about 1890. G. W. Pugh was the first postmaster and merchant in the community, and he named the place Holley because of a large quantity of what he thought was that shrub that grew in the community. The compiler is of the opinion that the shrub that Pugh intended to honor was Oregon grape rather than holly. The form of spelling appears to have been Pugh's.
HOLMES Gap, Polk County. Holmes Gap and Holmes Hill are five miles north of Rickreall, the former being a natural pass used by the Southern Pacific Company and by the Pacific Highway West. The gap has an elevation of 166 feet and the hill just to the east 567 feet. These features were named for Horatio Nelson Viscount Holmes, a pioneer of Oregon, who took a donation land claim at this point.
HOLTON CREEK, Josephine County. Holton Creek flows into the Illinois River just south of Kerby. It was named for Dr. D. S. Holton, a pioneer physician of the neighborhood. For biography of Dr. Holton, see Walling's History of Southern Oregon, page 508. See also under KERBY.
HOME, Baker County. Information about the origin of this post office name is unsatisfactory. The office was established about 1908. John W. Flick is said to have been the first postmaster. He asked for the name Marble but the department refused that name and called the place Home instead. This seems to have been satisfactory to the local residents. The writer has not been able to learn why the name of Home was selected. This office should not be confused with an earlier ofhce called Home, established on the Baker County list in June, 1878. This earlier office was in what is now Malheur County.
HOME, Malheur County. Home post office was established on the Baker County list in June, 1878, with Alvin R. Roberts postmaster. The office was situated in what is now Malheur County near Willow Creek a few miles northwest of Vale. The history of the office is a little confusing. The office was discontinued in November, 1878, but was put in service again within a few weeks. There was another short interruption in 1879. At the time of these interruptions William S. Glenn was postmaster. The writer can find no record of this office after June, 1880, and it may have stopped functioning in that month. It should be noted that Glenn was postmaster at the new office of Glenn, in the same general locality, in April, 1881. It is possible that when Glenn was postmaster at Home, he may have had the office at the place later called Glenn. There was not much formality about moving post offices in those days.
HOME CREEK, Harney County. Home Creek flows westward from Steens Mountain into Catlow Valley, and the Home Creek Ranch near the stream is a prominent landmark. These features are said to have been named by John Catlow, one of the first settlers in the valley. The Home Creek Ranch was later operated by members of the Shirk family.
HOMER, Grant County. Homer post office was established September 20, 1889, with Wells W. Stone first postmaster. The office, was in Bear Vallev, in the same locality as the later offices Duncanville and Logdell. The second postmaster at Homer was B. S. Duncan, who was living at Mount Vernon in March, 1947. Mr. Duncan has recorded that he was postmaster at Homer for considerably more than a year, and that his salary amounted to twenty-five cents. He resigned, and the office was closed November 4, 1895. Homer post office is said to have been named for Homer Stone, son of the first postmaster W. W. Stone. At least that is the opinion of Mr. Duncan. See also under LOGDELL.
