The early history of the locality is largely concerned with the difficulties of communication and transportation. Some of these problems are set out in an article in OHQ, volume XLIV, page 56, by J. F. Santee and F. B. Warfield, with the title "Account of Early Pioneering in the Alsea Valley." Paul V. Wustrow became postmaster on March 30, 1876, and held the position until May 28, 1898, nearly a quarter of a century. Colonel Wustrow was a well-known character in the Alsea Valley and was of European birth and up-bringing, but whether Russian or German, the compiler cannot learn. He is said to have coined the name Waldport at the request of David Ruble, who founded that community. For information about the origin of the name Alsea see under AlsEA RIVER.
ALSEA RIVER, Benton and Lincoln counties. Alsea is said to be a corruption of Alsi, the name of a Yakonan tribe that lived at the mouth of Alsea River. Lewis and Clark give Ulseah. Duflot de Mofras gives Alsiias in his Exploration, 1844, volume II, page 335. Wm. P. McArthur gives Alseya on his chart accompanying the report of the U.S. Coast Survey for 1851. The name has many variations, but there is no doubt that it was originally pronounced with three syllables, and not with two as at present. Alsea River rises in the Coast Range and flows into Alsea Bay at Waldport, The town of Alsea is in the southwest part of Benton County.
ALTAMONT, Josephine County. Altamont is Spanish for high mountain. Altamont post office was established April 16, 1884, with Benjamin M. Parker first and only postmaster. The office was closed June 21, 1886. The available geographic information about this place is meagre, but perhaps sufficient for its importance. Early gazetteers show a place called Alta and also Altamont at a point on the railroad about twentyone miles north of Grants Pass and that was doubtless the location of the post office mentioned above. There had been an earlier post office named Leland near the highway crossing on Grave Creek about four miles east of the railroad. After Altamont post office was closed in 1886, Leland office was moved west to the railroad, but the exact date of this move cannot be determined from the records. The compiler thinks it was in the early '90s. It seems probable that the location of the old Altamont office and the present Leland railroad station were in approximately the same place.
ALTAMONT, Klamath County. This community is just southeast of Klamath Falls, and is said to have been named for Altamont, the famous racehorse. It was applied to the community by Jay Beach, a prominent horseman. Altamont post office was in service from January, 1895, to February, 1902, with George W. Smith postmaster.
ALTHOUSE CREEK, Josephine County. Althouse Creek and Althouse Mountain near the Oregon-California line were named for the Althouse brothers of Albany. They were pioneer prospectors and miners in southern Oregon. Althouse post office was established near the lower reaches of Althouse Creek in October, 1877, with Charles H. Beach first postmaster. This office was in service for about thirty years.
ALVADORE, Lane County. Alvadore is a town about 10 miles northwest of Eugene and about a mile northeast of Fern Ridge dam. It was formerly on a branch line of the Southern Pacific. It was named for Alvadore Welch of Portland, a public utility promoter and manager, who built the Portland, Eugene and Eastern Railway through the community. The railway was later acquired by the Southern Pacific Company, and in 1936 the track in this vicinity was torn up. Welch died in 1931.
