part of Wheeler County. It was named for John W. Waterman, better known as "Doc." He settled on the land where the post office was subsequently established. The place was known as Waterman Flat. Waterman belonged to the cattle firm of Smith & Waterman. There was at one time a post office not far from this place known as Caleb, for Caleb N. Thornburg. Thornburg at one time had stock at Spanish Gulch in John Day Valley and was receiver of the land office in The Dalles.
WATERSPOUT CREEK, Wallowa County. This stream occupies a canyon that drains into Snake River into township 2 south, range 50 east. It was named by the Warnock brothers because of the heavy floods that washed so much material down to Snake River.
WATERSPOUT GULCH, Grant County. Waterspout Gulch drains into John Day River just north of Picture Gorge. It is common practice in certain sections of Oregon, Washington and Idaho to name streams and gulches Waterspout, not because of the frequency of waterspouts, but because of the excessive flood discharge after cloudbursts. The terrific effect of these floods is nowhere more noticeable than along the canyon of Snake River between Riparia and Huntington. Great masses of boulders and earth are swept down narrow defiles and into the main stream in quantities sufficient to form serious obstructions in the river.
WATKINS, Jackson County. For nearly thirty years Watkins was a post office in the upper Applegate River Valley near the mouth of Squaw Creek. The office was established in March, 1893, with the name of the first postmaster, Mark Watkins. The office operated in this locality until November 30, 1920, when it was closed out to Jacksonville.
WATSON, Malheur County. The post office at Watson was established in July, 1898. It was named for Harry Watson, a local stockman. Robert J. Ivers was the first postmaster.
WAUCOMA RIDGE, Hood River County. Waucoma Ridge is a spur off the main divide of the Cascade Range. It is in the northwest part of the county and separates the drainage of Hood River on the east from that of Eagle and Herman creeks to the west. Around the city of Hood River waucoma is said to be an Indian word meaning cottonwood tree, and it was used sometimes to refer to the locality because of the trees near the Columbia and Hood rivers. The compiler has not been able to learn what tribe used the expression. There are probably no cottonwood trees on Waucoma Ridge and the name seems to have been applied to that feature by white people because it has a pleasing sound.
WAUD BLUFF, Multnomah County. Old maps show this as Waid Bluff, but an investigation by government authorities disclosed the fact that Waud Bluff is correct, the name coming from an old settler, John Waud. Waud Bluff is on the east bank of the Willamette River north of Swan Island. Waud's donation land claim was north of the bluff,
WAUNA, Clatsop County. For the origin of the name Wauna, see under WAUNA Point. The name was applied to the Clatsop County community by Alfred W. Clark. Wauna post office was established January 21, 1911, with James Pollock first postmaster.
WAUNA POINT, Multnomah County. Wauna is an Indian name, probably Klickitat. It describes a mythological being supposed to represent the Columbia River. See The Bridge of the Gods, by F. H.
