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ORLEANS, Linn County. The compiler has been unable to get much information about this pioneer community, in fact none at all about the origin of the name. The place was established a little before 1850 on the Moore donation land claim, just east of and across the river from what is now Corvallis. Floods in the '60s eliminated the settlement but not the name, which is now used for an important voting precinct in Linn County. There is also an Orleans school. The name Orleans does not appear on any of the Oregon post office lists.
ORODELL, Union County. Orodell is a locality, a ghost town, on Grande Ronde River just northwest of La Grande. It is where the river leaves the canyon and enters the valley, Paul Van Scoy of La Grande wrote the compiler in January, 1944, that a man named Fox started a sawmill at this point in the early '60s, the first mill in Grande Ronde Valley. A store and a post offce followed in due time. The post office was named Orodell, and the name was apparently originated by a Captain Harlow, who worked for W. J. Snodgrass, storekeeper and for a time the postmaster. The name was coined by taking part of the Greek word oros, meaning a mountain, and adding the English word dell as a suffix. The place is still known as Orodell, but there has been no community there for many years.
OROVILLE, Harney County. Oroville is a synthetic name derived from the Spanish word oro meaning gold. The word has been applied in many places by miners and prospectors. In March, 1947, Archie McGowan of Burns wrote the compiler as follows: "Oroville post office was situated at the Melvin Doan ranch near the base of Pueblo Mountain, in the south part of the county, about five miles south of the place now known as Fields. The locality was long known for its various minerals and float quartz. Messrs. Catlow and Doan were always interested in this mineral showing and gathered more or less quartz for exhibition. Presumably they named the post office for this rock." Oroville post office was established July 19, 1911, with Byron T. Tiscal first postmaster. Edwin J. Catlow was appointed postmaster January 8, 1914, and the office was closed to Fields on June 30, 1915.
ORPHAN BUTTE, Deschutes County. Orphan Butte, which is northeast of Paulina Mountains, received its name because it stands alone.
ORTLEY, Wasco County. Ortley was named for the Ortley apple, a variety that was planted there in considerable numbers. About 1911 it was planned to develop Ortley as a model orchard or fruit growing community and the growers were to live in the town and operate their orchards from there. The place is on the heights above Rowena and is about seven miles southeast of Mosier. The post office was established about 1911, with L. D. Firebaugh first postmaster. It was discontinued November 30, 1922, and many of the apple trees have been taken out.
ORVILLE, Clackamas County. Orville post office was established April 29, 1892, with Lawrence J. Perdue first postmaster. The compiler does not have the date on which this office was closed but it was subsequent to June 1, 1895. Orville post office was about eight miles south of Barlow where the road from Barlow to Monitor crosses the road east to Yoder. The Perdue family were among the early settlers in this part of Clackamas County and a close friend was Orville Byland who taught the Oak Lawn school. Mr. Byland later moved to Oregon City and became county school superintendent. There is an interesting editorial abou
