into their dream country estate. This is possible, but can be difficult. Underlying forestry zoning, especially F2, can be a good candidate for this. There are County rules for the development process, but if the ground is poor for growing trees, or if there’s substantial neighboring development, or if the property is a long standing legal lot, then the development chances are increased. Land that is zoned EFU has a different development path, and showing a plan for annual crop income may help for this method of development. A safer bet is buying an existing house or mobile home cheaply, then turning this into your dream home. Development of country property is, unfortunately, its own esoteric and arcane field and there are experts that do nothing but this in Lane County.

The Parsons Creek area was settled after the rest of the Mohawk Valley. Not until the1880s did Parsons Creek get any settlement. For the early pioneers subsistence farming was their primary activity, and beginning in about 1850 they chose arable bottom land in the Mohawk Valley, rather than the heavily wooded, upland areas, like Parsons Creek. From the 1890s onward, the timber industry made tree growing land much more valuable, and interest in it picked up.

Settlement and development of the Parsons Creek area was initially due to logging and lumber. The Fischer mill had a camp for its workers on Parsons Creek, and in the 1920s there was a mill located near the creek mouth. An overhead flume ran from Parsons Creek to the Town of Marcola from 1906 until 1916. Railroads were also used to get the logs out of the woods, down to the mill in Marcola. The Fischer Mill in Marcola remained the major economic force in the area until 1956 when it was liquidated; it no longer was economically viable without the nearby source of big timber.

Parsons Creek is a major tributary to the Mohawk River. It is fish bearing most of its length with native cutthroat trout. Tributaries to Parsons Creek include Whiskey, Drake, Wendy and Small Creeks. The Parsons Creek watershed is said be less flashy (flood prone) than other Creeks in the Mohawk Valley.

Parsons Creek Road, Pioch Ln., Rose Rd., Pentilla Rd., Regal Ln., Jones Acres Rd., Trestle Dr., Boiler Creek Rd., and Ewing Rd. are beautiful spots to own real estate. Buying or selling country property in Lane County can be a challenge, but a good realtor who is familiar with the area can be a great aid to you. If you are interested in real estate along Parsons Creek Road or other country properties in Lane County, Oregon, please contact me. Or you can search listings here.

The actual Parsons Creek.

I like old barns.

There is no shortage of old agricultural buildings in the Mohawk Valley.

Cows and barns go together.

EPUD substation.

The start of Parsons Creek Road.

February 19, 2013 by craigtomlinson

Tree Farm Road, La Lone Road, Springfield, Lane County, Oregon Real Estate

Tree Farm Road, and its branch La Lone Road are private and peaceful places to live in the scenic Mohawk Valley in Lane County, Oregon. Hobby farms and country properties are common, but not frequently on the market. Tree Farm and La Lone Roads are at the eastern edge of the Mohawk River Valley flatlands, and trees are your only neighbors to the northeast. The area is still close to Eugene and Springfield, with both being only a few minutes away, making for a quick commute.

The Mohawk Valley is east northeast of Springfield and generally follows Marcola Road. Tree Farm Road takes off from Sunderman Road about midway down its length. Tree Farm Road actually runs all the way to Camp Creek Road, but a gate is encountered after a mile or two, effectively stopping it. Similarly for La Lone, it runs to Marcola, via Honeybee Lane, but a gate is encountered pretty quickly. Sometimes these gates are open during fall hunting season, allowing for passage through the private timber lands, but most often they’re closed. There are a little over 30 total properties on both roads. Information on the properties is below.

Real Estate information for Tree Farm and La Lone Roads.

Tree Farm Road was developed first, with the oldest house dating to the 1935. No new houses have been built since the 1960s. La Loan Road development dates back to the 1960s and development has continued until recently. Property sizes range from under an acre to a little under 10 acres, with around 5 acres and under being especially common. Values, according to the County, range from about 120K to 3900K. Sales data from RMLS, over the last 24 months, reveal no actives, pendings or solds; information was current at the time of this posting.

Zoning designations common along the Tree Farm Road area are: RR10, F2 and EFU. The area is not within any urban growth boundry, so land development and building permits are controlled by Lane County. The Tree Farm Road area is in the Springfield School District, and schools are Yolanda, Briggs, and Thurston. Some, but not much, of the Tree Farm Road area is within the flood plain. A few of the properties have had their water and/or mineral rights reserved from transactions having occurred in the 1890s.

