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A Crook County Historical Moment
| Christmas Tragedy at Silver Lake 1894 |
A large monument in
the cemetery in the
small community of
Silver Lake, Oregon is
a grim reminder of one
of the worst tragedies
in the State of Oregon.
The monument bears
the names of 43
persons who lost their
lives on Christmas Eve
in 1894.
Silver Lake was
growing to a
prosperous little
community by 1894.
the cemetery in the
small community of
Silver Lake, Oregon is
a grim reminder of one
of the worst tragedies
in the State of Oregon.
The monument bears
the names of 43
persons who lost their
lives on Christmas Eve
in 1894.
Silver Lake was
growing to a
prosperous little
community by 1894.
It was the only established trading post between Prineville and Lakeview and freight wagons and
stages regularly stopped at the site. Nearly 150 people lived in the community and it became a close
knit group of neighbors. The community gathering place was the Chrisman Brothers General Store.
The upstairs portion of the store was called Clayton Hall and was the site of weekly dances that were
held on the wooden floors. It was also the site for special occasions and events.
The small community was unincorporated and did not have a fire fighting organization. The crisp
Christmas Eve morning dawned with bright hopes for local residents. A festive occasion was planned
for the dance hall above Chrisman’s during the evening. Several Rochester lamps with a one gallon
capacity of oil were hanging from the upstairs ceiling. There was a large dinner held in the early
evening hours and nearly 170 men, women and children were enjoying the festivities. Many of the
attendees had traveled many miles to get to the celebration.
After the delightful dinner there were some skits and other events. Then people jockeyed to get into
good position to see the stage and gift presentation. There was only one doorway out of the upstairs.
18 year old George Payne began walking from bench to bench to get to the front of the hall and in his
haste bumped his head on one of the Rochester lamps. He tried to right it but flammable oil spilled
onto the wooden floor. The flames spread and people panicked rushing for the exit. People were
trampled in the rush for the door way and other lamps were overturned adding to the flaming inferno.
The door became clogged with people trying to escape and unfortunately would be rescuers from
outside the building rushed up the stairs further clogging the exit. The flames spread rapidly and some
of the crowd rushed to a small window that led to a balcony. Many crowded through the window to the
balcony but the weight was too much and the balcony collapsed. A ladder was placed against the
building for others to escape through the window. Attempts to use a bucket brigade to douse the
flames was unsuccessful. Many suffocated or were killed by the flames. The roar of the flames
silenced moans. The only doctor available was in Lakeview and Ed O’Farrell made an all night dash to
Lakeview to get him but they did not arrive until a few days later. The joyous occasion became one of
mourning as every family in the area was touched by the tragedy. 43 people died in the tragic fire and
it was a long time before residents recovered from the shock. It as one of the worst fire disasters in
Oregon.
stages regularly stopped at the site. Nearly 150 people lived in the community and it became a close
knit group of neighbors. The community gathering place was the Chrisman Brothers General Store.
The upstairs portion of the store was called Clayton Hall and was the site of weekly dances that were
held on the wooden floors. It was also the site for special occasions and events.
The small community was unincorporated and did not have a fire fighting organization. The crisp
Christmas Eve morning dawned with bright hopes for local residents. A festive occasion was planned
for the dance hall above Chrisman’s during the evening. Several Rochester lamps with a one gallon
capacity of oil were hanging from the upstairs ceiling. There was a large dinner held in the early
evening hours and nearly 170 men, women and children were enjoying the festivities. Many of the
attendees had traveled many miles to get to the celebration.
After the delightful dinner there were some skits and other events. Then people jockeyed to get into
good position to see the stage and gift presentation. There was only one doorway out of the upstairs.
18 year old George Payne began walking from bench to bench to get to the front of the hall and in his
haste bumped his head on one of the Rochester lamps. He tried to right it but flammable oil spilled
onto the wooden floor. The flames spread and people panicked rushing for the exit. People were
trampled in the rush for the door way and other lamps were overturned adding to the flaming inferno.
The door became clogged with people trying to escape and unfortunately would be rescuers from
outside the building rushed up the stairs further clogging the exit. The flames spread rapidly and some
of the crowd rushed to a small window that led to a balcony. Many crowded through the window to the
balcony but the weight was too much and the balcony collapsed. A ladder was placed against the
building for others to escape through the window. Attempts to use a bucket brigade to douse the
flames was unsuccessful. Many suffocated or were killed by the flames. The roar of the flames
silenced moans. The only doctor available was in Lakeview and Ed O’Farrell made an all night dash to
Lakeview to get him but they did not arrive until a few days later. The joyous occasion became one of
mourning as every family in the area was touched by the tragedy. 43 people died in the tragic fire and
it was a long time before residents recovered from the shock. It as one of the worst fire disasters in
Oregon.
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A.R. Bowman Memorial Museum
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See the drop
down menu at
the top of the
page for more
local stories
of Prineville's
colorful past.
down menu at
the top of the
page for more
local stories
of Prineville's
colorful past.
Use the drop down menu for more local stories of Prineville's colorful past.
