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History of Early Pioneer Families of Hood River, Oregon.
Compiled by Mrs. D.M. Coon

WINANS ADDITION TO HOOD RIVER

When the railroad was being constructed, about the year l881, someone discovered that there was a fractional tract of land, lying between the claims of Nathaniel Coe and Nathan Benson.
A little later a man by the name of Dodge homesteaded this tract, being assisted by Dr. W.L. Adams. For nearly a score of years the Hood River wagon bridge had rested its western approach on this land. Mr. Dodge disposed of some of this land and when Mr. and Mrs. Aud. Winans arrived in Hood River, October 1887 he gladly sold the remainder to them. In July 1888 Mr. Winans employed Joseph A.
Wilson to survey and plat the land and it was put upon the market as "Winans Addition". The Mt. Hood railroad bridge and tracks are upon this land. State St., which was first a county road, then a state road, then State St. and is now Columbia River Highway, runs through Winans Addition across a beautiful concrete bridge to the East side of the river, where new buildings are springing up on land first owned by Nathan Benson.

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The first settlers received their mail at The Dalles, the mail carrier was Justin Chenoweth who traveled, on the river in a small sail boat, or on a trail down the bank of the Columbia. Mail came only once a week in those days and in winter time was apt not to come at all.
The first postoffice was a small building, put up by Nathan Benson near the present boatlanding. I think Wm. Stillwell acted as postmaster for two years. The receipts of the office amounted to ten or twelve dollars annually. Mrs. Martha Benson acted as postmaster and had the office in her home. She may have been the first postmaster and Wm. Stillwell the second. Charles Coe was the third and the office was in the Coe home. He had it about seven years and was succeeded by Henry Coe in 1869. He moved away for a time and W.P. Watson became post-master with the office at his residence. After Mr. Watson had sold and gone the office came back to H.C. Coe, he being postmaster in l878, with the office at his home. O.L. Stranahan and family came in 1879 and Mrs. Stranahan assumed the office. Mails were more frequent by this time and we soon had a daily mail, ex-cept when the river was closed in winter. Mrs. Stranahan acted as postmaster for seven years. The office was at her residence until the town was platted when she moved it to town. Her successors were R.J. Rogers, George T. Prather, Mrs. Jennie Champlin, L.E. Morse, Wm. Yates and J.P. Lucas. There are now four mails daily and delivery twice a day except in Winans Addition.