Location of original settlers in the 1800s.

The area in the Tree Farm Road area was originally settled by two pioneering families a little after 1850, the Gullifords and Hardys. These families established their original homesteads here, between 1852 and 1855. Both appear to have come to Oregon via the Oregon trail in 1852. The original settlers chose the best ground for farming and grazing because their livelihoods depended on it. Farming and grazing exist to this day along the Tree Farm Road area.

Tree Farm and La Lone Roads are beautiful spots to own real estate. Buying or selling country property in Lane County can be a challenge, but a good realtor who is familiar with the area can be a great aid to you. If you are interested in real estate along Tree Farm Road or other country properties in Lane County, Oregon, please contact me. Or you can search listings here.

Pastoral views are common along Tree Farm Road.

I like old barn photos.

The BPA lines cut through here.

A few signs of logging are still present.

Kelly Creek.

Tree property can be turned into vineyards, if you know what you’re doing. (c) Robyn Hine. Used with permission.

Things are more serene in the country. (c) Robyn Hine. Used with permission.

The prettiest roads are often gated.

Tree Farm Road sign.

February 17, 2013 by craigtomlinson

Goats Road, Mechling Road, Leavitt Lane, Mohawk Valley Oregon Real Estate

Goats Road, and its two offshoots, J Mechling Road and Leavitt Lane are beautiful places to live in the scenic Mohawk Valley in Lane County, Oregon. Hobby farms and country properties abound, and homes with acreage are popular, but not frequently on the market. The Springfield Country Club is nearby on Sunderman and Marcola Roads, and some properties have Mohawk River frontage. Mostly this area is a bedroom community to Eugene and Springfield, with both being only a few minutes away.

The Mohawk Valley is east northeast of Springfield and generally follows Marcola Road. Goats Road bisects Sunderman Road 1/2 mile from Marcola Road. Goats Road is about 1 1/4 miles long, and eventually dead ends. Mechling Rd. and Leavitt Ln. are short offshoots from Goats Rd. There are about 30 total properties on all three roads. All three roads were named for owners that at one time held abutting property. Information on the properties is below.

Goats Road was developed first, with the oldest house dating to the 1920s. J Mechling Road and Leavitt Lane were developed mostly in the last 20 years. Property sizes range from under an acre to over 50, with 5 acres and under being especially common. Values, according to the County, range from 144K to over 500K, so there’s quite a range. Sales data from RMLS, over the last 24 months, reveal 0 actives, 0 pendings and 4 solds; information was current at the time of this posting. Prices ranged from about 160K to 460K.

Zoning designations common along the Goats Road area are: RR5 and EFU. The area is not within any UGB designation, so land development and building permits are controlled by Lane County. The Goats Road area is in the Springfield School District, and schools are Yolanda, Briggs, and Thurston. Much of the Goats Road area is within the 100 year flood plain so flood insurance may be necessary.

The Mohawk Valley, including the Goats Road area, is part of the Western Cascades. Some 30 to 40 million years ago this area was ocean and the volcanoes to the east of the shoreline erupted ash and lava to form the Cascades. The Mohawk Valley area is thought to be about 30 million years old At several times, the land tilted upward and the ocean eventually retreated to its present location, about 60 miles west. The area was glaciated in the Pleistocene era, from 2 million years ago, until about 11,000 years ago.

The Mohawk Valley, and probably all of Lane County, is thought to have been inhabited for about the last 10,000 years. The aboriginal inhabitants fared poorly with the coming of European settlers, mostly because of disease. Europeans had antibodies which the Native Americans did not, and disease decimated the Natives. The few remaining natives in the Mohawk Valley were moved in 1856 to the Grand Ronde Reservation, which most of us know these days for the Spirit Mountain Casino.

When the Surveyor General’s office surveyed parts of Mohawk valley from 1853-1855 there were about 17 settlers in Mohawk valley. Now, there are between 3 and 4 1/2 thousand people, depending which areas you include. 75% of those work in Eugene Springfield and the average travel time to work is under 1/2 hour.

