North Bethany in Portland in Washington County, Oregon — The American West (Northwest)

Old Log Jail, 1853

Photographed by Jimmy Emerson, August 5, 2011

1. Old Log Jail, 1853 Marker

Inscription.

Old Log Jail, 1853. . , The Old Log Jail is one of the oldest log structures in Oregon. In 1853, Washington County included all of what is now Multnomah and Columbia Counties, Hillsboro (originally Hillsborough) was the county seat. The town was composed of twelve houses, a hotel, the Courthouse (built in 1852) and a log schoolhouse. The Old Log Jail was built on the southwest corner of Fourth and Washington Streets. , The Old Log Jail measures 9 feet 6 inches wide, is 16 feet long and approximately 12 feet tall from the ground to the top of the gable roof. The logs came from local trees, most likely Douglas fir, that were about 18 inches to 20 inches in diameter. Each wall timber is about 11 inches on each side, carved or "hewn" square with a broad axe, and finished smooth with an adze. , The building operated as a jail for seventeen years, from 1853 to 1870, holding both county and territorial prisonem. Two men are known to have died within these walls, one by his own hand, the other of natural causes after spending eighteen months here. , In 1870, the Old Log Jail was sold to Riley Cave, the local blacksmith and Justice of the Peace, for $75 in gold coin. It functioned as a temporary home while the Cave family built their new residence on the property. Scraps of wall paper and newspaper found inside the jail suggest they hung red cloth wall covering and newspaper articles on the interior walls, Melinda Cave gave birth to their second child in the building. , The Old Log Jail functioned as an outbuilding until 1953 when the property was sold to be redeveloped for business. The structure was moved from its original location to the Washington County Fairgrounds. The original location in Hillsboro where the jail stood is now a parking lot. In 1985, the building was placed on the National Register of Historical Places for its architectural and historical significance. , By 2002 the sill logs and lower course logs had reached a state of severe deterioration. The Washington County Museum commissioned a timber building conservator to restore and preserve the Old Log Jail. The restoration was conducted following the structure's physical relocation to the museum on the campus of PCC-Rock Creek. , The Washington County Museum is proud to preserve the fully restored Log Jail and wishes to thank the generosity of everyone who made this restoration possible: , Bobsy Graham, Oregon Cultural Trust, Washington County Fair Complex, Washington County Sheriff's Foundation, Hillsboro Coffee Club, Beaverton Kiwanis Club, The Greater Hillsboro Chamber of Commerce, Friends of HART Inc., Tigard Area Historical Society, Eugene Zurbrugg. The Moore Family, John Rinkes, and many other private individuals

The Old Log Jail is one of the oldest log structures in Oregon. In 1853, Washington County included all of what is now Multnomah and Columbia Counties, Hillsboro (originally Hillsborough) was the county seat. The town was composed of twelve houses, a hotel, the Courthouse (built in 1852) and a log schoolhouse. The Old Log Jail was built on the southwest corner of Fourth and Washington Streets.

The Old Log Jail measures 9 feet 6 inches wide, is 16 feet long and approximately 12 feet tall from the ground to the top of the gable roof. The logs came from local trees, most likely Douglas fir, that were about 18 inches to 20 inches in diameter. Each wall timber is about 11 inches on each side, carved or "hewn" square with a broad axe, and finished smooth with an adze.

The building operated as a jail for seventeen years, from 1853 to 1870, holding both county and territorial prisonem. Two men are known to have died within these walls, one by his own hand, the other of natural causes after spending eighteen months here.

In 1870, the Old Log Jail was sold to Riley Cave, the local blacksmith and Justice of the

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Peace, for $75 in gold coin. It functioned as a temporary home while the Cave family built their new residence on the property. Scraps of wall paper and newspaper found inside the jail suggest they hung red cloth wall covering and newspaper articles on the interior walls, Melinda Cave gave birth to their second child in the building.

The Old Log Jail functioned as an outbuilding until 1953 when the property was sold to be redeveloped for business. The structure was moved from its original location to the Washington County Fairgrounds. The original location in Hillsboro where the jail stood is now a parking lot. In 1985, the building was placed on the National Register of Historical Places for its architectural and historical significance.

By 2002 the sill logs and lower course logs had reached a state of severe deterioration. The Washington County Museum commissioned a timber building conservator to restore and preserve the Old Log Jail. The restoration was conducted following the structure's physical relocation to the museum on the campus of PCC-Rock Creek.

The Washington County Museum is proud to preserve the

Old Log Jail & Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Jimmy Emerson, August 5, 2011

2. Old Log Jail & Marker

fully restored Log Jail and wishes to thank the generosity of everyone who made this restoration possible:

Bobsy Graham, Oregon Cultural Trust, Washington County Fair Complex, Washington County Sheriff's Foundation, Hillsboro Coffee Club, Beaverton Kiwanis Club, The Greater Hillsboro Chamber of Commerce, Friends of HART Inc., Tigard Area Historical Society, Eugene Zurbrugg. The Moore Family, John Rinkes, and many other private individuals

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Law Enforcement • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1853.

Location. 45° 33.98′ N, 122° 51.463′ W. Marker is in Portland, Oregon, in Washington County. It is in North Bethany. It is on Northwest Springville Road north of PCC Drive. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 17677 NW Springville Rd, Portland OR 97229, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Oregon Wine Country

and in the Willamette Valley.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast,

in the Pacific Northwest,

and in the Lewis & Clark Corridor.

Globally,

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it is in North America,

the Pacific Rim,

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the Western World,

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Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 8 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Joseph L. Meek (approx. 6.1 miles away); The Willamette Stone (approx. 6.4 miles away); The Medal of Honor (approx. 6.4 miles away); a different marker also named The Willamette Stone (approx. 6.4 miles away); Fort William (approx. 7 miles away); a different marker also named Fort William (approx. 7 miles away); Forest Park: A Natural Escape (approx. 7.3 miles away); "For You A Rose in Portland Grows" (approx. 8.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Portland.

More about this marker. The jail was located at the Washington County Museum but as of December 2025 the museum was closed due to lack of funds. The collection of the museum went back to Washington County. As of 2026, the status of the jail and marker is unknown.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 24, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 22, 2026, by Jimmy Emerson of Dalton, Georgia. This page has been viewed 9 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 22, 2026, by Jimmy Emerson of Dalton, Georgia. • James Hulse was the editor who published this page.