stagecoach

Most of the photographs above were done

by Howard Harrison, a professional photo-

grapher who resides in The Dalles. Look
for additional photos by Howard in future
pages of the web site Shaniko.com. In the
meantime contact Howard for your photo
needs.

For about four years, Ron Oen operated a wagon works in Shaniko. Ron also sold stage rides to
Shaniko visitors. The rides lasted for about twenty minutes and often the stage was "held up" by
robbers in hiding along the route. Ron also built a stage station and "movie set" buildings south
of his house (former Wm. Rees House). Sonny Cox was the craftsman responsible for building
the stages including the wood and upholstry work. The enterprise started out in the old Reed
garage building just east of the hotel and soon was moved to the more spacious Wool Barn
warehouse. In all Sonny Cox built 4 stage coaches, 3 covered wagons and 1 chuck wagon. The
wagons were sold at auctions throughout the Pacific Northwest. The first stage coach built took
two men 90 days to build, the fourth one took only 18 days. Sonny Cox and his wife Sylvia are
returning to Shaniko. They are developing some property on the north edge of town. Remnants of
the former stage coach operation can be seen around town.