For the early settlers subsistence farming was their primary activity. It is hard to imagine living here without good roads, power, water and central heat, but they did it; it was no doubt a very difficult life. One lumber mill was present in 1855, near where the Riverview Market on Marcola Road now stands, but logging and lumber milling didn’t become an economic force until decades later. Without a good means of transport, the settlers didn’t have much use for lumber, other than to build houses and outbuildings for themselves. Early settler’s cabins were typically under 400 square feet.

The Mohawk valley is about logging, which took off in the 1890s when SP purchased the O&C lands. Logging remained strong until about the 1960s or 1970s, when most of the big timber was gone. About 1/2 of the Mohawk River Valley is still in industrial forest, and the trees are on a 45 year rotation. Logging continues to occur in the Mohawk Valley, and I still hear it up in the woods, but is by no means the economic driver that it once was. When you fly overhead or look at an aerial map, it’s easy to tell the logging sites. Cut-lines tend to be at right angles or follow ridge lines and they stand out.

The area in the Goats Road area was originally settled by two pioneering families a little after 1850, the Gullifords and Hardys. All of the property on Goats Road, J Mechling Road, and Leavit Lane can be described as Township 16S, Range 2W, and sections 26 or 35. This is where William Gulliford and Charles Hardy had their original homesteads, established between 1852 and 1855. Both appear to have come to Oregon via the Oregon trail in 1852. In 1859, William Gulliford’s son John Married Julia Ann Hardesty, showing folks did love thy neighbors back then. The original settlers chose the best ground for farming and grazing because their livelihoods depended on it. Farming and grazing exist to this day along the Goats Road area.

One of the original surveys from the 1800s showing the Hardesty and Gulliford homesteads. Added arrows point to the section numbers.

Goats Road, J Mechling Road and Leavitt Lane are beautiful spots to own real estate. Buying or selling country property in Lane County can be a challenge, but a good realtor who is familiar with the area can be a great aid to you. If you are interested in real estate along Goats Road or other country properties in Lane County, Oregon, please contact me. Or you can search listings here.

Yes, there are goats along Goats Road.

Cows and horses too.

And barns as well. (c) by Robyn Hine, used with permission.

Pasture along Goats Road.

Old filbert orchard along Goats Road.

Sunrises are prettier in the country. (c) Robyn Hine. Used with permission.

February 16, 2013 by craigtomlinson

Donna Road, McGowan Creek Road, Springfield Oregon Country Real Estate

Donna and McGowan Creek Roads are two out of the way roads in the scenic Mohawk Valley in Lane County, Oregon. Donna was formerly a town, but now only the road remains. Donna and McGowan Creek Roads are still a pretty place to live, with short commutes to Eugene Springfield. There are a few farms, but country properties are common, and homes with acreage are popular, but not frequently on the market. Most of the properties are fairly typical of the Mohawk Valley, and in general quite scenic.

The Mohawk Valley is east northeast of Springfield and generally follows Marcola Road. Donna and McGowan Roads are in the western side of the mid-Mohawk Valley. Donna Road begins off of Hill Road, by the Mohawk General Store, about a block west of Marcola Road. It loops back to Marcola Road after about 1 1/2 miles. McGowan Creek Road starts from Donna Road and goes west, back up into the woods. Only about the first mile is settled and it turns to forest land after that; there is essentially no settlement until you cross the mountains west and get near the town of Coburg.

There are about 60 properties with Donna Road as the address. They range from 1/3 acre to 80 acres, with the average size being a little over 2 acres. The County shows the value of properties along Donna Road from about 57K to 460K, with a median value of around 220K. Property Sales data from RMLS over the last 24 months reveal: 0 actives, 0 pendings and 1 sold. Most houses along Donna Road were built gradually after 1910. The oldest homes date back to 1910, and originally were company houses built by the Mohawk Lumber Company. The old school house that was used from 1909 to 1963 still stands, but is now a private residence. Interestingly, it cost $2,400 to build, and it’s worth over 100 times that now–who says real estate isn’t a good investment?. House sizes range from 580 SF to 3,800 SF, with a median size of about 1,600 SF. Median house value, according the County, is about $139/SF, at the time of this posting.

