Blue River in Lane County, Oregon — The American West (Northwest)

Pioneer Mailman

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 27, 2015

1. Pioneer Mailman Marker

Inscription.
On the knoll behind this sign once stood a rustic cabin in which pioneer mailman John Templeton Craig died in December 1877. Craig, who was 56, had been employed to carry the mail between McKenzie Bridge and Camp Polk, near Sisters. While carrying the Christmas mail, Craig was caught in a sudden storm and later found frozen to death inside the cabin by a search party.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Communications • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical month for this entry is December 1877.

Location. 44° 14.923′ N, 121° 50.343′ W. Marker is in Blue River, Oregon, in Lane County. It is on McKenzie Highway (Oregon Route 242) 20 miles east of Route 126, on the right when traveling east. Marker is located in a pull-out on the south side of the highway. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Blue River OR 97413, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Oregon’s Willamette Valley.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast,

in the Pacific Northwest,

and in the Lewis & Clark Corridor.

Globally, it is in North America,

in the

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Cascade Range,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Other nearby markers. At least 7 other markers are within 14 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Wisely Reasoned (approx. 2 miles away); A Fittin' Tribute (approx. 2 miles away); Dee Wright Observatory (approx. 2 miles away); Old Wagon Road (approx. 2.1 miles away); Scott Road (approx. 3.2 miles away); Time Traveler (approx. 13.3 miles away); The Life of a Lake (approx. 13.3 miles away).

More about this marker. Large wooden "Forest Service" style marker, mounted on a stonework pedestal.

Also see . . .
1. John Craig Story. Oregon Nordic Club website entry (Submitted on May 21, 2023, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

2. John Templeton “John Tom” Craig. Find A Grave website entry (Submitted on May 21, 2023, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

Pioneer Mailman Marker (<i>wide view</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 27, 2015

2. Pioneer Mailman Marker (wide view)

Photographed by Doreen Thomson, June 19, 2013

3. Pioneer Mailman Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on January 31, 2025. It was originally submitted on February 19, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 1,780 times since then and 134 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on February 19, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 3. submitted on January 30, 2025, by Doreen Thomson of Calgary, Alberta Canada. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.