The entire project of investigating the history of the farm began in 2013. 

Kathy and Ken were excited to meet Elisabeth Walton Potter and her two nephews, Jeff and Brig Walton.  Elisabeth is the grandniece of William S. (Bill) Walton who owned this farm from 1935 until his death in 1954. Elisabeth was able to share memories of her family’s activities on the farm from the time it passed to her father, James J. (Jim) Walton in 1954 until he sold it in 1972. The farm was a favorite destination on the outskirts of Salem for her brother, James J. (Jeff) Walton and her late brother’s sons, James J. (Jeff) Walton, Jr., and William B. (Brig) Walton. Jeff Junior’s first summer work experience as a middle schooler was helping out on his grandfather’s farm.

We are so grateful to Elisabeth Walton Potter who, since our meeting, has provided a more expansive view about history, photos and memories in “DUCK HUNTING ON THE TURNER FLATS 1935-1972.”    William Walton and his nephew transformed the landscape, creating 14 ponds and associated ditches and dams on the property during the years from 1936-1955.  Aerial photos from 1936-1955 and 1963-1994 are accompanied with maps detailing the scope of this project.

It has been forty years of curiosity and wonderment at Santiam Valley Ranch as we continue to discover the extensive infrastructure work done here by William (Bill) Walton and his nephew James (Jim) Walton.

We still wonder at the cement foundation that spans 1500+’ on the banks of the Santiam Water Control Districts’ irrigation ditch.  When we arrived in 1980, there were three dams on the ditch, one of which was 15’ in height.  Another dam was situated on the east side of the farm and connected to a 5’ ditch that still heads south to the neighboring property.  There was an additional pond to the south with telephone poles that crossed this farm, apparently providing a pump for irrigation. The side ditch heading west is now known as the Fitzpatrick Lateral Irrigation Ditch and runs along the southern end of the main ponds.

Today, we marvel and enjoy the huckleberry trees, now 80+ years old, along with the giant English elm that dominates the backyard. The duck cabin used by Bill and Jim Walton and their distinguished partners and guests served as our first home when we moved to the farm in 1980. 

John Archibald visited the farm with his wife, Jo, accompanied by his daughter Kristle Agran and son Max. John lived on the farm when he was 10-17 years old. His father was the caretaker for Bill Walton from 1944-1951. He recalled when electricity first came to the farm in 1947, resulting from the Rural Electrification Administration (REA) enacted in 1935 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Imagine what it must have been like living here without electricity. During the winter, the sun would set at 4:30 PM. Hours were spent listening to the relentless winter rains and bundled up to ward off the damp cold, and then rising again at 7:00 AM to begin another day. He recalled when the old barn was used as a dairy and the milk was taken to the end of the driveway where customers would pick up the milk. And he remembered going to Cloverdale School.