The Development of Stella
Stella, is located on the Washington side of the Columbia River, near the mouth of Germany Creek. The property on which Stella was established was originally owned by John Guizendorfer, who filed a donation land claim for 320 acres in 1865. Soon after it was purchased by Henry Lawson who established a wharf, known as Lawson's Landing, for ships to dock and off load supplies and settlers arriving to the area. Ships would load up with cordwood and continue travel on the the river.
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On August 14, 1884 the Stella, Washington Post Office was established by John A. Packard. He served as postmaster for approximately a year. The post office was operated by several postmasters over the span of fifty-one years. The post office was discontinued in 1935.
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The 1870s brought the arrival of men and small companies destined to become the lumber barons of the next thirty years. Perhaps most important to the development of Stella as a community was the arrival of Benjamin F. Brock in 1875. The young Vermonter stated out logging with Jacob Wiest. Brock stayed with Wiest for seven years. The Wiest brothers logging operation was one of the first organized effort on the Columbia River.
Stella Historians
Gaye Richards became the society’s first Historian in 1976 and served as our society's Historian for almost four decades. After retiring, her duties were passed on to Harvey Williamson III. a decedent of William H. Williamson, an early settler of Stella.
Since its birth in the late 1800’s, Stella has hosted hotels, saloons, a hospital, a barbershop, a butcher shop, a mercantile, and the “Lighthouse” Dance Hall.
Stella survived and rebuilt after fires in 1907, 1921 and 1984.
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pictured: B.F. Brock
The Making of Stella
1805 - The Lewis and Clark Expedition paddled past the wetland at the mouth o f today's Germany Creek and today's Crims Island.
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1848 - Oak Point was a busy port along the Columbia River. Abernethy’s mill was in full swing shipping lumber to California during the gold rush.
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1850 - John Guizendorfer filed a donation land claim for 320 acres, the future site of Stella.
1871 - Henry Lawson bought the land from John Guizendorfer and it became known as “Lawson’s Landing.” A new wharf was built for ships.
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The Wiest brothers’ logging operation was one of the first organized logging efforts on the Columbia River.
1875 - B.F. Brock, from Vermont, arrived in Stella and began logging with the Wiest brothers. At this time, Sternwheelers were valuable modes of transportation on the Columbia River.
1879 - Stella area Douglas fir trees were said to be among the finest in the Pacific Northwest.
1883 - The 6-ton “Little Ant” locomotive that was built in 1874, was purchased by B.F. Brock for $2,000.
1885 - Christian F. Struckmeier and William H. Oxman ran a store in Stella and made $125,000 in a year.
1902 - Hammond Lumber Company built some of the cigar rafts at Stella which were towed to California. Some of the very best lumber came from this area and many homes in San Francisco were built from Northwest lumber.
Piling from Stella was used to build Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco.
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1907 - B.F. Brock’s blacksmith shop was built on its present location.
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1914 - Prohibition came; saloons closed and business declined in Stella.
1929 - Ocean Beach Highway opened through Stella.
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Since it's birth in the late 1800s, Stella has hosted hotels, saloons, a hospital a barbershop, a butcher shop a mercantile, and the "Lighthouse" Dance Hall.
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Stella survived and rebuilt after fires in 1907, 1921, and 1984.