IN THE BEGINNING
Port
Orford had it's beginnings, on Battle Rock, over a century and a half
ago when
Captain William Tichenor
sought to establish
a settlement
on the coast to supply the miners who would certainly come in search of
gold.
During a voyage in 1850, Captain William Tichenor's vessel was thrown off course
by a storm and he ended up off Cape Blanco, about 4.4 miles north of Port Orford.
Later that same voyage Tichenor explored the harbor area we know as our port.
About a year later Tichenor and a group of nine men tried to establish
a settlement in Port Orford. The nine men had to hold out for what they
thought would be two
weeks and chose a huge rock now know as Battle Rock, as their camp and the ships
cannon as their only real weapon.
Unfortunately the nine were attacked by Indians almost immediately and after
a brief skirmish several Indians were killed. A 14-day truce was agreed upon,
but when Captain Tichenor failed to show up on time the Indains attacked and
were repelled again.
The nine men, all still alive, decided to try and escape from the huge rock and
the threat of more attacks. As luck would have it they succeeded with the help
of friendly Indians along the route of their 10-day journey to the Umpqua River
and what is now known as Scottsburg.
.
When Captain Tichenor finally did return he learned of the escape of the nine
men. Tichenor then went to San Francisco and recruited 67 men to return and take
over an abandoned Army fort. In 1851, probably the late summer, Fort Point Orford
was officially established. Tichenor's wife and family moved to Port Orford in
1852 making them Port Orford's first family.
Click HERE for more info about Battle Rock Park. (Illustration of battle of Battle Rock)
About a year later Tichenor and a group of nine men tried to establish
a settlement in Port Orford. The nine men had to hold out for what they
thought would be two
weeks and chose a huge rock now know as Battle Rock, as their camp and the ships
cannon as their only real weapon.
