LARCH MOUNTAIN, Multnomah County. Larch trees probably do not grow on Larch Mountain. Forest experts assert that the tree grows only in that part of the state east of the Cascade Range. The tree on Larch Mountain known by lumbermen as the larch is really the noble fir, Abies nobilis, and is not related to the larch in any way. The name Larch Mountain is, however, well established for an important and beautiful geographic feature, and there it will doubtless remain. Larch Mountain has an elevation of 4058 feet.
LARISON Rock, Lane County. This rock and the creek nearby were named for George Larison, a resident of the valley of Middle Fork Willamette River. He was a son-in-law of B. J. Pengra, a pioneer of Oregon. The spelling Lairson is wrong.
LARWOOD, Linn County. Larwood post office was in operation from July 25, 1893, until August 12, 1903, and was named for the postmaster, William T. Larwood. This office was about ten miles east of Crabtree and in the foothills of the Cascade Range.
LAST CHANCE CREEK, Wallowa County. This stream fows into Minam River in township 4 south, range 42 east. It was named by George Miller in the fall of 1890. Miller was a sheep man and the last chance he had to make camp before getting out of the mountains was on this creek.
LATHAM, Lane County. Latham is a station on the Southern Pacific Company railroad a little more than a mile south of Cottage Grove. It
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HATI is more than probable that it was named for Senator Milton S. Latham of California. Latham post office was established September 16, 1878, with James J. Comstock first postmaster. The office was closed February 14, 1888. Comstock, who was an associate of Ben Holladay, was interested in the lumber business both at Latham and at Comstock, a station a little to the southwest in Douglas County. Holladay named several stations for public characters and it seems apparent that Latham station was named for Senator Latham, either by Holladay of by Comstock or both of them.
LATOURELL Falls, Multnomah County. Latourell Falls is the name of a beautiful feature adjacent to the Columbia River Highway, and also the post office name of the early community. The railroad station name is Latourell. Joseph Latourell was a prominent settler in the locality and it was named for him. The name Latourell frequently appears in print with a final "e," which is wrong. The falls are on property formerly owned by Guy W. Talbot of Portland, who had them accurately measured and found their height to be 249 feet. Latourell Prairie, on the bluffs above the Columbia River east of Latourell Falls received its name from the same source. For information about Joseph Latourell and the dedication of the falls to the state, see OHQ, volume XIX, page 78. Early in 1929 Mr. and Mrs. Talbot gave the state of Oregon about 220 acres of land adjoining the Columbia River Highway and Latourell Falls. This property is known as Guy W. Talbot State Park. In 1934 the heirs of George W. Joseph also gave property for a park on the upper part of the stream and this is known as the George Joseph State Park. Rooster Rock was the name of the first post office in this vicinity. It was established in May, 1876, with John Gilstrap postmaster, and was named for the natural feature nearby. Joseph Latourell became postmaster in Aug. ust, 1876, and the name was changed to Latourell Falls in August, 1887. The compiler does not know if the office was moved when the name was changed.
LAURANCE, Marion County. On July 7, 1898, Ellsworth Benjamin Fletcher was appointed postmaster at Laurance by Charles Emory Smith, then postmaster general. The post office was established in Mr. Fletcher's home at the North Howell crossroads. M. Louetta Carwood was appointed postmaster November 23, 1900, and the office was discontinued December 22, 1902, with papers to Gervais.
LAUREL, Washington County. Laurel was named early in 1879 at a meeting held at a school about a quarter of a mile east of the present site of the community. C. W. (Cooney) Williams suggested the name because there were so many laurel trees in the vicinity. The post office was established March 14, 1879, with Alfred Mulloy postmaster. The office was at his home, about a mile south of the present site of Laurel. It was moved to the present location about 1890. For additional information about the community, see Hillsboro Argus, November 26, 1931.
LAUREL Hill, Clackamas County. Laurel Hill lies between Zigzag River and Camp Creek and is traversed by the Mount Hood Loop Highway over a fine grade. It was one of the terrors of the emigrants who traveled the Barlow Road. Wagons had to be let down the slopes of this hill with ropes. The name Laurel Hill was applied in the earliest pioneer days. For comments on this name and Zigzag River, see under Barlow
CREEK and Zigzag River. It is probable that the pioneers named L
