WELCOME

Although early settlers and loggers worked the immediate area as early as the 1850s, it was not until steamboats began hauling log rafts on the Columbia River in the 1870s that new markets developed for local timber. Area logging became more profitable, and more people arrived to take advantage of the new opportunities. The site of Stella had a natural harbor protected from faster Columbia River currents. The harbor had deep water close to shore, and once a wharf was built, steamboats could stop to take on wood for fuel. Other businesses followed - all built on pilings over the river - including a hotel, a saloon, and a store operated by John Packard. When Packard completed the application for a post office in July 1884, the locality was known as Coal Creek Landing or Lawson’s Landing. The application stated there was “no village” but the office would serve 200 people in the area. The Post Office Department preferred short names for new post offices, so Packard chose to name the office after his daughter Stella. The post office was established August 14, 1884 and was initially located in Packard’s store, with Packard serving as postmaster until October 1885. Packard soon sold his store to Augustus “Gus” Herring, probably about the time Herring was appointed postmaster in March 1887, replacing Daniel Wiest. Herring sold the store to Christian Struckmeier in 1896 or 1897. Struckmeier was appointed postmaster in October 1898, although it is possible he unofficially served as postmaster as early as April, if not sooner. Disaster struck on July 27, 1907, when a large fire destroyed much of the Stella waterfront, including Struckmeier’s store and the post office therein. Struckmeier and other businesses quickly rebuilt, with the post office again located inside Struckmeier’s store. He remained postmaster until shortly after selling the store to D. B. “Bud” Horton in February 1918. Carmine Amato, a clerk in Struckmeier’s store, was appointed acting postmaster in July 1918 but probably began serving in that role soon after Horton purchased the store. Amato was appointed postmaster in November but was not commissioned. Bud’s nephew Troy Horton then became acting postmaster in January 1919 and was appointed postmaster in May. Another fire on May 16, 1921 destroyed practically every waterfront business including Horton’s store containing the post office. Horton rebuilt after the fire, operating his store from temporary quarters until September 1922. The town also rebuilt after this fire, but on a smaller scale than it did after the 1907 conflagration. After briefly serving as acting postmaster, Bud Horton’s wife Anna was appointed postmaster in December 1923 and was Stella’s final postmaster. Anna was a clerk in Horton’s store and although she was officially postmaster, the store’s bookkeeper John Wilke usually ran the post office. Once Ocean Beach Highway (State Route 4) was completed through Stella in 1929, highway traffic supplanted the river for travel and freight. Stella declined in importance and the post office was discontinued on January 15, 1935. Area mail was then supplied by rural delivery from Longview.