PERSON(S) OF THE MONTH

FROM OUT OF THE PAST

April 1999 - Gus Reeder

Shaniko Train Station c.1910

Gustav Reeder was the longest serving peace officer
in the history of Wasco County. He served as a
Wasco County Deputy Sherrif for nearly 50 years and
was the City Marshall of Shaniko for a similar length
of time. Gus and his brother operated an area
livestock ranch when work on building the town of
Shaniko began in 1899. Gus help build the Shaniko
school and he and his bride Wilhelmina were the first
couple married in the new town. The townsite
company gave them a lot as a wedding present and
they built a house on it. In 1906 Gus opened a
saddle and harness shop on E street which later
burned in the great fire of 1911. Gus then operated
his business at a location just west of the hotel until
he retired in 1950. Gus was an excellent marksman
and had aimed his gun at suspects in performing his
duties, but never had to fire at one. He did fire in the
air to halt those taking flight and caused them to halt.

To quote from Helen Rees' book " *Shaniko,
From Wool Capital to Ghost Town": "The
smell of leather, shoe polish and tobacco in
the shop and Gus working at his cobblers
bench, cobblers nails in one side of his mouth
and his old crooked stemmed pipe in the other
made Gus one of the most unforgettable
characters and his shop one of the most
unforgettable places in the first fifty years of
the twentieth century. The little picnic area
between the hotel and the ice cream parlor
was the second location of Gus Reeder's
business.

In addition to being a lawman, Gus Reeder
also served as a livestock brand inspector,
was Clerk of the Shaniko School District and
in the early days was the city lamplighter. He
was also city water superintendent and
collected the water bills as well as operating
the wood fired steam powered pumping
system. The Reeders and their five children
lived over the hill at Cross Hollows, the site of
the original stage station and later the water
pumping plant. The Reeders also operated a
dairy at Cross Hollows.

Gus closed his shop and retired at age 82

Gustav Henry Reeder 1868-1956

Home Page

In later years Gus had more business as a
cobbler than saddle & harness making.

Links Page

Where can we learn more about Shaniko's colorful past?

Book - Helen ReesShaniko - From Wool Capital to Ghost Town1982

Book Helen ReesShaniko People1983

VideoDon SchmidtShaniko - The Wool Capital Years1997

VideoDon SchmidtShaniko II - Shaniko People and Their Stories1998

VideoDon SchmidtShaniko III - A Town's Death & Rebirth2001 ?

The books are in stock at the Shaniko Selectables Shop or may be ordered from

amazon.com. The videos are stocked by Shaniko Selectables and Jones Antiques

The videos are also available by mail order. Click on titles above for mail orders.

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