– Bill Rautenstruch

– The Observer

NORTH POWDER Economic developments experts say it over and over: When you’re trying to get something going in your town, build on the things you already have.

North Powder’s got history, for one thing. A great location, for another.

And some local residents think those could be keys to new life for the sleepy little burg along Interstate 84 in southern Union County.

"We’ve got the Oregon Trail, we’ve got the fishing, we’ve got the skiing," said long-time resident and community activist Joyce Lawyer. "If we had the housing and some way to entertain people, we could be a nice little resort town."

As it is, North Powder has a population of 470, no major industry, and only a few retail businesses. The city center, which in another time hummed with life, is a shadow of its former self.

Some commercial buildings have been converted to non-commercial purposes. Others stand locked up and unused. Shoppers downtown are a real rarity.

Sharon Stanford has run an antique store in the old Oddfellows Hall on E Street through more than a decade of hard times. Her customer base consists mainly of people who wander off the freeway and decide to explore.

Lately, in city council and community meetings, there’s been talk of turning things around in North Powder. People have been brain-storming ways to attract visitors and boost the economy.

"We need to develop something that will entice people to stay a couple of hours instead of just driving through," said City Recorder Joanne Butler.

That’s where the history comes in.

Stand in the middle of E Street in downtown North Powder, and you’re standing in the middle of the Oregon Trail.

Thousands of wagon train immigrants passed through in the heyday of the Trail, bound for the Willamette Valley. In the 1860s thousands more passed through in a reverse migration to the northeast Oregon gold fields.

Some of those travelers jumped off at North Powder to stay. They raised cattle, hay and grain. They built a community, with churches, schools, stores and mills. The city, on the banks of the North Powder River, incorporated in 1903.

Since then, North Powder has had its ups and downs, its share of glorious successes and broken dreams.

Agriculture’s always been the backbone of the economy, and it still is. Timber had its day, too, but for now it’s gone.

The last sawmill to operate in North Powder closed in the early 2000s. In modern times, most working people commute to jobs in Baker City and La Grande.

As residents often point out, there is a visible historical legacy. It includes the surviving ruts of the Oregon Trail near town, and a large inventory of historic buildings, some dating back to the late 19th century.

These days, community leaders talk about pressing one of those buildings into service as a museum.

They also envision annual events with an Oregon Trail theme, and walking tours through a designated historic district.

"From the city’s point of view, we’d like to determine if people want to work on the history and actually get our buildings on the historic register," Butler said.

In 2002, an Oregon Department of Transportation study recommended that 16 properties in the downtown area be submitted for listing on the National Register of Historic Places.

"The study says we could submit them as a group. I’d like to work with the property owners to get this done," Butler said.

She added that she is applying for a USDA Rural Business Enterprise Grant that will help the city do a downtown marketing analysis and a business plan emphasizing the historic resources.

It’s a way to stimulate growth while leaving the city’s identity intact, said Butler.

"My idea is that we see just enough growth to maintain the community, but keep the historical aspect and small town feel," she said.

North Powder sits on the Interstate 20 miles from Baker City in Baker County, and 20 miles from La Grande in Union County.

It falls within Union County’s jurisdiction, but people often say they feel cut off from the mainstream.

Lawyer puts it this way: "There are a lot of people in La Grande who don’t even know we’re part of Union County."

Yet as locations go, North Powder’s isn’t all bad. Some see it as a strength.

That’s because the city is a likely jump-off point for several regional recreation destinations, including Anthony Lakes Ski area, the Elkhorn Wildlife Viewing Area, and Thief Valley, Pilcher Creek and Wolf Creek reservoirs.

The town experienced a dip in the number of people coming through when the only gas station, a Cenex, closed in October, 2005.

But just recently, businesswoman Vicky Day opened a station where the old one did business, adjacent to her store and restaurant at the freeway ramps.

At present, Day is developing an idea for a visitor’s complex on her property that would include a picnic area and a visitor kiosk.

The kiosk would display information about North Powder and surrounding attractions. The city sees it a a good way to draw people in.

"We’re working on it with (state Representative) Greg Smith and the Oregon Parks Department," Butler said. "We’re getting very good support from them."

Nobody knows where all these plans will go, or how much they will actually benefit the city if set in motion.

But there’s reason for hope. Day’s activities coincide with a small but energetic burst of local business happenings.

A wood chip business is up and running, a company called Rich’s Portable Cabins is building custom-made trailers, and the A&A RV Park is expanding under new owners.

People in North Powder are looking toward the future and talking about it. Butler finds that encouraging.

"Overall, I get a feeling that the citizens want this sleepy little town to wake up," she said.