Butte, but the title is fitting. It had this name as early as 1855, and an interesting picture of it is shown in Pacific Railroad Surveys Reports, volume VI, page 90. In the diary of Lt. Henry L. Abbot in OHQ, volume XXXIII, page 19, Black Butte is called Pivot Mountain, also an appropriate name. Abbot was one of the engineers connected with the Pacific Railroad Surveys. He did not use the name Pivot Mountain in the printed report, but Black Butte.
Black Butte, Lane County. The geographic feature Black Butte is at the headwaters of Coast Fork Willamette River, about 20 miles south of Cottage Grove. The mountain was named for its characteristic color. A post office named Harris was established near the butte on December 28, 1898, with William Harris postmaster, and it was named in compliment to the official. On August 10, 1901, the name of the office was changed to Blackbutte and it is still operating with that name.
Black Hills, Klamath County. These hills occupy a number of square miles in the southeastern part of Klamath Indian Reservation and were named on account of their characteristic color. They have a maximum elevation of about 6300 feet.
Black Rock, Polk County. Black Rock is on the western end of a branch line of the Southern Pacific Company extending southwest from Dallas. It is on the Little Luckiamute River. It is generally believed this town was named because of a ledge of black shale rock which is exposed nearby.
Blackhorse Creek, Wallowa County. Blackhorse Creek flows into Imnaha River in the extreme southwest corner of township 4 south, range 48 east. It was named in the late '90s by Horace J. Butler for a horse that strayed into the canyon and wintered there.
Blacklock Point, Curry County. Blacklock was the name of a pioneer settler of the county. It is assumed the name of the settler was applied to this point, which is about three miles north of Cape Blanco, but the compiler does not know the circumstances.
Blackmore Creek, Wallowa County. Blackmore Creek is a small stream flowing into Imnaha River in township I south, range 48 east. It was named for Fred Blackmore, a homesteader.
Blacks Island, Douglas County. Blacks Island is a small, marshy tract of land in the mouth of Smith River northeast of Reedsport. The Southern Pacific Company railroad trestle crosses the west end of the island. The name is said to be in commemoration of Arthur Black of the Jedediah S. Smith party which was massacred by the Indians in this vicinity on July 14, 1828. Black was one of the four who escaped. Fifteen members of the Smith party were killed. Black escaped alone and made his way to the Tillamook country, thence to Vancouver. For details of this outrage, see under Smith RIVER. The compiler does not know who applied the name Blacks Island or when it was done, but it is in general use.
Blaine, Curry County. Blaine post office is listed in Curry County for a few months in 1891. It was closed to Ophir. Eliza Woodruff was the only postmaster. The compiler has not been able to turn up much information about this office although it seems probable that it was named for James G. Blaine, candidate for the presidency of the United States in 1884. The Woodruff family lived not far from Ophir but early residents of the locality are of the opinion that Blaine post office was never in actual operation. That, of course, may be true.
