Rogue River - Black Bar
As you leave your boat after an exciting first day of whitewater rafting and make the short hike up to Black Bar Lodge, you are hiking into an area rich with history and true characters of the Rogue River.
After a comfortable shower and change to dry clothes, make your way back to the Main Lodge, grab a glass of wine and head back into time.
Look across the huge lawn and beyond the river to the opposite bank. In November of 1855, army troops dropped over the ridge in search of Chief John and his band who were camped at Black Bar. The army planned to cross the river on rafts and attack. If John had waited until the troops were on rafts crossing the river, he could have gained a major victory. Instead, his warriors opened fire and began a battle that ranged down river to Jenny Creek. The army troops eventually retreated as winter snows began to cut off their retreat.
In the 1880’s the bar was a mining claim operated by William Black. Black was in partnership with Henry Rosenbrook, also known as Dutch Henry. One winter Black “liberated” Dutch Henry’s Indian wife. Henry trailed the pair out of the canyon and a week later, Black’s body was found with a knife hole in the skull. Henry was arrested and tried for the murder. Blacks head was introduced as evidence to match up Henry’s knife with the wound, but the judge and jury refused to view the evidence and Henry was acquitted. He returned to the river and lived out his days.
In the 1930’s Tom Orderman acquired the property and had the main lodge built. Miners like Red Keller (below) helped build the lodge and Red stayed on as caretaker until his death in the early ‘90’s.
Orderman’s caretakers, Hal and Bea Weatherwox acquired the lodge in the 1950’s and sold to Bill and Sally Hull in 1960. Their daughter and son-in-law currently operate the lodge.
Next: another Indian battle and another murder.