Of the 10 properties along McGowan Creek Road the County shows values from about 180K to over 320K, with a median value of around 230K. Property Sales data from RMLS over the last 24 months show no actives, pendings or solds. Most houses along McGowan Creek Road are newer, with an average age from the 1970s. The oldest home dates back to 1915. House sizes range from 1,450 SF to 2,560 SF, with a median size of about 1,980 SF. Median house value, according the County, is about $117/SF, at the time of this posting.

Zoning designations common along Donna and McGowan Creek Roads are: F1, F2, RR, and EFU. Neither road is within any UGB designation, so land development and building permits are controlled by Lane County. Donna and McGowan Creek Roads are in the Springfield School District, and schools are Yolanda, Briggs, and Thurston. Wells and septic systems are the norm.

The area around Donna and McGowan Creek Roads was originally settled by two pioneering families before 1855: The McGowans & Harleys, and many modern property deeds reference the McGowan or Harley Donation Land Claims, originally of 160 & 320 acres, respectively. McGowan’s homestead was in the triangle, now formed by McGowan Creek and Donna Roads. What is now Donna road also appears present in that survey. The Harley homestead straddled Clark Brook; both homesteads were there at the time of the first survey in 1855. There was an old road, first used by Native Americans, that connected the towns of Marcola, Coburg and Springfield, and Donna road appears to follow part of that alignment. The first County Road, probably Marcola Road, was installed in 1887.

One of the original surveys near Donna Road, Lane County, Oregon showing the McGowan and Harley homesteads.

It’s hard to discuss Donna Road without going into the history of the former towns of Mohawk and Donna. The town of Mohawk was the settlement around the old Mohawk post office, which in 1870 was located perhaps 3/4 of a mile or so north of the intersection of Hill and Donna Roads. The post office was later moved closer to where the General Store is now and the town was renamed to Donna. The town of Donna was a logging boom/bust town.

The lumber industry took off in the Mohawk Valley in 1896 when Southern Pacific bought the O&C Railroad lands in the area. By about 1900, they extended the railroad through Donna, all the way to Wendling, allowing logs and lumber to be easily transported. Before the railroad, logs were transported by teams of oxen or in Mohawk & McKenzie Rivers.

The Mohawk Lumber Company had a one-time thriving operation near Donna Road and had a flume from McGowan Creek to the rail siding at Donna. The Mohawk Lumber Company also had its own short line near Donna for railroad logging. This operated at least through the 1920s. There was a train station on the main line, across the street, to the east, from where the General Store is now.

The Mohawk Lumber Co. in Donna was one of several large mills in the Mohawk valley, but all are gone now because the big timber is gone, and surface roads allow logs to easily be transported to centralized mills, farther away from the logging sites. More than 90% of the original timber has been cut, and the land has been reforested. Perhaps about 1/2 of the approximately 100,000 of timber in the Mohawk Watershed is 45 years or younger.

Seeing the serene houses and farms now along Donna and McGowan Roads it’s hard to imagine that it was formerly a bustling mill town with a railroad running through it. Donna and McGowan Creek Roads have been slowly subdivided and built up over the years since the mills closed, with most of the building in the 1960s and 1970s. It isn’t completely built-out, so further building and development is possible, although difficult, due to Lane County’s restrictive zoning ordinances.

Interesting or notable features along Donna and McGowan Creek Roads are:

The old Weyerhaeuser Railroad. This was constructed around 1900 and ran through Donna to the town of Marcola, then to Wendling. It was active until the 1980s.
The Mohawk General Store: This is the former hub of the town of Donna. The current building replace the store that burned in about 1913.
The Ping Yang School: Destroyed in 1901, it was an early school, which had the notoriety of being dynamited several times, purportedly by surly neighbors.
The Emerald Empire Gun Club: The shooting range up McGowan Creek. You can sometimes hear gunfire from the club.
Logging roads up McGowan Creek: If you like to drive through the woods, this is a great place to do it. There are hundreds of miles of roads.
Allison & McGowan Creeks and Clark Brook: You might find an occasional native cutthroat or rainbow trout in them. They’re very pretty. Some of the properties near them may have flood plain issues.

Donna and McGowan Creek Roads are beautiful spots to own real estate. Buying or selling country property in Lane County can be a challenge, but a good realtor who is familiar with the area can be a great aid to you. If you are interested in real estate along Donna and McGowan Creek Roads or other country properties in Lane County, Oregon, please contact me. Or you can search listings here.

