Vale in Malheur County, Oregon — The American West (Northwest)

Rinehart's Stone House

Photographed By Douglass Halvorsen, June 28, 2023

1. Rinehart's Stone House Marker

Inscription.
Built in 1872 by Louis and
Amanda Rinehart. Was stagecoach
inn. Original stop on Oregon
Trail was owned by Jonathan
Keeney.

Erected by Malheur Country Historical Society.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Oregon Trail series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1872.

Location. 43° 58.835′ N, 117° 14.422′ W. Marker is in Vale, Oregon, in Malheur County. Marker is at the intersection of Main St S and C St W, on the right when traveling south on Main St S. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 255 Main St S, Vale OR 97918, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Vale Oregon Trail Kiosk (approx. ¼ mile away); Cutoff Fever (approx. 0.4 miles away); Vale (approx. half a mile away); Stephen Meek's Cutoff (approx. half a mile away); John D. Henderson (approx. 0.7 miles away); Under the Wagon Cover (approx. 5.8 miles away); First People of the Land (approx. 5.8 miles away); In Search of a Dream (approx. 5.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Vale.

Also see . . . National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form

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. Excerpts from the Nomination Form mention the 'Stone House' as being the first permanent structure and the nucleus of settlement in this area until officially designated as 'Vale.' The Stone House is also believed to be the oldest building standing in north Malheur County today. (Submitted on September 1, 2023, by Douglass Halvorsen of Klamath Falls, Oregon.)

Photographed By Douglass Halvorsen, June 28, 2023

2. Rinehart's Stone House Marker

Rinehart's Stone House image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Douglass Halvorsen, June 28, 2023

3. Rinehart's Stone House

A framed interpretive display in the museum window reads: One of the oldest buildings in Malheur County and in Eastern Oregon, it was built by Lewis and Amanda Rinehart and has served as a way station on the Oregon Trail, a hostelry, a stage stop for Boise to Burns run, and during the Bannock-Paiute Indian War in 1878, it served as a refuge for the nearby settlers. In more recent times it was a private home. The first Vale post office was established in this building in 1883. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972, when it was a hundred years old.

Photographed By Douglass Halvorsen, June 28, 2023

4. Rinehart's Stone House

Credits. This page was last revised on September 2, 2023. It was originally submitted on September 1, 2023, by Douglass Halvorsen of Klamath Falls, Oregon. This page has been viewed 63 times since then and 14 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on September 1, 2023, by Douglass Halvorsen of Klamath Falls, Oregon. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.