Farm property and horse property are available on McGowan Creek Road and Donna Road.

Farm property and horse property are available along McGowan Creek Road and Donna Road.

Allison Creek, just past McGowan Creek Road.

Donna Road is associated with historical old schools. Photo (c) Robyn Hine, used with permission.

Trees remain, but the old ones aren’t common any more. Photo (c) Robyn Hine. Used with permission.

Old tracks remind us of a bygone age. (c) Robyn Hine. Used with permission.

Donna Road Sign.

Country roads abound. (C) Robyn Hine. Used with permission.

Columnar basalt-dacite at McGowan Quarry

February 11, 2013 by craigtomlinson

Old Mohawk Road Real Estate Lane County Oregon

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Old Mohawk Road is a beautiful loop in the scenic Mohawk Valley in Lane County, Oregon. It is steeped in history, and relatives of the original pioneers still live there. There are a few farms, but country properties are common, and homes with acreage are popular, but not frequently on the market. Country properties with both river frontage and valley view are available along Old Mohawk Road. One especially attractive aspect is that it’s less than 10 minutes to Springfield

The Mohawk Valley is east northeast of Springfield and generally follows Marcola Road through and past the town of Marcola. Old Mohawk Road loops from Marcola Road, at the intersection with Camp Creek Road, then roughly follows the McKenzie River, and makes a sharp easterly turn before the Mohawk River, which it follows NNE, then returns to Marcola Road. The length of Old Mohawk Road is about 3 1/4 miles. Only about 38 properties exist on the Old Mohawk Road area, ranging from 1/3 acre to 90 acres, with parcels a little under 5 acres being the most common.

The County shows the value of properties along Old Mohawk Road from about 114K to over 495K, with a median value of around 240K. Property Sales data from RMLS over the last 24 months reveal 3 actives, no pendings and 2 solds. Most houses along Old Mohawk road were built in the 1950s. The oldest home dates back to 1910, according to the County. House sizes range from 640 SF to 4,100 SF, with a median size of about 1,800 SF. Median house value, according the County, is about $133/SF, at the time of this posting.

Zoning designations common along Old Mohawk Road are: RR, and EFU. Old Mohawk Road also has rare Rural Industrial, by the old mill. It is not within any UGB designation, so land development and building permits are controlled by Lane County. Old Mohawk Road is in the Springfield School District, and schools are Yolanda, Briggs, and Thurston.

The area around Old Mohawk Road was originally settled by five pioneering families in the mid 1800’s: The Griffiths, Simmons, Staffords, Ramseys, and Spores. The Mohawk Valley is indelibly linked to the Spores Family. Jacob Spores was the third pioneer to live in Lane County, coming here in about 1847, and named the Mohawk Valley because it reminded him of the one in his native New York. Jacob’s son James Madison Spores moved to Old Mohawk Road, and the homestead is still in the family, 5 or 6 generations later. Two or three Spores’s children’s graves sit on private property by the BPA tower on the unnamed, but prominent, hill. Old Mohawk Road has been has been slowly subdivided and built up since the pioneers, with most of the houses being built in the early 1950s. It isn’t fully built-out, so further building and development is possible, although rare, due to Lane County’s restrictive zoning ordinances.

1855 survey showing Simmons & Ramsey homesteads.

Interesting features along Old Mohawk Road are:

The McKenzie River: To the west of Old Mohawk Road, the river runs NNW and the road runs NNE. The McKenzie joins the Mohawk River about 1 mile away on McKenzie View Drive.
The Mohawk River: Approximately 30 miles long. The Mohawk has no dams on it and is flood prone after heavy rains. Areas along Old Mohawk Road can be prone to high water.
The old Weyerhaeuser Railroad. This was constructed around 1900 and ran to the town of Marcola. It was active until the 1980s.

Old Mohawk Road is a beautiful spot to own real estate. Buying or selling country property in Lane County can be a challenge, but a good realtor who is familiar with the area can be a great aid to you. If you are interested in real estate along Old Mohawk Road or other country properties in Lane County, Oregon, please contact me. Or you can search listings here.

Rustic barn along Old Mohawk Road.

The Mohawk River taken from Old Mohawk Road.

Rush hour traffic in the Mohawk Valley. Corner of Old Mohawk, Marcola and Camp Creek Roads.

Mohawk River Valley view.

One of the old mill buildings.

Picturesque Old Mohawk River Road.

Cool looking utility poles along Old Mohawk Road.

Where Old Mohawk Road turns to follow the Mohawk River.

Where Old Mohawk meets Marcola Road.

February 10, 2013 by craigtomlinson

Sunderman Road, Lane County Oregon, Real Estate

Sunderman Road is a beautiful little loop in the scenic Mohawk Valley in Lane County, Oregon. It’s quite private, and country properties abound; while homes with acreage are popular, they are not frequently on the market. The Springfield Country Club borders Sunderman Road in places, and golf course view real estate is available. Country properties with both river frontage and valley view are also present along Sunderman Road. One especially attractive aspect is that it’s only 10 minutes to Springfield

The Mohawk Valley is east northeast of Springfield and generally follows Marcola Road through and past the town of Marcola. Sunderman Road loops from Marcola Road, past Old Mohawk Road, and adjacent to the Country Club, and returns back to Marcola Road after about 2 1/2 miles. As Sunderman crosses Marcola Road it changes name to Hill Road. Only about 130 properties exist on the Sunderman Road area, ranging from 1/3 acre to 46 acres, excluding the country club, with 5 acre parcels being the most common. Some 40 properties aren’t developed, so it’s still possible to build your dream home along Sunderman Road.

The County shows the value of properties along Sunderman Road from about 99K to over 517K, with a median value of around 241K. Property Sales data from RMLS over the last 24 months reveal 0 actives, no pendings and 2 solds. Most houses along Sunderman road were built in the 1970s. The oldest home dates back to 1890, according to the County. House sizes range from 800 SF to 5,800 SF, with a median size of 1,900 SF. Median house value, according the County, is about $125/SF, at the time of this posting.

Zoning designations common along Sunderman Road are: RR5, RR10, F2 and EFU. It is not within any UGB designation, so land development and building permits are controlled by Lane County. Sunderman Road is in the Springfield School District, and schools are Yolanda, Briggs, and Thurston.

The area around Sunderman Road was originally settled by seven pioneering families in the mid 1800’s: The Scotts, Washburns, McGowans, Ramseys, Hardistys, Gullifords and Staffords. Gulliford and Stafford family members are buried in the pioneer cemetery near Sunderman Road. The Staffords came out West along the Oregon Trail in 1852, seven years before Oregon’s statehood. Sunderman Road has been has been slowly subdivided and built up since the pioneers, but isn’t fully built-out. Further building and development is possible, although rare, due to Lane County’s restrictive zoning ordinances.

Interesting features along Sunderman Road are:

The Springfield Country Club: A beautiful, affordable, 68 acre, 18 hole golf course, originally formed in the 1950s.
Mohawk Elementary School: A 12 acre, little country school. The school was opened in 1964 and closed in 2011.
The Mohawk River: Approximately 30 miles long. It joins the McKenzie River along McKenzie View Drive. The Mohawk has no dams on it and is flood prone during heavy rains. Areas between Goats Road and Tree Farm road are especially prone to high water.
McGowan Creek: Named after one of the pioneers who settled the Mohawk Valley. It crosses underneath Sunderman Road near the intersection of Hill, Marcola and Sunderman Roads.
Stafford Pioneer Cemetery: The final resting place of some of the Mohawk Valley’s pioneers and their descendents.
The Mohawk General Store: Actually at the intersection of Donna and Hill Roads, across the street from Sunderman Road, the store was a community hub and hotspot in the early 1900’s, and the old dance hall upstairs is still there. It is currently a small community market.

Branch Roads off Sunderman Road:

Goats Road
Tree Farm Road
Keller Lane
Edgehill Road

Sunderman Road is a beautiful spot to own real estate. Buying or selling country property in Lane County can be a challenge, but a good realtor who is familiar with the area can be a great aid to you. If you are interested in real estate along Sunderman Road or other country properties in Lane County, Oregon, please contact me. Or you can search listings here.

Sunderman Road, Feb ’13

Mohawk River, from Sunderman Road

Mohawk River

Mohawk Elementary School

Cool looking barn off Sunderman Road

Greens at Springfield Country Club

Golfing in January.

Springfield Country Club Greens & Mountain views.

Clubhouse at Springfield Country Club.

Corner of Sunderman and Marcola Roads

McGowan Creek just after it passes under Sunderman Road.

February 7, 2013 by craigtomlinson

Mohawk Valley, Lane County, Oregon Real Estate

The Mohawk Valley in Lane County is a beautiful spot to own real estate. Pastoral and treed landscapes abound, creekfront and riverfront are also available. Much of the property is close-in and only a few minutes to Springfield or Eugene. Property changes hands regularly, with over 60 parcels sold in the last 2 years, but finding your ideal set up may take some time and some looking.

There are currently 19 properties actively for sale and 4 pending, according to RMLS, at the time of this posting. You can search properties here, or contact me and I’ll do it for you. Prices range from 37K to 1.2 Mm, when actives, pendings and solds are looked at for 24 months. Medians for the following were: price 265K, house size 1,800 S.F., price per square foot $128/SF, acres 4, and property tax per year $1,800.

There are about 1,400 parcels in the Mohawk Valley, with slightly more than 1/2 being unaddressed, undeveloped property. It’s still possible to find bare land and build the place of your dreams, although development of country property can be challenging.

RMLS is organized by areas, and the Mohawk valley is area #250, which runs north to the Lane-Linn County line, South to the McKenzie River, West to where the Mohawk River joins the McKenzie River and east to northwest of Mt. Nebo and southeast of Wendling. McKenzie View Drive is a transitional street; the east portion is in the Mohawk Valley area until the Mohawk Joins the McKenzie about midway down, and McKenzie View turns into the Coburg area, #240. Likewise, Camp Creek is a transitional street; at the start, towards the intersection with Marcola Road, it’s Mohawk Valley. Midway down, going towards Walterville, it turns in to the McKenzie Valley area, #233.

The Mohawk and Springfield School Districts serve the Mohawk Valley. High schools are either Mohawk or Thurston. Nearly all of the property is outside the Urban Growth Boundary, which means Lane County, not a more localized municipality, controls the land development and building permits. The town of Marcola has public water, but other properties are served by well. Virtually all properties have private septic tanks. Natural gas service is rare, but bottled or tanked propane is more common. Mailing addresses are either Springfield or Marcola.

Interesting or unusual features of the Mohawk River Valley follow.

McKenzie River: World-renowned for its beauty and fishing.
Mohawk River: The main drainage for the Mohawk River Valley.
Town of Marcola: Unincorporated town of a few hundred residents. Former childhood home of rockstar Courtney Love.
Shotgun Creek: BLM hiking and offroading area.
Mohawk Recreation Area: Over 75,000 acres of interspersed public and private timber lands.
Springfield Country Club: Beautiful and inexpensive golf course.
The Willamettans: Our local nudist club.
The Emerald Empire Gun Club: The rifle range off Donna/McGowan Creek Roads.
Ghost towns of Mabel, Wendling and Mohawk/Donna: towns that disappeared after big timber left the valley.
Marcola Road: The main artery of the Mohawk Valley. It runs from Springfield, through and past Marcola, changes name to Brush Creek Road and ends at Holley, near Sweet Home.
Mt. Nebo: 3,200 ft. peak.

Some of the main roads and streets in the Mohawk Valley follow.

Buying or selling real estate in the Mohawk Valley, like all Lane County country property, is more challenging than urban properties. A good Realtor can be an invaluable asset to you. If you have an interest in or questions about properties in the Mohawk Valley, please contact me.

It’s not hard to find rustic barns in the Mohawk Valley.

Real estate with working barns is also common in the Mohawk Valley, Lane County, Oregon.

Mohawk Valley, looking southeast.

Mohawk Valley Floor looking towards the hills.

Typical pastoral scene in Mohawk Valley, Lane County Oregon.

There are way more trees than people in the Mohawk Valley.

Eugene Oregon Real Estate Blog by Craig Tomlinson

Bringing you relevant commercial and residential real estate info for Eugene and Springfield Oregon

Country Property Lane County Oregon